Chapter 149: Kitty’s Prayer…
At 6:45 in the morning, thirteen minutes before my alarm, I was startled awake by the sound of wind chimes.
The source was my phone, charging on the nightstand, face down. The Pikachu phone case Zhinian gave me radiated a cold chill.
Even hovering my fingers above it, I could feel a thin mist of cold rising, brushing against my skin and seeping into my bones.
Shivering, I stared blankly at the ceiling, grabbed the phone, and unlocked it with my fingerprint.
“Wanna meet up today? Gu Fan, I kinda miss you~”
The glow of the screen lifted my eyelashes, and the unread message notification hit my groggy mind like a ticking time bomb.
The cursor blinked in the chat box for a minute before I, nestled in my blankets, rolled over and sat up.
The last time I saw Zhinian was during the New Year, strolling with Mom on the street near her place.
I sent her a message, and within thirty seconds, a girl with adorable cat ears popped up at the window, excitedly waving at me.
The streets were bustling during the Spring Festival, so we didn’t talk much. After a brief greeting, I waved goodbye and left. Zhinian’s follow-up messages were filled with resentment and reluctance.
To soothe the grumpy little black cat, I promised to meet her soon and spend an entire day shopping with my troublesome childhood friend.
The blue light of the send button reflected in my eyes, like some deep-sea creature swimming across the digital screen, ready to pierce my retina and devour my consciousness.
Sitting upright at the head of the bed, I thought for a moment and arranged to meet Zhinian at 8:00 AM at the mall entrance.
The morning light seeping through the curtain gaps was cold and pale. I lazily yawned, grabbed the jacket hanging on the wall hook by the bed, and slipped it on.
If it were the old me, I definitely wouldn’t have gotten up this early just to keep a promise, let alone set a special ringtone for Zhinian to remind me not to miss her messages.
I hate hassle the most. When I sleep, I always put my phone on silent and stuff it deep in a drawer.
“No choice, she’s got me wrapped around her finger.”
Muttering helplessly, I walked into the bathroom with a mix of sweet and anxious feelings, starting my morning routine with almost military efficiency.
Zhinian wouldn’t want me to be late. More importantly, with her personality, she’d probably show up at the mall entrance half an hour early, standing there like a human roly-poly, swaying back and forth.
That little kitty head of hers would likely be mulling over some ridiculous thoughts.
If I stuck to my usual habit of arriving exactly on time, the cat-girl named Zhinian might overheat from overthinking.
The moment she saw me, her face might flush red, and she’d faint on the spot.
Imagining this scenario, I couldn’t help but chuckle while brushing my teeth. Toothpaste foam slid from the corner of my mouth, dripping onto the sleeve of my pajamas.
This light blue pajama set was a gift from Zhinian. I don’t quite remember when she gave it to me—my memories are always fragmented.
The only thing I can clearly recall is Zhinian holding up the pajamas by the collar, measuring it against my collarbone, comparing left and right, and finally smiling with satisfaction.
For small things like this that don’t need much attention, going along with the other person’s wishes is the best choice.
So, back then, I didn’t reject the little cat-girl’s kindness. I let her measure my size with her fingers and buy the pajamas I don’t particularly love wearing.
I’m not particularly picky about colors. Normally, I don’t bother changing into pajamas before bed—wearing warm inner layers is enough.
It’s also convenient for slipping on whatever I need to go out, saving time on such trivial tasks.
At 7:11 AM, the old-fashioned clock at the entrance let out a soft “creak” as its gears turned.
Standing by the shoe cabinet, I put on my sneakers while glancing at my outfit for the day.
“Hmm, should be fine.”
Muttering to myself, I suddenly chuckled, imagining that if my date was with Zhinian, no matter what I wore, she’d blush, fidget with her skirt or hair, and shower me with slightly flustered compliments.
In Zhinian’s eyes, it’s like I’m some kind of celebrity, but I don’t think my looks are anywhere near that level.
“At least, no talent scout has ever asked for my contact info,” I said, mocking myself.
Or maybe our small town is just too remote. Even if there are scouts out there scouring the streets for strangers to turn into stars, they’d never show up here.
Time to head out. Instead of dwelling on these far-fetched thoughts, I should focus on what’s in front of me, right?
I swiped open my phone screen, and Zhinian’s message popped up: “I’m heading out~” followed by a string of cute emojis.
Pushing open the heavy front door, I slipped out quietly to meet her while everyone else in the house was still asleep.
If I keep Zhinian waiting too long, the little kitty might get mad.
Gu Fan’s fingers tapped a soft rhythm on the glass counter. I stared at the faint blue veins at the second joint of his pinky, imagining how those slender fingers would feel tapping against me.
It wasn’t until the text on the milk tea menu started to blur and the glow of the scrolling electronic screen cast a flickering blue light across his face—like a jellyfish swaying in the deep sea—that I snapped back to reality.
“As expected, Zhinian’s going for room temperature? It’s cold out; a warm drink would be a nice choice too,” Gu Fan said, suddenly leaning closer.
The minty scent of his body wash mixed with the caramel aroma from the counter wafted into my nose.
I shrank back slightly, noticing the fine hairs on his cheeks catching the morning light, turning honey-colored.
My heart started pounding erratically, losing its rhythm.
It’s only been a few days since I last saw Gu Fan—why am I so hopeless?
Scolding the little deer bouncing wildly in my heart, I pressed a hand to my chest, trying to calm the heart that felt like it might leap out.
But my overly developed figure got in the way. With thick layers of clothing as a barrier, it was like punching a pile of cotton—no matter how I tried, I couldn’t muster any strength.
I could only let the “thump, thump!” sounds ripple through my body.
I couldn’t tell if the sounds came from the people sipping milk tea nearby or if they were really coming from me.
Silently praying, I remembered how I used to wish Gu Fan’s hearing was sharper, sharp enough to catch my barely audible murmurs.
Now, I desperately hoped he didn’t hear my flustered state.
Maybe the images in my dreams really mean something… I’m definitely not the kind of vibrant girl who can bring passion to Gu Fan’s life.
Using trendy internet terms, I guess you could say I’m supposed to provide “emotional value”?
I’m a total introvert with abysmal social skills. The only reason I was picked to be a maid at the cat café was because of my youthful face and the charm of my cat-girl traits.
Otherwise, a grumpy woman like me, always wearing a cold expression, would probably get endless complaints from customers, right? Ha…
Imagining the scene of being scolded and kicked out by the manager, I nervously pursed my lips.
“What are you thinking about, Zhinian?”
Gu Fan suddenly leaned in close, shattering the scenario I’d conjured up. His gentle smile, like a spring breeze, tugged at my heartstrings.
Gulp!
I swallowed hard, forcing the complex emotions rising in my throat back down, treasuring them deep inside.
“N-nothing, just thinking… um, today’s Gu Fan looks… really handsome.”
My tail restlessly swept the floor, and my fingertips crumpled the hem of my skirt even more.
I knew I was nervous, but I couldn’t control it, letting these subconscious little actions happen freely.
“If you keep praising me like that, I’m gonna get cocky.”
“Well… then I’ll have to think of more ways to keep praising you.”
My already-not-so-sharp brain went into overdrive, like ingredients being shredded in a blender.
My brain was churning like mashed apples, my cheeks so hot from thinking they could probably boil a kettle of water.
I cursed the absence of a mirror in front of me—I couldn’t check if my face was red, which would let Gu Fan see my embarrassment.
Just then, Gu Fan suddenly moved to my side. Before I could react, he bent down, his face so close to mine it was almost cheek-to-cheek.
“E-eh?!”
“Compared to me, don’t forget, Zhinian, you’re dressed up super cute too. I should be the one showering you with compliments, but you beat me to it. Such a sneaky cat-girl, Zhinian.”
“U-um, s-sorry!”
In that moment, my brain completely overloaded, losing all ability to form words.
Clinging to the first thought that surfaced in my subconscious, I apologized fervently for the fact that someone as unremarkable as me could receive Gu Fan’s affectionate closeness as a reward.