Yangyang's little face went blank.
The mother and daughter exchanged a glance. Ye Qingxian and Little Ye Qingxian pooled their wits, and one perfect solution after another sprang into their minds in an instant.
"Mother Ye Qingxian!" Yangyang's voice suddenly grew much louder.
She knew her mother must be listening with her ears perked up.
"That piece of paper you just showed me—you already said you wouldn't adopt the kitten after seeing its photo, didn't you?"
Ye Qingxian immediately played along. "That's right. I don't like such an ugly kitten."
"Only a beautiful kitten with long fur, an adorable face, and pale pink fur like a princess—that's the only kind I like." Ye Qingxian spoke solemnly, as if her talent had gone unrecognized, with a hint of sorrow in her voice. "Of course, it's just wishful thinking. How could pink kittens possibly exist in this world?"
At those words, a faint stir finally came from beneath the covers.
Ye Qingxian hurried to strike while the iron was hot. "All right, I only came to ask Junior Sister whether she wanted to adopt a kitten. I don't want to raise ugly little kittens that aren't pink, anyway. Now that I've let you know, I should be going."
Ye Qingxian lifted her leg, ready to leave.
Yangyang waved her little hand with exaggerated nonchalance.
"Goodbye, Mother Ye Qingxian."
The two of them silently counted down together: one, two, three.
On Ye Qingxian's third step, a faint voice suddenly came from beneath the covers. "Wait."
A hint of delight flashed in Ye Qingxian's eyes, then quickly faded.
Yangyang's smile grew, too, as she waited for her mother to continue.
I clenched the hem of my skirt in my little hand. "Ye Qingxian, was what you just said true?"
My voice was uncertain, and