Jade Capital, Angelica Orchid Garden.
Chen Shu intercepted Kitten Girl as she scampered toward Qingqing, scooped her up, and carried her inside. "Lord Peach, did you miss us?"
Peach neither cried nor fussed, nor did she show any displeasure. She let him hold her, turned to rest against his shoulder, and watched her master behind them. When he asked, she answered honestly:
"Missed you~"
"How did Lord Peach do on her exams this semester? Straight A's?"
Chen Shu felt Kitten Girl stiffen in his arms. Even her fluffy, swaying tail went still.
"One... one subject wasn't."
"Which one?"
"Art."
"Oh! Lord Peach doesn't have the Art Bug!" Chen Shu carried her into the house, smiling. "Why didn't you take after me? You're just like Qingqing. Art was her worst subject when she was little, too..."
"Qingqing too~"
Kitten Girl sounded relieved.
Chen Shu grinned and went on. "Did you learn drawing, singing, or dancing this semester?"
"Drawing..."
"Let me tell you, Qingqing used to draw only when she had something to copy. Ask her to draw from imagination, and she'd turn in a blank sheet." Chen Shu paused. "Singing class was even worse. She'd keep her mouth shut and stare at the teacher, eye to eye. She looked so silly..."
"So silly..."
Peach instinctively wanted to repeat him and laugh along, but when she glanced up, she saw her master following behind them, staring coldly at her and Uncle Chen.
"Hiss~"
Kitten Girl promptly shut her mouth.
Once they reached the sofa, Kitten Girl finally left Uncle Chen's arms and sat beside him. She let him play with her ears and tail while she stole glances at her master and answered his questions.
"Have you been studying hard?"
"Yes."
"Have you been keeping Xiaoxiao in line?"
"Yes."
"Has Xiaoxiao been