The afternoon sunlight filtering through the window lattice slanted across the faded wooden floor. Dust motes drifted slowly through the light pillars, like time frozen in place. On the little red-clay stove, a brass kettle burbled, sending up fine wisps of white steam. The mist carried the distinctive aged fragrance of Old Gentleman's Eyebrow tea throughout the study.
Flower Cat's mocking laughter drifted through the bookstore along with the steam.
Zheng Qing did not fly into a rage.
At least, not on the surface.
He rose from the bamboo chair, lightly turned the ink-black ring on his finger, and calmly asked, "How did you know I was eavesdropping?"
"Because—"
Yellow Calico Cat opened its mouth to say, "I divined it," but just as the words reached its lips, its clever little brain suddenly became alert, blocking the rest in its throat.
Where there was an effect, there had to be a cause.
The reason it had been able to "divine" that Zheng Qing was eavesdropping was, in the end, because it too had been "eavesdropping" on Zheng Qing's little movements. Its spiritual senses were like a restless cat's paw, constantly scratching at the edges of the Young Legendary's not-yet-fully-defended consciousness.
That was not much more sophisticated than listening in at a wall.
The cat's expression visibly froze.
Watching its distinctly separated whiskers stiffen in midair in a comical fashion, Zheng Qing shook his head almost imperceptibly. His voice was as calm as water. "A grand Legend, yet so ill-mannered..."
"...I'm a civet cat!"
Apparently, the word "manners" had touched some sensitive nerve in Yellow Calico Cat. Without thinking, it blurted out that line, then fell silent for several seconds. A subtle expression appeared on its furry face, as though every hair tip had blossomed with a color called satisfaction. It