Didn't I say I favored you? Of course I'm on your side.

Wen Ce lowered his head to meet her eyes, as though he knew what she was worrying about.

He only smiled and said, "Didn't I promise you I wouldn't go back? Besides, my parents just sell breakfast. What would I go back for, to inherit the family business?"

The teasing laughter in his voice was all too obvious. "I'd be better off fixing computers. I don't know how to make breakfast."

Luo Lianqing, whose face had been tense, seemed to freeze for a moment. She blinked, unable to recover. She had always thought Wen Ce's family must be fairly well-off. After all, renting a place in this complex wasn't cheap...

Wen Ce reached out and patted her head, in much the same way he patted Egg Yolk. "Come on. Do you still want to watch a movie?"

"Yes!" Luo Lianqing sprang to her feet, bumping into the palm he hadn't had time to pull back.

Wen Ce's palm rested on her head just like that, while she looked at him in a daze, still not quite registering what had happened.

The sunlight behind her spilled through the window and over her.

She looked beautiful, and dazzling too.

Wen Ce's gaze swept over her face before gently shifting away. He ruffled her hair and withdrew his hand. "Let's go, then."

By the time Luo Lianqing came back to herself, he had already turned and headed outside. She reached up and touched her own hair. Good thing she'd washed it last night.

Walking ahead of her, Wen Ce curled his hand slightly. Her hair was soft, just like her.

When they returned to Wen Ce's apartment, Egg Yolk was lying on the windowsill with its back to them. Its ears twitched at the sound, but it didn't turn around.

This was Wen Ce's first time seeing Egg Yolk like this, and he found it novel.

Luo Lianqing, on the other hand, was all too familiar with it. Egg Yolk was such a tsundere. It was angry that she'd shut it in the apartment.

She walked past Wen Ce toward Egg Yolk. "Is our little Egg Yolk angry?"

She scooped Egg Yolk up. Egg Yolk raised a paw at her threateningly, meowing nonstop.

Luo Lianqing put on an aggrieved face too. "Oh dear, our Egg Yolk has been so wronged. But your big sister had no choice. There was danger across the hall just now. It wasn't something a little kitty should see."

Egg Yolk's raised paw shifted hesitantly. Then it gave a soft meow, as though asking, "Really?"

Luo Lianqing nodded solemnly. "Why would your big sister lie to you? It's true. Ask Wen Ce if you don't believe me."

Two pairs of eyes fixed on Wen Ce in unison.

Egg Yolk even meowed.

Watching this, Wen Ce found it both amusing and fun.

He met Luo Lianqing's pleading gaze, and she even blinked at him.

For some reason, a particularly wicked idea suddenly popped into Wen Ce's head. He looked at Egg Yolk beside her. "Huh? That? I'm not really sure..."

Luo Lianqing was a little dumbfounded. This wasn't quite how she'd expected things to go...

She called out, "Wen Ce!"

Her voice was full of disbelief.

Egg Yolk had already caught on. This poop scooper was trying to fool a cat!

It began meowing and struggling wildly.

Afraid it would get hurt, Luo Lianqing could only put it down.

Without hesitation, Egg Yolk ran to Wen Ce's feet and began clawing at his trousers.

Amused, Wen Ce picked the cat up. Meeting Luo Lianqing's incredulous gaze, he blinked too. "Would you rather I told the truth? Strictly speaking, it wasn't a cat scam, but it wasn't something a little kitty couldn't see either."

With that, he raised an eyebrow and waited for her to argue.

Who knew Luo Lianqing would only blush a little and mutter, "You'll regret this. This little thing really holds a grudge. It probably won't come home with me tonight either. You can look after it."

But Wen Ce only heard "tonight." So she planned to stay with him until evening?

The thought put Wen Ce in a very good mood. He glanced down at Egg Yolk, then rubbed its head with his index finger. "It's just one cat. There's room even if you stay."

As soon as he said that, his finger paused. Egg Yolk, which had been enjoying itself with narrowed eyes, meowed in displeasure.

Wen Ce heard his own heartbeat quicken, then continued rubbing Egg Yolk's head.

Luo Lianqing looked at Wen Ce and finally said, "If we both stay, you're done for. Egg Yolk and I sometimes argue at night. It's really annoying."

"I'm not afraid," Wen Ce replied immediately.

Then silence fell between them again.

Finally, holding the cat, Wen Ce cleared his throat. "Let's watch the movie. By the time we're done, it'll pretty much be dinner time. Do you want to eat at home or go out?"

He said it so naturally, as though this was how they spent every day together.

Luo Lianqing thought for a moment. "Let's go out, then. You already worked hard cooking lunch. Or should we finish the leftovers from lunch?"

"Then we'll go out," Wen Ce said without thinking. "I won't make you eat leftovers."

Then he tried to put Egg Yolk down so he could get the little cakes.

But Egg Yolk clung to his clothes and refused to let go.

It had even tugged his collar crooked.

Luo Lianqing reached out to take it. "You little pervert of a cat, stop taking advantage of him!"

He's mine.

Egg Yolk meowed angrily.

It turned to glare at Luo Lianqing.

Luo Lianqing glared back. As the human and cat stared each other down, Wen Ce felt as though he had two cats.

He smiled and said, "It's fine. I'll get the little cakes. The snacks are in the cupboard under the TV stand. Go get them."

Luo Lianqing looked away, huffed, and left. Of course, the target was the cat in Wen Ce's arms.

Watching her retreating figure, Wen Ce thought she was so cute. He didn't want to hold the cat. He wanted to hold her.

In the end, he glanced down at the cat in his arms, then turned to open the fridge and get the little cakes.

Luo Lianqing felt that Egg Yolk was doing it on purpose. This scheming cat knew she liked Wen Ce. It was probably angry at her for fooling it too, and kept clinging to Wen Ce.

Even during the movie, it insisted on staying in Wen Ce's lap.

Whenever she reached out to hold it, it meowed with enough wailing to make ghosts weep and wolves howl!

Green tea cat!

Luo Lianqing stopped staring at Wen Ce's hand as he stroked the cat. That hand had been touching her head just a moment ago. Hmph.

Wen Ce projected the movie he'd found onto the screen. By now, the curtains had been drawn.

Snacks, little cakes, drinks, and flowers were all ready.

Only the dim light cast by the projector remained in the room.

Wen Ce glanced at Luo Lianqing to make sure. "You really want to watch this?"

Luo Lianqing nodded. "Scare Egg Yolk to death!"

Those were clearly words spoken in a fit of pique.

Hearing its name, Egg Yolk meowed as though objecting.

Amused, Wen Ce said, "You two really are arguing."

"That's right. Are you on its side or mine?" Luo Lianqing suddenly asked in a huff.

Yet her own face reddened as soon as she asked. Why was she being so childish?

Luckily, it was dark now. Wen Ce probably couldn't see, right...

Why was she still acting like an elementary school kid? Would Wen Ce dislike her for being childish?

Wen Ce kept looking at her without moving, and his hand stopped stroking the cat.

There was a gentle smile in his eyes, now tinged with fond indulgence. Unfortunately, the light was too dim for Luo Lianqing to notice.

All she heard was, "Didn't I say I favored you? Of course I'm on your side."