You Don't Love Ruanruan at All

There was nothing joking about Lu Linyuan's tone. For a moment, Ruanruan worried that he really was going to teach her a lesson, and her heart leaped into her throat. He'd said he would give her a few smacks so she'd remember, but her boss had always looked to her like the kind of person who wouldn't hold back.

See? Right from the start, she'd thought Yiyi's brother was bad news, like some big villain in a novel. Now he'd finally shown his true colors!

Ruanruan instinctively closed her eyes and waited for the pain-

But it never came. He just...

Tugged on her tail?

Huh?

A kitten's tail was an incredibly sensitive spot. Had this guy gotten addicted to pulling it or something?!

Ruanruan strained to pull her tail free and keep him from touching it.

Seeing that the kitten didn't like having her tail touched, Lu Linyuan stopped and let go.

Ruanruan turned to glance at Lu Linyuan and pretended to bare her teeth in protest. But then she saw that firm chin, that striking jawline, and then those well-defined brow bones and deep-set eyes. Fine, fine... Since you're Yiyi's brother, I won't hold it against you.

Ruanruan had found the perfect excuse to convince herself.

She stubbornly refused to admit that even if she wanted to hold it against him, there was nothing she could do. After all, she was just a useless little kitten without the strength to truss a chicken.

Lu Linyuan set her on the desk.

Ruanruan sat upright on it and met Lu Linyuan's gaze.

"Meow~" Of course, she couldn't hold out for more than a few seconds. She quickly caved and timidly stuck out her tongue to lick Lu Linyuan, just like a little lackey.

His palm tickled where she licked it. Lu Linyuan elegantly pulled out a tissue and wiped it, then rubbed Ruanruan's head. "If you make trouble again, I really will have to smack you. I won't let you off lightly like I did today." His warning was perfectly solemn.

"Meow!" Ruanruan answered firmly. Got it.

I'll do it again next time.

That firm meow made Lu Linyuan, who hadn't expected an answer, glance at her. He wiped his palm and tossed the crumpled tissue into the trash can.

"You always give me the feeling that you can understand what I'm saying." He spoke almost to himself, and his words were so faint that Ruanruan didn't hear them. She was busy swishing her tail in boredom.

After she was born, it had taken her quite a while to adjust to her tail and learn to swish it comfortably. Now, whether she had anything to do or not, she would swish it unconsciously, much like a human shaking a leg out of boredom.

Just then, Ruanruan noticed that Lu Linyuan had somehow taken out his phone and was pointing the camera at her. She paused for a few seconds, knowing he must be taking photos. Then Lu Linyuan lowered his eyes to the screen and began typing with a smile that was both slightly smug and a little showy.

Lu Linyuan: My cat.

He sent two photos.

Su Qingzhi: I didn't expect you to get this boring after getting a cat, but the cat pics are good. Send more.

Chen Xiao: She's so tiny. I'm really worried you'll step on her and kill her when you don't see her.

Lu Linyuan: Now that I have a cat, I don't feel like talking to catless people like you anymore.

Su Qingzhi: ?

Chen Xiao: ?

Su Qingzhi: You've changed. You've become materialistic, actually caring about these extra conditions. Does having a cat make you a cut above everyone else?!

Chen Xiao: You can't be home all the time, hehe.

Su Qingzhi: ?

Lu Linyuan: ?

Chen Xiao: When you're not home, I'll storm your place and kidnap your cat!

Lu Linyuan: Thanks for the reminder. I'll tell security to keep a close eye on you.

Lu Linyuan: My cat gets cuter the more you look at her, right?

Chen Xiao: You can't just show us photos. Do you have a video? Shoot some footage of her moving around. Photos aren't enough.

Su Qingzhi: Exactly. Take some videos.

Lu Linyuan: Paid videos. Please top up and become a member to unlock video mode.

Su Qingzhi: How much?

Chen Xiao: There's something weird about that setup of yours. It feels a little familiar, but strange at the same time.

Lu Linyuan: Depends on your sincerity. Just send me whatever you like privately.

A short while later, Su Qingzhi messaged Lu Linyuan privately and transferred him 5,000.

Su Qingzhi: I'm sending you this much, so you have to make Chen Xiao pay more than I did!

Lu Linyuan: Got it.

Su Qingzhi received a fifty-second video.

Then he replied smugly in the group chat: Sent the money and got the video. Ruanruan is so cute, and her meows sound lovely too.

Chen Xiao replied indignantly in the group chat: Are you stupid? You actually sent him money for a cat? You're compromising with Capitalist Lu and betraying the masses!

Su Qingzhi: ?

After replying in the group chat, Chen Xiao sent Lu Linyuan a transfer.

Chen Xiao: I'll pay you extra. Don't tell the group I sent you money for a video. I'll drive Su Qingzhi crazy.

Lu Linyuan: [Thumbs-up emoji].

While Lu Linyuan was filming a video for Chen Xiao, Su Qingzhi mocked Chen Xiao in the group chat.

Su Qingzhi: Hehe, I thought you liked Ruanruan so much, but it turns out you're all talk. You can't even bear to part with a little money, and you still want cat pics? Dream on! Anyway, I spent money to make myself happy, and anyone who didn't pay has no right to criticize!

Chen Xiao put on an act: Some kinds of happiness can't be proven with money. As long as I have Ruanruan in my heart, that's enough. I'll never let Capitalist Lu make this money off me!

Lu Linyuan took their money and did the job, meeting both of his employers' demands. After reflecting that rich people's money really was easy to earn, he put away his phone and looked at the kitten still sitting obediently on the desk. He scratched her chin and said, "You're only a little over a month old, and you already know how to earn your own cat food. Not bad."

Ruanruan was completely bewildered and had no idea that Lu Linyuan's two friends had spent a fortune because of her.

"Meow~" What are you talking about?