A Custom Brooch as a Little Gift

"Yes, a brooch custom-made especially for Ruanruan."

"Meow?" Ruanruan froze on the spot.

A brooch? How am I supposed to pin it on? Pin it to my flesh? Ruanruan's face seemed to say, Young master, are you kidding me?

What kind of human gives a cat a brooch?!

Lu Yiyi paused and smiled. "A brooch custom-made for Ruanruan?" Then she noticed the astonishment on Ruanruan's face and smiled as she gave her a gentle rub. This little one really did have an expressive face.

The assistant explained, "It can be pinned to her collar. The color scheme was specially designed with the color of the jade in mind, so they bring out the best in each other."

Ruanruan secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Why did you have to pause so long, little assistant? If it goes on my collar, that's fine. Sorry, young master, I was a little too loud just now. Maybe I haven't been awake long enough, and my brain hasn't caught up yet. Ruanruan obediently lowered her eyes and swished her tail, as if her earlier astonishment had been nothing but someone else's illusion.

How could a human be so romantic? And this human is the young master, too!

Lu Yiyi opened the gift box and held Ruanruan up to see the brooch inside. It had a metallic inner surface, patterns engraved on the outside, and a clasp that could be fastened to the jade's setting. They really did look rather good together, and the design was very distinctive.

"Do you like it, Ruanruan?" Lu Yiyi asked her.

She gave a meow to show how much she liked the brooch, resting a paw on the gift box and leaning her head over to look.

Of course I like it. The young master gave it to me, after all.

Lu Yiyi took out the brooch, threaded it onto the collar, and fastened it to the setting holding the jade.

"How charming. Very nice, very nice. It really suits Ruanruan." After adjusting the position of the collar, she rubbed Ruanruan's little face again.

After the assistant left, Lu Yiyi video-called her brother. It was nighttime where he was, and Lu Linyuan had just finished showering. Wearing a bathrobe, he ran a hand through his hair and said, "Have you put it on Ruanruan?" Then he looked Ruanruan over on the screen.

The little one's collar now had not only the jade but also a small brooch, lending its delicate appearance a distinctive touch of design.

"Yes, I just put it on her. The assistant only just left."

"It suits her."

"Meow~" Ruanruan rested a little paw on Lu Yiyi's arm and brought her head close to the camera to look at Lu Linyuan on the screen, as if expressing how much she missed him.

Hearing her meow, Lu Linyuan said to Ruanruan unhurriedly, "You seem to have been having quite a good time lately... Do you still recognize me?"

"Meow!" Of course I recognize you! What are you saying, young master? I could forget anyone else, but I'd never forget you. Her big eyes darted everywhere, but she didn't dare look at Lu Linyuan.

"Looks like you still recognize me. Seeing you have so much fun yesterday, lying there with your belly exposed for people to rub, I thought you'd already forgotten your real owner."

"Meow, meow, meow~~" Ruanruan meowed a few times guiltily, her voice soft and no longer as firm as before.

"Feeling guilty?"

"..." Ruanruan curled up, as if that would make her less noticeable.

Lu Yiyi couldn't stop laughing at her brother's dead-serious display of jealousy. Trying to smooth things over, she said, "All right, brother. Ruanruan has a good temperament, so everyone likes her and pets her. It's not as if she's really forgotten you. When she's on video with you, just listen to her meow. You can tell she wants you to come back soon. She misses you."

Yes, yes, yes! That's exactly how you should translate it!

Lu Linyuan gave a faint scoff, as if to say, I'll take your word for it this once.

He was the very picture of a resentful husband who had seen his wife cheat, but ultimately decided to forgive her. Every last fault lay with those vixens outside; as long as she came back to the family, she was still a good wife. He had the whole thing down.

After the brooch was put on her, Ruanruan jumped off the sofa, went through the custom-made cat hole under the bedroom door, and entered Lu Linyuan's walk-in closet. There was a large floor-length mirror inside, and she paced slowly back and forth in front of it. Who could see her and not say what an elegant little cat she was? The little one admired herself for quite a while, feeling pleased with herself. Not bad. It really suits my temperament. It looks gorgeous.

Lu Yiyi pushed the door open with her phone in hand and entered the walk-in closet, where she saw Ruanruan crouching on the floor, admiring herself in the mirror.

Click, click. She pressed the shutter and shared the photos with her brother.

After receiving the photos, Lu Linyuan said, "That's a miniature camera. You don't need to take pictures for me; I can see for myself."

Lu Yiyi hadn't been able to tell at all that it was a miniature camera. After replying with a thumbs-up emoji, she typed, "I only mentioned it yesterday, and you've already made one and had it sent here today. You're amazing."

"I thought you'd be able to tell. I didn't expect to have overestimated you."

"Yes, yes, yes. I'm the dumbest one in the family, and you're the cleverest. Now that you have a camera, I won't take photos for you anymore. Watch for yourself." After sending her sharp-tongued reply, Lu Yiyi quickly ended the chat, then crouched down beside Ruanruan and stroked her fur. "Brother really likes you so much."

"Meow~" Ruanruan secretly delighted in this and tilted her head up to look at Lu Yiyi with her big, wide-open eyes. She placed a little paw in Lu Yiyi's palm, as if to say, Don't you like me too?

Lu Yiyi picked Ruanruan straight up and carried her outside.

"You have such expressive eyes. Are you asking if I like you? I like you too. How are you so lovable? I'm starting to regret giving you to my brother. If I'd known, I would have kept you myself." Her words were full of affection.

"Meow~" I really am an expert at winning affection. Both brother and sister love me. Hee-hee.

Ruanruan had no idea that the stylish little brooch was a camera. She acted coquettishly in all sorts of ways in Lu Yiyi's arms, then, after cuddling with her for a while, jumped down and turned to look at Yiyi. It was clear from that look that she wanted to take Yiyi somewhere.

Puzzled, Lu Yiyi followed her. When Ruanruan saw that she was following, she went into the cat room and jumped onto the feeding counter. She tapped the snack box on it with a little paw, making her meaning perfectly clear: This kitty wants to eat this.

Lu Yiyi couldn't help laughing when she saw that.

"Haha, you really are a clever little thing. Do you want me to get you some dried fish?"

"Meow~~" That's right! Hurry up! I want some. My mouth is watering. Ruanruan turned in circles on the table.

Understanding what she wanted, Lu Yiyi went over, took some dried fish out of the box, tore open the packaging, and put it on a small plate. "Here, eat up. Do you want anything else?" No sooner had she spoken than her phone chimed.

She opened her phone and saw that the message was from her brother.

"Just the dried fish is enough. Don't give her anything else, or she won't eat her proper meal later and will only want dried fish. Don't indulge that bad habit of hers."

"Okay, okay, I know." After replying, Lu Yiyi put away her phone and said to Ruanruan, "Just eat this. Brother said that if we give you too much, you won't eat your proper meal. It's not that I won't give you any more; brother's just strict, haha."

"Meow~" He's abroad and he's still meddling so much! Before he left, he even told his sister to skimp on my snacks. So, so mean!

As she ate the dried fish, Ruanruan looked down on him just a little, then went back to seriously savoring the pleasure of eating dried fish.