A Big Secret Discovered

Hearing that, Ruanruan, who was still grinning foolishly, froze. Her grin vanished, and she buried her little face in her two furry paws, as if hiding like a turtle could make everything go away.

"How many more surprises do you have that I don't know about, Ruanruan?" Lu Linyuan deliberately used the meme to tease her.

Pfft-

Ruanruan had been a little nervous, but when she heard that, she couldn't resist complaining to herself, Boss, that line is way too classic... It was so classic that this little kitty's fur was about to stand on end... the kind that made her want to roll her eyes and foam at the mouth. If she were human, she could have shaken three pounds of goosebumps off herself.

With laughter in his voice, Lu Linyuan said, "I didn't expect you to be so clever. You even remembered the password." That really had surprised him.

Guilty as she felt, Ruanruan couldn't tell whether the young master was about to demand an explanation or simply thought she was clever.

"Looks like a four-digit password can't keep you out. You're getting better at sneaking food every day, and I can't afford to keep you anymore." His calm tone made the little kitty tremble with fear. She couldn't tell whether he was joking or really meant to get rid of her.

She sneakily raised her eyes to look at Lu Linyuan and found his face expressionless. It was as if a great stone had suddenly appeared in her heart and weighed it down, and she began to panic.

Was he going to send her away?!

No!

I might eat a little much, but I'm really just greedy. It's fine if I don't eat them! I've only just gotten used to life in a rich family, and you're already going to send me away? That's too cruel! Haven't you heard it's easy to go from frugality to luxury, but hard to go from luxury to frugality?

Are you trying to take this kitty's life?!

Boo-hoo-hoo!

Ruanruan clung to Lu Linyuan for dear life, afraid she'd be sent away the very next second. She kept whimpering and meowing, her voice sweet and trembling, so pitiful it seemed she might burst into tears for him at any moment.

Lu Linyuan had only been joking, but Ruanruan's reaction made it seem as though she had understood him. At the thought that she might understand, he realized that even if she didn't know what the words meant, she might still pick up on his deliberately grave tone and start imagining things. His heart instantly ached for the little one, and guilt washed over him. He lifted Ruanruan in front of his face and said softly, "All right, all right, I was joking. Don't be scared. I won't send you away." His words were gentle.

Animals could sense their owners' emotions from the rise and fall of their voices, and as soon as he finished speaking, Ruanruan was soothed.

It was a joke? Well, that was a bit much of you, but... never mind. Just a false alarm.

She relaxed, looking like a dead pig unafraid of boiling water. As long as you don't send me away, scold me all you like. It's not like I'll lose a piece of flesh.

Lu Linyuan had never spoken so gently to anyone, but at this moment, he was afraid of hurting a little kitty's feelings. He said earnestly, "I'm keeping you from eating so many snacks for your own good. What other family has a little kitty who sneaks food like you do, and eats such a huge pile every time? Aren't you afraid you'll eat until you burst?" When he'd watched the recording, he'd been shocked that this little kitty's belly could hold so much.

"But you don't understand any of this. You're only acting on instinct. It's my fault for making the password too simple and not checking the surveillance often enough. I should have caught you sneaking food sooner." He wasn't blaming her; he was mostly saying he hadn't kept a close enough watch.

How could a tiny little kitty be blamed for this?

Every last mistake was the poop-scooper's fault. None of it had anything to do with the innocent, adorable little kitty.

"Meow~" Ruanruan gave a light, soft little cry, and Lu Linyuan had nothing more to say. Instead, he stroked the fur on her back and said, "Anyway, you can't keep sneaking food whenever you like. It's bad for your health. I'll try to give you a few more meals from now on, all right?"

"Meow, meow, meow~~" Ruanruan's voice was incredibly gentle, her imitation of a cutesy, high-pitched voice uncannily accurate. Clearly, she agreed.

There was just no telling how long that agreement would last.

It seemed rather as if she was only trying to placate Lu Linyuan, leaving whatever happened later for later.

But I'm greedy! Sometimes I just can't help myself. Little kitties don't have much self-control, you know? Hehe.

"Judging by that shifty expression, it looks like you're hatching another scheme."

Ruanruan immediately put on another face and began playing the picture of gentle, helpless innocence: This kitty doesn't know what you're talking about, but let's put all that aside for now. Could you get my snacks out first?

"Meow..." She gazed longingly at the snacks in the cabinet. They smell so good! I don't know why, but I especially want a chicken sausage today. Let's have one of those.

Seeing her staring at the chicken sausages, Lu Linyuan granted her wish. He took one out, peeled it, and put it on a plate. He even used a small spoon to break it into pieces to make it easier for her to eat.

Once Ruanruan had eaten and drunk her fill, Lu Linyuan picked her up again. He had the day off and hadn't gone to the office, so he took her to the study and read while she lay sprawled on the sofa, limbs splayed in every direction. She looked perfectly at ease, though there was also a touch of roughness to her relaxed pose.

Holding his book, he really couldn't resist reaching out and pushing Ruanruan's body to one side.

"You're a little lady. Don't lie like that. It's improper."

Ruanruan had no sense of shame left. After all, the auntie still had to wipe and clean her bottom every day. Besides, she was a cat now, not a naked woman. What was there to be ashamed of?!

So the limbs he'd just put together shamelessly splayed out again. She even took a moment to glance at Lu Linyuan, as if to say, You old stick-in-the-mud, don't meddle in a fashionable little kitty's business. Lady or no lady, you'll take me to get spayed when the time comes anyway... Then I won't even count as a little female cat anymore, so just let me get comfortable however I like.

Seeing that Ruanruan wouldn't listen, Lu Linyuan didn't insist that she act like a little lady. He shook his head helplessly and left her alone, turning his attention back to his book.

Lu Linyuan had been back from his business trip for quite a while, and Ruanruan stuck to him whenever he was home. It wasn't that she particularly liked spending time with the young master, ahem, ahem. The main thing was that the soul of gossip burned fiercely within her, and she wanted to know who Lu Yiyi's sister-in-law-that is, Lu Linyuan's partner-was.

But after watching him for so long, whether at home or at the company, she had never seen him message or call a woman whenever she was able to stay by his side. At the company, he mostly reviewed documents, attended meetings, and listened to reports. As for private chats, he mostly shot the breeze in a group with his two friends, Chen Xiao and Su Qingzhi, chatting and poking fun at one another.

As a result, Ruanruan had now lost much of her interest in prying into the young master's private life. She figured Lu Yiyi must have made it up as an excuse to stop her friend from flying into the flame like a moth. What partner? If she had a partner and they went twenty-four hours without contact, she'd consider them broken up by default. Yet she'd never seen the young master chat with a woman...

Wait!

Was there a possibility-just a possibility-that her thinking had been too narrow?

What if the young master's partner was actually a man?!

At that thought, Ruanruan rolled over and lay on her belly on the sofa, scrutinizing Lu Linyuan. She looked left and right, up and down, as if she could stare a flower right out of him. Every so often, she even broke into a goofy grin, looking like a silly little cat who'd taken the wrong medicine and gone off the rails-a round, chubby one at that.

Had she discovered an extraordinary secret?

Hehehe-