Chapter 12: Tenderness

The black-and-white kitten curled itself into a ball, its little face buried in its front paws, tail tucked neatly forward. 

From a distance, it looked just like a round, fluffy puffball.

Qu Yanning felt his heart melt from the cuteness. 

He stepped closer and gently poked the sleeping kitten. 

The kitten twitched its ears, burying its head even deeper into its fur.

So cute… Qu Yanning looked at the furry little lump resting on the pillow and leaned down to plant a soft kiss on it.

Annoyed, Xie Qi opened his eyes—only to meet Qu Yanning’s face wearing a mysterious, blissful smile.

Lord Xie: “…”

“Sweetie, you’re awake?” Qu Yanning scooped the kitten up, gently stroking it a few times as he walked out. “I made some fried yellow croaker today. Go see if you like it.”

Xie Qi’s paw, midair, paused—then changed course to press lightly on Qu Yanning’s cheek. 

After that, he calmly retracted his paw and let himself be carried to the living room.

After placing his feline master on the sofa, Qu Yanning laid down an old newspaper before bringing over a plate of crispy golden yellow croaker.

The fish gave off a faint aroma. Xie Qi’s cat nose twitched as he reached out and tapped the back of Qu Yanning’s hand in thanks, before sitting gracefully in front of the plate and beginning to eat.

The croaker was small, about the length of a finger, fried until the skin was crispy and the bones crackly. 

With a satisfying crunch, Xie Qi pinned the tail with his paw and began eating from the head—crunch, crunch—finishing the entire fish in no time.

After licking his fur-covered mouth, Xie Qi turned to Qu Yanning, who was crouching nearby, and let out two soft meows—telling him to go eat his own meal.

But the newly minted cat servant didn’t understand his master’s concern. 

Eyes sparkling, Qu Yanning continued crouching nearby, even leaning in until his face was almost nose-to-nose with Xie Qi. “Do you like the fish?”

Xie Qi pushed the too-close face away with his paw, leaving a paw-shaped greasy mark on Qu Yanning’s pale cheek.

Oblivious to the smudge, Qu Yanning stayed crouched at a respectful distance so he wouldn’t disturb the cat’s meal. 

The oily paw print glistened slightly in the light.

Xie Qi: “…”

For once, he felt a bit guilty and tried to pull his paw back, but halfway through, he frowned in disgust at the greasy residue and paused. 

Staring at his oily paw pad for a moment, Xie Qi decided to finish the fish first before washing up.

Qu Yanning cupped his cheeks, giggling like a fool.

Halfway through his own meal, Chu Zhou couldn’t bear to watch anymore. 

He dragged Qu Yanning to the table and shoved a pair of chopsticks into his hand. “Eat!”

Qu Yanning: “Hehehe…”

Chu Zhou: “…”

“I have a cat now. Sweetie is so adorable, I feel like my heart is going to melt.” Qu Yanning clasped his cheeks dreamily.

Chu Zhou: “…”

“…You’re not seriously losing it, are you?” Chu Zhou poked between his eyebrows and knocked on the table. “Eat properly.”

“Okay.” Still intoxicated by the live-action cat show in front of him, Qu Yanning slowly scooped up some rice. 

After two bites, he couldn’t help but turn to look at the cat—then two more bites, and another glance…

By the time Xie Qi finished eating the croaker, Qu Yanning still had more than half a bowl of rice left. 

Chu Zhou had given up on him and had relocated to the computer chair, lounging like Ge You and watching a drama with his legs propped up.

Xie Qi finished cleaning his mouth and sat upright on the sofa, raising a paw and meowing at Qu Yanning.

Qu Yanning immediately put down his chopsticks and rushed over. “Sweetie, what’s wrong?”

Xie Qi’s raised paw froze midair.

Tilting his head, he hesitated for a long moment before finally stretching it out to show Qu Yanning his dirty paw pad.

It took Qu Yanning a few tries to understand—Sweetie wanted his paw cleaned.

He scooped the cat up and carried him into the bathroom, setting him on the sink counter.

After finding a clean towel, he dampened it with warm water and carefully wiped Xie Qi’s paw.

Xie Qi tilted his head, his golden pupils wide.

At this close range, he could see the young man’s lowered lashes—dark as raven feathers, casting a faint shadow below his eyes.

The youth’s expression was incredibly gentle, his warm hand cradling the paw carefully as he wiped it clean with the damp towel.

And that subtle, pleasant scent clinging to him…

Everything in front of Xie Qi tugged at him, drawing him closer. 

He couldn’t resist stretching out his neck, his damp nose lightly brushing Qu Yanning’s cheek before retreating.

“You just stole a kiss?” Qu Yanning reacted instantly, as if saying, If you kiss me, I’ll kiss you back. 

Without hesitation, he leaned in and kissed Xie Qi’s furry little face in return.

Xie Qi felt like every strand of fur on his body had caught fire. 

He jerked his paw back, flattened his ears, and hurriedly scampered off in a fluster.

Qu Yanning, left behind, blinked in surprise. “He’s actually shy?”

Xie Qi bolted straight to the bedroom, leapt onto the bed with feline agility, and dove under the covers, finally managing to hide his burning-red body.

The darkness helped calm his anxious mind. 

Curling up with his tail, Xie Qi rolled over once, troubled for the first time—this human… was truly outrageous!

Did this mean that when he turned back into a human, things would still be like this? It was utterly indecent!

Burying himself deeper into the blanket, Xie Qi sulked silently… and before he knew it, fell asleep.

Qu Yanning tiptoed in, gently peeled back the blanket, and adjusted the kitten into a more comfortable sleeping position before quietly closing the door behind him.

He had an agreement with Chu Zhou to go fishing at Lakeside Park.

By four or five in the afternoon, the harshest rays of the sun had passed. 

Orange clouds spread across the sky in a soft blaze, and the setting sun lounged lazily among them.

Carrying their fishing gear, the two strolled over at a leisurely pace. 

The park wasn’t far—less than a thirty-minute walk.

It was called Lakeside Park, named after the large lake nestled within it.

The park was beautifully maintained.

Towering trees lined the path, their interwoven branches leaning toward each other, forming a natural green canopy that shaded the walkway.

It was said that Lakeside Park was built on the site of an old opera garden from the Republican era. 

After renovations, the buildings retained a classical charm, rich in nostalgic elegance.

The park bustled with people, mostly families from nearby neighborhoods out for a stroll or to catch the evening breeze. 

There were also others like them, carrying fishing rods, clearly headed for the lakeshore.

The two of them found a shady spot by the water and sat down to fish.

The sunset, the gentle chatter of parkgoers, the tranquil lake.

A harmony of stillness and liveliness filled the air—a sense of ordinary, grounded humanity. 

Qu Yanning baited his hook and cast his line. 

Before long, there was a slight twitch on the surface—the bobber trembled once or twice. 

He held steady. 

After a moment, a fish took the bait in full.

The rod dipped sharply. 

Qu Yanning pulled back fast, reeling in a flailing black-edged crucian carp and flipping it onto the shore.

He removed the fish and tossed it into a water bucket, then re-baited the hook. 

Turning to Chu Zhou, he stuck out his tongue and made a playful face. “One!”

Chu Zhou rolled his eyes dramatically. 

Every time they fished together, Qu Yanning always seemed like he had a cheat code—fish would practically throw themselves onto his hook. 

Chu Zhou was long past being surprised.

The sun sank lower and lower, until only a sliver remained above the horizon.

It was June—sunset came late—but the edge of the world had already begun to take on the hues of dusk.

The lake shimmered, its surface reflecting the red glow of the evening sky. 

And then, floating across the water, came the faint, haunting melody of traditional opera.

“Whether long or short, all dreams are dreams; The years come and go—what year is this one…”

The sorrowful, lilting voice was like a thin blade, slicing across the heart again and again. 

Qu Yanning’s fingers loosened—the rod slipped from his hands, and the bobber, once dancing with life, fell still. 

Only gentle ripples spread across the water’s surface.

“Are you sad?”

The melodic voice seemed to carry barbs.

A pale figure emerged slowly from across the lake, drifting closer and closer until she stood directly before Qu Yanning, leaning down to meet his eyes.