44. Cat and Bat Ball

Qiu Rong spent the night on a small sofa.

In the morning, he opened his eyes to a pitch-black room, unable to tell the time. He glanced at his phone and saw that it was just past eight o’clock.

There was a message notification from Huo Ye.

Huo Ye had been asked by Qiu Rong to take care of the cat, and Qiu Rong had thanked him before going to bed last night.

Huo Ye: …

Huo Ye: Hahaha…

Huo Ye: …No trouble at all.

That unlucky kid, not sure where he learned the habit of replying with so many ellipses.

Qiu Rong stretched lazily, loosening his stiff body, and went to greet his sleeping beauty wife inside the coffin.

Qiu Rong: “…”

Qiu Rong: “?”

Where was his wife?

His big wife?

Faced with the empty coffin, Qiu Rong stood in a daze for a full minute.

It wasn’t entirely accurate to say it was empty; there were messy clothes scattered in the coffin… and a slightly undulating lump?

Qiu Rong bent down, getting closer to the coffin. A white shirt arched up, revealing a little creature soundly sleeping underneath.

White fur protruded from the gaps in the shirt, and Qiu Rong gently unbuttoned it, opening the shirt. A familiar donut-shaped cat nestled in Yan Ling’s clothes, sleeping peacefully.

Qiu Rong: “…”

Qiu Rong stood there in a daze for another minute. Slowly, a string of exclamation marks emerged from his sluggish brain:

Surprise!

What should he do if his wife turned into a cat!?

And it was the cat that he had kissed, held, and put a collar on just yesterday morning!

That cuddly, head-bumping, and sometimes aggressive lion cat seemed to be!

Really his wife!!!

…

At this time in the morning, Vincent estimated that Qiu Rong would probably wake up soon. He was preparing breakfast in the kitchen when he heard hurried footsteps behind him. He turned around, and Qiu Rong came to a sudden stop.

Don’t be fooled by his fast running; his arms were steady.

The lion cat in his arms slept soundly, snoring softly.

Vincent: “…”

Qiu Rong became much calmer. He held the white cat and exchanged a glance with Vincent.

Everything was understood without words.

Vincent looked at the cat, then at Qiu Rong, his expression saying: Your Highness, I didn’t accidentally spill the beans.

Qiu Rong coughed, “…How did you suddenly turn into a cat? Will there be any problems?”

Vincent took off his apron and calmly replied, “There shouldn’t be any problems.”

“It’s likely due to the mixed energy that caused an unstable form.” Vincent carried bacon and eggs along with orange juice out of the kitchen and said to Qiu Rong, “You go ahead and have breakfast. I’ll take His Highness back. He’s still unable to wake up.”

Qiu Rong glanced at the cat in his arms, then at Vincent’s two hands and took a step back, “It’s okay, I’ll carry him downstairs.”

Back in the bedroom, Qiu Rong used the clothes dropped by Yan Ling to make a nest in the coffin. After a brief look, he took the clothes out and replaced them with the small blanket that Vincent had given him yesterday.

The fluffy air-conditioning blanket was neatly folded and placed in the coffin. The cat curled up on the blanket and continued sleeping, shaking its ears contentedly.

Qiu Rong was still a bit dizzy. He didn’t expect that after so long, the cat he sculpted as Director Yan turned out to be an actual cat.

He just got the direction wrong.

Director Yan was a Maine Coon not a Ragdoll cat.

Seeing Yan Ling in the form of a cat breathing, having a heartbeat, and body temperature, made Qiu Rong feel much more at ease.

He sat back in the dining room with Vincent sitting across from him, saying, “His Highness’ maternal clan is the cat clan.”

Qiu Rong had already guessed that. He thought of the enthusiastic designer aunt, “Then, Ms Yan…?”

Vincent nodded, “She’s a cat.”

Qiu Rong: “…”

Qiu Rong: “…Then, the LinQiu lion cat at the cat café who always greets Yan Ling specially?”

Vincent paused for a moment, “It might not be the same one, but they should all be cat clan members who don’t want to work and prefer to laze around at Ms Yan’s villa.”

Vincent explained, “Most of the cats in Ms Yan’s villa are strays or abandoned cats. Occasionally, people from the clan go there to work, help take care of the cats, and also serve the guests.”

“When humans turn into cats, they become even more adept at acting spoiled.”

Qiu Rong: “…Is that even allowed?”

Vincent: “Miss Yan pays a very high salary.”

Qiu Rong: “…”

Qiu Rong had previously been puzzled. With so many cats in the Cat Villa, how could Yan Zijue manage all of them by himself?

It turned out that the employees were mixed among the cats!

Vincent said that Yan Ling would probably need a few more days of sleep.

After finishing breakfast, Qiu Rong went downstairs to guard his sleeping beauty cat. He sat on a small stool next to the coffin and suddenly realized that the cat was right beside him. Then, what was Huo Ye taking care of at the villa last night?

Qiu Rong immediately called Huo Ye.

“Clan… Clan Leader…” Huo Ye stuttered and couldn’t complete a full sentence. Qiu Rong’s eyebrows furrowed tighter and the next second, a different person was on the phone, “Hello? Qiu Rong, it’s Daniel~ I’m with Huo Ye. We’re taking good care of your cat, so rest assured!”

Qiu Rong looked down at the little belly of the cat sleeping peacefully, oblivious to the world. “…”

Daniel seemed to sense Qiu Rong’s silence and cautiously ventured, “Perhaps you also have a white cat by your side now?”

Qiu Rong didn’t answer. “Let Huo Ye talk on the phone first.”

After a while, Huo Ye’s voice came through again, sounding anxious, “What’s wrong, Clan Leader?”

Qiu Rong said, “Delete the pictures I sent you last night, delete them all.”

Huo Ye: “…”

Because he was worried that the cat wouldn’t come home at night, Qiu Rong specifically sent Huo Ye a few cat pictures. If it got too late, he would ask Huo Ye to go near the villa and call the cat back home.

It was precisely after seeing these pictures that Daniel, who accompanied Huo Ye in taking care of the cat, immediately said, “It’s okay, no need to look for it. Just tell your Clan Leader that the cat is doing fine.”

Huo Ye: “…Isn’t that inappropriate?”

Although it wasn’t appropriate, his wife had spoken.

Huo Ye: Clan Leader, my wife says there really isn’t a problem and even says it’s for the sake of harmony in your family.

Otherwise, if the vampire prince found out his disguise had been exposed, he might get angry and go into self-isolation for another week.

Seeing the situation about to be revealed, and it seemed that his cousin’s disguise had already been exposed, Daniel snatched Huo Ye’s phone, “Qiu Rong, thanks for the pictures. The cat is really cute! I’ve already shared them with Sue~ Tell my brother that I really tried my best! Bye~”

Qiu Rong held the disconnected phone, “…”

The leaked photos of the wife cat, it’s over. This was the rhythm of continuing to live separately.

Qiu Rong collapsed against the side of the coffin, staring at the sleeping little kitten with tears in his eyes, hoping that Yan Ling the cat hadn’t heard anything.

In the afternoon, someone from the center came to visit Prince Kate, who was unconscious due to official matters.

Considering that Prince Kate is currently a cat, Vincent didn’t let anyone downstairs.

The little succubus   shook his peach-shaped tail, holding a toothpick and eating a watermelon that made his hands messy with juice. He extended his crimson tongue, licking up the juice along his wrist bone.

Qiu Rong: “…”

To be able to eat a watermelon in such a suggestive manner, he truly deserved to be called an imp.

Vincent realized that he had overlooked something and bowed, saying, “You two continue chatting, I’ll go cut the watermelon again.”

The little succubus   wiped the watermelon juice off his hands with a tissue and greeted Qiu Rong with his tail as he came up from downstairs.

“Zhong gege isn’t feeling well, so he asked me to take care of Prince.” The little succubus   leaned on the armrest of the sofa, getting close to Qiu Rong, his eyes bright. He whispered, “I already heard about it! So, you and Prince are lovers~ I’m so envious~”

Qiu Rong, sitting on the single sofa, couldn’t help but lean back. “You know Prince Kate?”

“I know him. I’m currently helping out in the Violation Handling Department, catching dogs.” The little succubus   propped his chin up with both hands and tilted his head. “Moreover, on that day, after you and Zhong gege left, it was Prince Kate who came to take me back to the center. He even asked me many questions about you.”

“Oh, so he asked so many questions because we’re lovers? I already guessed it!” The little imp’s peach-shaped tail swayed happily. He blinked and said, “Master Gu, can you tell me in detail about your romantic love story with Prince? I really want to hear a romantic love story~”

Qiu Rong: “…”

He declined politely.

In Qiu Rong’s awkward expression, the little succubus   exclaimed, “Oh well.” He sat up and reached into his pocket, pulling out a wax-sealed pill and handed it to Qiu Rong. “I almost forgot. I’m here to deliver medicine! This is the medicine Brother Zhongli asked Baize to make for Prince Kate. It will help Prince Kate wake up sooner.”

The little succubus   patted Qiu Rong’s back with his peach-shaped tail and comforted him, “Don’t worry, Brother Zhongli said Baize is amazing. Prince Kate will wake up soon.”

“Thank you.” The imp’s tail looked adorable, but it had quite some strength. Qiu Rong choked a bit from the pat and coughed as he accepted the pill.

Vincent returned with the watermelon cut into small pieces. The little imp’s attention was drawn to the watermelon, and he picked up a small fork to eat it. Sweetly, he said, “Thank you, Vincent~”

While enjoying the watermelon, the little succubus   tapped the sofa with his tail and asked eagerly, “By the way, I caught the dogs together with Vincent~ We shut down many illegal places in Chunhe Road. Zhongli brother praised me as being particularly amazing~”

Qiu Rong and Vincent exchanged a glance: “…”

If they remembered correctly, Meng Baichuan, who was taken to the police station with his head in his hands, was caught by Vincent.

Love was caught before it was salvaged.

Qiu Rong: “Impressive, indeed.”

The little succubus   really wanted to see Prince Kate’s condition. After being fooled by Vincent and Qiu Rong’s combined efforts and being fed quite a few snacks, he left happily.

Qiu Rong pinched open the wax seal of the pill. It wasn’t large and had a strong scent of Chinese herbs. Comparing the pill to the sleeping cat, Qiu Rong broke it in half.

He held the two halves of the pill in his hands, circled around the coffin, but couldn’t decide how to administer them.

“Let me do it.” Vincent, standing beside him, couldn’t bear it any longer.

Qiu Rong circled in the opposite direction once again, still hesitant to pry open his wife’s mouth. He had to give up and let Vincent take the two halves of the pill, which he skillfully administered in three seconds.

Qiu Rong: “…”

Qiu Rong: “Why are you so skilled at this?”

Vincent pulled out a handkerchief to wipe his hands and calmly said, “I used to give medicine to dogs.”

Qiu Rong: “…”

Yan Mao Mao, who was in a deep sleep: “…”

It was said that Baize’s medicine would take effect quickly, so Qiu Rong continued to sleep downstairs tonight.

Vincent turned on a small night light, leaving the space for one person and one cat.

There were no bedtime stories from Vincent tonight. Qiu Rong leaned against the side of the coffin, using his arm as a pillow while watching the cat’s rising and falling belly.

The warm light of the night light cast a gentle filter on the cat, and Qiu Rong quietly reached out and touched the soft fur.

When Qiu Rong borrowed the bathroom to take a bath earlier today, he found different fragrant shampoos and shower gels placed by the bathtub. Among them, there was one bottle that had a scent similar to the Maine Coon. It seemed that Yan Ling deliberately changed the shampoo during the time he turned into a cat, in order to mislead Qiu Rong.

Now Qiu Rong was also using the same shampoo, emitting the same scent as the cat.

Thinking that his wife had secretly stayed by his side for these few days, Qiu Rong lowered his eyes, really wanting to sleep together with Yan Mao Mao.

*mao – cat

But Vincent wouldn’t let him enter the coffin…

Qiu Rong stared at the cat for a long time, then stood up and unbuttoned one of his buttons.

Humans couldn’t go inside the coffin.

But a wolf should be able to, right?

The next day, Yan Ling woke up from a long sleep.

The surroundings were warm and comfortable, making him reluctant to open his eyes.

His throat involuntarily made a purring sound, and only then did Yan Ling realize that he was in his lion cat form.

Various conversations between Vincent and Qiu Rong flashed through his mind, and Yan Ling was startled. He abruptly opened his eyes and found that Qiu Rong was not by his side.

He couldn’t help but let out a sigh of relief, considering taking the opportunity while Qiu Rong was away to quickly transform back.

The sensation beneath his four paws was warm and soft. The cat stretched lazily and kneaded the blanket beneath him as if he was nursing.

Yan Ling lowered his head in contentment, but suddenly realized that the “blanket” was moving and breathing.

Yan Ling: “…”

A wolf head, bigger than a cat, stretched over and gently licked the still dazed little kitten.

…

“Awooo!”

The wolf head covered its nose that was punched by the cat and howled in pain. The little kitten turned around, jumped to the edge of the coffin, and fluffed up its fur, emitting a “ha” sound toward the wolf head.

Qiu Rong transformed back into his human form while wiping away tears, looking dejected. He said, …Wife, It’s me.”

Little did he know, the lion cat responded with another “ha” sound and pounced again, this time with its back facing Qiu Rong. Its tail flared up like a squirrel, swaying aggressively.

Qiu Rong, having been punched twice by his wife, felt dizzy and about to be wronged. Then he saw himself sitting completely naked inside the prince’s coffin.

Now things have truly become bizarre.

Qiu Rong’s face turned red, and he hurriedly crawled out of the coffin and put on his clothes in a fluster.

Yan Mao Mao pricked his ears, listening to the commotion behind him, and when he felt it was almost over, he turned around.

Qiu Rong, feeling inexplicably nervous, didn’t know where to put his hands.

Feeling awkward to look down at his wife, Qiu Rong half squatted down to align his gaze with the cat. He stammered, “Why… why haven’t you changed back?”

Yan Mao Mao: “…”

The cat meowed speechlessly.

After all, they were a couple. Qiu Rong felt fortunate and quickly stood up, running upstairs to fetch clothes for his wife.

Vincent found a set of clothes, Qiu Rong took them and went into the bedroom, only to find that the cat was gone, replaced by his beautiful wife.

The prince seemed to feel that his previous reaction was a bit excessive and felt embarrassed. So at this moment, he sat calmly at the edge of the coffin, facing Qiu Rong with a cold expression.

A pair of magnificent bat wings folded slightly, obscuring the perfectly proportioned figure.

The black wings moved, and the prince extended a hand, awakening Qiu Rong from his daze. He said, “Clothes, give them to me.”

The cool voice was like a faint spark, landing on Qiu Rong’s ears and igniting a crimson flame.

Although they had already met honestly countless times before, the pitch-black wings, pale skin, and indifferent demeanor made Qiu Rong feel as if he was sharing a room with his beloved for the first time. His heart was pounding in a fluster.

He quickly handed the clothes to Yan Ling, turned around, and closed his eyes.

The sound of fabric rubbing together in a “rustle rustle” quickly ceased, but Yan Ling remained silent.

Qiu Rong stood there and waited for a while before asking softly, “Are you ready?”

The prince responded with a muffled sound. Qiu Rong turned around and saw Yan Ling, who had put on the clothes, still sitting in the coffin. His seemingly aloof face showed a hint of embarrassment and vexation.

Qiu Rong walked to the edge of the coffin and tilted his head to look at his self-contained wife.

Before he could speak, with a “swoosh” sound, the newly changed shirt met a valiant sacrifice, and the prince inside the coffin curled up into a bat ball, fiercely as if saying, “If you want to laugh, go ahead.”

Qiu Rong couldn’t help but laugh a couple of times, seemingly fearless for his own life.

Looking at the increasingly withdrawn bat ball, Qiu Rong took off his shoes and also sat inside the coffin.

Puppy Qiu reached out and poked the beautiful bat wings, softly pleading, “Let me take a look at my wife first. I miss him so much.”

The bat wings moved lightly.