Isn’t This Just Saying She Got Fat…? 

[System Notification: Detected an increase in affection level between Host and Designated Target. Congratulations, host. The attribute “Guess Where I Hid It” has been upgraded.] 

The sudden system notification made Fei Yan pause in surprise. Whatever vague sense of shyness she had—wherever it had even come from—vanished quietly, leaving only a haze of confusion in the wake of Thirteen’s words. 

Why had the affection level increased again? Could it be because she offered to buy Chen Miansheng a hand warmer and he was touched by how thoughtful the little cat was? 

She smacked her lips and silently sighed. Chen Miansheng really was easy to please. 

So along the rest of the way, 

Fei Yan kept asking Chen Miansheng to stop and buy things like osmanthus cakes and paper lanterns. But this time, Thirteen remained silent, with no further notifications. 

Luckily, Chen Miansheng had a good temper. Thinking the items were just things his little orange cat liked, he simply bought whatever she pointed at. 

The only one who suffered was Gu Wu. Since Chen Miansheng was physically weak and couldn’t carry heavy things, all the purchased items ended up in Gu Wu’s hands. With both arms full, Gu Wu even began to suspect that the little orange cat had turned into a spirit and was using this as a chance to get back at him for nearly laughing in the hand warmer shop earlier. 

The following days were much the same. 

Fei Yan spent her time trying every method she could to swap out Chen Miansheng’s herbs without arousing suspicion, sleeping at Tong Yao Hall the entire day, occasionally sunbathing in the backyard when the weather was good, and then waiting for Chen Miansheng to come home and cook for her. 

The only thing was, Thirteen had been quiet for several days—no more rising affection levels notifications at all. 

This left Fei Yan a little puzzled. Was it because she, Fei Mao Mao, wasn’t cute enough? Or maybe she wasn’t trying hard enough? 

Still, Fei Yan was mentally a mature adult and understood that feelings couldn’t be forced. So she continued enthusiastically living her best life as Fei Mao Mao. 

That day— 

It was almost time to head to the medicine hall. After washing up and tidying the house, Chen Miansheng checked all the doors and windows inside and out before getting ready to leave. “Little Orange.” 

As soon as Fei Yan heard his voice, she dashed over at top speed, legs pumping and tail swaying from side to side—a clear “I’m ready!” look all over her face. 

Chen Miansheng smiled with his eyes, bent down slightly, and reached out to pick her up. 

Fei Yan timed it just right and leapt into his arms. The scent of pinewood and something cool filled her nose as Chen Miansheng caught her in a full embrace. 

This simple, ordinary action had been repeated many times between them. By now, Chen Miansheng should’ve been used to it. Yet this time, as he caught the little cat in his arms, he still raised his brows slightly in surprise. 

Fei Yan lifted her head to look at him. Upon noticing his expression, she tilted her head in confusion as if to ask, “What’s wrong?” 

Chen Miansheng pressed his lips together slightly, lowered his gaze to think over his wording, then curved his lips into a small smile and asked, “Little Orange, should I start watching what you eat?” 

As he spoke, he lifted and weighed her in his arms, the glint of mischief in his eyes unmistakable. 

Watch what she eats? 

It took Fei Yan a few seconds to fully grasp what he meant. 

Was he saying she’d gotten—fat? 

Fei Yan bared her tiny cat fangs in frustration, her temper flaring. She raised a paw to give him a warning swat, but just as she was about to touch his face, she withdrew it reluctantly. 

Forget it. She was the bigger cat. 

No need to stoop to Chen Miansheng’s level. 

Thinking that, Fei Yan quietly lowered her paw and rested her little head against his chest, turning so that only the back of her fluffy orange head faced him. 

Chen Miansheng could practically see the words “I’m sulking” written on the back of that round head. 

He couldn’t hold back a laugh. The corners of his lips lifted further, and his chest rose and fell with each breath. In the quiet around them, one could even faintly hear the strong beat of his heart. 

Fei Yan’s head rose and fell slightly with the rhythm of his heartbeat. The steady thump thump echoed in her ears, making her flick her ears uncomfortably. Even in this cat’s body, she could feel her face heat up. 

Tsk. 

Chen Miansheng was so annoying. 

Normally, Chen Miansheng would carry Fei Yan along the road to Tong Yao Hall. 

Though he had bought the hand warmer at her “encouragement,” aside from occasionally using it at home, he still preferred to keep warm by hugging his little orange cat. 

Fei Yan didn’t mind this at all. After all, Chen Miansheng smelled quite pleasant, and being carried meant she didn’t have to walk—a perfect excuse to be lazy. 

But today was different from usual. 

Fei Yan felt unsettled by the sound of that heartbeat. The longer she stayed in Chen Miansheng’s arms, the stranger it felt. Halfway along the road, she simply leapt down, no longer wanting him to carry her. 

Chen Miansheng assumed he had teased the little orange cat too much and that she was unwilling to go to the medicine hall with him. Just as he was about to coax her, he saw the cat sway her tail and strut forward on her own. 

After walking a few steps, she noticed Chen Miansheng wasn’t following and turned to look at him, as if urging him to catch up. 

Chen Miansheng raised an eyebrow, then shook his head and chuckled lightly. He lifted his feet and followed her. 

This little cat of his really was becoming more and more adorable. 

He truly had found himself a treasure. 

So the man and the cat walked one behind the other. Soon, the signboard of Tong Yao Hall came into view. 

Fei Yan was still dazed from Chen Miansheng’s earlier behavior and had kept her head down the whole way. Suddenly, she heard the footsteps behind her stop again. Curious, she turned around—only to see Chen Miansheng staring ahead with an uncharacteristically confused look on his face. 

Fei Yan followed his gaze. Her swaying tail paused, and she too looked confused. 

The usually quiet Tong Yao Pharmacy, which rarely had a single customer, now had a line of people outside. Many of the faces were unfamiliar—it was clear this was their first time coming to get medicine. 

Fei Yan wondered if her eyes were playing tricks on her. Even when Chen Miansheng picked her up around the waist, she barely reacted, letting him carry her into the shop. 

Gu Wu and Ah Chu were both weighing herbs. It was likely their first time dealing with so many customers, and the two of them were overwhelmed. 

Seeing Chen Miansheng, Gu Wu didn’t forget to look up and give him a respectful greeting. 

Chen Miansheng glanced meaningfully at the line inside the medicine hall and asked, “What’s going on?” 

Gu Wu quickly gestured: “I don’t know the full story either. But I overheard a few patients say that an old man who picked up medicine here a few days ago had finally recovered from a stubborn cold. Some of these new customers have similar symptoms, so they came after hearing about it.” 

Chen Miansheng lightly furrowed his brow. Gu Wu’s explanation seemed a bit questionable and failed to convince him. 

Only Fei Yan knew the real reason. After hearing Gu Wu’s words, she proudly swayed her tail. 

She knew it—so long as she, Fei Yan, was around, no illness was unsolvable. 

But now that there were more customers, the medicine hall was clearly getting busier. 

Gu Wu and Ah Chu were struggling to keep up with picking out herbs, and Chen Miansheng didn’t plan to just stand by. After placing the little orange cat onto a cushioned chair, he joined in to help. 

Afraid his cat might feel neglected and get upset, Chen Miansheng paused before stepping away. He gently rubbed her head with a large hand and reassured her, “Be good, Little Orange. I’ll play with you once I’m free.” 

Fei Yan squinted her eyes in enjoyment but curled her lips slightly in protest. In her mind, she retorted: Did he really think she was the type of cat who only cared about playing? 

Unfortunately, Chen Miansheng’s warm hand didn’t stay on her head for long. When the heat left, Fei Yan licked around her mouth, still wanting more. Then she quickly perked up and focused intently on reading the prescriptions handed in by the incoming customers. 

She had already noticed when they first entered that a small portion of these prescriptions had issues. Just like the one Wang Yuan brought before—they weren’t deadly, but they didn’t address the root of the illness. 

It was certainly odd. While the chances of so many incompetent doctors was slim, the frequency of these flawed prescriptions was suspiciously high—almost like it was intentional. 

But this was about treating people’s illnesses. Surely no one would mess around with something like that on purpose… right? 

Fei Yan wrinkled her nose, grumbling in her heart over what kind of amateur doctor could come up with such prescriptions. Meanwhile, she dashed between the herb drawers and counter, discreetly swapping ingredients. 

Thankfully, she now had her space. She could temporarily store herbs inside it and then place them onto mulberry paper—so long as no one was watching too closely, no one would notice a thing. 

That said, her movements made her quite conspicuous atop the counter. 

Ah Chu gave a complicated look at the little orange cat—who had just jumped onto the counter and then hopped down again within a minute—only to reappear seconds later. Unable to hold back, he muttered to Gu Wu beside him. 

“Brother Gu, isn’t the shopkeeper’s cat acting a little… strange today?” 

He trailed off, but the implication was clear. 

Gu Wu, who had the same thought, shot him a glance without pausing his work and replied slowly, “That’s the shopkeeper’s cat. Even if she turns the whole herb shelf upside down, we just have to endure it. Let alone today—she’s only come by a few extra times.” 

Thinking about how indulgent Chen Miansheng usually was toward the little cat, Ah Chu nodded and pretended he didn’t see anything. 

Fei Yan, too busy swapping herbs, didn’t hear any of their muttering. She even thought her current cat body was too inconvenient—she didn’t want to miss a single flawed prescription. 

When the last customer finally left, Fei Yan collapsed from exhaustion after a whole day of bouncing around. She lay spread-eagle on the floor. 

Chen Miansheng, who had come looking for her, couldn’t help but laugh when he saw the little orange cat in that state. He crouched down and gently stroked the soft fur on her neck, asking aloud: 

“Little Orange tired herself out today too, huh?” 

Too tired to even open her eyes, Fei Yan tilted her head up a little to make it easier for him to pet her. 

She had been busy running up and down all day. Of course she was tired. 

By then, Ah Chu had already left the medicine hall. Gu Wu walked up to Chen Miansheng and gestured: “Young Master, it’s time to go back.” 

Chen Miansheng responded with a quiet “Mm,” then scooped up the little orange cat in his arms. “Be good. I’ll make you some fish soup when we get home, alright?” 

The carp Wu Gang had brought earlier was still being kept in a wooden bucket. Afraid the cat might get bored with the same food every day, Chen Miansheng had been switching up her meals, so the carp had stayed. 

But hearing that all her hard work would only earn her a bowl of fish soup, Fei Yan was immediately displeased. Her soft paw landed on his shoulder, and she seriously shook her head. 

Seeing this, Chen Miansheng raised his brows slightly. “You want something else?” 

He lowered his eyes and thought for a moment before saying slowly, “But I don’t think we have any other meat at home.” 

The little orange cat really did eat meat too fast. Chen Miansheng had planned to visit Butcher Wu on his way to the medicine hall today to buy more, but he’d gotten distracted by the sulking cat and completely forgot. 

Now it had become a problem. 

No meat? 

Fei Yan’s eyes flew wide open. Her ears, which had been perked up, drooped visibly. Her lovely eyes shimmered with tears, and her little pink nose scrunched up pitifully. If she were still human, she might’ve burst into tears right in front of Chen Miansheng. 

Fei Mao Mao wanted meat. 

Fei Mao Mao was so wronged.