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Chapter 18: The Pastry Chef Applicant (1/2)

Arriving at the familiar garbage bin ahead, Shen Cheng saw that it was still daytime, so he could see everything in the alley clearly.

He glanced around but still did not see any people or animals.

After looking left and right and confirming that there were no passersby, Shen Cheng took a deep breath and tentatively called out, “Is anyone there?”

There was a loud noise from the corner inside the alley, and Shen Cheng couldn’t help but laugh; the sound did not seem like something a small animal could make.

He placed the bag containing the cake at his feet and continued speaking to the bin, “I will come again tonight.”

The alley remained silent.

Shen Cheng shook his head with a smile and returned the way he came.

At the corner inside the alley, a slim figure leaned against the wall with hands crossed over the chest, occasionally clenching and unclenching fists, as if struggling with inner thoughts.

Finally, she seemed to have come to a realization, and her hands tightened into fists full of hope.

Unlike vagrant beggars along the street who might find work to support themselves if they were physically capable, cat girls were inherently stigmatized and could not integrate into human society. They didn’t even have the right to beg, having to hide in the shadows and scrape out an existence from leftovers.

However, humans and cats were physically different, from nutritional requirements to digestive systems.

On the way home, Shen Cheng recalled the question Sugar had asked him that night.

—what does Master think is the meaning of our creation?

He remembered his answer vaguely.

— Maybe the meaning of your existence is to live together with us?

But was that really the case?

“Should I discuss it with Huihui?” Shen Cheng admitted he softened his stance again—or rather, he never intended to give up on the cat girl; he just didn’t know how to broach the topic with Lin Yuhui.

Talking about it directly would be like declaring, “I want to open a harem!”

After all, it was Lin Yuhui’s home, not Shen Cheng’s…

For now, Shen Cheng was just doing what he wanted to do.

It was as if fate was joking with him, causing him to cross paths with these creatures who should only exist in fantasy, and Shen Cheng couldn’t bear to turn a blind eye to their plight or even death.

If Lin Yuhui were to scold him, she would say he was a “good person to the bone” and “so gentle it hurts.”

These were meant positively—or at least Shen Cheng thought so.

After walking such a long distance, a lot of the food in Shen Cheng’s stomach was digested.

Turning a corner, he saw from afar a girl with a bob haircut standing in front of the Cat Café’s entrance, looking about Shen Cheng’s age. Her hand was hesitating over the doorknob.

“We’re not open today.”

“Ah!” The girl with the bob haircut jumped like a startled fawn and quickly turned her head to look at Shen Cheng behind her, who also caught sight of her face.

A delicate, round face, looking very cute, with a weak temperament in her eyes, gave off a first impression of being… easily bullied?

“I… I’m sorry!” The timid girl gave a ninety-degree bow and immediately moved aside, leaving Shen Cheng at a loss.

Shen Cheng steadied himself, glanced at the recruitment notice posted on the door, and tentatively asked, “Are you here to apply?”

Oops, forgot to leave a phone number on it…

“Ah? Yes… yes!” The timid girl was taken aback and then stood straight, shouting like a student called out by an instructor during training.

Shen Cheng chuckled and waved his hand, saying, “No need to be so nervous. I’m the manager here. Come inside with me.”

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