Wei Xiaochi took a car to Jiang Zhan’s house, and it was Aunt Zhou who opened the door for him.

“Xiao Wei, you’re here!” Aunt Zhou greeted with a wide smile.

Wei Xiaochi was slightly stunned by her enthusiasm and quickly explained, “I’m here to bring Jiang Zhan some cold drinks.”

Aunt Zhou grumbled as she brought over a pair of slippers that Wei Xiaochi had worn yesterday. “Freshly squeezed juice at home, and you want to drink these outside, full of artificial flavorings and colorings.”

Wei Xiaochi awkwardly accepted the slippers, feeling a little embarrassed.

“Don’t just stand there at the door, it’s so hot outside. I’ve made some rock candy pear soup, let me get you a cup.”

Aunt Zhou skillfully took the lemon water from Wei Xiaochi’s hands and headed to the kitchen to get the pear soup.

Wei Xiaochi changed into the clean slippers and stood by the entrance, not moving.

“Xiao Wei!” Aunt Zhou called from inside.

Wei Xiaochi hurried over, and Aunt Zhou handed him two cups of pear soup.

“Go upstairs and chat, dinner will be ready soon.”

Seeing that she was inviting him to stay for dinner, Wei Xiaochi quickly declined, “I’m having dinner at home today.”

“Come on, stay for dinner. I’ve got sticky rice ribs steaming on the stove, and they sent over a lot of shrimp today. They’re huge, all lively and jumping around. I’ve cleaned them, mashed them into shrimp paste, and I’ll make shrimp balls for you.”

“Stay and try my cooking.” Aunt Zhou tried hard to persuade him, “If you don’t like shrimp or ribs, just tell me what you like, and I’ll make something else.”

Wei Xiaochi had never been treated like this before, feeling a little flustered and quickly shaking his head.

Although Jiang Zhan had a bad temper, his family was surprisingly easygoing.

Aunt Zhou was like this, and Jiang Zhan’s sister was the same.

Seeing that Wei Xiaochi was genuinely honest and gentle, Aunt Zhou affectionately ruffled his hair. “Go upstairs, the young master is in his bedroom.”

What a good little O, how did he catch the attention of this little hellraiser?

Wei Xiaochi: “Okay.”

Wei Xiaochi knocked on Jiang Zhan’s bedroom door while holding the two cups of pear juice. Upon hearing someone inside say “come in,” he opened the door and walked in.

Jiang Zhan’s complexion had improved a lot compared to yesterday. He was sitting cross-legged on the bed, holding a ball in his hands.

With a twist of his alpha wrist, he threw the ball high toward the ceiling, and when it came down, he caught it steadily, then tossed it back up and caught it again.

Since Wei Xiaochi entered, Jiang Zhan had been playing with the ball without even glancing at him.

Wei Xiaochi walked over and handed Jiang Zhan the pear juice. “Aunt downstairs asked me to bring this to you.”

Jiang Zhan stopped throwing the ball, holding it with one hand and taking the pear juice with the other. He tilted his head back and drank two big gulps, the motion of his throat visible as he swallowed.

He put the cup down and continued playing with the ball, the lines of his arm stretching out smoothly and attractively.

Seeing that Jiang Zhan hadn’t asked about the lemon water, Wei Xiaochi felt relieved.

“What are you standing there for?” Jiang Zhan’s gaze never left the ball, his voice tight and without much fluctuation. “Sit.”

Wei Xiaochi nervously held the glass cup and slowly sat at the edge of the bed, asking, “Are you feeling better?”

“Mm.”

Wei Xiaochi was happy. “The heat sensitivity has passed?”

“Mm.”

Wei Xiaochi relaxed, muttering to himself, “Looks like it’s fine, that’s good.”

Jiang Zhan paused, then suddenly added, “The sensitivity period isn’t over yet, I just don’t have a fever anymore.”

No wonder he had called him over again today, Wei Xiaochi understood in his heart.

The ball continued to hit the ceiling with a series of thudding sounds, growing faster and louder. Jiang Zhan glanced at Wei Xiaochi uncomfortably.

Jiang Zhan asked, “Why aren’t you drinking?”

Wei Xiaochi looked up at the expressionless alpha and then realized he was asking why he wasn’t drinking the pear juice. He lowered his head and took a sip.

The taste was good, so Wei Xiaochi took another two sips.

The door, which had been slightly ajar, creaked open, and before Wei Xiaochi could even react, something furry pounced onto the bed.

It was a large orange-and-white cat.

Wei Xiaochi stared in surprise at the cat, and it looked back at him with amber-colored eyes.

The orange cat tilted its head, meowed, then leaped into Wei Xiaochi’s arms.

“Nine out of ten orange cats are fat, and this one is no exception.”

Wei Xiaochi felt a pressure on his chest, like he had been hit by something, but instinctively, he still held onto it.

Jiang Zhan saw this, threw the ball aside, and grabbed the orange cat by the scruff of its neck, trying to pull it away from Wei Xiaochi.

Although the cat was fat, it was surprisingly agile. With a powerful kick, it knocked Jiang Zhan’s hand away and crawled back into Wei Xiaochi’s arms.

Jiang Zhan’s face darkened even further.

Seeing a potential battle between man and cat about to break out, Wei Xiaochi quickly intervened, “Don’t hit it.”

Seeing that Wei Xiaochi was siding with the cat, Jiang Zhan’s eyes flared with anger. “I’m not hitting it! It’s this stupid cat that hit me, it kicked my hand.”

Jiang Zhan pointed at his hand and exclaimed, “See this!”

“…”

Wei Xiaochi looked at Jiang Zhan’s hand, which didn’t even have a scratch or claw mark.

Jiang Zhan grumbled, “Throw it out, it’s shedding fur everywhere, I’ll have a whole bed of it.”

Wei Xiaochi, who was quite liked by cats and dogs, also liked them very much. He thought that when he was able to, he would adopt one to keep him company.

Cats and dogs were spiritual beings, and if you were going to keep one, you had to treat them well.

Jiang Zhan clearly had the conditions and ability to keep pets, but he wasn’t cherishing them, and Wei Xiaochi couldn’t help but feel a little uncomfortable in his heart.

Wei Xiaochi gently stroked the orange cat’s soft fur, speaking quietly, “…If you don’t like it, why keep it?”

The fat orange cat seemed to really like the scent of Wei Xiaochi, rubbing its face against his fingers with its eyes squinted.

Jiang Zhan glared at the annoying cat. “It’s not mine, it’s Song Langlang’s.”

Wei Xiaochi didn’t know who Song Langlang was, but the name sounded like a girl’s.

Seeing the cat lick Wei Xiaochi’s hand, Jiang Zhan fumed, “Throw it out.”

Jiang Zhan’s reaction was too extreme, and Wei Xiaochi, remembering that Jiang Zhan was afraid of dogs, couldn’t help but curiously ask, “Do you not like furry animals, or are you allergic to their fur?”

“I’m not allergic, I just don’t like them. Didn’t you see it kick me?” Jiang Zhan scowled, making a serious warning, “This is a dangerous cat. It seems all sweet and tame now, but it’s probably plotting how to scratch you in the face.”

“Just throw it out, Song Langlang will come pick it up tomorrow. Keep it in the room for now.”

Wei Xiaochi looked at Jiang Zhan, who was incredibly serious, and his lips twitched.

Jiang Zhan furrowed his brow and didn’t like the way Wei Xiaochi was looking at him. “What are you staring at me for?”

“Nothing.” Wei Xiaochi quickly lowered his head and then cautiously asked, “Did you ever get scratched by a cat before?”

“No.” Jiang Zhan gave Wei Xiaochi a cold glance, “How could I ever be scratched by it? I’m not like you, holding it and letting it lick your fingers.”

“…”

Wei Xiaochi whispered, “It kicked you because… you weren’t friendly to it first.”

Jiang Zhan thought to himself, It came up to my bed without saying anything, what was I supposed to do, be friendly to it?

“You need to establish trust first, gently stroke its fur, if it’s not bothered, then you can stroke down its neck and back.”

Wei Xiaochi demonstrated how to pet the cat for Jiang Zhan. “Once it’s comfortable with you, you can pick it up, it definitely won’t scratch or bite you.”

This orange cat had probably been bathed at a professional pet store recently, its fur was fluffy and soft, with a very faint scent.

Wei Xiaochi stroked it from top to bottom, and the cat closed its eyes, purring comfortably, even rubbing its head against Wei Xiaochi’s face.

The Omega smiled gently, his eyes soft.

Jiang Zhan stared at him, feeling a tingling sensation in his chest.

Wei Xiaochi stroked the cat a little more, pulling out its claws from between its paws, “See, its claws have been trimmed.”

He looked up just in time to meet Jiang Zhan’s dark, captivated gaze, and Wei Xiaochi froze for a moment.

Jiang Zhan hurriedly looked away, and for a split second, his usual aloof demeanor returned.

He turned his head, his ears turning red, but his words were harsh, “Trimming its claws doesn’t mean it can’t scratch you.”

Wei Xiaochi noticed the pink at the tips of his ears, and his heart skipped a beat. He asked on impulse, “Its fur is really soft, do you want to pet it?”

Jiang Zhan snorted coldly from his nose, “What’s there to pet? It’s just going to leave fur all over.”

Though he said that, he reached out and forcefully petted the orange cat’s head.

Jiang Zhan’s forceful petting made the cat’s fur tighten, as if he was combing his granddaughter’s hair.

Wei Xiaochi flinched at the roughness, “Gently, gently.”

Jiang Zhan impatiently muttered “annoying,” but his touch lightened considerably. He followed Wei Xiaochi’s example, scratching the back of the fat cat’s neck, his long fingers trailing all the way down to its tail.

Jiang Zhan grabbed the fluffy tail and shook it, then expressionlessly pinched the tail tip.

The orange cat immediately stretched its neck and let out a coarse meow.

Jiang Zhan grimaced, “It meows so terribly.”

“…”

Wei Xiaochi had never seen such hardcore cat petting.

When Jiang Zhan tried again, he became more skilled, grabbing the neck and stroking it all the way down.

After a few strokes, Jiang Zhan glanced at the cat still curled up in Wei Xiaochi’s arms, “Why won’t this fatty rub up against me? Earlier, when you petted it, it rubbed its ears against your face.”

Wei Xiaochi: “…Could you be a little gentler?”

“Tch, so dramatic.”

Jiang Zhan gave it another stroke and then leaned over to rub his face against the cat’s ears.

“It’s okay, not that comfortable.”

He rubbed his face along the cat’s back again, and then pulled a cat hair from his face, holding it out to Wei Xiaochi, “I told you it sheds.”

Wei Xiaochi: “…”

With a disgusted look on his face, Jiang Zhan picked up the cat and rubbed its belly, then rubbed it again.

The startled cat arched its back, its ears pricked up, and with a powerful kick, it struck Jiang Zhan’s face before jumping off the bed.

Jiang Zhan looked smug, as though he had caught a piece of evidence, and pointed at Wei Xiaochi, “See? I told you it was dangerous, but you didn’t believe me!”

“…”

Wei Xiaochi knew that Jiang Zhan was unreasonable, but he didn’t expect him to be this unreasonable.

Jiang Zhan’s sensitivity period hadn’t passed, so the reason he asked Wei Xiaochi to come over tonight wasn’t just for dinner. Even Wei Xiaochi, who wasn’t too sharp, knew that Jiang Zhan still needed his pheromones.

Jiang Zhan had helped him a lot in the past, and Wei Xiaochi was very grateful. Since the other person had a need that Wei Xiaochi could fulfill, he wasn’t about to turn him down.

That evening, without needing Jiang Zhan to ask, Wei Xiaochi stayed over on his own accord.

Fang Yuan wasn’t the type to pry, so she didn’t question his frequent late returns or staying out all night.

After dinner, Wei Xiaochi started working on his homework, while Jiang Zhan sat next to him, playing on his phone.

He had turned off the game sound and made no noise, not disturbing Wei Xiaochi. The fat orange cat, who really liked Wei Xiaochi, was lying by his feet, playing around.

Jiang Zhan occasionally glanced at the cat as it exposed its belly, kicked its front paws around, or chased its tail, but most of the time, it was lying on Wei Xiaochi’s slippers, napping. Jiang Zhan thought to himself, as expected, it was a stupid cat.

The second-year workload was also very heavy, especially for the advanced class. While the assignments weren’t many, they were tough.

When Wei Xiaochi focused on his studies, his sensitivity to his surroundings dropped. This was a skill he had developed in middle school to escape reality.

After finishing his homework, Wei Xiaochi sighed in relief. When he stretched his arms and legs, he startled both the person and the cat clinging to him.

With the game’s sound turned off, Jiang Zhan’s enthusiasm for it diminished. First, he watched the cat act foolish, then his attention gradually shifted to Wei Xiaochi, almost leaning his whole body toward him.

If not for his arms propping against the couch, Jiang Zhan would have fallen onto Wei Xiaochi. He quickly pulled away to put some distance between them.

Jiang Zhan’s movements were exaggerated, and Wei Xiaochi’s heart skipped a beat as he stared at the alpha.

“What are you looking at?” Jiang Zhan turned his face away and barked, “Take a shower and go to sleep.”

Wei Xiaochi quickly looked down, his gaze wandering. “Okay.”

The warm water flowed down repeatedly, sliding across Wei Xiaochi’s brow and eyes, turning into thousands of droplets that traced his every inch of skin, eventually collecting on the floor.

Wei Xiaochi wiped the water off his eyelids, turned off the shower, and squinted as he reached for a towel.

He dried off his body and was about to change into Jiang Zhan’s pajamas when he heard voices from outside.

Thinking it was Jiang Zhan talking to him, Wei Xiaochi hurriedly put on the clothes and opened the door.

The voices outside immediately became clearer:

“Move, why are you lying in front of me?”

Wei Xiaochi didn’t quite understand what Jiang Zhan meant, so he stuck his damp head out to look.

Jiang Zhan was still sitting on the couch, his back to Wei Xiaochi. While Wei Xiaochi couldn’t see his expression, from the tone of his voice, he could tell Jiang Zhan was definitely wearing his usual aloof look.

Jiang Zhan was talking to the orange cat, which had its belly exposed, shamelessly trying to get Jiang Zhan to pet it. “Don’t come near me!”

“Did you hear me? Get away, don’t come near me.”

Wei Xiaochi heard Jiang Zhan call the cat a “fool” before he picked it up and cradled it in his arms.

“I just feel sorry for you.” Jiang Zhan, in a rare moment of humility, lowered his head and rubbed his chin against the cat’s ear.

The orange cat shook its ear from the touch.

Jiang Zhan gently scratched the cat’s neck, seemingly getting the hang of it, moving his hand around its neck, neither too light nor too hard, occasionally rubbing his face against it as well.

Jiang Zhan was so absorbed in petting the cat that it took him a moment to realize something was off. He suddenly turned around and froze when he saw Wei Xiaochi. His pupils constricted.

“What are you staring at me for?” Jiang Zhan looked like a husband caught sneaking a bite of dessert—panicked and flustered, but still trying to justify himself. “It’s the cat that’s always sticking to me.”

Wei Xiaochi’s gaze drifted past Jiang Zhan and landed on the bag behind him.

That was Wei Xiaochi’s bag. If he wasn’t mistaken, the cat had been curled up on top of it earlier. It must have been drawn to the scent, his scent.

His pheromones were valerian, and cats loved this smell. So, the cat had been sticking to him all day. When he wasn’t around, it likely lay down on his bag.

Yet, Jiang Zhan was unfairly accusing the cat of clinginess.

Earlier, when Wei Xiaochi saw Jiang Zhan rubbing his face against the cat, he had thought that maybe Jiang Zhan had discovered the pleasure of petting cats.

But Jiang Zhan still looked disgusted, not a single nice word from his mouth. Wei Xiaochi had thought maybe he was just overthinking it.

Now, Wei Xiaochi was sure: Jiang Zhan was attracted to the cat’s soft, fluffy fur, wanted to pet it, but refused to admit it and was now falsely accusing the cat of sticking to him.

How could anyone be as contradictory as Jiang Zhan?

Author Notes:

Xiao Chi, does this cat remind you of anyone?

Xiao Chi: …

Hahahahaha