The landlord called. Turns out the building’s circuits were fried. He’d send an electrician tomorrow. Under the circumstances, Ling Yan reluctantly agreed to sleep on the pillow next to mine for the night.
"So, you are afraid of ghosts?" I asked again, hiding under the quilt.
He shot me a proud, wounded look, huffed "Go to sleep," and burrowed in deeper.
When the landlord brought a repairman the next morning, I had to smuggle Ling Yan to school in my largest backpack, leaving a little gap so his frosty blue eyes could peek through.
He shot me a withering look. "You’re the first human who’s ever stuffed me into such a cramped space."
But still, he didn’t seem truly angry.
He’s really just a soft-hearted demon cat.
Despite my stiff shoulders from hugging my backpack through two classes, Xiaomei came over, grinning, to show off a flurry of cat photos on her phone.
"Like them? Don’t you just want to squeeze every one?"
Suppressing a squeal, I whispered "Can I see them for free?"
She smirked. "Look, I found a muscle guy covered in tattoos holding a Scottish Fold."
"Send those to me," I yelped, pulling out my phone.
Right then, the backpack squirmed. Ling Yan cracked the zipper open, eyes half-closed, staring with what felt like an intensely personal disappointment.
Caught red-handed. All those caramel tabby and calico cat pics didn’t feel so appealing now.
"I was just looking, I didn’t actually...."
"Yuxin," Xiaomei shrieked, eyes fixed on my backpack.
I slapped my hand over the zipper, shoving Ling Yan back in. "You must be imagining things."
"You’re cheating on me with another cat behind my back."
"No, I swear... He never lets me cuddle him anyway."
During PE, as our classes played basketball, Xiaomei clung to me, both of us sneaking peeks at sleepy Ling Yan. He slept soundlessly, resting his jaw on his own tail, every slow breath causing the snowy tips of his fur to shimmer.
Xiaomei looked like she’d die happy right then and there.
"Where’d you find this mystical cat?" she gushed.
"Just picked him up," I said honestly.
She huffed. "You don’t even bother making up a good lie anymore."
Suddenly, a plush keychain bounced onto my lap.
"Hey, can I trade this for a bottle of water?" asked a tall boy from the basketball court. Rui Chen, a top student from Linjiang Academy’s Class B, cast his shadow over me with a charming, energetic grin.
Xiaomei poked me covertly. "Say yes, say yes."
Flustered, I stuttered, "But I already drank from the bottle."
Rui Chen just smiled. "I don’t mind. Want to sit at the front row for the next round?"
My backpack wriggled. Ling Yan, clearly annoyed by all the noise, cracked an eye, yawned, then turned away.
Rui Chen, the literal dreamboat of Linjiang Academy, apparently had his sights set on me.
He sent me a friend request.
"And then?" Xiaomei pried.
"He asked if I wanted to watch his game tomorrow; said he’d save me a VIP seat."
"And then?" Wasn’t that enough?
I blinked helplessly at Ling Yan, draped across the couch at home.
"I mean, you said he was into you," Ling Yan said, finally opening his eyes, icy blue gaze so piercing I felt my ears burn.
I fiddled with the keychain, blinking down. "He’s the first guy who ever seemed to really like me."
"Is that so?" The lamplight played over Ling Yan’s eyes, making them unreadably deep.
I started trying to date Rui Chen.
But honestly, calling it dating might be a stretch. He’d invite me to watch his basketball games, sit me front and center in the highly coveted VIP seats. He’d whisk me away to Hupan’s trendiest influencer hotspots, treating me to dinners so extravagant I hadn’t even dared to dream of them.
He paraded me around in public as his girlfriend, confident, charming, never hiding me from the world.
But never once did he say he liked me.
That night, I hugged my pillow and crept into the living room, carefully lowering myself onto the far edge of the sofa. Ling Yan was stretched out there, arm propping up his head, eyes still closed.
"I'm not your wise, understanding older brother," he remarked dryly.
My cheeks flushed in embarrassment as I clutched my pillow tighter.
Ling Yan sat up at last, exhaustion plain in the way he pinched the bridge of his nose with his long, slender fingers.
"I'll heat up some milk for you," I blurted, vaulting off the couch and darting to the kitchen.
"Add a spoonful of sugar," he called out, his voice heavy with fatigue.
After downing his milk, I watched as the storm cloud over Ling Yan faded a degree.
He sniffed, unimpressed at my evening’s drama. "Someone who really likes you would never leave you feeling so insecure."
Not long into dating Rui Chen, I found myself the target of relentless rumors and backbiting.
"Does Rui Chen know how fake you are?" Another anonymous text.
I tossed my phone aside, trying to clear my head.
I’d already messed up the change twice today at my convenience store shift. Another blunder and I’d get fired by Mr Zhu, my notoriously thrifty boss. This job was my lifeline for cat food money.
"Didn’t get any groceries today. How about canned food for dinner?" I called as I kicked off my shoes.
But even before I reached the kitchen, a deep, mouthwatering aroma hit me.
On the dining table sat, astonishingly, a feast: two dishes and a soup, steaming and perfectly plated.
"You, did you cook this?" I gaped at Ling Yan, who stood leaning against the counter, arms crossed.
He shot a cold glance. "What, you’d rather eat more canned mush?"
After stuffing myself, I bounced to the kitchen to tackle the pile of dishes. Halfway through, an alarming thought struck me.
"You ate a lot of salt tonight. Will that make you shed..." My words barely left my lips when Ling Yan flicked his finger against my forehead.
"Why don’t you wish that I’ll never lose fur no matter what?" he muttered.
Grinning, I wiped my hands dry and hurried back. "You always think everything through."
He bristled, scowling. "What kind of demon do you think loses their fur?"
."
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