Chapter 13: A Sudden Illness

Today was the fifth day that Song Jin and Duan Yan had spent together day and night.

Duan Yan’s life was quite monotonous, which made her feelings for the cat even easier to understand. In these few days, she had practically figured Duan Yan out completely.

Duan Yan had infinite tolerance for the little cat. Her bottom line was so low it was practically nonexistent, just like how her grandmother would dote on her when she was a child.

Song Jin, having been pampered at home growing up, naturally accepted Duan Yan’s meticulous care.

After all, she had sold her looks, been petted and touched, “tormented” to no end. Was there any part of her body that didn’t carry Duan Yan’s scent!

And so, Song Jin began to live the life of a cat master at Duan Yan’s place.

Duan Yan fed her delicious food, poured her water by hand, carried her when she walked, and slept with her.

Occasionally, when she was not “served” comfortably, she would even raise a paw to give Duan Yan a little “lesson.”

Song Jin lay in Duan Yan’s arms, feeling a little uncomfortable from the “wandering hand” petting her. She glared at Duan Yan, shifted into a more comfortable position, and continued to lie there.

Duan Yan chuckled, her fingers gently stroking the little cat’s soft fur, her eyes filled with deep adoration.

“Finally putting on some meat. It seems my care is having an effect.”

Her words were filled with joy and a sense of accomplishment at the little orange cat’s growth.

Song Jin, however, wrinkled her little brow in dissatisfaction, a small spark of anger flickering within her as she let out a sound of protest.

“Hiss—”

‘What does she mean? Is she laughing at me for getting fat?’

After lunch, Duan Yan had an interview scheduled for the afternoon. She knew the little cat would insist on going with her, but the venue might be crowded. Duan Yan couldn’t help but worry. What if the little cat got lost?

“Don’t run around later, you hear? Bad people will snatch you away!”

Duan Yan’s tone carried a hint of seriousness, her two hands forming claws in an attempt to intimidate the little cat and protect it.

“Meow meow~”

‘Nonsense, of course I won’t run around.’

Song Jin gave Duan Yan a few perfunctory meows to show she understood.

Duan Yan was still not at ease. In the car, she instructed her assistant, Xu Qin, again, basically telling her to take good care of the little cat.

Xu Qin was Duan Yan’s personal assistant. She had taken a short vacation after Duan Yan won the award and was now back at work.

The sunlight from outside shone through the glass onto the little orange cat in Duan Yan’s arms, casting a golden glow on it, giving it an indescribable air of nobility and elegance.

Xu Qin looked at the soft, cute little animal, feeling an urge to pet it. She looked up and asked, “Sister Yan, can I pet it?”

“It’s not that I won’t let you, it’s just that it only lets me pet it.”

Duan Yan’s tone was helpless.

Duan Yan was very good to her personal assistant, unlike others in the industry who were polite to their assistants in public but ordered them around in private, not treating them as human beings.

Song Jin highly approved of Duan Yan’s character. As expected of the person she considered her rival.

But letting the assistant pet her was absolutely out of the question. The moment she saw Xu Qin’s hand, Song Jin raised her paw, baring her teeth, “Hiss—”

Xu Qin gave a sheepish smile, “It seems it doesn’t like me very much.”

Duan Yan smiled, a hint of veiled satisfaction in her expression.

At one in the afternoon, Duan Yan arrived at the interview location. This was very much in line with her style; she always arrived on site early.

The interview was scheduled to start at two. The staff led Duan Yan and Xu Qin into the dressing room.

The dressing room was large and had all the necessary facilities, making it feel warm and comfortable.

In the corner sat a girl in a blue long dress. She was a female star who had recently emerged from a talent show, Ming Yue.

Song Jin had interacted with her before. She was a rather shy and gentle person. Because of her cat-attracting constitution, she had once helped Ming Yue find her cat, so they had a bit of a friendly relationship.

“Senior Duan, you’re so early.”

Ming Yue was a bit reserved, biting her lip. When she saw the little orange cat in Best Actress Duan’s arms, her eyes suddenly lit up.

“What an adorable little cat.”

In Duan Yan’s arms, Song Jin vigilantly raised her paw. She had almost forgotten that Ming Yue was also a cat s*ave.

‘Cat slaves, stay away from me. Except for Duan Yan.’

“You’re very early too.” Duan Yan sat on the other side of the sofa, the corners of her lips turning up slightly, pleased by Ming Yue’s words. “Thank you. You like cats too?”

‘She just loves it when people praise her little cat. And the feeling that the cat only lets her pet it is so good!!!’

‘Hmph, after being disliked by fluffy creatures for so long, it’s finally others’ turn to watch her, Duan Yan, pet a cat. They must all be filled with envy, jealousy, and hate!’

Xu Qin brought over a cup of water that Duan Yan had poured and also brought one for Ming Yue.

Ming Yue was flattered, “Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it. I was just bullied by my cat master yesterday,” Ming Yue began to pour out her troubles at the mention of this.

“My cat is like that too, so naughty.”

Duan Yan gave her signature faint smile, but for some reason, Song Jin felt that this smile was very off.

“Is your cat like that too? Can people really understand cats? Its temper is worse than mine!”

“Yesterday, while I was getting my cat-cuddle fix, I don’t know what happened, but the little cat suddenly scratched me. It even woke up in the middle of the night to do parkour…”

Ming Yue continued to complain, revealing a faint scratch on her arm.

“Ah, is that so?” Duan Yan seemed very surprised, somewhat incredulous.

“My cat doesn’t seem to have ever done that. She’s more clingy. She usually goes to sleep with me on time and has never scratched me. Are cats really like that?”

Hearing this, Song Jin finally got the gist.

‘Isn’t this just like when parents sit together to talk about their children, and a certain green-tea-flavored parent first belittles their child and then casually humblebrags?’

‘Tsk tsk, what an act. Duan Yan’s manager has so many cats, how could she not know?’

Song Jin couldn’t help but complain internally. ‘What a childish way to show off.’

“Wow, that’s so wonderful. Such a peerless cat, a model of feline virtue.”

Duan Yan rejected Ming Yue’s praise, replying humbly, but the upturned corners of her mouth could not be hidden.

“Not at all, your little cat is very well-behaved too…”

Song Jin couldn’t bear to listen anymore. She couldn’t stand it. She silently sympathized with Ming Yue for a second.

‘What a strong scent. Best Actress Duan, smell it yourself. Isn’t it green tea? —Good tea.’

As they chatted, others arrived one after another. Duan Yan entrusted the little cat to her assistant, Xu Qin, asking her to help take care of it and contact her if anything happened.

“Mommy has to go to work now. Baby, be a good girl and wait for mommy to come back~”

After Duan Yan left, Song Jin squatted alone on the sofa, observing her surroundings, unwilling to be held by Xu Qin.

Song Jin suddenly felt a sharp wave of discomfort. Her body felt as if it were being dragged by an invisible force. She didn’t even have the strength to squat and could only lie limply on the sofa.

At first, Assistant Xu Qin didn’t notice anything wrong, thinking the little cat just wanted to sleep. She didn’t dare to go over and pet it, as the kitten would show its claws whenever she approached.

“Meow-wu~”

A faint, mournful cry. A plea for help came from Song Jin’s throat, her voice filled with helplessness and pain.

Hearing the faint sound, Xu Qin hurriedly touched the little cat’s body and was startled. It was burning hot.

But Duan Yan was still in the middle of an interview. She couldn’t just rush in and ruin it…

‘What to do?’

Xu Qin was no fool to have become Duan Yan’s assistant.

The cat was sick now, so of course, the priority was to get it treated.

Xu Qin quickly opened her phone, searched for the nearest well-known pet hospital, and took the cat there. She then asked a nearby staff member to tell Duan Yan to meet her at the hospital, while she herself rushed there with the kitten.

Being held in Xu Qin’s arms, Song Jin couldn’t smell the familiar scent and felt even worse.

‘Where is Duan Yan? Why isn’t she coming to see me?’

A sense of grievance welled up in her heart for no reason, and her longing for Duan Yan turned into a small complaint.

She had gotten too used to Duan Yan.

Duan Yan had just finished rehearsing her positions for the interview and was on a ten-minute break.

She took out her phone, wanting to check on the little cat, but saw a message from Xu Qin from five minutes ago.

Her little cat was sick.

In the photo, the usually lively little cat was now curled up listlessly.

Her heart felt as if it had been struck a heavy blow, so painful she couldn’t breathe.

Duan Yan’s brows furrowed tightly, her eyes filled with worry and anxiety. She made an immediate decision to postpone the interview.

“I’m sorry, my cat seems to be sick. I’m afraid I’ll have to leave today’s rehearsal. But I have memorized the rehearsal just now, and tomorrow’s work will not be affected.”

Duan Yan’s voice carried a faint, imperceptible tremor. Her heart had already flown to the little orange cat’s side.

“If your esteemed station believes my attitude is disrespectful, then please consider replacing me before the interview announcement is made.”

Duan Yan rushed to the pet hospital.

Her heart felt as if it were being gnawed by countless ants, anxiety and unease spreading through her blood.

By the time she arrived, Xu Qin had also just reached the hospital entrance. Duan Yan took the cat from Xu Qin’s arms and walked into the hospital.

Duan Yan could feel how weak it was. Its body trembled slightly in her embrace, not even having the strength to raise its paw. On a normal day, it would have already swiped at her face without hesitation.

Its body temperature was alarmingly high, like holding a small furnace.

The small body in her hands was as light as a feather. Its breathing was shallow and rapid, and even its usually curious eyes had become dull and lifeless.

‘It was so lively when they came here before, but now…’

Song Jin felt terrible all over. Her head ached terribly, and her body had no strength at all. She could only let out a faint sound.

“Meow-wu—”

Sensing the familiar scent, she struggled to open her eyes and saw Duan Yan’s anxious face.

‘What was going on? Wasn’t Duan Yan in an interview?’

‘She actually ditched the interview for me and brought me to the hospital.’

Song Jin was deeply moved. Something unknown stirred in her heart, like a child who had been bullied outside finding a pillar of support. Uncontrollable, physiological tears began to fall.

“Baby, don’t worry. Mommy will take you to see the doctor right away. It’ll be over in a moment. Be good~”

Duan Yan cooed at the little cat in a soft, low voice, her tone impossibly gentle.

Her heart ached terribly. She would rather the little cat regain its former vitality, even if it meant being swatted by its paws, than see it in such a sickly state.

Hearing Duan Yan’s gentle, soothing voice, Song Jin’s nerves relaxed. She groggily closed her eyes, feeling the pain in her body lessen considerably.