Chapter 15: Devious Tactics

It was seven o’clock in the evening.

Under the afterglow of the setting sun, Song Jin and Duan Yan arrived home.

She gracefully lifted the little cat out of the car and carefully placed the orange kitten in her arms onto the large bed covered with soft sheets in the bedroom.

On the bed, some small toys were already arranged according to the little orange cat’s preferences.

‘Has Duan Yan bought new toys again? These are all toys Song Jin has never seen before.’

Driven by curiosity, Song Jin stretched out a small paw and gently played with these novel little things.

Duan Yan pulled open the drawer of the bedside table, took out a wooden comb, and prepared to use it to groom the little cat’s fur, restoring its former fluffiness and luster.

The little orange cat had sweated a little from the fever, and its fur was a bit matted. Moreover, Duan Yan had noticed that the little orange cat never licked its own fur, which made her even more aware of her responsibility—to help the cute little cat groom its fur.

Duan Yan squatted by the bed, coaxing the little orange cat in a gentle voice, “Baby, mommy is here to help you comb your fur, okay~”

Song Jin tilted her head up slightly, nimbly raised a paw, and gently patted the back of Duan Yan’s hand, letting out a short, clear “Hiss—”

‘Comb what fur?’

‘My fur is very clean, okay? It’s obvious you just want to take this opportunity to take advantage of me.’

Song Jin keenly saw through Duan Yan’s thoughts and unceremoniously slid off the bed, gracefully leaping to the top of the cat climbing frame. She looked down at Duan Yan on the bed, her eyes filled with provocation and disdain.

However, Duan Yan just gave a faint smile and turned to leave the room.

‘She left?’

Song Jin’s eyes widened in disbelief as she watched Duan Yan’s departing figure. A sense of loss flowed quietly through her heart like a small stream.

‘Hey? You just left?’

‘It’s not that I won’t let you comb my fur. If you could say a few sweet words, I might have agreed.’

‘It’s all Duan Yan’s fault. I’m still sick, aren’t I? Why doesn’t she know how to coax me? Where did all that gentle coaxing from before go?’

The more Song Jin thought about it, the angrier she got. She simply closed her eyes, unwilling to look at Duan Yan anymore.

She had her principles. Unless Duan Yan came to coax her, otherwise… otherwise, she would not sleep with Duan Yan tonight. She would make Duan Yan feel deep regret.

The “da-da-da” of footsteps and the sound of the door pushing open—Duan Yan was back.

Suddenly, her nose caught an alluring scent of meat—it was dried fish!

Song Jin’s sense of smell was keen, and she immediately identified the aroma.

‘Hmph, Duan Yan actually wants to use dried fish to coax me. I won’t give in so easily. I need at least ten dried fish, no, she has to feed me until I’m full.’

Sensing the scent getting closer, Song Jin slowly opened her eyes and slightly opened her mouth, ready to accept Duan Yan’s feeding.

The dried fish was held out in front of her but then suddenly withdrawn, making Song Jin feel a little embarrassed.

However, she, Song Jin, was extremely clever and had long anticipated Duan Yan’s tricks. Her mouth-opening motion was not obvious. If Duan Yan dared to tease her, she was prepared to hiss and bite her.

“Hiss—”

Duan Yan couldn’t help but laugh out loud at the little cat’s look of恼羞成怒 from wanting the dried fish but not getting it.

“Want to eat it?”

“Meow~” Song Jin nodded, her large, round eyes filled with longing, making it impossible to refuse.

Duan Yan gently coaxed, “Come over and let me comb your fur, and then you can have dried fish, and there are yarn balls to play with too~”

‘Despicable, using delicious food to coerce and entice me!’

Song Jin looked at the tempting dried fish and couldn’t help but swallow.

‘So fragrant, I really want to eat it!’

‘Why should she let Duan Yan comb her fur? Later, when Duan Yan isn’t paying attention, she can eat the dried fish anyway.’

Song Jin pretended not to hear, closed her eyes, and remained still.

The moment Duan Yan turned around, Song Jin suddenly leaped up and successfully snatched the dried fish from Duan Yan’s hand.

‘Hmph,’ she gave Duan Yan a triumphant look, her eyes conveying, “If you don’t give it to me, I’ll get it myself. What can you do about it?” She ran to a corner to enjoy her treat.

However, upon closer inspection, there was no dried fish in the package, only a packet of desiccant.

“Meow meow meow!” Duan Yan dared to trick her!

Seeing the little orange cat’s dumbfounded look, Duan Yan burst out laughing, “Baby, come over and get your fur combed. After it’s combed, you can have dried fish.”

Song Jin glanced at the fresh, delicious dried fish and endured it!

Song Jin trotted over to Duan Yan with a “da-da-da” sound.

Duan Yan picked up the little cat, gently stroking its fur and carefully combing it with a comb.

Song Jin lay in Duan Yan’s arms. The places where Duan Yan occasionally stroked her with her hand felt as if a current was passing through, a tingling numbness.

‘Too sensitive.’

It was as if the most tender young leaves were being gently brushed by the spring breeze, like a baby bird’s soft feathers being patiently groomed by its mother. Song Jin felt as if her whole body was about to burn.

This gave Song Jin a strange illusion, as if Duan Yan’s hand was not stroking her fur, but stroking some other place, so embarrassingly.

Duan Yan felt the little orange cat’s body was a bit warm and thought: ‘It seems she still needs to take her medicine.’

After combing her fur, Duan Yan fed the kitten a few dried fish, then opened a game beloved by cats—Catch the Mouse—trying to capture the little orange cat’s attention.

But the little orange cat seemed uninterested in the game, instead giving her a disdainful look.

Duan Yan felt a little embarrassed but still chose to trust her manager’s cow-cat’s “strict selection” and started the first level.

The mouse on the screen flashed by, moving very quickly. One had to tap rapidly to pass the level.

Duan Yan was a traditional good student in her childhood and didn’t play games. When she grew up, she had no time to play games, so she was clumsy and a bit overwhelmed.

Song Jin watched Duan Yan’s operation, feeling anxious for her. ‘Can she do it or not!’

Song Jin pushed Duan Yan with her paw and tapped “pa-pa-pa” on the screen. In no time, all the mice were caught, and she smoothly reached the next level.

Duan Yan looked at her with great surprise. Song Jin was extremely smug from the admiring gaze.

She never expected Duan Yan to be so bad at games, not even able to pass a game for elementary school students. Tsk tsk, it seems that even Duan Yan, who had a smooth-sailing acting career, had her weaknesses.

Duan Yan saw the little cat’s slightly raised chin and the triumphant way its tail quietly perked up. She gave her spot to the little orange cat and fed it dried fish from the side.

Song Jin played the game on the screen, unwilling to let Duan Yan see her fail. She summoned twelve-tenths of her spirit, wanting to show Duan Yan her superb gaming skills.

“Wow, how is the little cat so good~”

Hearing Duan Yan exclaim in admiration just as she had expected, Song Jin felt a sense of complete satisfaction. She just loved the feeling of being praised by Duan Yan!

Song Jin’s attention was all on the game. She opened her mouth occasionally to accept Duan Yan’s feeding, eating without a second thought.

Duan Yan took the opportunity to mix some pills into the dried fish. Song Jin, distracted by the game, didn’t notice anything unusual and ate it directly.

After a few chews, Song Jin felt that the taste of the dried fish was a bit off.

‘Why does it have a strange taste?’

Despite this, she still chose to trust that Duan Yan would not harm her and ate the dried fish.

But Song Jin began to be vigilant. After finishing a round of the game, she secretly watched Duan Yan’s hand as she took the dried fish.

Sure enough, she noticed Duan Yan putting a small pill in the dried fish.

‘What was Duan Yan trying to do?’

Song Jin’s gaze became sharp, staring at Duan Yan’s hand.

“Meow-wu—”

Duan Yan paused for a moment, then naturally placed the pill in the dried fish and handed it to Song Jin.

Song Jin didn’t want to eat it. She closed her mouth tightly and looked at Duan Yan with a wary gaze, dissatisfied with the thing Duan Yan had secretly fed her, wanting an explanation.

“Be good, this is the medicine the doctor prescribed. You have to eat it to get better~”

Duan Yan rubbed her nose and explained gently.

‘Medicine?’

Song Jin tilted her head slightly. She had already recovered.

“Baby, don’t make mommy worry.”

Duan Yan’s tone was filled with endless concern. After a moment’s hesitation, Song Jin finally swallowed the dried fish with the hidden pill.

“My baby is truly the cutest, most obedient little kitty in the world.”

Best Actress Duan’s sweet words could always easily intoxicate people, especially since she held the status of a career rival in Song Jin’s eyes. A few simple words of praise made Song Jin’s heart bloom with joy.

Song Jin continued to immerse herself in the world of the game, just one step away from conquering the final level.

Duan Yan exclaimed in admiration from the side from time to time, quietly capturing a few shots of the little cat engrossed in the game.

“Look, my little orange cat is so smart. Not as easily fooled as yours. It refused to eat after discovering the pill, but after some coaxing from me, it still obediently gave in.”

“[Photo] [Photo]”

Manager Yang Jun looked down on Duan Yan’s subtle showing off. So what if it’s a cute and obedient little cat?

Did she not have one?

Sigh, to be honest, she really didn’t. Her house was full of rebellious daughters. Sob sob sob…

“Stop showing off, already blocked. [smile]”

A triumphant smile appeared on Duan Yan’s lips, and she casually typed another line.

“By the way, are there any similar games suitable for children? Recommend a few. I plan to get the little cat its own iPad specifically for gaming.”

“[Link]”

Song Jin inadvertently caught a glimpse of Duan Yan’s WeChat message.

‘What does she mean, for children?’

‘How dare she look down on me? This is infuriating! She, Song Jin, was an honors student who skipped grades, okay?’

“Meow—”

The little orange cat, who was playing a game, suddenly lifted its paw and gently patted her leg, its large, watery eyes wide with protest.

Although the force was not great, Duan Yan felt a ticklish sensation.

“Baby, mommy is here, okay? Don’t be angry, mommy will come and play with you right now~”

Duan Yan was already an expert at these kinds of cat-coaxing words.

‘Sigh, being too clingy isn’t good either. I have almost no personal time left.’

Song Jin was speechless at Duan Yan’s helpless yet doting look.

‘How on earth did Duan Yan win the Best Actress award?’

‘She was clearly angry, okay? How did it turn into wanting Duan Yan to play with her?’

‘Don’t be so dramatic in your head.’