Chapter 11: Want to Take It Home

“So pitiful…”

People can’t help but feel pity for small, helpless creatures.

“Why don’t you grab some ham or something from the convenience store across the street?” Ling Yuan suggested, nodding toward it.

“Hmm…” Yixin Xue pouted slightly.

She often fed stray animals, but this was the first time she’d seen such a tiny kitten. Feeding it now might not help much—it could starve in a few days anyway.

“I…” Yixin Xue hesitated, unsure if she should say it.

“What’s up?”

“I want to take it home.”

Ling Yuan looked at her skeptically.

“You know how to take care of a cat?”

“Probably…”

For the first time, Yixin Xue sounded deeply unsure of herself.

“First time I’ve ever thought the class president seemed unreliable.”

Ling Yuan shrugged, soothing the trembling kitten in his arms.

“I have a friend who has a corgi and a ragdoll. I can ask them for advice.”

“That’d be great!”

“Get some goat milk powder for now. The supermarket’s still open—go grab some. I’ll wait outside.”

“Okay, okay. But why goat milk powder? Why not regular milk?”

Yixin Xue, who’d never owned a pet, was curious.

“Cats’ stomachs can’t handle cow’s milk.”

“But in Tom and Jerry, doesn’t Tom drink milk all the time?”

She tilted her head, puzzled.

‘Damn, leave it to a top student to notice something like that.’

“…”

The question stumped Ling Yuan.

After a few seconds, he replied, “You’ve got a point, but as far as I know, goat milk powder’s the way to go…”

“Pfft, alright, I trust you.”

Yixin Xue giggled, walking ahead with her hands behind her back.

“Didn’t expect you to know this stuff. I thought you only cared about gaming and your 2D waifus.”

“Close enough.”

As Yixin Xue entered the supermarket, Ling Yuan pulled out his phone and called his sister.

She must’ve been glued to her phone, because she picked up instantly.

“Eh? Big Brother calling me? The sun must’ve risen in the west! So, you must need Yan Xi’s help with something, right!?”

“Sort of.”

“Spill it! Yan Xi’s all ears. Anything for Big Brother!”

[No need to be that enthusiastic.]

Ling Yuan gave a wry smile.

His sister’s fervor always came out of nowhere, sometimes overwhelming him.

Sure, he was a guy—no one could resist a beautiful girl’s charm. Especially Yan Xi’s, which was targeted and intense.

“You’ve got a cat, right? What should a kitten that’s just been weaned eat?”

“Eh? Big Brother’s getting a cat!? Yan Xi can be your kitty~ I can even call you Master~ Meow~”

She sounded serious, even mimicking a kitten’s meow in a cutesy tone.

“…”

Ling Yuan was speechless, clearing his throat.

“Cough, I’m asking something serious. Focus.”

“Aw~ Guess Yan Xi’s meow wasn’t good enough to replace your catgirl waifu. Anyway, for a newly weaned kitten, you should get kitten milk powder and mix it with kitten kibble. Pet stores have them.”

“Something a normal person can afford.”

“Eh… it’s not that expensive…”

“It’s just a stray, not some fancy ragdoll like yours.”

Ling Yuan broke out in a cold sweat.

Honestly, Yan Xi’s pets ate better than he did.

He’d seen it once—her chef tossed whole cuts of beef to her corgi.

Being a rich family’s pet didn’t sound half bad.

“Then try soaking cat food in goat milk. The kitten should be able to eat that.”

“Got it. But pet stores are probably closed now, so no cat food.”

Ling Yuan glanced at the sky.

Dusk had faded, and night had settled in.

Tall sycamore trees glowed under bright white streetlights, their leaves edged with green against the black sky.
Soft rain pattered on the leaves, creating a faint rustling sound.

‘Rain again?’

“No worries, Yan Xi’s got some unopened kitten food here. You can come to my place~”

“Nah.”

“So cold!?”

“Yup. Alright, I’m hanging up.”

Ling Yuan stuffed his phone back in his pocket and looked toward the supermarket exit. Yixin Xue emerged, carrying a bag of goat milk powder.

“Got it. Oh? It’s raining again.”

She pulled an umbrella from her bag and held it over Ling Yuan.

“Was gonna return your umbrella tonight, but looks like we’ve got a little detour.”

[So she just wanted to return my umbrella. I overthought it.]

Ling Yuan let out a quiet sigh of relief.

“If you’ve got old clothes or a cardboard box, you can make a simple nest for it. I’ll grab cat food tomorrow morning. For now, dry it off tonight.”

“Got it. Oh, we haven’t exchanged contacts yet.”

Yixin Xue pulled out her phone.

“Perfect time to add you.”

[Class President! At school! With a phone!?]

[She actually uses a phone?]

In Ling Yuan’s mind, a top student like her, always acing exams, would spend all her free time studying, not touching a phone.

“What’s with that look?”

Yixin Xue blinked, confused.

“Nothing… Just didn’t expect you to bring a phone to school.”

Ling Yuan gave an awkward smile.

“What’s weird about that? I live alone—it’s normal to have a phone. Unlike you, playing games in class. Next time I catch you, I’m really handing it over to the teacher.”

Though her words sounded threatening, her tone betrayed her playful intent.

[She’s not that cold or untouchable after all.]

Ling Yuan thought to himself.

But Yixin Xue’s thoughts were the opposite.

[I could confiscate his phone as part of the Discipline Committee. If he wants it back, he’ll have to meet my conditions. Maybe I’ll get to see some fun expressions.]

Her smug smile was masked by a gentle expression as she tilted the umbrella to cover him completely.

The rain tapped on the umbrella, like a soft melody.

The atmosphere felt strangely romantic, making both teenagers’ hearts race.

Yixin Xue bit her lip lightly, her cheeks flushing. It was her first time walking side by side with a guy under the same umbrella.

She kind of wanted to push him against a wall, like in those novels, kiss him hard, and savor his struggle in her arms.

If Ling Yuan was a normal guy, he’d probably resist at first but eventually come around, right?

If not, tying him up wouldn’t be a bad idea.

Then he couldn’t escape, and she could do whatever she wanted…