Chapter 5: The Teasing Wand

Cat Teaser.

Mu Jingyi pulled out a chair for Ning Jiu and sat down beside him.

He scooped a large bowl of rice and placed it in front of the little cat.

Ning Jiu observed Sir’s movements and picked up the chopsticks.

He could not tame the two slender wooden sticks.

The clever little cat copied Sir and separated them.

After finally managing to grab a small piece of fish, one chopstick slipped from his fingers and fell onto the table with a crisp “pa.”

The sound was too sharp.

The open dining area fell silent for a moment.

“Sir… I don’t know how to use chopsticks…”

Thinking he had done something wrong, the little cat flattened his ears and spoke softly.

He had never used chopsticks.

Ever since he could remember, he had lived in the discarded goods area of the factory.

He had never eaten at a dining table.

In days spent barely surviving, even a hardened bun was a luxury.

Hands were the best tools to stuff food into his stomach.

There had never been a need for chopsticks.

Mu Jingyi handed him a spoon and placed several pieces of fish into his bowl.

“If you want to learn, I’ll teach you slowly later.”

Ning Jiu watched Sir skillfully pick up fish with chopsticks and bring rice to his mouth with elegant composure.

For the first time, he saw what a normal life looked like.

“I want to learn… Thank you, Sir.”

The delicious home-cooked meal covered up many surface discomforts.

When the greedy little cat tasted good food, he could always immerse himself first in the happiness of being full.

Life before him was no longer just about survival.

There was the slight numbness of spice on his tongue.

The rich aroma of fish filling the air.

The perfectly adjusted central air conditioning in the room.

These were scenes that had never even appeared in his past dreams.

After eating his fill, the sensible little cat took the initiative to clean up the dishes and carried them to the sink, preparing to wash them.

“Kitty, just put the bowls in here.”

Mu Jingyi pointed to the built-in dishwasher.

Ning Jiu was already lost among the many professional machines in Sir’s kitchen.

Most of them he had never seen before.

His common knowledge was pitifully scarce.

He did not recognize a dishwasher.

“I’ll do it.”

Seeing him frozen in confusion, Mu Jingyi stepped forward and handled it himself.

After the dishwasher began running, Mu Jingyi washed his hands and explained,

“No need to worry.

Let it wash by itself.

Technology changes life.”

Ning Jiu lowered his head and placed a clean disposable towel over Mu Jingyi’s hands.

Carefully, bit by bit, he dried Sir’s hands.

His tail hung motionless behind him.

The little cat kept his head lowered, silent.

Mu Jingyi tilted his head to look and met red-rimmed eyes and a flushed nose.

“Why is kitty unhappy?”

“I can’t do anything.

I thought I could help Sir with housework…”

His voice grew softer and softer until only his lips moved without sound.

Ning Jiu was dissatisfied with himself.

Even the so-called “perfect products” sold by the factory were sometimes returned.

Let alone a cat like him who had been discarded and unwanted.

He did not want to trouble Sir.

He wanted to do something to make Sir satisfied.

He wanted to stay here.

He wanted everything here not to vanish in an instant.

In this new home so completely separated from his past, the inexperienced little cat was instead filled with fear.

He did not feel that any of this belonged to him.

Yet he did not want to lose it.

Overwhelming anxiety nearly swallowed him whole.

Mu Jingyi’s just-dried hand brushed against the corner of his eye and became wet again.

He wiped at the heated eyes again and again, yet the tears only increased.

The little cat sniffled softly, shoulders trembling.

He did not want to cry.

He did not want to embarrass himself in front of Sir.

But he could not stop the rising unease.

So the obedient little cat bit his lower lip to suppress the broken sobs.

“Kitty doesn’t need to do housework.

Don’t be sad over something like this.”

Mu Jingyi coaxed him gently.

“But I can’t cook.

And I can’t use chopsticks.”

“There are many, many people in this world who can’t cook or use chopsticks.

They all live just fine.”

Ning Jiu heard an answer he never expected.

No scolding.

No belittling.

When he felt he was not living properly, Sir told him that living like this was normal too.

Ning Jiu parted his lips and whispered,

“But what else can kitty do?”

His red lips moved faintly, words blurred with a sob.

“I’m just a little cat.”

The fingers brushing his eyes paused.

Lost in his emotions, the little cat did not realize how heart-softening his words were.

Nor how adorable his flattened ears looked.

He only felt the fingers stop moving and unconsciously rubbed his head against them.

Mu Jingyi’s already gentle gaze softened even more.

The little cat was too obedient.

So cautious and careful that it stirred pity.

“Then just be a little cat.”

Mu Jingyi’s palm rubbed against his warm, damp cheek.

“Live carefree like a little cat.

You only need to be happy.”

From the day Ning Jiu was born until he met Sir, the word happiness had never existed in his life.

In the perpetually damp and decaying factory, he and countless other so-called inferior omegas only stole one day of survival from pain.

“Does Sir want me to do that.

Just be a little cat?”

Ning Jiu asked urgently.

Mu Jingyi nodded and gently wiped the tear tracks from his face.

“That’s enough.”

Be a happy little cat.

Then you won’t be abandoned.

The insecurity hanging weightless inside him found a new anchor point.

He always needed a goal to support his drifting life.

Before, his goal had been to survive and escape.

Now, his goal was to be a happy little cat.

He formed a small smile, tears still clinging to his lashes.

Under the warm kitchen lights, his deep blue eyes sparkled like crushed stars.

“Sir, I will do it.”

Before that, please don’t abandon me.

The second half of the sentence stayed hidden in his heart.

Mu Jingyi ruffled his soft hair and smiled warmly.

“Alright.”

——

When he was bored in the factory, Ning Jiu’s only toy had been a pair of worn-out bells.

As time passed, their sound grew hoarse and dull instead of crisp.

But their polished surface still reflected light, swaying and catching his attention.

Aunt Chen firmly refused to let him help in the kitchen anymore.

Cooking was her well-paid job, perfected over decades.

Ning Jiu wandering about only slowed her down.

The bored little cat could only play with his bells.

He pulled a short piece of string from a sewing box and threaded it through the misshapen hole of the bell.

Sir had gone out to “hunt.”

He could only keep himself company.

Ning Jiu tied the string to his tail and knotted it tightly.

The fluffy tip of his tail indented slightly under the thin string, held securely among the fur.

A little-cat-brand automatic teaser wand.

When his tail swayed, the bells swayed with it, producing a rustling sound.

The two small bells collided, flashing brightly in the sunlight.

For a cat, being unfamiliar with one’s own tail was perfectly normal.

Ning Jiu swished his tail and reached to grab the bell tied to it.

The moment he turned, the tail escaped his sight and ran behind him.

When he caught it and let go, the elastic tail bounced away from his palm, soft fur brushing against his skin.

As long as he had strength, he could play with his bell-tied tail for a very, very long time.

“Hey!”

Ning Jiu pounced and caught the bell, falling forward onto the floor.

He knelt there, pressing down on the tip of his own tail.

Then a pair of matte black leather shoes appeared in his vision.

Still holding his tail, Ning Jiu looked up and met the gaze of Mu Jingyi, who had just returned home.

His round eyes blinked blankly as he processed it.

“Ah, Sir.

Good evening.”

He had been so immersed in playing that he had not even heard the door open.

“Good evening, kitty.”

Mu Jingyi extended a hand to help him up.

With one hand still holding down his rebellious tail, Ning Jiu placed the other into Sir’s palm.

The man’s hand was slightly rough and cool from the outdoor breeze.

In contrast, the little cat’s palm was warm and faintly sweaty from running around the living room.

With a firm pull, he was lifted from the floor.

He stumbled forward, nearly falling into Sir’s arms, but steadied himself with exaggerated effort and stepped back.

“What were you playing?”

Mu Jingyi asked, noticing the tight grip on his tail.

“Playing… with my tail.

The bell on my tail.”

Realizing he had lost track of time and even pounced in front of Sir, the little cat felt slightly embarrassed.

He answered nervously, his tail wanting to sway but restrained by his own hand.

“May I see?”

Ning Jiu did not know how to refuse.

He stepped closer, very close, and placed his tail into Sir’s palm.

At the tip of the fluffy white tail, two small bells decorated the pristine fur.

For a moment, Mu Jingyi thought this large tail would suit many cute adornments.

A big bow.

A length of delicate lace ribbon.

A vivid flower.

Or other things.

“A teaser wand?”

Mu Jingyi asked as he flicked the two little bells.

The old bells rang with a hoarse sound.

Taking the words literally, Ning Jiu nodded in agreement.

He did not realize how amusing and adorable it was for a cat to turn his own tail into a toy.

Mu Jingyi glanced toward the dining table and saw the dishes Aunt Chen had prepared.

“Kitty, after dinner, can I play with the bells with you?”

The little cat tilted his head to think.

He did not know how to play with a person.

He had never played bells with a person before.

But he chose to trust.

“Okay.

I’ll play with Sir.”