Chapter 21: He Just Tastes Better

“Cat, don’t cry. It was just a misunderstanding.”

Mu Jingyi coaxed softly, patting the little cat’s back.

At first, Ning Jiu lay against him, sobbing quietly, hot tears soaking into the man’s shirt.

After crying for a while, he grew tired.

He tilted his head and rested it against Mu Jingyi’s neck, staring blankly, long lashes still wet with tears.

His reddened eyes looked pitiful.

The blue irises, washed by tears, shimmered like gemstones.

Mu Jingyi supported him carefully so he would not slide down from his lap.

He lifted his chin slightly, allowing Ning Jiu to rest more comfortably on his shoulder.

The warmth of the tear-swollen eyes pressed against his neck, impossible to ignore.

“Tired from crying?”

He gently rubbed the cat’s hair and ears.

“Mmm.”

The answer came out soft and nasal, almost like a spoiled little hum.

“Then I’ll make dessert for you. Can you forgive me?”

“You can make dessert?”

The dazed eyes snapped back into focus.

His drooping ears and tail perked up instantly.

“A little. I’ll make it for you.”

The lingering sadness was quickly replaced by anticipation.

The cat wagged his tail and nodded obediently.

Little cats’ emotions came quickly and went quickly.

If someone treated him well, happiness was visible at once.

Though he was still shaken by the thought of Mu Jingyi dying, sweetness easily soothed him.

Ning Jiu swayed his tail, curiosity flickering again about what Mu Jingyi had truly meant earlier.

He repeated the words silently.

Miao — I.

Mu — very.

Aoi — terminal illness.

Nii — death.

The cat hugged his tail, repeating the phrase over and over.

Cats did not follow strict grammar.

Keywords together were enough for mutual understanding.

But could those words mean something else?

He beckoned to Meiqiu.

“Ma, wua!” (Kitten, come here.)

The little black dot of a kitten peeked out and sprinted over, hopping into Ning Jiu’s lap and stepping right onto his fluffy white tail.

The kitten sank slightly into the fur.

“Wau, wuii ma’ao ni?” (Boss, did the human bully you?)

Ning Jiu shook his head.

“Oaw aoi nii?” (In your dialect, what do aoi and nii mean?)

Meiqiu blinked, staring at him for a long moment.

Then shook his head.

“Ma’ao… aoi, nii.” (Nothing special. Just aoi and nii.)

It was the same meaning.

“Mao…” (Alright.)

Ning Jiu gave up.

From the kitchen came a sweet fragrance that instantly stirred his appetite.

Though it was already late at night, cats had no rules against midnight snacks.

He padded to the glass kitchen door.

Meiqiu perched on his arm.

Two pairs of glowing eyes stared inside.

Mu Jingyi’s tall figure moved steadily among the kitchen tools.

Even surrounded by unfamiliar equipment, he worked methodically.

The lofty CEO now carried a hint of domestic warmth.

When he turned and saw the two shining eyes, he smiled softly.

“In a hurry?”

“We smelled something good.”

The oven chimed.

When opened, a rush of heat and sweetness filled the kitchen.

Ning Jiu’s mouth watered instantly.

He reached for the tray.

“It’s hot. I’ll handle it.”

Mu Jingyi stopped him gently and set the tray on the table.

Behind him followed a greedy little cat.

The cakes were golden brown, their tops crisp and slightly caramelized.

Inside, they were soft and airy.

Irresistible.

Mu Jingyi cut a piece.

“Cat, if you eat my cake, don’t stay angry, alright?”

Ning Jiu blew on the fork and bit down eagerly, barely listening, nodding twice.

The cake melted in his mouth.

Sweetness washed away the earlier distress.

His tail wagged so fast it nearly blurred.

“So good! Thank you, sir!”

The air grew warm with fragrance.

Ning Jiu ate earnestly, cheeks puffed slightly as he chewed, eyes shining with happiness.

Mu Jingyi watched him for a long time.

When the cautious layer fell away, the cat followed pure instinct.

If he liked something, he ate heartily.

If he was happy, his eyes curved into crescents.

His joy was simple and contagious.

Mu Jingyi brushed crumbs from his cheek, smiling deeper.

“Sir, want a bite?”

Ning Jiu reluctantly cut a small piece and offered it with his fork.

“Thank you.”

Mu Jingyi held his slender wrist easily and took the bite.

“Isn’t it especially good? Your cooking is amazing.”

The cat knelt half on the chair, tail swaying, showering him with praise.

The cake dissolved sweetly in Mu Jingyi’s mouth.

The taste felt familiar.

He remembered that rainy night when they first met.

The scent in the damp air had been just as sweet.

That was the cat’s pheromones.

“It’s good. But there’s a cake I want to eat even more.”

Ning Jiu blinked.

“There’s something better than your cake?”

Mu Jingyi’s gaze never left him.

“Of course. I’ve only smelled it, though. Never tasted it.”

Ning Jiu puffed his cheeks.

“You haven’t even tasted it. How can you say it’s better?”

Mu Jingyi smiled mysteriously.

“It just is.”

A sudden meow interrupted them.

Meiqiu tugged at Mu Jingyi’s pant leg.

“Miao yi wau…” (Human, I want some too.)

Mu Jingyi crouched and scratched his head.

“You want some?”

The kitten only meowed louder.

“You can’t have cake. I’ll give you treats.”

He opened a bag of freeze-dried snacks and fed him piece by piece.

The kitten’s tongue occasionally brushed his palm.

“Miao yi wau…” (Cat wants boss’s kind.)

Mu Jingyi didn’t understand and looked up.

“Cat boss, what is Meiqiu saying?”

Ning Jiu almost translated honestly.

But when he saw Mu Jingyi’s focused expression, the words changed.

“He says… I like you.”

Mu Jingyi paused for a heartbeat.

Even knowing it was a translation of gratitude, hearing it from Ning Jiu stirred something deep inside him.

He resumed feeding, smiling.

“Your kitten seems mischievous but sweet.”

Ning Jiu gripped the chair back tightly, scratching a faint mark into the velvet.

He lowered his head, busying himself with cake.

Cats looked especially busy when lying.

Thankfully, Mu Jingyi didn’t notice.

“Then tell him I like you too.”

Ning Jiu remained kneeling, eyes fixed not on the kitten but on Mu Jingyi.

“Miao i a mi.” (I like you too.)

He froze.

The tone felt familiar.

He murmured softly.

Miao mu a mi. (I like you very much.)

Miao mu a-yi mi. (I love you very much.)

Miao mu aoi nii. (I am gravely ill and about to die.)

He repeated the phrases quietly, trying to recall the way Mu Jingyi had pronounced them earlier.

Were the tones different?

Was he mistaken?

“Cat, what are you thinking about?”

“Nothing… nothing…”

Ning Jiu quickly stuffed the last piece of cake into his mouth, swallowing the sweetness along with his doubts.