Chapter 42: The Cat Onesie Apology

It was truly no wonder Bai YuXi often remarked that Lin QingYu’s name and personality were utterly at odds. ‘Could you not be a little more composed?!’

Bai YuYang distinctly felt the little figure nestled in his arms shiver. She had clearly been startled by the exaggerated pounding on the door.

“Bro—Brother?”

YuXi groggily opened her eyes.

Though she had indeed woken moments ago, she wasn’t fully conscious. Cradled in YuYang’s comforting embrace, she instinctively yearned to feign sleep, hoping her brother would hold her a little longer.

But now, whether feigning sleep or drifting in a haze, QingYu-jie’s booming shout had completely jolted her awake and out of sorts.

With a pained sigh, YuXi placed a hand on her forehead.

“Brother, please put me down… I’ll go open the door for this monster.”

“‘Monster,’ you say? That’s quite something… Just wake up properly on the sofa. I’ll get the door.”

YuYang turned, gently settling YuXi back onto the sofa.

‘My dear sister, take your time. YuYang knew well what it felt like to be roused from sleep by a shout—not only did it send his blood pressure soaring, but his head throbbed with a buzzing ache.’

During this time, QingYu continued to roar outside the door like a frantic dragon, letting out periodic complaints.

“I’m coming, I’m coming! Is your throat made of iron, shouting like that?! I’m truly terrified of you.”

YuYang hurried to open the door, revealing Lin QingYu also clad in pajamas.

However, her choice was exceptionally unique.

It was a full-body black cat onesie!

Ah, this was precisely the image etched in YuYang’s memory. If Bai YuXi’s resemblance to a large white cat was somewhat ethereal, then QingYu’s was an exact physical likeness!

Seeing her, YuYang couldn’t help but let out a soft chuckle.

“What are you laughing at, you brute! Ugh, no, I’m tired from shouting. Let me catch my breath first.”

“Then why did you insist on shouting?!”

YuYang was astonished. This silly loli had been yelling for ages, and now that the door was open, she was the one standing with hands on her hips, taking deep breaths to recover.

‘Good, my only chance has arrived. Once she regains her composure, YuYang won’t have a chance to speak. The only time to scold her is now!’

“Where’s your key? Didn’t I give you a spare? Why did you have to shout? It’s not only bad for your throat, but you also startled Xiaoxi. Didn’t you know she was sleeping?”

“I left my key at home. Wait… are you actually blaming me?!”

QingYu felt it was utterly unreasonable. “Bai YuYang, ask your precious sister yourself! Ask her how she toyed with me. I’ve been patient until now, coming over to find her, which is merciful enough, alright!”

“Xiaoxi?”

YuYang turned, perplexed, to look at YuXi. She had just sat up on the sofa, gazing towards the door, as if waking up had suddenly reminded her of something. Her expression was indeed filled with apology.

He heard her slowly begin, “I’m sorry, monster… Ah, no, I’m sorry, QingYu-jie. I was going to bring it to you… but I accidentally fell asleep, didn’t I? I didn’t do it on purpose… right?”

‘Darn it, seeing Xiaoxi speak with such a lack of confidence, it seemed QingYu wasn’t just being unreasonable.’

YuXi’s apology had clearly diffused much of QingYu’s anger, yet it didn’t stop her from enumerating YuXi’s ‘crimes’ to YuYang.

“You just spoil her rotten! When I came back earlier, YuXi said she was going to make sweet and sour fish, and told me to save my appetite and wait, saying she’d bring it over once it was ready.

I was really looking forward to it, and I waited patiently. I didn’t even eat during dinner time, and now it’s nine o’clock! I’ve been waiting for two hours and I’m practically starving! And you’re telling me you were asleep?!”

YuXi was truly in the wrong this time. She awkwardly twirled a strand of her silver hair in front of her.

“I—I’m sorry. The fish is actually ready, but I happened to be watching a cooking show on TV… so I thought I could try to improve it a little. But the show was so boring, I just… accidentally fell asleep…”

YuXi couldn’t help it.

After the sweet and sour fish was made, she wasn’t entirely satisfied with the taste.

There were two fish: one for QingYu, and one for YuXi to share with her brother when he returned.

The one for QingYu-jie was meant as an apology, as she and her brother had unintentionally upset QingYu that afternoon… so the fish couldn’t possibly taste bad.

As for the fish her brother would eat, it went without saying that YuXi wanted it to be perfect.

Before serving, she decided to put both fish together and adjust the seasoning.

However, while watching TV and researching, combined with constantly thinking about her rebirth and her brother’s affairs, she inadvertently drifted off to sleep.

In this situation, although YuYang sympathized with the still-hungry QingYu, as a doting brother, he naturally had to side with YuXi.

“Ah, well… cough, QingYu, look at this mess. It’s indeed Xiaoxi’s fault, but there’s one thing I must say on her behalf: didn’t we upset you at noon?

So, making this sweet and sour fish is Xiaoxi’s and my way of apologizing. Although there was a slight mishap, the intention and sentiment are ultimately good! And she’s apologized, so can you please forgive her this time?”

‘Look at him!’

QingYu was truly exasperated. This Bai YuYang, who would spoil his sister to the end of the world, never failed to take YuXi’s side!

‘Couldn’t he occasionally stand by me?’

If it were merely a matter of throwing a tantrum, QingYu genuinely wanted to continue complaining.

But then again, who could blame the sensible Lin loli?

She gently shook her head, moving past the topic, and averted her gaze, merely asking, “Your part-time job, are you tired?”

“Huh?”

Her topic shift was too abrupt, her speaking speed too fast, and her voice had suddenly become very soft. YuYang genuinely hadn’t processed it.

But his counter-question made QingYu bristle.

“I said, are you tired from your part-time job!”

“Ah, I heard, I heard! Don’t shout so loudly…”

YuYang quickly pulled the ‘big black cat’ inside, shutting the door behind them. ‘Thankfully, the soundproofing between floors in this community was exceptionally good, otherwise, wouldn’t you be disturbing the peace?’

YuYang then answered her earlier question.

“My part-time job… it’s not tiring, really. It’s only for two hours, and when it’s not busy, I can play around a bit before getting off work.”

“Hmph, still trying to act tough. I wouldn’t believe you’re not tired even if I bumped my head on a rock.”

‘Hey, you stubborn loli. Do you see the bandage still on your forehead? And you still have the nerve to say that.’

YuXi’s most pressing concern was the same as QingYu’s: YuYang returning from work still hungry.

She had already risen and was heading towards the kitchen.

“Brother, please come to the dining table. I’ll heat the fish right away, QingYu-jie too.”

“Don’t bother.”

QingYu waved her hand. “What time is it? Won’t heating dishes take too long now? Here, this is what I just made… *cough cough*! These are leftovers from my parents who cooked too much! They’re still warm, so just make do and eat them quickly!”

As she spoke, QingYu actually pulled out a small lunchbox from her spacious cat onesie!

‘Good heavens! Truly worthy of a onesie! It never disappoints.’

YuYang took the lunchbox, momentarily stunned.

‘It’s true! The dishes were still warm, seemingly fresh from the stove.’

Even with QingYu’s usual tsundere attitude, YuYang could discern a clear truth at this moment.

On the surface, QingYu had come to scold YuXi for not delivering the sweet and sour fish.

But in reality, she was worried that YuYang and YuXi were still hungry, so she had quickly prepared a meal, estimating YuYang’s off-work time, and brought it over.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t have knocked on the door just as YuYang arrived home.