Chapter 106: A Lazy Morning

A fluffy little paw padded across Luo Xiaoyun’s face.

The soft pad pressed over her nose, slid across her lips, and finally landed precisely on her eyelid.

Luo Xiaoyun frowned, muttered “Stop it,” and reached up to peel Nuomi off her face. She stuffed the cat into the blankets, rolled over, and went back to sleep.

A struggle broke out under the covers. Nuomi emerged from the other end of the blanket, let out a dissatisfied meow, and climbed straight onto Luo Xiaoyun’s chest.

The cat stood there, leaned in close, and swept its tail across Luo Xiaoyun’s face. The fluffy tip brushed her nose.

“Ah-choo…”

Luo Xiaoyun sneezed and woke up completely.

She opened her eyes to Su Muxue’s peaceful sleeping face. Su Muxue lay on her side, facing her. Her features looked especially soft in the gentle light, long lashes casting faint shadows beneath her eyes.

She slept calmly and quietly, lacking her usual coolness, replaced by a lazy tenderness.

Luo Xiaoyun couldn’t help staring for a few seconds, forgetting about Nuomi on her chest.

Nuomi saw that Luo Xiaoyun was awake but ignoring her. She meowed again in complaint and nudged Luo Xiaoyun’s chin with her head.

Luo Xiaoyun snapped back to reality. She reached up and patted the cat’s head. “I know, I know, my little princess. Are you hungry? Wait a bit. I’ll lie here a little longer, then I’ll feed you.”

She pulled Nuomi into her arms and held her against her chest. Nuomi struggled twice, found she couldn’t escape, and resigned herself to lying there curled into a fuzzy ball.

Luo Xiaoyun closed her eyes, ready to laze around a bit more, when the person beside her suddenly stirred.

Su Muxue’s arm reached out from under the covers, wrapped around Luo Xiaoyun’s waist, and pulled her closer. Nuomi got squeezed in between.

She let out a “Meow” full of “you two are too much” annoyance, squirmed out through the gap, jumped off the bed, and ran away with her tail flicking.

“You’re awake?” Luo Xiaoyun’s voice was still soft from just waking up.

“Mm.” Su Muxue’s voice was muffled, her face buried in Luo Xiaoyun’s neck. She didn’t move.

They stayed like that for a while, holding each other quietly. Outside, the sky was already bright. Sunlight squeezed through the curtains, drawing a long strip of light across the floor.

Once fully awake, Luo Xiaoyun shifted and asked, “What time is it?”

Su Muxue reached for her phone on the nightstand and glanced at it. “Eleven.”

“It’s that late?” Luo Xiaoyun was surprised.

Su Muxue pulled her closer again, chin resting on top of her head. Her voice carried a lazy smile. “Whose fault is it for staying up so late last night?”

Last night Luo Xiaoyun had dragged Su Muxue into playing game after game, determined to reach the top rank.

They huddled on the sofa, one round after another, until even Nuomi couldn’t take it anymore. The cat jumped onto the sofa, planted herself between them, and pawed at them in protest.

“I was just a few rounds away from ranking up,” Luo Xiaoyun said with a sheepish grin. Her tone was shameless. “Just a tiny bit more, but I didn’t make it in the end.”

Last night Su Muxue had carried her to bed. They played until one in the morning, and Luo Xiaoyun fell asleep on the results screen. Her phone dropped to the floor with a clatter.

They lazed in bed for another ten minutes or so. Luo Xiaoyun’s face was buried in Su Muxue’s shoulder. Su Muxue’s fingers lazily threaded through her hair, stroke by stroke, very gently.

Nuomi had come back at some point. She sat at the foot of the bed, round eyes fixed on them, tail tapping lightly against the sheet.

She couldn’t wait any longer.

“Meow…”

The cry was much louder than before, with obvious urgency. It grew louder each time, full of energy. Translated, it probably meant: You two are enough! I want to eat!

Luo Xiaoyun poked her head out from Su Muxue’s arms and said seriously, “Is she cursing us?”

Su Muxue let out a soft laugh. She let go and sat up. Her long hair slid off her shoulders. Morning light fell on her, giving her a warm glow.

“Get up, or she’ll starve.”

She threw off the covers, got out of bed, and walked out of the bedroom. Luo Xiaoyun lay there for two more minutes until Nuomi jumped onto her back and walked around on her. Only then did she reluctantly sit up.

Su Muxue was busy in the kitchen. The sound of a spatula mixed with the sizzle of oil. The aroma of food gradually drifted out, filling the living room.

Luo Xiaoyun shuffled into the living room in her slippers and crouched in front of Nuomi’s food bowl. She opened the cat food bag, poured a half bowl, and replaced the water with fresh.

Nuomi crouched beside her, tail held high, head following her movements, eyes fixed on the bowl.

“There you go.” Luo Xiaoyun set the bowl down and patted the cat’s back. Nuomi immediately buried her head and ate, crunching loudly without lifting her head. Luo Xiaoyun patted her a couple more times. The cat flicked her tail, ignored her, and kept eating.

“Such an ungrateful little thing. You were clinging to me just now, but once there’s food, you don’t care about me.” Luo Xiaoyun muttered under her breath, stood up, and walked into the kitchen.

Su Muxue had already made two dishes and was serving soup.

“There’s one more soup. Almost ready.” Su Muxue didn’t turn around.

Luo Xiaoyun came up behind her, wrapped her arms around her waist, and pressed her face against Su Muxue’s back, nuzzling. Su Muxue lurched forward slightly, the ladle in her hand wobbling. Her tone was resigned. “Stop it. The soup will spill.”

Luo Xiaoyun let go and obediently sat down at the table.

Su Muxue carried a clay pot over and lifted the lid. The aroma of seaweed egg drop soup hit them. She served two bowls and sat across from Luo Xiaoyun.

They ate in silence for a while. Luo Xiaoyun took a sip of soup and mumbled something indistinctly. Su Muxue didn’t catch it and looked up at her.

“The day after tomorrow is New Year’s,” Su Muxue said, wiping the corner of her mouth with a tissue. “Do you have any plans?”

Luo Xiaoyun swallowed the soup. “You heard last time. My mom wants me to go home and spend time with her. She said she misses me. She’s also researched a few new dishes and wants me to try them.”

She said it lightly, but there was a hint of distraction in her eyes.

Su Muxue nodded and put a piece of vegetable in her bowl.

“What about you?” Luo Xiaoyun looked up at her. “Any plans for New Year’s?”

Su Muxue thought for a moment. “Nothing special. I’ll probably go to the capital.”

“The capital?” Luo Xiaoyun put down her chopsticks. “What for?”

“Some things to take care of.” Su Muxue’s tone was light. “I might stay a few days.”

Luo Xiaoyun lowered her head, poking at the rice in her bowl with her chopsticks. She said quietly, “I won’t see you for several days. I’ll miss you.”

Su Muxue looked up at her. Luo Xiaoyun’s head was down, her silver-white hair falling over her shoulders, covering half her face. The steam blurred her features, making her eyelashes look like they had a thin layer of mist.

Su Muxue put down her chopsticks and gently rubbed Luo Xiaoyun’s hair. Her fingers passed through the soft strands, very lightly.

“It’s okay,” Su Muxue said, her voice gentle and reassuring. “Even if we’re not together, I’ll call you every day. I’ll wake you up in the morning and chat with you at night, okay?”

Luo Xiaoyun looked up and met her eyes. Her eyes lit up. “Mm-hmm! But you can skip the wake-up calls.”

Su Muxue couldn’t help laughing. She withdrew her hand, picked up her bowl, and continued eating.

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