Chapter 17: A Lesson and a Spanking

The bodyguard watched, dumbfounded, as the Second Miss and that woman left.

She was completely baffled.

A sudden order had made her rush over to pick up the Second Miss, yet now she could only return empty-handed.

Sigh, what a mess this all was.

Although the Second Miss had left with that woman voluntarily, it wasn’t her place to interfere too much.

It was best to call her superior and report the situation first.

– “Secretary Zhou, the Second Miss left with a woman. Should I still…”

– “A woman? Was it voluntary?” Zhou Jiangqi paused for a moment on the other end.

‘Is this some kind of unique gene among the Song sisters?’

– “Yes.” The bodyguard hesitated for a moment.

– “Alright, don’t interfere. You’ll still be paid.”

The bodyguard pursed her lips.

As long as she wasn’t working for free, it was fine.

Duan Yan left with the little orange cat, taking her to the pre-booked examination room.

The little orange cat was curled up in her arms, its eyes revealing innocence and fear, its fluffy little ears drooping slightly as if it felt very wronged.

But Duan Yan had no intention of comforting it just yet; she was simply giving it the cold shoulder.

‘If I forgive it so easily every time, what if it runs off again in the future?’

‘I found it today, but what about next time? What if a bad person takes it away?’

The scheduled veterinarian, Yu Ya, dressed in a clean white coat, approached with a smile.

“Here for a routine check-up?”

Duan Yan grunted in affirmation and placed the cat from her arms onto the examination table.

Song Jin felt the chill emanating from Duan Yan and couldn’t help but feel a little wronged, but Duan Yan completely ignored her gaze, her expression cold and stern.

She took another look.

Yu Ya had only taken out a stethoscope; it seemed this wasn’t for a spaying procedure.

Song Jin breathed a sigh of relief inwardly, but then felt a new surge of resentment toward Duan Yan.

‘You should have said so earlier! Did you really think I would run away?’

Wearing gloves, Yu Ya gently pressed the little cat’s abdomen, feeling for any abnormalities in its internal organs.

Next, she examined the kitten’s ears, using an otoscope to carefully inspect the ear canals; then, she used a stethoscope to check its heart and lung functions.

Finally, she inspected its teeth and mouth.

Song Jin’s gaze never once left Duan Yan, and Duan Yan, too, stared at the little orange cat.

One person, one cat, both silent.

Once the examination was complete, Yu Ya sensed the awkwardness filling the air.

She gave Duan Yan a detailed report on the cat’s health and things to watch out for, then politely took her leave.

Song Jin lay on the examination table, her amber eyes filled with grievance, staring straight at Duan Yan in a silent accusation of her “cold-shoulder treatment.”

Although she had been able to accept Duan Yan’s indifference before, at this moment, not receiving her gentle care made her feel exceptionally wronged.

‘Jilt!’

Song Jin’s mood was gloomy as she secretly bad-mouthed Duan Yan in her heart.

Duan Yan’s brow furrowed slightly.

After what seemed like a long internal struggle, she finally, slowly, opened her mouth:

“Will you dare to run off again in the future?”

Mimicking how her grandmother used to discipline her as a child, Duan Yan gave the little cat a pat on its bottom.

It was so fluffy, and felt so nice to the touch, that Duan Yan patted it a few more times.

The force of the pats was neither too light nor too heavy, just enough to let the little orange cat know her attitude without hurting it.

Song Jin was stunned.

Where did Duan Yan just hit her?

‘I’m not a child! How could she treat me like this! It’s too much!’

After being spanked, Song Jin’s eyes blazed with anger.

She was about to leap up and give Duan Yan a vicious scratch with her claws.

But, seeing Duan Yan’s cold and serious gaze, she gritted her teeth and suppressed her rage.

‘Right now, I have to coax Duan Yan until she’s not angry anymore. Once her anger has passed, there will be plenty of opportunities for revenge later.’

“Meow~”

The little orange cat put on a pitiful voice, letting out a heart-rending meow, trying to evoke Duan Yan’s sympathy.

A layer of mist seemed to cloud its eyes, making it look utterly pathetic.

Hearing the cat’s miserable cries, Duan Yan’s heart ached.

Her resolve softened, and the anger caused by the cat’s runaway adventure gradually dissipated.

‘Forget it. It’s just a two-year-old cat, after all. What could it possibly understand?’

‘In the end, the responsibility lies with me, the owner.’

Duan Yan sighed, her expression softening back to its usual gentleness as she stroked its fur.

Seizing the opportunity, Song Jin tilted her head up and began to rub her soft fur against Duan Yan’s hand, trying to curry favor.

“Meow, meow, meow, mewl~”

‘I was wrong, please forgive me~’

Duan Yan was amused by the cat’s fawning behavior and gently flicked its whiskers with her slender, fair fingers.

“I really don’t know what to do with you.”

‘This won’t do. Sooner or later, it will become completely lawless. I must cut back on its dried fish snacks when we get home.’

‘It’s finally over.’

On the surface, Song Jin was obedient and cute, but secretly, she had already logged Duan Yan’s “evil deed,” planning to find a chance to get her back in the future.

‘Hmph, I can hold a grudge.’