Chapter 24: A Ribbon for Daddy

Ning Jiu had to lower his eyes to meet Mu Jingyi’s gaze.

He had always been the one in the weaker position, just like how omegas in this world were always the most vulnerable group in society.

His sir, whether in society or in the ABO hierarchy, stood at the very top.

But Mu Jingyi was always asking, always seeking consent, caring about the kitten’s feelings, guiding his emotions, coaxing him gently as if he were a priceless treasure.

Just like now.

Mu Jingyi had countless ways to force a kiss, even to forcibly mark this omega who had no way to resist.

Yet he lifted Ning Jiu high into his arms, not letting his tall, well-built frame block the light above the kitten’s head, not letting him feel even a trace of fear.

Even if he were rejected, Ning Jiu felt that sir would not be angry.

But the kitten could not refuse.

From the bottom of his heart, he could not refuse a tender, lingering kiss.

“I…”

Ning Jiu hesitated for a second.

But the inhibitor injection really hurt!

Mu Jingyi could support the kitten easily with one hand, steady without the slightest sway.

With his free hand, he protected the kitten’s head and gently pressed Ning Jiu against his shoulder.

“Hesitation means you don’t really want it, no matter what reasons you can or cannot say.”

“Sir…” Ning Jiu tried to think of some excuse to argue.

Mu Jingyi patted his back soothingly and said softly, “This is a request, not coercion, kitten.

I won’t be angry.”

“But people get angry so easily, and when they’re angry they hit the cat and scold the cat.

I can only be very, very well-behaved in order to…”

Ning Jiu was unwilling to compare the factory people to sir.

Those people were not worthy of being mentioned in the same breath as Mu Jingyi.

It was just that he carried nightmares deep in his bones.

The kitten was instinctively obedient and cautious, even though that was not his true nature.

When Ning Jiu was still 09, he had not been born so meek and obedient.

“They want to vent on a small, weak life.

Even if you’re only breathing, it’s wrong.

If someone loves you, even when you make mistakes, they will patiently tolerate you.”

The inexperienced kitten did not fully understand human words.

Mu Jingyi pinched Ning Jiu’s dejected little face, the bit of flesh he had worked so hard to nurture on the kitten.

“You can be a little willful with me, kitten.”

Willful…

No one had ever said such words to Ning Jiu.

His heart felt strangely warm, an unfamiliar emotion scratching at it, making it itch.

The kitten propped himself up, lowered his head, and lightly brushed his lips against the man’s, then quickly slipped away.

The initiative of that kiss stunned Mu Jingyi.

He had not expected to suddenly taste such a sweet treat.

By the time he came back to his senses, the kitten had already buried his face in Mu Jingyi’s shoulder, showing only his reddened ears.

Inside, the man’s heart burst like fireworks, though his face remained calm, the deep emotion in his eyes impossible to conceal.

His other hand tightened around Ning Jiu’s waist, leaning close to the kitten’s ear as he whispered.

“Kitten, I am the latter.”

The kitten clinging to his shoulder was already so embarrassed by his own initiative that he was about to ripen from shame, completely missing what former and latter meant.

——

Luckily Ning Jiu was at home.

When Mu Jingyi suddenly returned, they managed to catch Christmas Eve.

There was no tradition of celebrating Christmas domestically, but Mu Jingyi still wrote paid Christmas leave into the company regulations.

He needed this holiday very much.

New Year’s Day was reserved for the annual meeting and company affairs.

The Spring Festival belonged to the etiquette-heavy Mu family.

Only Christmas belonged to him and his friends.

For the countless time, Ning Jiu smoothed essential oil through his tail with a comb, brushing it sleek and shiny.

He was nervous.

This was his first time meeting Mu Jingyi’s friends in a relatively formal capacity.

The kitten had groomed himself beautifully, washing the fur on his ears and tail clean and soft, making one unable to resist reaching out to pet him.

In fact, Mu Jingyi did exactly that.

“Don’t touch the kitten’s tail, I finally brushed it smooth.”

Ning Jiu hugged his tail, anxiously smoothing away the handprint on it.

He blocked the restless hand and groomed his tail one last time.

Mu Jingyi pointed at the kitten’s toy box and teased, “Why don’t you tie some decoration on your tail?”

Someone’s selfish thoughts were obvious.

The kitten’s tail lifted high as he rummaged through the box, finally finding only a small strip of red silk ribbon among the balls and bells.

He wrapped the ribbon around his tail twice.

“Let me tie it for you.”

Mu Jingyi finally got the chance to decorate that incomparably beautiful tail, tying the long-desired red bow at the tip.

Every time the tail swayed before him, the pretty bow swayed with it, the two trailing ends drawing a lovely arc.

Ning Jiu turned in front of the mirror.

He was very satisfied with his tail’s new look.

They arrived at the unfamiliar small apartment, two bedrooms and a living room.

Compared to Mu Jingyi’s villa, it was rather cramped.

But every corner of the house was carefully designed and decorated, each painting and ornament placed just right.

It was a very warm home.

A plastic Christmas tree stood in the living room, hung with bells, snowflakes, and gift boxes.

The small space was filled with festive spirit, clearly showing the host’s care.

The kitten stood awkwardly to the side, observing the young alpha who was hanging the string lights.

This alpha was the one who had called Mu Jingyi.

His name was Lu Yubai.

The alpha and omega hosting the gathering were still busy decorating and preparing dinner.

“Relax, Xiao Jiu, the people here are all very nice.”

Mu Jingyi stood beside Ning Jiu and squeezed his hand reassuringly.

“Sit anywhere!

I just got home from class, haven’t had time to get busy yet.

Give me a moment!”

Lu Yubai called out casually while continuing to decorate the Christmas tree.

The doorbell rang.

A slightly older man entered, along with a pink-haired hybrid omega.

It was a fox.

A pink-furred fox.

His upturned brows and eyes carried an innate charm, and his rosy lips, perhaps carefully styled, curved into a beautiful arc.

The fox’s gaze rested on Ning Jiu, his brow lifting slightly.

Fox and cat stared at each other for a few seconds.

“Professor Pei!

You finally came back to the country this year!!”

Lu Yubai rushed over for a bear hug, breaking the silence between them.

No one knew how Pei Yu, who had a noticeable age gap from the young college student Lu Yubai, had become friends with him.

He caught the young alpha’s bear hug and smiled, patting his head like an elder.

“Come with me, little kitten.”

The fox walked over and grabbed Ning Jiu’s wrist, pulling him alone into the study.

“Hey, Ning Jiu…”

Mu Jingyi was just about to stop them when Pei Yu blocked his way.

“Relax, Hua Che is a good fox.”

The long-separated friends chatted idly.

Mu Jingyi did not sense any malice from the fox, but that expression that seemed to enchant everyone equally with every smile…

The corner of his mouth twitched.

“Did you two meet through proper channels?”

“Cough—cough…”

Pei Yu choked on his tea, nearly spraying it out.

“You didn’t meet at some club, did you?”

Professor Pei coughed even harder.

“Is he really in that line of work?”

Mu Jingyi could not sit still anymore.

“Don’t let the fox lead my kitten astray.”

He rose and pushed open the study door in one swift motion.

The two little omegas inside turned around.

The red ribbon that had been tied to the kitten’s tail was now wrapped twice around Ning Jiu’s neck, knotted neatly at the front.

The two trailing ends hung down, resting against his abdomen.

“You…”

Mu Jingyi’s scalp tightened.

He was too late.

He had already been led astray.

Hua Che nudged Ning Jiu’s arm, his fox eyes curving beautifully.

In the end, Ning Jiu gathered his courage and walked to Mu Jingyi.

He hooked his finger with the man’s, the posture he had just “learned” slightly clumsy, nothing like the fox who seemed born to entice.

His azure eyes were crystal clear, too pure for the seductive gesture he attempted.

Thankfully, the ribbon helped.

The bright red silk circled his slender neck like a pretty collar.

The little kitten tucked the ribbon’s end into the man’s hand and stepped closer, speaking softly in his usual kitten-like tone, awkwardly uttering the unfamiliar word.

“Daddy…”