Chapter 13: 13
The sound of her heart pounding in her chest was almost deafening. Luo Li's face was flushed, partly because the person in her arms was burning hot.
But also because... she wasn't wearing anything underneath and was clinging tightly to her.
Why? Luo Li had thought Lu Cixue was still angry and didn't want to see her, yet the moment they met, she threw herself into her subordinate's arms without hesitation.
Even though she said she'd only hold on for a moment, the untrustworthy cat tightened her embrace more and more. As long as Luo Li stayed quiet, she could keep holding on.
Greedily inhaling the sweet scent of Luo Li, Lu Cixue felt a sense of security, easing the anxiety and numbness left behind after her heat cycle.
Even if this sense of security was stolen.
"You have a fever. Did you take any medicine?" Luo Li asked, trying to assess the situation.
The cat hiding in her arms let out a muffled sound from her throat, making it unclear whether she had taken any or not.
Forget it, Luo Li thought. In her dazed state, there was no point in expecting a coherent answer.
Luo Li let her hold on, then gently scooped her up and carried her back to the bedroom.
Both apartments had the same layout, so Luo Li quickly found the master bedroom. The door was open, but when she tried to lay Lu Cixue down on the bed, the woman suddenly seemed to snap out of her daze. She sat up on her own, covering herself tightly with the blanket.
It was as if she was trying to hide something.
She did seem more awake now, sitting in bed and staring at Luo Li. Her usually pale and elegant face was now flushed from the fever, her lips a deep red, her cheeks rosy. But those once dazed and misty eyes had returned to their usual indifferent and distant gaze.
However, paired with that face, it wasn't intimidating at all.
The contrast was too great, and Luo Li felt a pang of regret.
"Do you have a thermometer at home?" Luo Li asked, choosing not to dwell on why Lu Cixue had clung to her so suddenly. She glanced around the cold, minimalist bedroom.
No sign of a medical kit or medicine, but a large cat caught her eye.
"It's none of your business," Lu Cixue muttered, turning her head away. She belatedly remembered they had just had an argument and that she was supposed to keep her distance from Luo Li. But her fevered brain was fuzzy, and the moment they met, she clung to her. Now she was saying something that sounded like she was sulking.
Wow, how cold. Is she still mad?
Luo Li pressed her lips together, trying to keep from showing any gloating expression.
A composed and calm Director Lu was throwing a tantrum, refusing help, ignoring her messages, and avoiding her. If her usual clear-headed self had said something like that, Luo Li might have backed off immediately, but this time was different. A sick kitten needed to be comforted.
This was almost like... when someone's girlfriend got jealous.
"I'll take you to the hospital. How about you change clothes first?" Luo Li's tone softened as she placed slippers by the bed. "Of course it's my business. I'm so clueless without you, Director Lu."
"You're not clueless," Lu Cixue suddenly replied, catching Luo Li off guard. She looked up to see the woman on the bed staring at her with a serious expression.
Director Lu was always serious, making people feel at ease, but she never explained anything, silently dealing with things on her own.
Just now, she didn't want anyone to help, but now she was correcting Luo Li, not letting her belittle herself.
In the cat's world, her human was everything.
A warm, tingling sensation spread through Luo Li's chest. Smiling, she said, "So, will you come to the hospital with me?"
"I'm not going."
...
She was just being stubborn. Luo Li led her to the dressing room, and she didn't resist, not having the energy to do so anyway.
Lu Cixue stood by the door, so tired she could barely keep her eyes open, yet still insisted on putting her shoes on by herself.
Luo Li wanted to help, but Lu Cixue refused.
What surprised Luo Li even more was that her boss was resisting going to the hospital because she was afraid of getting a shot.
Even when they reached the hospital entrance, Lu Cixue wouldn't get out of the car, sitting in the passenger seat with pursed lips, hesitating as she looked at Luo Li.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing." The independent cat reluctantly opened the car door and followed Luo Li into the hospital.
The unpredictable weather often made people sick, and the hospital was filled with crying children.
Luo Li saw a little boy crying with tears streaming down his face, while a little girl next to him, with a cooling patch on her forehead, obediently stretched out her white hand for a shot.
Then she glanced at the crying boy disdainfully.
"Stop crying. It doesn't hurt anymore. You're bothering the other kids."
The boy pouted, sniffling as he replied, "But it went in…"
Luo Li found their interaction amusing and wanted to show Lu Cixue, only to realize the cat had gone missing.
Huh?
Luo Li turned to find the missing cat standing behind her, nervously watching the scene.
The nurse skillfully inserted the needle.
Lu Cixue's pupils dilated, her anxiety growing as she instinctively clung to Luo Li's clothes.
Her expression was awkward and hesitant as she frowned, looking up at Luo Li.
Her gaze was intense, but her voice was soft as a mosquito's buzz as she stiffly muttered, "I don't want a shot."
What? Did she really just say that?
Luo Li glanced at the calm little girl, then back at the adult behind her.
Director Lu was afraid of needles.
Luo Li stifled a laugh. "Let's ask the doctor. If they say you don't need a shot, then we won't do it."
Clearly, this answer didn't satisfy the cat, but she still followed Luo Li into the consultation room.
Luo Li thought the resentful look Lu Cixue gave her was just like a cat who couldn't get its favorite treat.
Fortunately, the doctor only prescribed some medicine and didn't insist on giving the cat a shot.
After returning from the hospital, Luo Li busied herself in the kitchen, but found the fridge filled with mostly instant food.
Though her cooking wasn't on par with her father's, she had managed to survive abroad for so long. Making something simple was well within her abilities.
Like noodles and fried eggs.
On the sofa, Lu Cixue held a cup of hot water, staring silently at the steam rising from the noodles, lost in thought.
Luo Li tiptoed over, trying to see what was on her mind.
Her sneaky behavior was suddenly reflected in Lu Cixue's indifferent gaze.
Luo Li jumped, "Um… I've made some food. Do you want to try it?"
Lu Cixue didn't move. Even though she was weak, her aura remained strong. She looked up at Luo Li from beneath lowered lashes, her gaze so complex that Luo Li couldn't decipher it.
The thick ice wall between them seemed to be melting.
Luo Li had a rare moment of insight, realizing that Director Lu wanted to talk to her.
But how could this proud, reserved person be the first to speak?
Luo Li smiled. "I just wanted to say that if you act like that, people will gossip behind your back…" She figured Lu Cixue wouldn't care about such things, but it bothered her.
Never mind, she could deal with that herself.
Luo Li rubbed her ear awkwardly. "And I didn't realize she was doing it on purpose. Are you still mad?"
Her clear, sincere eyes focused solely on Lu Cixue, and the straightforward gaze made Lu Cixue instinctively want to look away.
She didn't know how to respond.
Seeing that Lu Cixue didn't seem angry, Luo Li relaxed and began to push her luck, pouting as she said, "I'm sorry, okay? When you ignore me, I can't do anything right. I can't eat or sleep well. Look, I even have dark circles…"
Luo Li leaned closer, trying to show Lu Cixue her dark circles, but the woman on the sofa stood up abruptly, a bit flustered, and walked toward the dining table.
"I'm not mad."
Luo Li didn't call out the stubborn cat's lie, following her. "Okay, you're not mad. Now, try the food. Does it taste good?"
She was a bit surprised that this privileged child knew how to cook.
Lu Cixue took a bite of the fried egg, thinking that Luo Li didn't act superior and got along with everyone.
Lu Cixue's standards for food were low; to her, eating was just a way to replenish energy, not to savor flavors and trigger dopamine.
But today, this simple dish tasted… different.
"Is it good?"
"Mm…" Lu Cixue ate slowly, taking small bites like a cat.
How good could it really be? But hearing Lu Cixue's approval made Luo Li's eyes crinkle with a smile.
She was doomed. How could she find this ice block so adorable?
Lu Cixue, uncomfortable under Luo Li's gaze, endured it until she finished everything on the marble dining table.
"Thank you. Sorry for the trouble today."
There she went again, politely thanking her.
Luo Li felt it was time to push their relationship forward.
Quickly grabbing the dishes before Lu Cixue could, Luo Li leaned against the table, saying, "Why do you keep thanking me? I'm not going to work today anyway. I'll stay here and take care of you, and we'll see how many times you can say thank you."
With that, she headed into the kitchen without looking back.
Lu Cixue blinked in confusion, her long black lashes shading puzzled eyes.
When Luo Li returned, Lu Cixue was standing but hadn't left.
"You should take a nap now, then get up to take your medicine."
Lu Cixue's gaze lingered on her face for a long time, trying to gauge her current mood.
She only nodded perfunctorily, not really listening to what Luo Li was saying.
When she didn't move, Luo Li chuckled. "Director Lu, is there something on my face?"
"Were you mad earlier?" It didn't seem like a joke to the person across from her.
Luo Li was taken aback. Why would Lu Cixue think she was mad? Reflecting on her earlier behavior, Luo Li was shocked by how sensitive Lu Cixue was.
"Of course not. I just don't want you to keep thanking me. We're so close already…" Luo Li muttered softly, "You even insisted on hugging me earlier…"
Lu Cixue didn't catch the last part, but she understood Luo Li's point.
"I understand."
Luo Li nodded in satisfaction. "Good, now go to sleep. I'll stay in the living room with you."
Only after saying that did Luo Li realize how bossy she sounded. She was in someone else's home, yet she dared to order her boss around.
Lu Cixue stood still for a moment, then obediently turned back to the bedroom.
Luo Li finally felt at ease, sitting on the sofa to rest. She pulled out her phone, already listed among those who'd been reported for skipping work.
Ugh... my paycheck. It hurts.
Luo Li sighed heavily, then couldn't help but smile. Never mind, chasing a wife was obviously more important.
After a while, the person in the master bedroom still hadn't fallen asleep.
She had just gone through her heat cycle, so that desire was gone. But the craving for Luo Li's company was now climbing to a new peak.
She wanted to be held, to rest where she could smell Luo Li's scent…
The woman on the bed let her black hair fall loose, her flushed face even more striking. Her dazed eyes were unfocused as she bit her lip, burying herself under the covers.
It wasn't from the fever but from a different kind of torment, an embarrassing and shameful longing for someone else's embrace.
What should she do?
Luo Li had gone home to grab her gaming console, but before she could finish a single game, the door to the master bedroom quietly opened.
A soft, weak kitten, unsteady from the fever, slowly made her way to Luo Li's side, rubbing against her and letting out a soft meow.
Luo Li looked down. "Why are you out here again?" Was she too weak and had turned back into a cat?
The kitten, of course, didn't respond. She just sat there, her big blue eyes looking up, not insisting on being held, behaving so well that it made Luo Li's heart melt.
Compared to the poor little kitten, the game could wait. Luo Li set her console aside.
Alright, alright. If Director Lu didn't want to sleep, she'd just keep her company.
The kitten was gently picked up and placed on her lap, instantly closing her eyes as if she understood, clinging to Luo Li's finger.
The soft pads of her paws held Luo Li's hand against her tummy, and she peacefully fell asleep.
Luo Li's heart melted.
As the daylight faded, casting a warm, golden hue through the window, the kitten opened her eyes first, finding the human beside her fast asleep on the sofa, her peaceful expression a far cry from her usual self.
The kitten stared at that face for a while. Slowly… inch by inch… she moved closer.
So close that she could feel Luo Li's breath ruffling her fur.
The kitten nestled against Luo Li's shoulder, looking up. Her lips were so tempting.
She remembered the feeling of kissing them—it was soft and bouncy. She had secretly indulged her little desire before.
Only for a moment, but thinking about it now, the kitten still felt embarrassed and uneasy.
She had kissed without permission.
How naughty.
But… but Luo Li was asleep now, and they were in her home. No one would know.
The swirling temptation was both dangerous and alluring.
The kitten carefully leaned in, just about to steal another kiss, but before she could, the human instinctively hugged her, pressing a kiss to her head. Perhaps Luo Li thought she was just an ordinary kitten, or maybe she was still half-asleep, but her voice was soft and husky.
"Mm? You're awake?"
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