“Tsk tsk tsk, the more I look at it, the stranger it seems. It’s clearly a stray cat, but how is its fur so clean? It looks like it doesn’t even need a bath.”
For some reason, Ye Zhiyun felt an overwhelming hostility toward the cat cradled in Ye Zhibai’s arms!
Ye Zhibai murmured in a low, stiff voice, “Maybe it’s a new stray that just got caught in the rain.”
“New…? Ugh, Sister, you’re so cute. Hug!”
“Uh!”
Ye Zhiyun couldn’t hold herself back any longer. She had no interest in the cat right now—she just wanted to embrace the person she adored.
Ye Zhibai had sacrificed herself to protect Guang Yu. This was a deed of the greatest benevolence!
But… was it really a sacrifice?!
Guang Yu had already leaped from Ye Zhibai’s arms onto the floor. She tilted her head up at the two humans pressed together, all cozy and affectionate, and finally let out a sigh of relief.
Phew… She had no idea what was going on or what that earlier exchange had meant.
But at least she knew one thing: This deity had been saved!
Probably?
Ye Zhiyun had been ready to put the stray cat out of her mind for the moment.
But as she held her sister, it was like some spark of inspiration ignited. Her thoughts grew unusually sharp.
A forgotten memory suddenly resurfaced.
Ye Zhiyun’s eyes flew wide open. Reluctantly, she gripped Ye Zhibai’s shoulders and slowly eased their pressed chests apart. Her stern little face broke into a playful grin.
“Sister, you said you’d handle the cat’s vaccines… but we can’t delay this. If you’re keeping it in your room, you have to stay vigilant against scratches at all times… So here’s the plan! We don’t need to go to the rescue center. Last time I joined the Maid Corps to save strays, they had leftover vaccines stored there!”
With that, Ye Zhiyun stepped back two paces, pulled out her phone, and dialed the all-purpose line to the Maid Corps.
Her voice turned icy in an instant, switching seamlessly.
“Hello? Yes, it’s me, Ye Zhiyun. The leftover rabies vaccine from last time… Mm, bring one cat’s dose. And all the other vaccines too. Right now—deliver it. I’ll pick it up outside.”
Ye Zhibai glanced at the carefree Little Tea Cat, who was still swaying her head and tail, practically grooving to some disco beat.
Guang Yu… This is my last attempt to save you. If it doesn’t work, accept your fate. You’re a god—stay strong.
“Yun’er, wait—”
“No way, Sister. Even you can’t be that willful.” Yun’er reached the door, turned back, and lightly tapped her left index and middle fingers to her temple.
She smiled. “Relax. I know you’re worried the cat will bolt if we take her out. That’s why I’m having the vaccines brought right here. Don’t worry~ I’ve learned how to vaccinate cats from the Medical Maid Corps. I’ll do it myself! Easy peasy! Uh… though I haven’t actually tried it before?”
“!”
It was just like an overconfident intern in a hospital who’d never given a shot to a patient!
Ye Zhibai sensed this train had left the station.
Guang Yu… if you want to stay here, there’s no dodging the vaccines.
She lowered her gaze again, staring at the cat with deep worry that Guang Yu couldn’t comprehend.
Then she lifted her head with resolve.
Better a short pain than a long one. Guang Yu, you’ll thank me later.
Composing herself, Ye Zhibai said, “Yun’er, what I mean is, if we’re doing vaccines, let’s knock them all out at once. Every shot, no skipping.”
“You got it, Sister!”
Bang—the door slammed shut.
In her little cat form, Guang Yu innocently queried the silent Ye Zhibai with naive cuteness.
“Human? What’s going on? Can we chill here now? Your sister won’t hassle us anymore?”
“She’s not hassling you… she’s just… sigh!”
Hee hee, humans were so odd, always sighing like that.
That was what Guang Yu had thought ten minutes earlier.
But ten minutes later, Guang Yu was in an entirely different state—a wretched, heartrending yowl.
“Meow meow meow!!” (Are all you humans this brutal!!)
Ye Zhibai pinned down the thrashing cat-form Guang Yu while Ye Zhiyun wielded the prepared syringe.
Sisters teaming up—work’s a breeze.
“Uh…! Sister, hold her steady; I can’t get the needle in like this! Yeah, just like that! Here goes!”
“Meow!” (Deicide!!)
Ye Zhibai narrowed her eyes. If her face allowed easy expressions, she’d be wincing right now!
Oof, that looked painful to watch.
But Yun’er, didn’t you dislike Guang Yu? Why are you jabbing so viciously?!
Fortunately, Ye Zhiyun wasn’t some clueless rookie. She had a natural gift for it. Even on her first real try, her injection was swift, precise, steady, accurate, and ruthlessly effective.
“Mm… one more needle. This one’s the last. In it goes!”
“Meow!!”
Guang Yu could never have imagined it: A deity like her, descending to the mortal realm on her very first day, already tasting the full bittersweet spectrum of human life.
So this was the human world.
Hilarious.
With the vaccines finished, the cat-form Guang Yu was utterly spent.
At first, she yowled curses and complaints, circling Ye Zhibai and nipping at her leg. But now, she sprawled across the chair in front of Ye Zhibai’s desk, fast asleep.
It was seven o’clock at night. Dusk had faded, and night had fallen.
Ye Zhibai sat on the edge of the bed, watching her. Sleepiness welled up within her.
It wasn’t just drowsiness—the exhaustion built into this body crashed over her too.
Time for bed.
Her mind grew hazy, but Yun’er was still chattering happily about old adventures. Before drifting off, maybe she should listen a bit more…? Yun’er seemed so eager for their chats.
“Pfft, and then you just… Huh, Sister, are you getting sleepy?”
“Hm?” Ye Zhibai’s head lolled for a moment. She shook it to rouse herself. “No… yawn…”
The ice beauty stretched languidly, letting out an elegant yawn.
To Ye Zhiyun, the sight was pure artistry.
Ye Zhiyun gave a wry smile and dropped the subject. She draped a light shawl over her pale blue pajamas and rose to her feet.
“If you’re tired, don’t push it, Sister. Dad mentioned earlier about taking us out for a family dinner, but I told him we’d do it another time. You get some rest.”
“Family dinner…? Uh… yawn…”
Her thoughts were a total fog now.
Ye Zhibai had wanted to ask if postponing the family dinner was okay. To her, it wasn’t truly “family”—it was her first meeting with these relatives, something momentous.
But she no longer had the strength to speak.
As her awareness scattered, Ye Zhibai’s head tilted sideways. She slumped against the bedside table and fell into sleep.
“Aiya… Sister, you’re something else. Mm… Sleep well tonight. Tomorrow… you have to hear more from Yun’er. Talking with you is so much fun…”
Right before her consciousness fully dissolved, Ye Zhibai vaguely caught those words.
It felt like her body was lifted, laid gently flat on the bed, and tucked in with cozy warmth.
And there seemed to be… a soft, moist touch on her lips.
Whether those sensations were real or not…
Ye Zhibai had already sunk into deep slumber, beyond verifying.
“Sister, good night… see you tomorrow.”
Those were the final words echoing through Ye Zhibai’s fading thoughts.
Mm, good night.
