The faint rattle of the carriage wheels over the cobblestones was drowned out by the bustle of the street. Little White Cat had endured the bumpy ride with dwindling energy, but the sound of voices perked her up. She clambered to the windowsill and poked her head out to gaze at the scenery.
The brilliant blue sky, the red-and-white buildings, and the plainly dressed pedestrians going about their business all filled Meng Yiran with a long-lost sense of human warmth.
She turned back and meowed at Tong Yuwu, inviting her to come see the excitement. But the beautiful Doll Lady showed little interest. She merely glanced out before settling back down, scooping Little White Cat into her arms and gently grooming the wind-tousled fur on her cheeks.
Meng Yiran had just extended her little pink tongue to lick her nose when it brushed against Tong Yuwu’s fingertip. She froze, too startled to pull back right away, and stared blankly at Tong Yuwu. Only when Tong Yuwu smiled and pressed her tongue did Meng Yiran snap out of it. She yanked it back in a flash and bent down to lick her front paws as if nothing had happened.
They passed through the street, leaving the clamor behind as the carriage eased into a quiet residential neighborhood.
A gentle breeze slipped through the window curtain, teasing Meng Yiran’s lips. Little White Cat sneezed violently and flopped down, covering her nose with her soft paw pads.
Jenny hadn’t noticed, her attention fixed outside. “How fragrant,” she sighed.
The window frame was crammed with a riot of vibrant pink. Meng Yiran peered closer and realized it was cluster after cluster of intricate rose blossoms.
The Tong Family Castle grew plenty of flowers too, tended by dedicated gardeners, but they paled in comparison to these roses outside.
Before long, the carriage pulled up in front of a two-story small building with its own garden. Tong Yuwu cradled Meng Yiran as she stepped down.
This town, built around Clarity Magic Academy, bore the academy’s name as well. Though not as grand as a metropolis, land here was just as precious. The Tong Family enjoyed direct admission privileges across generations and had snapped up property early on. The street had once been called Jingxue Street but was later renamed Rose Street. Meng Yiran had thought the new name sounded romantic at first, but now she saw it was utterly literal—
Every house along the street was a garden villa, each one bursting with meticulously cared-for roses. The deep green vines bore fully bloomed flowers even larger than a grown man’s fist.
The Tong Family Villa had stood empty for ages, its garden long since conquered by a dense rose thicket. Even more striking was a cascade of pale pink roses spilling from the second-floor balcony. They had climbed the protruding stone walls and railings in a riotous display all the way to the eaves, like a sultry beauty reclining languidly on the rooftop. Compared to their little group, this floral invader—with half the roof to itself—seemed more like the true master of the house.
“How long has it been since anyone tended this place?!” Jenny fumed, stamping her foot. “The servants dared to slack off just because the owners weren’t around.”
After venting, she wasted no time and hurried inside with Meili to start cleaning.
Tong Yuwu had brought only two maids and two male servants this time. At Jenny’s orders, the men began ferrying luggage in and out of the small building.
A neighbor—an old woman—heard the commotion and came out to investigate. She crossed paths with Tong Yuwu, who was standing right outside the door. Judging from Tong Yuwu’s clothes, the old woman guessed her identity and approached with her cane. “This house has been empty for over twenty years. I was starting to think your family had forgotten about it.
“Are you planning to move in for good?”
Tong Yuwu looked at her and nodded. “Mm.”
“Where are you from?” the old woman pressed. “How long will you be staying?”
Tong Yuwu’s expression didn’t change. “From home. A few years.”
The old woman turned away with a pout, annoyed by the vague reply. “Where are your adults, then?”
Little White Cat twitched her ears and craned her neck, meowing irritably at the woman twice.
Tong Yuwu pressed down on her little head. “The adults aren’t coming.”
The old woman tsked, scrutinizing Tong Yuwu more closely. “Just you, a little child? Coming here to live alone?”
“I’m already an adult.” Tong Yuwu looked up with a smile. “I’m here to study at Clarity.”
The old woman frowned in confusion. “That doesn’t add up. It’s not enrollment season—how could you start at Clarity now?”
She leaned in. “Little girl, are you sure you didn’t get it wrong?”
Tong Yuwu shook her head. “No.”
As the old and the young conversed, a few children around ten years old appeared nearby. They quickly zeroed in on the unfamiliar face of Tong Yuwu, but most of their attention soon shifted to the exotic little white cat in her arms.
The children weren’t shy. They jostled over politely and greeted the old woman.
“Grandma Ge Li.”
The Old Woman was distractedly fending them off, and by the time she looked back at Tong Yuwu, she had already lost all interest in questioning her. She politely forced a smile. “New neighbors have moved onto the street. I need to notify the longtime residents nearby so everyone can come welcome you.”
Tong Yuwu politely and tactfully declined. “No need.”
The Old Woman waved her hand. “What’s the big deal? It’s no trouble at all—this is just neighborly care for newcomers.”
Tong Yuwu replied, “But dealing with you all is quite troublesome for me.”
She raised her arm to fend off the dirty hands that several children were stealthily reaching toward Meng Yiran, then silently stepped back two paces without a word.
The Old Woman’s smile froze on her face, while the children, caught red-handed in their sneaky little moves, looked somewhat chagrined.
Meng Yiran was just inwardly sighing that her own Doll Lady had disastrously low emotional intelligence when Jenny emerged from the house. Spotting the awkward scene, she hurried over to defuse the situation, allowing the Little White Cat to finally breathe a sigh of relief.
Seeing that the fun was over, the children muttered among themselves about leaving. As they turned to go, the Little Girl trailing behind suddenly raised her hand.
A vividly blooming rose was clutched in her tiny hand. With a swing of her little arm, the rose branch lashed toward Meng Yiran like a whip. Tong Yuwu reacted swiftly, pulling her out of the way, but the sensitive little kitten could still feel the faint breeze and delicate fragrance stirred up by the flailing flower branch.
In the blink of an eye, the Little Girl had withdrawn her hand, her eyes hidden beneath long, heavy bangs, her face impossible to make out.
The Old Woman let out a wail even faster than the victim herself. “Aila! How many times have I told you, you can’t pick the blooming roses!!!”
She lunged at the Little Girl with claws outstretched. Startled, the Little Girl bolted, scurrying to catch up with the group of children who had already gotten some distance away.
The area in front of the Tong Family Villa fell quiet once more.
“What’s the deal with these neighbors?” Jenny wiped the sweat from her forehead. “Miss, are you alright?”
Tong Yuwu soothingly patted the Little White Cat’s belly and shook her head. “I’m fine.”
Jenny let out a breath of relief. “The house inside is pretty clean—the bedroom on the second floor has already been tidied up. Please go in and rest.”
She glanced toward the garden. “It’s just these roses… It’ll probably take some time to clear them all out.”
Tong Yuwu nodded. With the Little White Cat cradled in one arm and her skirt hem lifted in the other, she slowly entered the small building.
Several roses dangled from the eaves, swaying lightly in the breeze as their fragrance grew even more intense.
