All My Colleagues Are Animals 36

Chapter 36

On the first floor of a shopping mall in a bustling district, people came and went in an endless stream.

The entrance to the jewelry store was even more crowded, gradually forming a faint human wall.

“What’s going on inside? What’s happening?” someone asked, jumping up and down like a meerkat in a melon patch, anxious for gossip.

“See those three beautiful women? The canary is cheating, and now the two sugar mamas have run into each other…” someone else said with certainty.

Crunch, crunch. This one was even eating a watermelon while watching.

And as the person at the center of it all, Ye Qingyu maintained a calm and composed expression on the surface, but in reality, a fiery red cloud had already burned from her cheeks to the base of her neck.

“…This is my mother.”

Her throat was dry as she reminded her arrogant and spirited beautiful boss.

Oh, so it’s her mother. I, Pei the Red Panda, have nothing to fear…

Huh?

Pei the Little Able Cat’s peach blossom eyes suddenly widened, and her pink lips unconsciously parted, revealing the tips of a small beast’s sharp canines.

In her daze, she saw the woman across from them—that is, Ye Qingyu’s mother—put down the jewelry she was trying on and walk toward them with unhurried steps.

She stopped about a meter away, then curled her lips slightly and said to her, the one who had just spouted nonsense, with deep meaning:

“What a coincidence. We’re both raising her.”

“Since we’re so fated, why don’t we have lunch together?”

Pei the Little Able Cat had been navigating human society for a long time, but she hadn’t had much contact with actual humans.

Besides Ye Qingyu, she was equally distant and wary of every other human.

But for some strange reason, although this strange woman clearly looked difficult to deal with and had already crossed her alert distance, she felt no sense of alarm at all.

Especially that half-smiling tone, which sounded exceptionally familiar in her ears, vaguely loosening something long-sealed.

It even brought a sharp pain to her head, and fragmented, blurry images flashed by—

It seemed to be in the distant past, when she was still a little red panda cub, often playing and getting into trouble with a human cub.

At times like these, a hand would pinch the scruff of her neck, lifting her, a poor, innocent little red panda, into the air, her four soft, furry paws paddling helplessly in the air.

The woman’s voice would then sound from above, half-smiling:

“Master Yu, Master Rong, you’re not sleeping in the middle of the night, but busy tearing down the house?”

The memory was just a fleeting flash, leaving little trace, but Pei the Little Able Cat’s body couldn’t help but shiver.

Ye Qingyu felt the beautiful boss pressed against her suddenly tremble. Her heart tightened, and she had a strange premonition—

It’s over. Boss Pei is going to raise her hands in surrender.

Sure enough, a frightened pink flushed the woman’s fair earlobes. The arm hooked around her neck limply loosened, and she unconsciously began to lift it—

Ye Qingyu quickly grabbed both of Pei Rong’s wrists, just in time to press down the surrendering gesture, and pulled the woman into her arms protectively.

Then, under the golden gazes of the onlookers both inside and outside the jewelry store, a chill running down her spine, she braced herself and said softly to her own mother:

“Mom, it’s not what you think. Let’s talk somewhere else.”

Facing the two of them hugging so intimately, Ye Zhao showed no emotion.

Her eyes were as deep as ink. She leisurely crossed her arms. “It’s time for lunch. It just so happens that our family’s restaurant is right next to this mall. Come and eat.”

…

On the east side of the mall, there was a restaurant called “A Leaf’s Taste,” a nationally renowned high-end Chinese restaurant chain.

At the end of the corridor, in a private room with the name “Qingyu” carved on the doorplate, the sandalwood tables and chairs had a classical charm, and the environment was fresh and elegant.

The waiter carefully poured tea for the owner and her guests, then took the menu and left the private room, gently closing the door.

With a click, the room fell into a quiet stillness.

Ye Qingyu’s throat was a little itchy. She first lowered her head and took a sip of tea.

Pei the Little Able Cat, sitting to her right, also lowered her head and took a sip of tea. Her long, curly hair, as if in a shedding phase, framed her cheeks, giving her a somewhat well-behaved appearance.

The arrogant air from when she had proudly declared “I’m already raising her” had been extinguished, leaving only a wisp of thin smoke.

This scene was somewhat familiar, making Ye Zhao feel a little dazed.

The pad of her finger stroked the side of the teacup. She discreetly sized up the beautiful woman who was keeping her daughter, her gaze sweeping over her long, reddish-brown curls, then landing on her wrist.

The bracelet, made of reddish-brown jade beads, was exquisite and translucent. It shimmered with a deep and mysterious luster under the bright lights of the private room, and it suited her slender, pale wrist quite well.

In the middle of the bracelet was also a charmingly naive little red panda.

Ye Zhao’s brow twitched slightly, a complex surprise surging in her eyes.

Ye Qingyu cleared her throat and explained in a soft, quiet voice, “Mom, this is my boss, Pei Rong. We’re out on an assignment together, inspecting the launch of a new company product at the mall.”

“What happened just now was all a misunderstanding. Boss Pei thought I needed help, so she stepped up to help me out.”

Although her method of helping out was a bit unusual.

Hearing this, Ye Zhao’s finger, which had been stroking the teacup, paused.

She subconsciously repeated, “Pei Rong?”

The warm bamboo leaf tea settled in her stomach, smoothing over the waves that had been stirred up by the brief loosening of her sealed memories. Pei the Little Able Cat was finally able to regain her thoughts.

Although Ye Qingyu’s mother looked difficult to deal with, Pei the Red Panda had always been majestic, so there was no reason to be afraid.

Moreover, if she appeared timid, how could she let her entrust her daughter to her care?

Pei the Little Able Cat’s mind was in turmoil, but in the end, she put on a composed and responsible air, as if she could bear the responsibility of raising a human. She extended her hand to Ye Zhao and said unhurriedly:

“Hello, I’m Pei Rong.”

Ye Zhao paused for a few seconds before extending her hand for a light shake.

“Hello, I’m Ye Zhao.”

“Forgive me for asking, but is the ‘Rong’ in your name the ‘Rong’ for velvet?”

Pei the Little Able Cat blinked her peach blossom eyes.

Is the process of transferring the raising of a human this complicated? Are there even requirements for the master’s name?

“Yes,” she answered.

The moment she said this, Ye Zhao felt a buzzing in her head.

She unconsciously fiddled with the jade thumb ring on her left ring finger. If she took off the ring, she would see the tattoo wrapped around the base of her finger—

On one side was the character “Yu,” and on the other was the character “Rong.”

Just then, the waiter knocked and came in to serve the dishes. A warm steam began to rise in the quiet private room, and the aroma of food filled the air.

Ye Zhao managed to come back to her senses. She smoothly suppressed the turmoil in her heart and said with a smile, “It seems there was a misunderstanding just now. So it was Boss Pei who was helping Little Yu out. Since we’ve met by chance, I hope Boss Pei will enjoy her meal at our restaurant.”

“Little Yu has never been one to socialize with people. Seeing you two as such close friends today, I also feel very gratified.”

The word “close” was emphasized with a certain subtle and deep meaning, and when it reached Ye Qingyu’s ears, it made her clench her chopsticks.

But Pei the Little Able Cat was quite pleased to hear it.

The human’s mother said she was gratified to see them being close. Doesn’t that mean—”I’ll be entrusting my daughter to you from now on. It’s her duty to rub your ears and belly, dry your fur and paws, and peel mangosteens for you. If she takes a liking to another red panda, I’ll be the first to disagree.”

So, Pei the Red Panda raising a human was now officially approved. Not even the heavens falling could find fault with it.

Pei Rong’s mood completely relaxed, and she ate her meal in high spirits.

The food on the table was particularly to her taste, and even faintly familiar. Besides the food Ye Qingyu made, she had never eaten anything that hit her taste buds so perfectly.

Across from her, Ye Zhao asked with a warm smile, “Boss Pei, is the food to your liking?”

Pei the Little Able Cat paused, then gave a reserved and polite nod.

Her peripheral vision caught her beautiful boss’s chopsticks dancing toward the two dishes with fruit. Ye Qingyu’s heart gradually tightened, and in the end, she couldn’t help but remind the unrestrained little beast in a small voice:

“Boss Pei, you can’t have any more fruit today.”

Pei the Little Able Cat’s chopsticks paused. She bit her lip, a little unhappy, and didn’t take any more fruit.

Seeing her beautiful boss seem to droop, Ye Qingyu couldn’t bear it and picked up a piece of stuffed tofu for her.

The tender and full tofu was filled with a rich abalone sauce, savory and mellow. Pei Rong took a light bite, and the juice spilled out, staining the corners of her lips.

Ye Qingyu unintentionally saw this and, out of habit, grabbed a tissue, wanting to wipe it for her.

Her hand was already by the woman’s lips when she suddenly realized the situation and quickly changed direction, placing the tissue in Pei Rong’s palm.

Noticing her mother’s burning gaze from across the table, Ye Qingyu instantly felt as if she were sitting on pins and needles, hating her uncontrollable hand.

During tea after the meal, Pei Rong used the excuse of going to the bathroom to wash her hands to go and settle the bill.

How could she possibly let Ye Qingyu’s mother pay? She had to display her impressive wealth to make the other party not regret entrusting her daughter to her, a little panda’s, care.

Walking out of the private room, she unintentionally looked up at the room opposite, and her gaze suddenly paused.

Just like the private room they were in, the sandalwood door of the room opposite was also carved with an elegant name—Rong.

This side was “Qingyu,” and the other side was “Rong.” What a coincidence.

Pei the Little Able Cat raised an eyebrow and walked out of the corridor.

And in the time Pei Rong was gone, only the mother and daughter were left in the private room, looking at each other without a word.

Ye Zhao propped up her chin, a complex wave of emotions surging in her heart.

Finally, she let out a long sigh and asked, “Honey, how much does she pay you a month?”

Ye Qingyu: “Sixty thousand.”

Ye Zhao’s lips opened and closed, wanting to say something but hesitating.

After a moment of such conflict, a worried look appeared on her face.

“Ever since our family got rich, I’ve always raised you in luxury.”

“I know you’re not with her for the money.”

“…”

Ye Qingyu’s eyelashes trembled.

Wait, what’s with the word “with”?

“Mom, are you still misunderstanding?” Ye Qingyu said seriously. “Sixty thousand is a proper salary. Boss Pei and I are friends.”

“I know. She’s not willing to give you a title yet.”

Ye Zhao understood, and became even more worried.

Ye Qingyu: “…”

“I have no objection to you liking women, and I can understand why you like her. She’s just too…” Too similar.

So similar that she couldn’t even feel any anger or hostility toward Pei Rong.

Ye Zhao looked at her daughter, a certain conflicted pity in her eyes. “I didn’t come here today to be the bad guy. I didn’t want to break you two up.”

As a rich woman who had been through a lot, Ye Zhao was well-versed in many things.

Her good friend was keeping a college student, and said that “older sister and puppy” relationships were popular now.

At the time, she had listened and laughed it off, not quite understanding but remaining respectful. Who knew that in a flash, she would find that her own precious daughter was secretly being a “puppy” for an older sister outside.

Now that it was happening to her own child, it was hard to remain calm. Ye Zhao rubbed her forehead, feeling a headache coming on.

After a moment’s thought, she said seriously, “You’ve always been a smart and independent child. I believe you know what you’re doing and can be responsible for your own choices. But Mom still wants to remind you that an unequal relationship will lead to hurt.”

“But if you really like her… you can also go and experience it with confidence. I will be your safety net.”

Ye Zhao straightened the collar of her suit. “After all, the reason I’ve come this far is to give you and myself the confidence to enjoy life as we please.”

She said these things, on the one hand, to comfort her daughter, and on the other, to mentally prepare herself and convince herself—

My daughter isn’t really being a “puppy,” just experiencing an unusual kind of emotional relationship.

With this thought, Ye Zhao felt much more clear-headed.

Ye Qingyu felt that she would never be able to clear her name.

After Pei Rong returned, the three of them left the restaurant peacefully and went their separate ways.

Ye Zhao had forgotten something at the jewelry store. As she was going back to get it, she saw from a distance that her daughter’s sugar mama had a sullen expression, and her daughter was like someone coaxing a fluffy little beast, gently petting her head and tidying her hair, then going to the side to buy a coconut and bring it back for her to drink. And after she finished, she even provided the service of wiping her mouth…

She felt that the place that had just been cleared was now blocked again.

Patting her stuffy chest, Ye Zhao called her friend and asked with her eyes closed, “Little Zhao, tell me, what does that ‘little puppy’ of yours usually do for you?”

“Aiya, under the bed, she’ll… and on the bed, she’s even more…” The person on the other end of the line chattered on, and Ye Zhao’s face went through a kaleidoscope of colors.

“Stop,” Ye Zhao said, dizzy, and took a deep breath. “Don’t say anymore.”