Epilogue 4: Bai Shuang’s Story (Part 1)
Ding—
Late at night, the elevator doors on the 20th floor opened.
The woman’s figure swayed slightly, her long, wavy hair fluttering, half-hiding her skin, which was flushed from being drunk.
She was wearing a wine-red long dress that swayed gracefully, and she walked out of the elevator in high heels.
Click, clack.
The heels touched the ground lightly, and a clear and deep echo was struck in the empty hall.
Chu Yunyao arrived at her front door and raised her hand, preparing to unlock it with her fingerprint.
The next second, her hand suddenly paused, and she, as if sensing something, turned her head—
And she saw a graceful figure standing quietly at the door opposite, which had been vacant for a long time.
The woman had her back to her, and under the soft nightlight, her hair color was very unique:
The whole was dyed a snow-white, and it was just right with black and orange streaks, a three-color mix.
At a glance, it was beautiful and enchanting.
Chu Yunyao curled her lips slightly with great interest and, slightly tipsy, she leaned against the door and smiled with a charm that overflowed.
“New neighbor? Hi, hello.”
The new neighbor paused for a moment before turning her head and answering indifferently, “Mhm.”
The alcohol was spreading, and her vision was hazy.
Through the thin mist, Chu Yunyao’s gaze lightly sketched the new neighbor’s face, and she couldn’t help but admire and trace the superior lines and curves.
The new neighbor was otherworldly in appearance and had a cool and aloof aura, and she looked distant and not easy to approach.
Even her voice was so cold.
Chu Yunyao’s throat moved slightly.
Out of professional habit, Chu Yunyao would always unconsciously sketch a person’s features when she looked at them, and she would think about the light and shadow composition when she was shooting.
Without a doubt, this woman and her camera would be an ultimate win-win.
Bai Shuang was quietly waiting for Chu Yunyao to continue speaking.
She saw the woman looking at her with a nonchalant air, a stunning smile at the corners of her lips, and she said:
“Excuse me, can you come to my place? I want to…”
Having had some wine, Chu Yunyao’s tone was a little light, and it seemed carefree. The end of her words was alluring, like she was flirting.
Before she could finish the sentence “I want to take a set of photos for you,” she saw the new neighbor suddenly and mercilessly turn her head and walk quickly into her home.
With a bang, the force of the door closing was not too light and not too heavy, and it faintly showed a certain emotion.
Several years had passed, and this bad woman was still so fickle and promiscuous… a little cat was secretly bristling behind the door for a long while.
And Chu Yunyao was leaning against the door, staring at the empty opposite, in a daze.
As a photographer who had been famous in the circle for a long time, Chu Yunyao’s works were all masterpieces, and they were hard to come by in the circle.
Many people offered her a high price to take their pictures, but she would only pick one or two to practice on when she was in a good mood.
Who knew that her first active invitation would be so unceremoniously rejected?
Chu Yunyao slowly blinked her eyes, her thoughts sluggish from the alcohol.
After a moment, she reacted, and her words seemed a little abrupt, and it was in the middle of the night, so it was probably easy to cause a misunderstanding.
I’ll find a chance to explain and apologize.
Chu Yunyao slowly turned around, went into her house, and took a bath, and she felt a little more clear-headed.
Wrapped in a bathrobe and preparing to go back to her room to sleep, she heard a faint sound at her front door.
Could it be that the new neighbor had taken the initiative to come and find her for a photoshoot?
A thought stirred, and Chu Yunyao quickly went to open the door.
Her gaze swept left and right, but she did not see anyone.
“Meow.”
A soft sound came from below.
Chu Yunyao lowered her head and saw a beautiful calico cat squatting in front of the door, its head slightly lifted, its posture dignified and cool.
Her gaze moved slightly, and for a moment, her heart was captured.
What a cute calico cat.
The clear fragrance of flowers filled the air, and Bai Shuang felt a soft and warm weight on top of her head.
“Little cat…” The woman squatted down by the doorframe and reached out to pet her gently.
Her voice was clear and gentle, with a pleasant smile.
Just like many years ago, this bad woman’s technique was skilled and on point, and Bai Shuang was soon so petted that her whole body was limp, and a heat spread through her.
“Meow…”
Bai Shuang lifted her head and gently bit the woman’s fingertip, a demure warning—
Don’t pet me like this.
But her body was really so comfortable that she couldn’t take it.
Not long after, she was lying limply on the ground at the bad woman’s door, and she had even accidentally exposed her snow-white, fluffy belly to the woman.
And so, the bad woman’s hand wantonly came to her belly and gently rubbed it.
“Tsk, so good.”
“Whose little cat are you? Are you lost?”
Chu Yunyao pinched the calico cat’s pink paw. “I’ll go and press the elevator on every floor and help you find your home, okay?”
Bai Shuang was so petted that her whole body was trembling lightly, and as she panted lightly, she lifted her head and, with a sudden struggle, broke free from the woman’s hand.
She bit her not too lightly and not too heavily, and then turned her back without any reluctance.
With an elegant and noble cat’s gait, she slipped through the crack in the door opposite and disappeared.
Chu Yunyao: “…”
So it was the new neighbor’s cat.
She came to her to be petted until she was comfortable, and then she would bite her and turn and leave without any reluctance?
Chu Yunyao was lost in thought.
…
For the next few days, Chu Yunyao was busy with work, leaving early and returning late, and she never found a chance to formally explain and apologize to her new neighbor.
Sometimes, she would happen to run into her new neighbor in the residential complex, but she would see the woman not even lift her eyes, and would coolly turn and walk away quickly.
It was a pity that she had not been able to speak to her new neighbor, but the neighbor’s calico cat had made up for it—the little cat would come to her every day to ask for pets.
Usually, after Chu Yunyao had come home and had taken a shower, a light scratching would be heard at the door.
The calico cat would always be squatting at her door, spoiled and dignified, and would lift her head high to wait to be served.
But after just two pets, she would go limp, and her cool and aloof posture would instantly be gone, and she would melt into a soft and limp, fluffy liquid in her palm.
When she had had enough of being petted, the calico cat would, without any reluctance, break free and turn and go back to the door opposite.
In short, she would run after she was done.
But, what bad intentions could a little cat have?
It must be that that cold new neighbor’s cat-petting technique was not very good, and the little cat was not satisfied, so she had to come next door behind her owner’s back to cuddle and nuzzle.
Chu Yunyao only felt sorry for the little cat.
As she was thinking, she skillfully served the calico cat until it was purring, and it had softened into a fluffy cotton candy in her hand.
She chuckled lightly and teased in a low voice:
“Little cat, is it that your cold owner doesn’t know how to pet?”
“…”
The calico cat paused.
She suddenly turned over and stood up, and bit her fingertip.
Then she slipped into the crack in the door opposite, a little puffed up with anger, and went home.
Chu Yunyao squatted where she was, slightly stunned, and looked at her fingertip, which had been bitten by the little cat, and her beautiful brow lifted slightly.
This little cat is quite protective of her owner. She can’t stand to hear a bad word about her.
…
Saturday night.
It was late at night again, and Chu Yunyao came home from work.
The large-scale shooting project had finally been completed. She unhurriedly enjoyed a bath and then lay on the sofa for a long time, relaxed.
A certain itch arose in her heart. It seemed there was something she hadn’t done today—
Mmm.
The little cat hadn’t come to find her today.
Just as she thought this, a faint sound came from the door.
Chu Yunyao’s features relaxed slightly, and she clearly felt her heart leap with it, accompanied by a clear and transcendent joy.
On her way to the door, she was in a daze for a moment, and she vaguely felt that she had also once looked forward to a certain little cat’s appearance like this.
…But she really couldn’t remember.
Chu Yunyao opened the door and saw a calico cat squatting properly in front of the door, her head held high and cool.
The bright light shone on the soft fur, which was a mix of black, orange, and white, and the edges were haloed with a transparent, golden light.
She was really a very beautiful calico cat, just as beautiful as her owner.
Her posture was also just as cool and indifferent.
But Chu Yunyao knew how soft and cute this little cat was when she melted.
Squatting down, Chu Yunyao did not, as usual, pet her directly, but instead extended a hand to the little cat.
“Little cat, can you come in?”
“I’m a little tired today. Jiejie will pet you on the sofa, and then I’ll take you back, okay?”
Bai Shuang lifted her head and quietly looked at Chu Yunyao.
She thought, this is probably how the bad woman used to lure innocent little cats.
After a moment’s thought, Bai Shuang still demurely lifted her paw and placed it in Chu Yunyao’s palm.
Chu Yunyao curled her lips into a smile.
Her tone was light, and she praised:
“Good little cat.”
That smile was full of charm, and her voice was gentle and alluring to a cat, just like many years ago.
At that time, Bai Shuang, who was still a stray cat, had thus gradually been lost in the “good little cat”s.
Having gotten permission, Chu Yunyao extended her two hands and, a little inexperiencedly, held the whole little cat in her arms.
The calico cat was lazily nestled in her arms, and her long, fluffy tail was slightly lifted behind her, and she condescended to wait to be served.
Chu Yunyao opened the door wide, so that the new neighbor would not be anxious and unable to find her cat in the middle of the night.
Then she held the little cat and lay back on the sofa, and with practiced ease, she rubbed her.
Bai Shuang was absent-mindedly lifting her head and looking around, and she did not see any other little cats in the bad woman’s house.
For a moment, she was a little relieved.
Seeing the little cat’s sneaky, peeking appearance, Chu Yunyao suddenly asked:
“Little cat, does your owner know that you come to find me every night?”
“…Meow.”
Bai Shuang’s furry ears perked up, and she had a feeling that this bad woman was about to say some more flirtatious words.
Sure enough, the next second, she heard Chu Yunyao say with a smile:
“Every night, in the middle of the night, with a little cat, secretly petting, is quite a treat.”
“…”
Bai Shuang turned her head, and the tip of her teeth gnawed on the bad woman’s web of her hand.
“Pfft.”
Chu Yunyao laughed so hard that her body trembled slightly, and the clear and subtle floral scent from her post-bath spread out, and it was very pleasant.
It was exactly the same as the scent from back then.
Bai Shuang’s heart skipped a beat.
She was unconsciously immersed in that scent, and her pink nose moved closer, and she lightly sniffed Chu Yunyao’s fair neck.
Chu Yunyao sensed the little cat’s action and also buried her head in her clean and smooth fur and took a sniff.
“Little cat is also so fragrant.”
Bai Shuang trembled all over from being sniffed, and a faint heat spread through her heart.
She couldn’t help but raise her paws and haphazardly press them on the bad woman’s overly beautiful face.
“Okay, I won’t sniff anymore. Only a little cat can sniff a human here.”
Chu Yunyao said indulgently, the end of her words a gentle smile.
She raised her hand and, with practiced ease, petted the calico cat.
With her nimble technique, Bai Shuang soon softened into a ball. Through the snow-white nightgown, she moved and nuzzled in the bad woman’s soft and fragrant embrace, and spread out her fluffy belly.
Bzz-bzz—
The phone on the side suddenly vibrated.
Chu Yunyao, without any guard against the little cat, casually answered the call and put it on speaker.
A young woman’s voice came through. “Teacher Chu.”
Chu Yunyao gently rubbed the little cat and answered with a pleased mood:
“Mhm.”
The voice on the other end, with a certain shyness, said slowly and ambiguously:
“Teacher Chu, our experience last Saturday night was perfect. May I do it again?”
Chu Yunyao’s beautiful brow furrowed slightly.
Just as she was about to answer, she suddenly felt a sharp pain in her finger.
She looked down and saw that the little cat, who had just been purring softly in her hand, had suddenly and with several bites, leaped off the sofa and had disappeared in a flash.
Looking at her fluffy back, she seemed to be a little bristling.
After a moment, the sound of a door closing came from across the hall.
Chu Yunyao blinked her eyes a beat later.
“Teacher Chu?”
The young woman’s voice came through.
“Mhm.”
Chu Yunyao reined in the smile she had had when facing the little cat, and her tone was her usual nonchalance, with a certain coolness.
“I’ve said it before, I never shoot the same person twice. Don’t call me again.”
…
Sunday evening.
Finally having some leisure, Chu Yunyao took a gift to her new neighbor’s door and lightly rang the doorbell.
Click.
After a long and patient wait, a sound finally came from the lock.
Chu Yunyao had deliberately chosen the time when day and night were changing to come and apologize.
She looked up and saw that the light and shadow were slowly flowing with the opening of the door.
The new neighbor’s features were lightly covered by the thin night, and in the coolness, they were tinged with a soft haze.
The brilliant evening glow from the distant French window shone on the edges of her hair, and it was shimmering.
Chu Yunyao’s heart leaped, and in an instant, several composition ideas came to mind.
If she had her equipment, she would have perfectly and appropriately captured the scene before her in her camera.
Being carefully traced by Chu Yunyao’s gaze, Bai Shuang felt a certain tightness and shyness, as if she were being held by her four paws and spread out on a carpet, and every single strand of her fur was being seen through.
It’s really a bad woman, to be looking at a strange woman like this.
“…What is it?”
She pursed her lips, and the tips of her reddened ears were hidden in her long hair, and her tone was cold when she spoke.
Chu Yunyao managed to come back to her senses and realized that she had once again fallen into the eagerness to shoot her new neighbor.
Seeing that the new neighbor’s expression was cool and distant, she did not mind and showed a gentle smile.
“Hello, I’ve come to apologize.”
“That night, I was a little tipsy from the wine, and I spoke without thinking, which might have caused you to misunderstand.”
“I’m a photographer, and I’m used to wanting to record beautiful scenes with my camera. That night, I saw that you were very beautiful, so I subconsciously wanted to invite you to take some pictures.”
“I didn’t mean to offend you in any way. I hope you can forgive me.”
Chu Yunyao finished speaking with a generous air and then handed over a gift bag.
“This is a small apology gift I’ve prepared for you. I hope you like it.”
Bai Shuang was slightly stunned.
She looked at the bad woman’s sincere gaze as she explained, and she unconsciously was willing to believe the other’s explanation.
But, the phone call from the young woman last night was still stuck in the little cat’s heart.
Bai Shuang’s features were still cool and distant.
“Mhm. You can go back. I don’t want a gift.”
Chu Yunyao paused slightly.
She saw the woman’s long, beautiful hair, which was a mix of black, white, and orange, was a little fluffy, and a cowlick was even sticking up from the top of her head, which vaguely looked like a calico cat that was bristling with anger.
But her expression was exceptionally serious and cold.
It was very much like the way the calico cat would lift her head with a cool air.
And so, for no reason, Chu Yunyao said:
“There’s also a handmade yarn ball toy in the bag. A little cat would definitely like it.”
Bai Shuang’s ear tips twitched slightly, and she couldn’t help but look straight at the bag in Chu Yunyao’s hand.
She pursed her lips and still remained unmoved.
“The little cat doesn’t like it.”
“Alright then.”
Chu Yunyao let out a light sigh and said with a sense of loss, “I don’t have any other little cats to give it to. I’ll just have to trouble you to deal with these. You can throw them away too.”
—There are no other little cats to give it to.
Bai Shuang’s heart suddenly skipped a beat.
After a moment’s thought, she nodded with an indifferent face and took the gift bag.
“Goodbye.”
She closed the door the next second, her movements a little rushed.
“Goodbye.”
Chu Yunyao curled her lips slightly and turned to go back to her own door, and also closed it.
But she had only closed it from the outside, creating the sound of a door closing.
She herself once again wandered to her new neighbor’s door.
Jingle-jangle—
She heard a clear sound from inside. It was a little cat playing with a yarn ball, and it had been playing for a long time and had not stopped.
As expected.
Chu Yunyao’s smile deepened, and she unhurriedly left.
She knew that that little cat could not possibly not like it.
