(Neng: Able/Capable one)
Chapter 47
Returning home from work, Ye Qingyu pushed open the door and saw the deep sunset slanting across the floor.
It was orange-red, its edges blurred, looking fluffy.
It seemed completely unrelated, yet she was immediately reminded of a certain little red panda.
If only this handful of sunset on the floor were Pei the Red Panda.
A regretful thought flashed through her heart, vaguely reading as “missing.”
Ye Qingyu changed her shoes and walked in. The house was full of “red pandas.”
The blanket on the sofa, the mural in the corridor, the floor lamp by the bed, the pajamas hanging on the standing coat rack.
The image of the red panda she had drawn, stroke by stroke, was deeply branded into every inch of her life.
But this afternoon, it had stepped into reality—
Pei the Red Panda had defenselessly revealed her fluffy belly in her arms, allowing her to clearly see that heart-shaped patch of snow-white fur.
The position, size, and shape were all exactly the same as in her dreams and paintings.
She didn’t even need that patch of fur to recognize her.
The moment she had glanced down, she had been certain—this was the red panda from her dreams.
What kind of coincidence and fate was this?
To have thought of her a thousand times in her dreams even before she had met Boss Pei.
Ye Qingyu opened the sketchbook in her study and looked at her brushstrokes, from youthful and awkward to mature and fluid.
For nearly ten years, she had relentlessly and repeatedly sketched this one red panda. The thick stack of drawing paper was a tangible form of affection.
Her emotions surged, and a sharp pain shot through her head, as if something long-sealed was trying to break its shackles.
She held her forehead for a while, and the pain gradually subsided before she sat down in the study.
She prepared her paper, pens, and paints. Her brush, dipped in dreamy colors, touched the paper lightly.
The cute image of Pei the Red Panda lying in her arms, asking for pets, soon leaped onto the paper.
Ye Qingyu carefully placed this painting aside to dry and couldn’t help but draw another one—
A fluffy paw stretched out from between the branches of a scholar tree, anxiously reaching for an apple.
As she drew, she couldn’t help but curl her lips into a smile.
Bzz-bzz.
The phone on the side vibrated.
Worried it was a message from the red panda, Ye Qingyu put down her brush and picked up her phone.
[Pei the Red Panda:] Ye Qingyu, I’m having dinner with your mother.
Her heart trembled.
How did these two run into each other?
She didn’t dare to imagine the scene.
Ye Qingyu immediately replied: [Where are you?]
***
At a time when she should have been lazily curled up on the scholar tree, Pei the Red Panda was at the shopping mall near the studio.
It was Tu Shanyue who had sent her a message, saying that a new fruit store had opened here, and their fruit platters were exceptionally fresh and sweet, and they even had several rare tropical fruits.
Having been to this mall last time, Pei the Red Panda navigated the first floor with practiced ease, and the new fruit store was right in front of her.
There was a grand opening discount, and the rare tropical fruits were a gimmick, so there was a long line at the entrance.
The aroma of fruit was rich and smelled very sweet.
Pei the Red Panda licked her teeth and got in line at the end.
Her phone vibrated. It was a message from Doctor Liu: [Little Neng, are you in heat yet?] (Neng: Able/Capable one)
Pei the Red Panda lowered her head and typed: [I am.]
Liu Mian said earnestly: [Avoid contact with humans, otherwise, a red panda with a special constitution like yours will easily…]
Pei the Red Panda blinked her peach blossom eyes.
Easily what?
Besides the several times the fireworks had gone off, clearly nothing had happened.
She perfunctorily replied: [Got it.]
Just as she put her phone in her pocket, a jarring commotion erupted in front of her.
It seemed someone had been repeatedly cutting in line and was being taught a lesson, and a fight had broken out.
Whoosh—
A piece of watermelon flew out, barely grazing the tips of Pei Rong’s hair.
It was so sudden that she trembled all over, and her two hands immediately spread open, raised to her ears.
Her peach blossom eyes also filled with a certain moisture.
There was such a stunningly beautiful woman in the line, with an unapproachable aura when she wasn’t smiling. Everyone had been secretly staring at her.
Now, with this sudden development, discussions erupted: “Look, that pretty, cool older sister is surrendering. Aaaah, so cute…”
It was at this moment that Ye Zhao curiously turned her head.
She looked up and saw the sugar mama who had so arrogantly and imperiously declared that she was keeping her daughter, now obediently waiting at the end of the line.
Her peach blossom eyes were misty, her two hands held high, like a pitiful, frightened little red panda in a crowd.
Ye Zhao’s heart trembled.
How can she be so similar…
One is clearly a beast, the other a person.
Could it be that I miss my daughter so much that I see Rong Bao in everyone?
As her thoughts surged, she unconsciously walked toward Pei Rong.
She shielded her from the burning gazes and said to Pei Rong, “Boss Pei, what a coincidence.”
“…”
Pei the Red Panda’s breath was rapid. Only after she came back to her senses did she slowly lower her hands and focus her eyes.
Small animals that can transform into humans generally like to live in seclusion, rarely going to crowded places or interacting with people, for this very reason.
Their uncontrollable, instinctual actions often become a source of amusement and gossip for passersby.
Amidst the gazes, both restrained and forward, a little beast should have been wary and uneasy upon coming to her senses.
But the moment her vision focused, Ye Zhao’s face came into clear view, and Pei the Red Panda’s lashes fluttered. She actually felt a natural sense of security.
Just like when Ye Qingyu was by her side.
Stunned for a few seconds, she smoothly and silently steadied her breathing.
Regaining her calm and composed expression, she called out, “CEO Ye.”
Ye Zhao’s gaze traced over Pei Rong’s face, a light amusement in her eyes.
“Is Boss Pei craving fruit? Why don’t you come to my restaurant? My treat.”
“Whatever this store sells, I have. And I have things that are of a higher quality and rarer than theirs.”
Humans are very dangerous. You can’t just follow a human.
After so many years of struggling, Pei the Red Panda had long since summed up the way of survival for a little beast.
But for some reason, looking into Ye Zhao’s familiar eyes, she inexplicably nodded.
The shopping mall at night was bustling with people. Ye Zhao led her daughter’s sugar mama through the crowd.
When they passed through a particularly dense crowd, she protectively gathered Pei Rong behind her, like a mother eagle shielding her chick.
They arrived at the same “A Leaf’s Taste” high-end Chinese restaurant as last time.
The moment they entered, the manager, who happened to be at the door, enthusiastically greeted them. “CEO Ye.”
The manager led the two of them in with practiced ease, took the elevator to the fifth floor, and arrived at the private room with the best view at the end of the corridor.
The one on the left was named “Qingyu,” and the one on the right was named “Rong.”
Usually, Ye Zhao would go to the private room on the left for meals or to entertain important guests. The manager’s hand habitually reached for the “Qingyu” private room’s handle.
But Ye Zhao, as if guided by some whim, said, “Let’s eat on the right today.”
Pei the Red Panda looked at the character “Rong” on the private room to the right, and her brow lifted slightly.
Although it was clearly a coincidence, eating in a private room named after herself felt nice.
The “Rong” private room was of the same standard as the “Qingyu” private room, exquisite and spacious, with an excellent view from the floor-to-ceiling windows.
But the design was a little special—
Stepping into the private room was like stepping into a spring bamboo forest. From the walls and floor to the cute decorations, everything was ingeniously integrated with bamboo forest elements, complemented by the reddish-brown of a red panda, creating a strong natural atmosphere.
There was also a large apple-shaped pillow on the sofa.
Ye Zhao said to the manager, “Please bring me a ‘Rong Rong’ fruit platter first.”
Then she asked Pei Rong, “Has Boss Pei had dinner yet?”
Pei Rong shook her head. “I was planning to have fruit for dinner.”
Ye Zhao paused slightly.
Back then, the little red panda in her family had been spoiled rotten and would only eat fruit at night, refusing to eat bamboo.
So she and Little Yu would eat cooked bamboo shoots, which would coax Rong Bao into eating some bamboo shoots as well.
Ye Zhao came back to her senses, her face impassive.
“If Boss Pei doesn’t mind, I’ll order some dishes. Would you like to have some with me?”
Pei the Red Panda was not an ungrateful little beast.
Ye Zhao had already entrusted her daughter to her care and was treating her to fruit. It was fine for her to have some food with her.
She happily nodded in agreement.
While waiting for the food to be served, Ye Zhao asked her in a relaxed and easy manner, like a close elder, “How have you and Little Yu been lately?”
Pei the Red Panda naturally knew what Ye Zhao was concerned about.
She said calmly and with a certain smugness, “CEO Ye, don’t worry. I’ve been raising Ye Qingyu very well.”
Ms. Ye Zhao’s eyelashes trembled slightly.
She smiled politely. “Is that so?”
A waiter pushed the door open and served a platter of fruit. “This is the ‘Rong Rong’ fruit platter.”
The fruit platter contained clean and plump mangosteen flesh, fresh and refreshing watermelon and apple slices, as well as green grapes, mangoes, and some unknown rare fruits, all of which looked clear, sweet, and delicious.
Pei the Red Panda’s peach blossom eyes faintly sparkled.
Not only was the fruit platter here called the ‘Rong Rong’ fruit platter, but it was also filled with all of her, a little panda’s, favorite fruits.
“Boss Pei, have a try,” Ye Zhao said with a smile. “The quality of the fruit here is definitely better than in the fruit store.”
Pei the Red Panda gave a reserved and restrained nod.
Her hand then eagerly reached for the fork.
Crunch, crunch.
When she ate apples, she was always so engrossed that she easily forgot her surroundings.
Her peach blossom eyes squinted in pleasure, and her fair, rounded little ears also twitched slightly as she chewed.
Ye Zhao watched from across the table, dazed.
Last time, Little Yu had been present, and her thoughts had been mainly on her “daughter being kept by a sugar mama,” so she hadn’t observed or thought too much.
This time, talking face to face with Pei Rong alone, a certain emotion surged in her heart like a tide.
By her calculations, Rong Bao had been gone for nearly ten years.
Even if there was a next life, she shouldn’t have grown this big, right?
She asked, as if making small talk, “Is Boss Pei’s family in town?”
Pei the Red Panda swallowed a piece of apple. “I don’t have a family.”
Ye Zhao’s brow furrowed slightly.
A sharp pity arose in her heart.
“Then, did you choose your own name?”
Pei the Red Panda blinked her eyes.
She answered without reservation, “I chose my surname myself, but not my first name.”
Who chose her first name?
…She couldn’t remember.
Ye Zhao wanted to ask more, but a light knock came from the private room door, which was then slowly pushed open.
Ye Qingyu poked her head in.
“Mom.”
Seeing a certain little red panda happily eating fruit, her heart immediately relaxed.
The two of them seemed to be getting along quite well?
Ye Zhao turned her head and raised an eyebrow.
“So anxious?”
Her daughter treasured this… this sugar mama too much.
They had only been eating for a few minutes, and she had already come looking for her.
A hint of red appeared on the tips of Ye Qingyu’s ears.
She pulled out the chair next to Pei Rong and said calmly, “I haven’t had dinner yet, and I don’t feel like cooking. I just came to get a free meal.”
Pei the Red Panda turned her head to look.
She tilted her head slightly and said softly, “Have a seat.”
She very frankly and skillfully played the host, as comfortable as if she were in her own home.
Ye Qingyu smiled and sat down beside the woman, casually tucking her long, reddish-brown curls, which had fallen to her cheek, behind her ear.
Ye Zhao helplessly looked away and gave up her subtle intention to ask more questions.
Why bother asking? How could there really be a next life in this world?
The two humans and one beast finished their meal in harmony. Pei the Red Panda’s favorable impression of Ms. Ye Zhao had grown.
The fruit and dishes she served were always very much to a red panda’s taste.
While the little panda went to wash her hands, Ye Qingyu asked curiously, “Mom, why did you have dinner with Boss Pei today?”
“Your little Sister Rong was scared by some people fighting in front of the fruit store and threw her hands up in the air,” Ye Zhao said. “So I invited her over to have some fruit.”
Ye Qingyu immediately imagined the scene—
The little panda, pitifully frightened, instinctively raising her hands in surrender in a crowd, being watched and talked about by passersby.
Her heart immediately clenched.
“Thank you, Mom,” she said with great seriousness.
Ye Zhao shook her head.
She had been a little bewitched today. Seeing Pei Rong’s frightened reaction in the crowd, she had briefly mistaken her for her Rong Bao.
A sourness rolled in her heart, and she quickly changed the subject.
The mother and daughter didn’t talk for long. After Pei Rong returned, they parted ways coolly.
…
Leaving “A Leaf’s Taste,” Pei Rong’s hand slipped bonelessly into Ye Qingyu’s palm, and she said, a little uncomfortable, “Ye Qingyu, walk with me. I’m so full.”
She had eaten the entire fruit platter.
“You’ve exceeded your fruit limit for today,” Keeper Ye reminded, but Pei the Red Panda turned a deaf ear.
They strolled leisurely to a large trendy goods store, which was filled with a dazzling array of accessories and toys.
Ye Qingyu stopped in front of the plush keychain section.
There was a little apple keychain that would be very suitable for Pei the Red Panda.
She asked, “Do you want a keychain?”
Pei the Red Panda stopped with her.
Her gaze swept over the various small animal keychains, and she snorted in her heart.
“No,” she said.
A red panda is right here. What other plush keychain could Ye Qingyu possibly want?
Seeing that the woman didn’t like them, Ye Qingyu, going with the flow, walked to another section.
They hadn’t been shopping for long when Pei the Red Panda’s stomach became more and more bloated and uncomfortable, and she could hardly walk.
She panted with her lips parted and, at her wit’s end, leaned into the human’s ear and ordered, “Ye Qingyu, I need a belly rub.”
Ye Qingyu didn’t quite hear her. “What?”
“Find a place and give me a belly rub,” Pei the Red Panda said, a little sullen. “I’m so full.”
Turning her head and seeing that the woman’s face was a little pale, Ye Qingyu’s heart tightened.
She quickly looked around and saw a fire escape at the end of the right side. “Let’s go here.”
Creak—
She forcefully pushed open the heavy metal door. The fire escape was empty, cool, and quiet, and the light was a little dim.
Ye Qingyu found a step and sat down, patting her lap as a signal.
Pei the Red Panda transformed into a red panda and slipped into Ye Qingyu’s arms.
Completely forgetting Doctor Liu’s instructions, she lay on her back, boldly exposing her fluffy belly.
Even in the dim light, you could see from the full curve that this belly was rounder than usual. She had really eaten too much.
Ye Qingyu silently curled her lips into a smile.
Worried that if she laughed out loud, the little red panda would be annoyed.
The belly she hadn’t been able to pet this morning, she could finally pet with a legitimate reason.
She reached out and covered it, her hand touching the soft, fine fur, and began to rub slowly.
This place was also as warm and soft as a cloud of cotton.
“Mmm…”
Pei the Red Panda’s exquisite and cute fluffy head was half-tilted back, and in her comfort, her large ears twitched slightly, and her two paws kneaded the human’s arm like a kitten.
This completely unguarded enjoyment, falling into the human’s eyes, made Ye Qingyu’s own eyes darken slightly.
Had she been a colleague to beasts for too long that she had also picked up a bit of wildness?
She had clearly just eaten, but now, how was it that for some strange reason, the urge to eat the little red panda had arisen?
The human’s palm was warm and soft, the pressure just right and sustained, which was very satisfying to the little red panda.
The feeling of bloating gradually disappeared. She was so relaxed from the rubbing that she felt lazy, and a post-meal drowsiness also set in. Without realizing it, she tilted her head back and fell asleep.
And ever since she had wanted to eat the little red panda, Ye Qingyu hadn’t dared to look at that fluffy head, so she hadn’t noticed that the little beast had fallen asleep.
She just lowered her eyes and, dutifully, rubbed and rubbed. The position unconsciously shifted a little downward, touching the heart-shaped patch of snow-white fur on her belly.
It was a sight that had appeared countless times in her dreams.
She was captivated and, mesmerized, unconsciously and repeatedly stroked that spot.
Her fingertips sketched, circled, and traced the heart shape.
She had not considered at all how private and sensitive this lower abdomen area was for a red panda in the spring.
And by the time she came back to her senses, Pei the Red Panda was already trembling all over. She opened her eyes dazedly in her sleep, raised a paw to hold the mischievous hand, and bit down—
“Hiss…”
Of all the times she had been bitten, this was the most painful.
Pei the Red Panda’s sharp canines sank into the web of the human’s hand, and the fireworks in her head continued to burn to their peak, a splendid and heart-pounding sight.
In her uncontrollable trembling, the force helplessly overflowed from her teeth.
A bloody, sweet taste spread on her tongue.
Her unfocused eyes froze. Pei the Red Panda belatedly released the human’s hand and moved her pink tongue slightly.
It’s blood… the taste of blood.
She had often licked her own wounds before. Pei the Red Panda was all too familiar with this taste.
Bleeding hurts a lot. It would hurt so much she couldn’t sleep all night.
She was so stimulated that she was instantly wide awake. The next second, she unconsciously transformed into her human form and said anxiously, “Ye Qingyu!”
Ye Qingyu only felt a weight on her lap, and the warm fluffiness had become a soft woman.
Pei the Red Panda held the human’s injured hand with both hands and, by the dim light, saw the two clear, round indentations on the web of her hand—they must have perfectly matched the shape of her canines.
Fresh red blood was trickling out, particularly glaring.
Ye Qingyu followed her gaze to her hand and only then noticed that it was bleeding.
“It’s fine…”
Before she could finish her words of comfort, the anxious and self-reproachful little beast had already taken her hand and begun to lick it with her soft, wet, pink tongue.
Ye Qingyu’s pupils trembled violently.
In the hazy, flickering dim light, she saw the peach blossom eyes of the woman in her arms overflowing with spring water, her cheeks and neck suffused with an alluring crimson, and her body still trembling lightly for some unknown reason.
Yet she was holding her hand and carefully licking the drops of blood.
Her tongue curled, and her lips were stained with a crimson blood color.
Tears slid down her cheeks and gathered on her chin, shimmering like crystals.
It was a pitiful, dazed, pure, and intoxicating allure.
