Chapter 79

Nan Qi walked Tang Lian home, discussing what items they should get for Niannian and setting a time to visit her next. After some sweet cuddling, she finally headed back to her own place.

Leaning against the door, Nan Qi replayed the day’s events over and over in her mind. Her heart raced wildly, her cheeks burning hot. She clutched her chest and let out a silent scream, rolling around on the sofa nonstop.

She was in love.

With Little Tang.

So this was what it felt like to be in love—it was wonderful!

She squeezed her hand, still able to feel the softness of Tang Lian’s cheek and hair brushing against her palm, like a sticky mist that wouldn’t melt away. She could even recall her scent.

“Haha…” Unable to hold back any longer, she let out a soft laugh in the empty space of her home.

It had started that evening when Tang Lian slyly found an excuse to ask her out. A thread of sweet warmth had woven through her heart ever since.

She had held it back before, happy but not fully showing it on her face. If her colleagues at the law firm saw her now, they would wonder if this was still the steady, reliable Nan Par—or if someone had swapped her out.

Nan Qi took a shower to calm her bubbling thoughts, then lounged crookedly on the bed and sent Tang Lian a [Good night].

Even those simple words carried a sweet scent in the air as she typed them.

There was no immediate reply from Tang Lian.

Nan Qi hugged her phone and carefully picked an emoji from their past chats, sending it over.

She tapped on Tang Lian’s WeChat profile picture, then scrolled through her Moments, poring over every post and analyzing the details. She was trying to uncover her past, her hobbies from the words and little clues—like solving a puzzle game, effortlessly claiming all of Nan Qi’s attention.

Tang Lian hadn’t even noticed Nan Qi’s messages. She stumbled home in a daze, too caught up in her joy to check her phone. Her smile stretched impossibly wide.

Suddenly, a strong urge welled up inside her. She wanted to capture this happiness forever, not let it slip away in an instant.

No time like the present. Savoring the joy flooding her brain, she dug out her digital tablet and drawing pad, which had gathered dust for ages, plugged them in to charge,

and logged into the comics app she’d recommended to Nan Qi—this time as the author, accessing the backend.

She decided to make a gift for Nan Qi. Maybe Nan Qi would spot it early; if not, she’d reveal it on their one-week anniversary.

[Create new work?]

Tang Lian clicked yes.

After a moment’s thought, she remembered Nan Qi’s playful joke from when they’d first met and named the comic [Gu Master and Kitty’s Love Daily].

Yes, gu master and kitty—not lawyer.

Today, she’d watched Nan Qi pet Niannian. After the medicine, Niannian no longer had to endure the pain of her wound. Under Nan Qi’s strokes, she relaxed her chin, narrowed her eyes, and rubbed her head against Nan Qi’s hand over and over. A deep purring rumbled from her throat—the sound of pure comfort and relaxation.

Watching that scene, the image in Tang Lian’s mind gradually separated from reality.

It transformed into the picture she dreamed of.

Maybe Niannian was the little cat at home, and Nan Qi could be the big cat.

She could pet and nuzzle the big cat at home the way Nan Qi did the little one, becoming a hardcore cat-lover.

Using the same technique for petting cats, she’d start by rubbing Big Sister’s hair from the top of her head, fingers trailing down her back and slender waist, searching for the touches that made Big Sister sigh in pleasure. Big Sister’s voice would turn shy, completely different from her usual tone, as she melted into Tang Lian’s arms, exposing her defenseless belly. Big Sister would wrap her soft arms around Tang Lian’s hand, guiding it to her stomach. Tang Lian’s fingertips would ignite sparks, lightly scratching over Big Sister’s lower belly, kissing her ear, collarbone, palm, navel—until Big Sister let down all her guards, her body going completely limp, clinging to her and demanding more.

Meanwhile, Niannian would swish her tail nearby, meowing and brushing the soft tip against their legs, vying for attention. She wanted pets too.

Tang Lian would pin Big Sister down, her fingertips dancing wickedly as she leaned in to nip the tip of Big Sister’s ear. “Look, Niannian knows just how to win people over.”

“If Big Sister wants to keep going, she’ll have to learn to act cute like Niannian.”

Big Sister’s face would flush red, tears of overwhelmed need gathering at the corners of her eyes, as she let out a fragile, kittenish mewl: “Mew~”

Niannian stood no chance in this battle for affection and slunk away in defeat.

Tang Lian’s heart would surge, captivated by Big Sister’s half-hearted coquettishness, losing herself in a blissful smile.

But at the moment when Tang Lian was most relaxed and smug, Big Sister would suddenly flip them over, pinning her down and getting revenge for every tease—until the one meowing helplessly underneath was Tang Lian.

Utterly satisfied.

Lost in creating the comic, Tang Lian hadn’t touched her tablet in ages and struggled with the feel of digital drawing. She deleted and redrew lines constantly during the rough sketch phase. But her heart brimmed with joy and creative energy—this was a record of her story with Nan Qi—so she pressed on with boundless motivation.

Starting from their first meeting, Tang Lian drew for over two hours, finishing the encounter scene. She reviewed it several times, found no flaws, and still full of energy, picked up her stylus again. She sketched out everything from that evening, colored it in, and finally collapsed into sweet sleep, eyes too heavy to keep open.

And so, the comic titled [Gu Master and Kitty’s Love Daily] quietly went live on the app. The author updated two chapters weekly. With steady releases, clean and warm art style, and bright lines, it drew a small fanbase that nagged for more every week.

But without a contract from the site, it got no promotion—no prime recommendation spots. It only flickered briefly on the latest updates page during releases, waiting for someone to glance at it on a whim before vanishing into the vast database, buried under countless other works. A hidden gem.

Unless someone specifically browsed by tags, it was hard to stumble upon.

While scrolling through Tang Lian’s Moments, Nan Qi noticed Bo Ranying’s likes under several recent posts. No comments, but it felt deliberate, like leaving a trace.

Nan Qi’s pleasant mood hitched for a moment. Just then, she remembered the night her mom and brother had visited—the nightmare that woke her in terror. Bo Ranying had been there, comforting and caring for her. They’d talked a lot that night: about the past, the present, their feelings… And they’d made a promise: if Nan Qi fell in love or started dating, she’d tell Bo Ranying right away, so she could know her relationship status.

In the heat of conversation, she’d agreed.

Now, she thought it was for the best—it could fully dispel Bo Ranying’s lingering hopes.

She couldn’t do to Bo Ranying what Bo Ranying had done to her: not love her but still cling, spending every day together and letting her sink deeper.

Nan Qi wouldn’t make the same mistake. Once she’d let go, she couldn’t give Bo Ranying any illusions of turning back.

Nan Qi wouldn’t look back. Right now, the most important thing was nurturing her relationship with Tang Lian.

She dialed Bo Ranying’s number.

It rang only once before connecting.

Bo Ranying’s delighted voice came through the speaker, beating her to the punch. “Little Qi! Why are you calling so late? Let me tell you, the teachers are already arranging our flight tickets. Once I’m at those places, I’ll send you postcards and local souvenirs…”

Bo Ranying’s dance troupe’s national tour was starting any day now. She assumed Nan Qi was calling to check in, eager to share her excitement. She was thrilled that Nan Qi cared enough to reach out now.

Nan Qi paused in surprise, then cut in. “I called to tell you something.”

“What?” Bo Ranying sensed something off in her tone right away. Her joy faded in an instant, realizing Nan Qi wasn’t asking about the tour at all. This call was nothing like what she’d imagined.

Nan Qi got straight to the point, no softening words.

“Bo Ranying, I’m dating someone.”

“I promised to tell you first thing.”

Silence fell, all background noise vanishing on the other end.

Nan Qi knew Bo Ranying hadn’t hung up. She just wasn’t speaking.

Gripping the phone, Nan Qi stayed quiet too, wanting to end the call with some dignity.

Bo Ranying’s mind exploded with a boom, like countless hands from hell wrapping around her, tearing at her flesh, whispering endlessly in her ear: Nan Qi’s dating. Nan Qi’s dating. Nan Qi’s dating…

So soon?

She hadn’t thought Nan Qi would accept Tang Lian’s pursuit so easily. She’d believed she still had a chance.

Unprepared, she blurted out a stupid question. “Is it Tang Lian?”

As if there could be anyone else.

Nan Qi patiently confirmed it.

Bo Ranying murmured her thoughts aloud. “How could it be so fast?”

“We like each other. No reason to drag it out.”

Nan Qi casually mentions Ye Sheng’s advice to her.

A casual remark effortlessly tore another gash in Bo Ranying’s heart.

Resentful emotions enveloped her, mutual liking—

She could have, she and Nan Qi could have too——

It was Tang Lian who stole the opportunity between her and Nan Qi.

She won’t let go of Nan Qi easily. Even if Little Qi’s heart is no longer with her and she’s already made plans with someone else for the future, it’s just a bit more trouble—Little Qi has only temporarily lost herself and will still return to her side in the end.

Bo Ranying kept brainwashing herself to boost her confidence.

She had gone through the initial shock and heartbreak. Now, with red eyes, her voice had returned to calm. Clutching her phone, she endured the throbbing pain in her heart and said in her usual tone: “Let’s have dinner together tomorrow—call Tang Lian too. After all, I’m basically your matchmaker, right? You got together through me; wouldn’t it be inappropriate not to come in person and offer your congratulations to the matchmaker?”

What kind of matchmaker is Bo Ranying?