Chapter 81

Once Nan Qi explained the meaning behind the name, its literal sense made it easy to understand why she had chosen Niannian for the cat.

But Bo Ranying grasped it only for an instant and refused to acknowledge it.

Feeling a pang of sourness, she steered the conversation in another direction. “That’s a wonderful blessing. I hope Niannian stays healthy forever, bringing you happiness and companionship for years to come.”

She deliberately left out Tang Lian.

As if that could fool herself.

Before Nan Qi could respond, Tang Lian reached out and loosely draped an arm around her shoulder. Lifting her lashes, she met Bo Ranying’s gaze head-on, amusement threading through her voice. “She will.”

Her eyes were clear and unflinching, untouched by Bo Ranying’s bitterness.

It was the unshakable confidence of a winner.

In that direct clash of stares—even separated by thick, dark sunglasses, though Tang Lian couldn’t see her eyes—Bo Ranying felt pierced by the assurance radiating from her. Flustered and mortified, she looked away, shielded by the tinted lenses.

In a panic, she changed the subject, straightening her spine. “I—let’s go see Niannian.”

She moved to Nan Qi’s side, keeping a careful, grudging distance between them, and let the two lead her toward the ward where Niannian was staying.

The ward housed seven or eight cats. Spotting the visitors, the more energetic ones began leaping about, pawing at the gaps in their enclosures and stretching out their claws for interaction. Bo Ranying startled, her body going rigid to avoid any contact.

Nan Qi and Tang Lian, accustomed to the scene, strolled in leisurely. They reached Niannian’s enclosure, where the nurse had laid a soft blanket and a heating pad beneath her. After her medicine and injections, Niannian’s energy had picked up considerably. She lay quietly on the blanket, resting. Now, catching the familiar scent, she knew her rescuers had arrived. Her eyes snapped open, and she shakily twisted her body around. She wanted to stand like the other playful cats, to rub against them and nuzzle her kind humans.

But her broken leg made it impossible. She could only prop up her upper body with effort, pressing her small head against the gap and extending her tongue to brush their reaching fingers, familiarizing themselves with one another.

Nan Qi melted at Niannian’s determined efforts, a gentle smile blooming on her lips, her face alight with utter adoration. She cooed over and over, “Niannian~ Niannian, you’re so cute! This is your new name. Now you’re a little kitten with a home and everything. No more envying the other kitties~ Do you like it? Niannian, oh, you do~”

Her voice softened unconsciously into something tender and sugary, as if soothing a child.

She didn’t realize it herself, but to Tang Lian and Bo Ranying, the sound seeped straight into their hearts, sending little tremors through them. They both yearned to swap places with Niannian, to hear Nan Qi speak to them that way.

Tang Lian sidled up naturally beside Nan Qi, slipping her finger into the space between Nan Qi and Niannian. She couldn’t avoid brushing Nan Qi’s hand. While stroking Niannian’s cheeks and nose tip, she also gently captured Nan Qi’s fingertip, savoring the warmth of her skin. In the tight confines of that space, the contact hit harder than any open hand-holding outside.

Nan Qi ducked away shyly.

Yet no matter which way she shifted, Tang Lian stuck close—like ivy climbing relentlessly over a building, intent on overtaking everything nearby.

Little by little, Nan Qi caught on to the playful chase and began to enjoy it.

She smiled quietly to herself, teasing the kitten while bantering with Tang Lian, heedless of anyone else.

Bo Ranying didn’t dare get so intimate with the cats. She could only watch from a distance, envious as Tang Lian and Nan Qi displayed their easy closeness. It was like glimpsing her own past with Nan Qi—now so very far away.

Rain poured in her heart, though her face stayed serene. The sharp, intricate pain spread on its own.

When Nan Qi finally came back to herself, she realized she’d overlooked Bo Ranying for quite some time.

She turned, calling out with mild awkwardness, coaxing her gently. “Want to try petting her? Through your glove—Niannian’s really docile. She won’t bite.”

Bo Ranying paused, her lips twitching into a stiff smile. “Okay, sure…”

An invitation from Little Qi was impossible to turn down.

Petting through a glove wouldn’t be a problem—no fur to stick.

That faint flicker of Nan Qi’s attention made a tiny green sprout push through the wasteland of her heart. She kept up the mental pep talk, all while imagining the fluff drifting harmlessly away, and anticipated the chance to stand openly near Nan Qi. Shuffling forward unsteadily, she reached Niannian’s enclosure.

With utmost care, she extended her finger to the kitten’s nose.

Sure enough, Niannian leaned in eagerly, twitching her little nose to sniff before relaxing fully against Bo Ranying’s padded fingertip.

“She’s nuzzling you!”

Nan Qi lit up even more than she did, stars dancing in her eyes as she asked about the sensation.

“Feels good, right?”

Bo Ranying’s attention locked wholly on Nan Qi. She gazed at her with greedy caution, hiding her obsession from prying eyes. Truth be told, her mind had gone blank the instant Niannian made contact—even through the glove, it felt strangely electric.

Confronted with Nan Qi’s enthusiasm, she couldn’t bring herself to disagree.

Just as Nan Qi hoped, she nodded. “Yeah, she’s a good girl.”

From then on, she pushed aside the odd sensation and hovered around Niannian, teasing and coaxing her to keep her spirits up.

With Niannian’s surgery scheduled for tomorrow, Nan Qi figured they’d stayed long enough for her to rest properly. It was time to head out for dinner.

The group left the hospital, chatting lightly about the Sukiyaki Pot Shop’s location and the easiest route there. The mood was easygoing.

Yet amid it all, Bo Ranying felt profoundly out of place.

The more relaxed the atmosphere, the deeper her sorrow cut.

Irritation wrapped around her like a shroud.

She couldn’t stand watching Nan Qi and Tang Lian converse like family—bouncing off each other, picking up little quirks in one another’s speech.

She cut in abruptly on Tang Lian, her tone gentle and polite. “Tang Lian, would you mind grabbing three milk teas from the shop across the street?”

Tang Lian blinked slowly, flicking her gaze from Bo Ranying to Nan Qi. “Sure.”

She saw right through Bo Ranying’s desire for a moment alone with Nan Qi.

Nan Qi spoke up. “What flavor do you want? I’ll go with Tang Lian.”

Bo Ranying panicked, scrambling for an excuse but mumbling instead, “No, don’t… Tang Lian can handle it.”

Tang Lian patted Nan Qi’s shoulder soothingly. “It’s just milk tea. No need for a crowd.”

Bo Ranying watched Tang Lian cross the pedestrian walkway and disappear into the distance before pulling her gaze away. Feigning casualness, she slipped a hand into her pocket and clutched the ticket she’d kept there for so long. After a hesitant beat, she forced a breezy tone. “Little Qi, our Dance Troupe’s national tour kicks off in a few days. They gave me two VIP Infield General Tickets. If you and Tang Lian are free, come see my show.”

She yanked out the tickets—warm from her grip—her lips glossy, forehead beaded with sweat. Thrusting them toward Nan Qi, terrified of rejection, she rushed to add, “I really hope you both can make it.”

Deep down, she wanted only Nan Qi to come. But with them dating now, even dragging Tang Lian along was a luxury she dared to wish for.

Nan Qi stared at the tickets nestled in the girl’s soft pink fingertips, falling silent. Something lodged in her throat, heavy and hard to name.

Her body tilted back slightly, instinctively defensive.