Chapter 108: Chapter 100: "Good night, San Geng’s Mom", "Good night, Naonao’s Dad

The guy had a huge mouth.

He could stuff a palm-sized slice of tofu straight into his mouth to chew.

This was because Shen Yuan couldn’t stand the sound of people smacking their lips.

Shen Yuan’s biggest pet peeve was scrolling through videos and landing on a mukbang stream full of lip-smacking. It was an instant trigger!

Whenever he heard that sound, Shen Yuan genuinely wished he could crawl through the internet and sew their mouths shut!

As was their routine, the two finished their late-night snack before getting in the elevator.

Just then, Li Zhi glanced at the corner of Shen Yuan’s mouth and pulled a tissue from her pocket.

"Wipe it off. You’re like a little kid."

Shen Yuan took the tissue, grinning sheepishly. "But it’s more fun to eat this way."

Li Zhi shook her head and rolled her eyes at Shen Yuan.

Standing by the elevator, Shen Yuan glanced at Li Zhi and reminded her pointedly, "Don’t you go ’forgetting’ on purpose tomorrow. Otherwise, I’ll just buy another one."

Hearing this, Li Zhi shot Shen Yuan a glare and snapped,

"I know, I know! The first thing I’ll do tomorrow is shove it in your hands!"

"Perfect. Let me borrow it for a bit, then. I need it for something tomorrow."

Seeing Shen Yuan’s eager expression, Li Zhi felt a wave of helplessness wash over her.

"Suit yourself."

Back home, Li Zhi found the question mark headband in the bottom drawer of her desk.

Staring at the shoddily made thing, Li Zhi was truly at a loss for words.

’If you’re going to buy one, at least get a decent one. The craftsmanship is so shoddy, honestly.’

But after she was done complaining, she stuffed it into her backpack.

’Out of sight, out of mind.’

’If I put it in now, I won’t be tempted to leave it behind tomorrow.’

Just then, Li Zhi’s phone rang.

The moment she heard the ringtone, Li Zhi’s mood soured.

At this hour, pretty much no one would be calling her except for Shen Yuan.

’Oh, wait. A video call.’

When the call connected, Shen Yuan’s face filled her entire screen.

"What?"

Li Zhi stared at Shen Yuan on the screen.

Shen Yuan didn’t speak. He just pulled the camera back.

And then Li Zhi saw a sight that made her incredibly jealous.

Perched majestically on Shen Yuan’s shoulder was San Geng.

"Isn’t he cool?!"

Shen Yuan boasted proudly, "The little dummy jumped up all by himself! Didn’t even need to be taught!"

No sooner had Shen Yuan spoken than San Geng planted a paw on his head and stretched his neck to look at the ceiling.

Li Zhi burst out laughing at the sight.

"Hey, where’s Naonao? Let me see her."

"Why don’t you come over yourself? How long has it been? You could at least come scoop a litter box!"

Li Zhi rolled her eyes.

Though her expression was one of protest, Shen Yuan could see the background behind Li Zhi starting to move on the video call.

’Looks like the pretty girl is heading for the door right now.’

At this thought, Shen Yuan lifted San Geng down from his shoulder, supporting him under the forelegs with one hand.

"I’m going to get your mom. You wait here."

Shen Yuan had spoken quietly, but Li Zhi heard him anyway.

"Hey! What are you talking about?!" Li Zhi glared at Shen Yuan through the screen.

"Oh, right, right. Naonao’s mom. San Geng, I’m going to get Naonao’s mom."

This made Li Zhi unhappy all over again.

Li Zhi adored both kittens.

Admittedly, the kittens were a little closer to Shen Yuan.

After all, he was the one who was with them day in and day out.

But they weren’t distant with Li Zhi, either. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

In the kittens’ environment, Li Zhi’s voice was a frequent sound.

A person’s scent can change, but their voice doesn’t.

Cats recognize people more by their voice anyway.

However, because of their ’adoption policy,’ Naonao was technically Li Zhi’s cat, while San Geng was Shen Yuan’s.

Li Zhi called herself ’Mommy’ to Naonao, but only ’Auntie’ to San Geng.

Still, Li Zhi loved both kittens dearly.

Shen Yuan opened his door just as Li Zhi arrived.

"Our esteemed guest has arrived! Right this way!"

Li Zhi slipped on a pair of slippers and walked into Shen Yuan’s apartment.

There, she saw Naonao staring blankly out the window.

"Naonao?"

The little cat spotted Li Zhi’s reflection in the window, and upon catching her familiar scent, it immediately let out a loud meow.

Gazing into that pair of blue eyes, Li Zhi felt all her irritation with Shen Yuan melt away.

"Come here, Mommy will hold you!"

Shen Yuan stood in the doorway, just watching Li Zhi dote on the cat.

"Hey, I’m planning to get them fixed in about two months."

Li Zhi nodded. "I know. I’ve already saved up the money."

Shen Yuan shook his head. "Don’t worry about it. I’ll pay for it."

"No. I’m paying for Naonao’s. I’m her mom!"

"But I’m the one who raised her."

Li Zhi’s expression faltered. She looked down at the cat purring in her arms from her stroking and fell silent.

Seeing her fall quiet, Shen Yuan walked over to her side. "Hey, you’re not getting all sentimental over one little comment, are you?"

"No, it’s just..."

Li Zhi couldn’t quite put her finger on the feeling, stammering, "I just feel... a little irresponsible."

Hearing this, Shen Yuan nodded with grave seriousness.

’Just a little?!’

’A whole lot more than a little!’

’Damn it, she brings home two strays on a whim, acts all eager at first, and then dumps all the work on me!’

"Yep. Of course you’re irresponsible."

Shen Yuan didn’t pull any punches. "I’m not even married yet, and I’m already getting a preview of life as a divorcé with two kids. There’s even a custody battle over one of them."

"Li Zhi, if I’m still single when I’m thirty-five, it’s going to be all your fault!"

This time, Li Zhi didn’t argue back. She felt a pang of guilt.

"But, I..."

Li Zhi pressed her lips together, her gaze landing on Naonao’s eyes.