Chapter 38: A Rainy Retreat and a Feverish Fiasco

Whoosh—

In the not-so-dark rainy night,

Jiang Cha hung up an unanswered call, walking home. As the eldest, she’d long mastered hiding her true emotions behind a polite smile.

Though her home was in the city center.

Though the bustling center glowed brightly, with shop eaves crowded with rain-dodgers. Only she stubbornly walked into the rain, letting it soak her long hair.

“Phew… why promise things…”

“You can’t do.”

Jiang Cha felt a pang of sadness, her voice lost in the rain, water sliding down her cheeks—tears or rain, unclear.

Still, no one to confide in.

“Jiang Ning…”

“No need to make her sad too,” she wiped her face, feeling cold, hugging her arms. “Better… head back soon.”

…

Warm yellow light filled the living room, blocking out the autumn rain’s chill. Jiang Ning lingered at the bathroom door, clutching her bathrobe.

(If… I faked being sick,)

(Would they… come back?)

The thought flickered and died—attention gained that way was meaningless.

Under warm light,

Jiang Ning loosely tied her pale pink bathrobe, its slightly open front revealing glimpses of dazzlingly fair skin.

Unlike Luo Su,

Jiang Cha didn’t use a hairdryer, wiping her hair with a towel. Damp, sleek hair paired with the pink robe—stunning, yet unseen.

Yawning,

She burrowed into her blankets, glancing at her phone. A beauty like her should have some messages…

But this time, none.

Night wind lifted the curtain, cold moonlight illuminating an empty inbox. The rain… nearly stopped.

After a moment,

She sent Su Xi a message: “Come find me tonight.” Unsure if the timid kid would, especially since she seemed to prefer Jiang Ning…

Tossing the phone aside, she stared at the ceiling, lost in thought.

…

“Mhm.”

Luo Su hummed, splashing through puddles, her bag’s bell jingling with each hop. Rain glimmered under streetlights, but her mood stayed bright.

“Three grand~ Three grand~”

She hopped onto her bed, burying her face in fluffy blankets, rolling—her life’s biggest windfall!

(So many snacks!)

She rubbed Hulu’s furry head, tail sweeping happily across the sheets.

“Meow~” Hulu climbed up.

Its fluffy body burrowed into her arms. “W-wah!” Luo Su flipped over frantically. “Dumb Hulu! Don’t step on my tail!”

“Meow~” Hulu flicked its big tail innocently.

“…”

Sighing, Luo Su grabbed its tail, shaking it like a rattle.

“…”

Hulu didn’t react, even yawning slowly. Luo Su blinked in disbelief—aren’t cat tails sensitive?!

Maybe Hulu’s too fat?

“Ugh… seems so.” She rubbed its round belly, grumbling, “Fine, you won’t starve!”

Gotta meet Jiang Cha soon.

Who knows what’ll happen… Sighing, she squatted beside Hulu, tail wagging. Gulp… she kinda wanted to be a cat.

Eat, sleep, play happily daily—no homework. Her tail curled into a question mark.

“Wah! Dumb cat, don’t lick my tail!”

Luo Su jumped, clutching her tail, staring pitifully at the innocent cat. Ugh… did her tail look like a cat toy?!

The culprit,

Head tilted, pink tongue licking its nose, as if saying, “Try me again…”

“Pfft…”

Huffing, Luo Su stormed to the closet.

She rummaged loudly, tossing a towel over her shoulder—nothing beat a cozy bath and bed now!

As for that fake-innocent fat orange?

Hmph, half rations of fish tomorrow!

“Mhm.”

Feeling better, her tail wagged, its tip glowing a quarter full, tracing faint pink arcs in the dim room.

Two weeks max!

She’d fully light her heart-shaped mark and become the chosen one!

…

Fresh from her bath, she dove into bed, hugging her pillow, damp tail leaving sparkly trails on the sheets.

“Good night’s sleep.”

Her soft loli voice drifted from the blankets, making Hulu peek from under the bed.

It tilted its head, whiskers twitching,

Staring at the lumpy quilt for three seconds—then went back to napping.

“Gulp… spawn point really updated.”

In Jiang Ning’s spacious living room, Luo Su poked the plush sofa, its cushion sinking under her touch.

(So big… a trampoline!)

She rolled on it, then headed to Jiang Cha’s room. Hmph, not as cozy as her bed—nothing beat curling up with her tail!

“Gulp…”

“What’s Jiang Cha up to?” Luo Su felt guilty, recalling the weird props in that big closet.

Just thinking made her blush.

“Too… too scary!”

She shuffled back three steps, accidentally stepping on her tail. “W-wah!”

Covering her mouth, she hopped, tears welling. Her stepped-on tail curled pitifully.

“Ugh…”

Head drooping, she teared up. Like a cat tail… when Hulu’s guilty, its tail droops too.

Like cat, like succubus?

“Phew…” She blew gently on her tail, then hesitantly entered Jiang Cha’s room, seeing her flushed face!

“Is she sick?!”

Luo Su reached out, touching her forehead. “Wah, so hot!” She rushed to the living room for water, kneeling by the bed, lifting Jiang Cha’s feverish neck.

“D-drink some water…”

Her voice shook, staring at Jiang Cha’s misty eyes, nervous. “Does it hurt a lot?”

“Not at all,” Jiang Cha said.

“Liar!” Luo Su lowered her head, gently pressing their foreheads. “So hot, it must hurt.”