Part 4
Wasn’t he afraid of someone accidentally walking in?
The big cat clearly realized this as he walked out, drying his hair. He turned back to lock the door.
Ning Yunyi went numb as he heard the click of the lock.
Particularly because he saw the other person walking over barefoot, shirtless, and only wrapped in a bath towel, he quickly lowered his head. If he had known, he wouldn’t have chosen the big cat for the test.
Though he couldn’t see, the scene from just now wouldn’t leave his mind. “…………”
Zong Hao, meanwhile, was drying his hair. He used to bathe in his cat form, but his paws were… inconvenient. Plus, after falling seriously ill from soaking in water last time, he was afraid it would happen again. Moreover, it was hard to dry his fur, so he simply changed into human form; he only needed to dry his hair.
He had learned Ning Yunyi’s routine over these past few days. The other would definitely not come to his room for no reason. After all, now that his shifter identity was exposed, the other couldn’t wait to be rid of him and wouldn’t actively visit.
After drying his hair, he touched the non-existent jade pendant hanging from his chest. It was a bit cold from the water, but its presence against his heart was clear. His lips curled up slightly, happy that Ning Yunyi had considered him part of the family by giving him a jade pendant.
This sense of joy was just like when he had seen the other putting out his food bowl alongside the Ning family’s. Even though he wasn’t part of the Ning family, having their bowls together made it feel as though they were his family too.
This unfamiliar feeling made him very happy.
He was very happy, but Ning Yunyi was not.
If the big cat didn’t leave, would he have to stay here all night?
Ning Yunyi’s scalp felt numb. Fortunately, his cub saved him. The cub had probably looked for him and couldn’t find him, so he was pattering around the hallway outside. “Father? Big Cat?”
There was movement at the door, and Zong Hao was also startled. He took a few steps forward and then, as if remembering something, quickly changed back into his cat form. The small cat flickered before Ning Yunyi’s eyes, shaking off the large bath towel, which happened to land on the bridge of Ning Yunyi’s foot.
Ning Yunyi: “!!!”
When the big cat rushed out, he seemed to sense something. He looked back but saw nothing. He sniffed but found nothing out of the ordinary. Yet, for some reason, he felt like… there was a murderous aura in the room?
But the cub’s shouting at the door drove the thought away. He jumped up to unlock it. As soon as he went out, the little cub hugged him. “Big Cat, Father isn’t in his room. Is he in yours?”
The big cat shook his head and opened the door to show him. The little guy sighed in disappointment. “I thought Father was sleeping with you alone again and not taking me.”
The big cat’s heart was in knots. It was only that one time, and you caught us red-handed.
He quickly took the cub back to his own room, guessing that Ning Yunyi must be in the front yard giving the protective jade pendants to the Ning parents.
Once Ning Yunyi knew the two had left, his darkened face still didn’t recover. He looked down at the bath towel on his foot, his scalp prickling. This was a towel someone had just used.
He took a deep breath, trying his best to suppress the urge to step on it. Endure for the sake of the big plan. If he made a scene now, it would only be more embarrassing. He shot a final glare at the towel and pulled his foot back without disturbing it.
He then rushed out without looking back. This room… I never want to come here again in my life.
Ning Yunyi first left the small courtyard, actually went to the front yard, and then circled back. When he reopened the courtyard gate, the kitten rushed out and ran around his legs anxiously. Ning Yunyi scooped him up.
“Weren’t you sleeping just now? Father just went to the front yard to find Grandfather and the others. I won’t run away.”
The kitten looked at his father longingly, wanting to stick to him. It would be even better if he could sleep with his father.
Ning Yunyi put the kitten on his shoulder and glanced at the big cat before looking away. He walked upstairs calmly. “It’s late. Everyone, go to sleep.”
Zong Hao looked up and met the kitten’s eyes on Ning Yunyi’s shoulder. See? I told you your father went to the front yard. How could he be in my room?
The other was so disgusted with his cat nest that he didn’t even want to step foot in it now.
The kitten flicked his tail and immediately nuzzled his father’s neck, intending to spend the night there.
Ning Yunyi smiled at how clingy the little guy was. “Alright, Father will sleep with you and tell you a story, okay?”
The kitten immediately hugged his father’s neck, clearly delighted. He even shot a look at the big cat below, squinting his eyes in a smile. Big Cat, are you coming?
Zong Hao: “…”
No. If I dared, someone would kick me out. No, he would drive me out.
Ning Yunyi kept his word and told the kitten a story. The little guy fell asleep quickly, and a small purr soon began.
Ning Yunyi tried his best to forget the scene from earlier. His only consolation was that at least the man had been wrapped in a towel, right? At least he wouldn’t have styes in his eyes tomorrow.
Just as Ning Yunyi was starting to feel drowsy, a sudden whoosh echoed outside, as if something had exploded.
The sound was very faint by the time it reached him, almost inaudible, but Ning Yunyi was very sensitive to such noises and noticed it immediately.
He got up quickly and went silently to the window, lifting a corner of the curtain to look out. Sure enough, in the dark night sky, not far away but actually quite distant, a signal flare had just burst and was falling. The lingering smoke made Ning Yunyi’s face darken.
He had given that to Rui Hu before leaving after saving them. He had told them to fire the flare if the Alliance faced a life-or-death crisis and that he would come if he saw it.
Rui Hu hadn’t used it for days. Tonight… were they in danger?
Ning Yunyi didn’t dare delay. He looked at the sleeping kitten, dressed quickly, and hurried out of the room.
Sure enough, the big cat was squatting at the door, looking at him with worry. As Ning Yunyi walked toward the study, he instructed, “Stay home and protect the cub. Don’t go out. There are still people watching outside. I suspect they’re the Crown Prince’s people. This call for help from the Alliance might be another trap by the Crown Prince to test us. I’ll go check it out. You stay here. Don’t go out.”
Ning Yunyi repeatedly stressed this because he didn’t want the big cat to run out and rescue them as Marshal Zong. Last time, it was because he was in his Mr. Bai identity and was surrounded, making it hard to act. But this time was different. If he left using an Invisibility Talisman, he could not only convince the Crown Prince that “Mr. Bai never left” but also show that the “expert” had acted.
Zong Hao was incredibly worried, but in the next second, he saw Ning Yunyi pick up a stack of papers covered in “ghost scribbles” from the desk. He took one, and after muttering something, Ning Yunyi vanished before his very eyes.
Zong Hao: “???”
He was completely stunned. In the next moment, he felt someone pat his head. That familiar touch made him realize that the other hadn’t disappeared, but…
“Meow?” It’s the same material as the invisibility jade pendant?
Ning Yunyi seemed to understand. “Your task is to protect the cub.”
Marshal Zong could not conveniently show his face regarding the Shifter Alliance, so Ning Yunyi chose to let the big cat know about his situation.
Seeing this, Zong Hao finally realized that he would only be a hindrance if he went. Without the constraint of the “Mr. Bai” identity, the other truly wouldn’t be in danger.
After giving his instructions, Ning Yunyi left the study, leaving behind a bewildered Zong Hao who didn’t recover for a long time. Just what kind of master am I following? Maybe he should be the Marshal instead.
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thanks for the chapter!