Part 4
Seeing this, the Big Cat felt even more guilty: “Meow?” What could he do? If he didn’t come back to soak, his fur would be soaked from crossing the water. Ning Yunyi would have smelled a rat immediately.
He could only brace himself and use the bathtub, deliberately waiting for Ning Yunyi to discover him.
Ning Yunyi squatted down, reaching out to splash the water: “Having fun soaking? You weren’t happy when I said I’d give you a bath before, so you were secretly washing here? Who are you guarding against? What could I do to you?”
Ning Yunyi was in a good mood tonight, having resolved a major issue in his heart, so he was in the mood to tease the Big Cat in front of him.
Zong Hao’s head was covered in water. He had shed a lot of fur recently, so now the wet clumps looked like garlic cloves. His guilty beast eyes looked at Ning Yunyi pitifully, intending to appease him.
Ning Yunyi reached out directly and pinched both ears: “Begging for mercy won’t work. As your master, I’m very sad. Big Cat, have you never treated me as your master, guarding against me like a hooligan? Am I that kind of person? We aren’t even the same species. What could I do to you? At most, I just crave your fluffiness, but you’re shedding!”
Zong Hao stiffened: He was already growing new fur. Not shedding, molting…
Ning Yunyi: “Look, you’re acting aggrieved. Tell me, shouldn’t I be very sad?”
Zong Hao moved his big head closer, rubbing against his palm fawningly.
Anyway, he’s lost enough face. Ning Yunyi won’t know who he is. Acting cute and coquettish isn’t impossible.
Ning Yunyi clearly enjoyed it, his hand movements not slowing, though his face remained stern: “So, shouldn’t you compensate me?”
Zong Hao: “??” Why did he have a bad feeling?
Ning Yunyi finally revealed a rather pleased smile: “Tonight, you are honored with the master’s grace. You can share the bed with the master.”
Zong Hao: “!!”
Ning Yunyi originally wanted to give the Big Cat a bath, but seeing a few cat hairs floating in the tub reminded him this guy was still shedding. So, he heartlessly felt this benefit might have to wait until the molting was done.
Touching a handful of loose fur reduced the experience by half.
The bewildered Zong Hao obviously hadn’t expected that after struggling to cross the water all night, coming back… meant warming the bed?
Where could he reason this out?
Then he saw the person in front of him slowly stand up, roll the collected cat fur into a ball, and thoughtfully place it on his forehead: “Remember to let the butler robot dry and clean you after washing. If you shed, hmph hmph…”
Zong Hao: Very Ning Yunyi. He even wants him to wash himself clean and deliver himself.
Ning Yunyi left the bathroom to wash up in his own room’s bathroom, taking a bath as well, coming out wearing only a bathrobe.
The yellowish floor lamp made the room very dim.
Ning Yunyi sat cross-legged on the carpet by the bed, taking out a bottle of red wine and a glass from his space and placing them on the low table.
He also took out a candlestick and lit a candle.
Although it was late tonight, he couldn’t sleep because of the Ning family’s imminent reunion, so he decided to have a drink.
Zong Hao deliberately delayed. He felt that as a cat right now, he could pretend not to understand.
But having understood before, if he didn’t understand now, he felt that with Ning Yunyi’s character, he wouldn’t be let off easily.
Extending the head is a slash, shrinking the head is also a slash.
As Ning Yunyi said, they were different species now; he just had to treat himself as a cat.
At worst, he would lie on the carpet by Ning Yunyi’s bed for the night.
After Zong Hao mentally prepared himself, shaking his newly dried fluffy fur, he poked his big head out of the unlatched door and distinctly smelled a very faint scent of wine.
It smelled like the grape wine Ning Yunyi took out earlier, but surely not? Drinking at night when about to sleep?
Walking in hesitantly on all fours, he looked up to see Ning Yunyi sitting cross-legged on the carpet where he intended to lie. In front of him was a low table, a wine glass, a candle, and a bottle of grape wine already half gone.
Hearing the movement, Ning Yunyi looked up and beckoned to the Big Cat: “You’re really slow. I’ve drunk half the wine.”
Ning Yunyi didn’t dare drink to celebrate with Big Brother Ning, fearing the brothers would end up crying in each other’s arms.
So drinking with a cat was fine—of course, only he drank, with the Big Cat keeping him company.
The Big Cat was intelligent; even if he got drunk, the Big Cat could drag him onto the bed without issues.
Ning Yunyi was confident in his drinking manners, and his tolerance was top-notch in the cultivation world.
Previously, drinking a glass of grape wine felt like nothing, so Ning Yunyi thought a bottle was just a sprinkle of water.
But clearly, Ning Yunyi underestimated this body, which had never drunk alcohol except for that single low-concentration glass recently.
Zong Hao felt something was off when he came over, but couldn’t pinpoint the difference.
He lay obediently opposite Ning Yunyi. Whether due to the scent of wine, the dim light, or the swim all night, resting his big head on his paws, he actually felt drowsy.
Suddenly, something cold touched his forehead. He looked up; it was Ning Yunyi, having poured another full glass, touching it to his forehead. He had moved closer at some point, one hand holding the glass, the other arm around his neck, pressing their faces together like close brothers.
“Big Cat, you don’t know how happy I am tonight. The biggest stone in my heart since coming here is gone! Gone, do you know?” He successfully changed the fates of Father Ning, Mother Ning, and Big Brother Ning. Regardless of whether Ning Xiaomiao was Ning Xingyao, the book’s ending no longer existed.
Ning Xingyao was no longer an unwanted child; he would grow up loved by his father, uncle, and grandparents.
He wouldn’t die miserably in the ruins, wouldn’t be cannon fodder in someone else’s life.
Zong Hao’s initial resistance slowed down because of Ning Yunyi’s low voice filled with genuine happiness. He let Ning Yunyi hug his neck, nearly suffocating, without moving.
The person in front of him was his master; he had to be considerate of his way of expressing happiness.
Ning Yunyi’s response was to drain the wine in the glass and plant a smack on his forehead.
The forehead fur that had just been fluffed up collapsed again.
Zong Hao sighed, lying there with a wet patch on his forehead, daring not to wipe it, fearing the rebellious person in front of him would kiss his whole head bald.
Fortunately, Ning Yunyi let go of the Big Cat after just one kiss, proceeded to drain the rest of the bottle, and put down the glass contentedly.
Zong Hao let out a soft breath seeing this: Finally over.
Can go to bed and sleep properly now, right?
Ning Yunyi propped himself up on his forehead. Zong Hao looked up just in time to see a section of pale calf in front of him—fair and slender. Because of the unrestrained sitting posture earlier, the bathrobe had opened halfway, rolling up to the thigh.
Zong Hao withdrew his gaze instantly, burying his head on the floor, deciding not to move from there.
Ning Yunyi staggered to the bathroom to wash up again, finally staggering back to throw himself onto the bed in a starfish shape.
Half-opening his eyes, he felt he could have another glass, but his gaze was glazed. Clearly, the alcohol had hit him now; he was truly drunk.
He still remembered his previous goal. Tilting his head, too lazy to move, he patted the spot beside him: “Big Cat, come here.”
Zong Hao didn’t move, pretending to sleep with his head down and silent.
Ning Yunyi rolled over to lie on his stomach, head tilted towards him, eyes squinting: “Are you being disobedient? As a house cat, how can you ignore your master’s orders? Too naughty.”
Zong Hao decided to play dead to the end. Although he didn’t plan to reveal his identity, if there was a “what if” in the future, how would they face each other?
Ning Yunyi would probably die of regret.
So Zong Hao lay there, dutifully watching to make sure Ning Yunyi didn’t roll off the bed in his drunken state.
Ning Yunyi wasn’t annoyed. With the alcohol hitting him, his reactions were slow. He chuckled, extended an arm, and suddenly, unexpectedly, grabbed a front leg of the Big Cat lying under the bed. With a forceful tug—strength born of miracles—he actually hauled the entire Big Cat up.
Zong Hao had suppressed his spiritual power upon returning. Currently just an ordinary beast, he was so shocked he forgot to react.
By the time he came to his senses, he was being hugged by Ning Yunyi like a plush toy.
Zong Hao’s big head was steaming from his ear tips to his neck. He tried to struggle: “Meow!”
Ning Yunyi hugged him tighter, drowsy with eyes closed, feeling the Big Cat was truly naughty. Raising his hand to suppress him with spiritual energy, he buried his head in the fluffy neck and fell completely asleep.
The only one suffering was Zong Hao, who dared not struggle too much, couldn’t break free with small movements, and lay completely stiff: “…”
After an unknown amount of time, listening to the steady breathing of someone sleeping soundly, Zong Hao fell silent.
So, just disregarding his life or death, right? Even though he was tired and sleepy, Zong Hao dared not sleep.
In the middle of the night, Ning Yunyi finally loosened his grip in his sleep, but only a little. This time, not only were hands involved, but legs too.
In the dark, Zong Hao’s beast eyes were wide open. Looking despairing, he lifted a big paw to push the arm on his waist outward, only to result in the arm tightening and sticking even closer.
Zong Hao didn’t know when he fell asleep, only feeling he had nightmares of being crushed by a boulder all night, unable to breathe.
Ning Yunyi slept extremely well, relaxed and comfortable as never before. Only upon opening his eyes did the feeling become less than wonderful.
He was sleeping on his side, hands and feet wrapped around something warm and fluffy, with great texture.
But blocking him from the fluffiness right now was a tiny, all-black fluffy kitten cub. It was staring at him with round eyes, lying on the pillow, tilting its head to mimic his posture, little hand resting under its head. Seeing him wake up, it excitedly pounced, covering his face with fluff.
Only then did Ning Yunyi retract his limbs, moving the excited kitten cub off his face: “Cub, why did you run to my room to sleep so early in the morning?”
Usually, Ning Yunyi got up early; it was rare to see the kitten cub run to his room.
But as he scooped him up and looked, he realized it wasn’t just the kitten cub, but also a big one.
Also lying on his side, beast eyes tight shut, fur a chaotic mess, looking like he’d been ruffled miserably countless times during the night. Even the two pointed ears seemed to droop.
Ning Yunyi’s memories from before sleeping last night finally returned. His expression froze. Looking at the little guy flailing his limbs and wagging his tail excitedly in his hands, he finally knew why the cub was so excited this morning.
He got up, didn’t see the Big Cat, came to find him, found he let the Big Cat sleep in the bed, so he thought he could sleep with Father in the future too?
Ning Yunyi rubbed his nose, unable to dampen the little guy’s spirits: “What time is it? Where’s Uncle? Did he leave already?”
The kitten cub nodded his head vigorously, bouncing on the pillow, finally waking the Big Cat.
The moment he opened his beast eyes, Zong Hao’s fur stood on end.
Meeting the gaze of Ning Yunyi and the kitten, his resentment was almost tangible, making Ning Yunyi feel extremely guilty.
Ning Yunyi immediately rolled out of bed, hastily gathered his bathrobe, tucked the kitten cub under his arm, and laughed: “Hard work for Big Cat. Eat more this morning, supplement yourself.”
Good heavens, even through the fur, he could see the “dark circles.” Did he beat up the Big Cat in his drunken state last night?
Ning Yunyi took the exceptionally happy, bouncing kitten cub to wash up, letting the little guy transform back.
Ning Xiaomiao seemed unsure, asking excitedly: “Father, can I sleep with Big Cat and Father tonight?”
Father hadn’t let him join for a long time; he really wanted to sleep close to Father.
Zong Hao, who had just moved his stiff limbs and was passing by slowly, felt numb all over hearing this sentence: Still… still coming?
Ning Yunyi met the little guy’s sparkling eyes and nodded: “Naturally.”
Sure enough, the little guy’s happiness doubled.
Zong Hao took double damage.
He could, but he felt his still-shedding coat was saying he couldn’t.
Would he go bald before finishing the molt?
Ning Yunyi wanted to find time to comfort the Big Cat who was forced to warm the bed yesterday, but after breakfast, he suddenly received a message from Ichi.
[Ichi: Marshal Zong said to do a good deed to the end. He had me apply at the military base in his name early this morning. You can pick up Professor Ning this morning.]
Ning Yunyi paused, then stood up abruptly, suddenly picking up the still-dazed Ning Xiaomiao and kissing him: “Good cub, hurry and pack up. Come with me to pick up Grandfather!”
Ning Xiaomiao paused, eyes teary: “R-really?”
He immediately jumped off the chair, ran da-da-da crookedly upstairs to change into his best clothes, grabbed his robot and rattan ball, and ran da-da-da down again.
Ning Yunyi was already packed. He scooped up the little guy, glanced at the Big Cat, thought for a moment, and decided to take him along.
Zong Hao had just lazily stretched when a collar was put around his neck. The next moment he flew out, was stuffed onto the spaceship, and soon had a little guy in his arms.
Then… the spaceship whooshed away.
Zong Hao was in a trance, then suddenly thought of something, his expression freezing. He didn’t want to face Ichi at all.
Although Ichi didn’t know his secret, Ichi had stayed by his side the longest and knew him best. What if he noticed something wrong?
On the other side, Big Brother Ning only learned upon arriving at the base that Marshal Zong had sent Ichi to apply, saying he could see Father shortly.
When Ning Yunyi’s spaceship arrived, Big Brother Ning looked over immediately. Seeing Ning Yunyi jump off the spaceship, the gaze he had been holding back couldn’t help but turn moist.
Ning Yunyi walked towards Big Brother Ning. Just then, the fully enclosed, high-defense tech gate of the base ahead buzzed and opened from the inside.
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thanks for the chapter!