Luo Li was full of energy on the way back.
She became lively at the mention of cats, pestering Lu Cixue with endless questions.
"How old is it? What breed? What's its name? When did you get it, Senior?"
She was indeed noisy.
Lu Cixue dodged these questions and asked instead, "Why did you go drinking?"
Luo Li blinked and thought about it with her tipsy brain before honestly recounting her evening plans. "Uh… I talked with Tao Jinxi for a while. I was in a bad mood, so I went drinking. Then, on the way back, I saw some stray cats, and then I ran into you."
"Not in a good mood, huh…"
Luo Li seemed to hear a mutter from the person beside her. She turned to see Lu Cixue's face, which was completely expressionless, making her heart race uneasily for no reason.
Once they got home, Luo Li changed into slippers and began searching for the cat. Unfortunately, the house didn't seem like it had a cat at all.
This bad woman tricked her.
"Drink this." Ignoring Luo Li's discontented look, Lu Cixue handed her a glass of honey water at just the right temperature.
"You tricked me. I won't drink it." The person sitting on the sofa began to act like a child.
Lu Cixue coaxed her helplessly, "I didn't trick you. It's real. Drink this, and I'll show you."
To be honest, she was just worried that Luo Li, who was drunk, wouldn't sleep well if she went back to the dorm. So, she made up an excuse to bring her back here. She hadn't expected Luo Li to be so enthusiastic about cats.
Luo Li hesitantly accepted the glass. The sweet honey water tasted good, and she finished it quickly.
She looked up at Lu Cixue, her clear eyes full of expectation, making the older woman feel a bit guilty for deceiving a child.
Forget it. It's okay for her to know. She might not even remember in the morning.
As the fresh scent came closer, Luo Li was stunned. The other person's warmth settled into her arms. The drunk girl's eyes widened as she watched Lu Cixue sit on her lap.
The woman transformed into a small white cat, with crystal blue eyes looking at her. The little head snuggled into her arms, rubbing against her fingers playfully. Acting spoiled, the cat gently bit her, seemingly pleased. The pink and white cat ears flicked occasionally.
Fragments of memory flashed through Luo Li's mind. They were unclear, but the shadow of this little cat was always present.
"Senior, can you turn into anything else? A little bunny? A little fox? Or just a cat?" With her drunken, slow reactions, Luo Li didn't feel afraid. Instead, she felt inexplicably at ease.
The cat in Luo Li's arms was initially playing with the straps on her clothes. Upon hearing this, it raised its head. Its adorable face was misleadingly cute, but Luo Li sensed a bit of resentment.
The cat quickly became a target for Luo Li's loving assaults—being hugged, rubbed, and kissed. It seemed to be used to this treatment, struggling a bit before giving up.
Finally escaping her clutches, the cat turned back into a woman, her eyes and cheeks flushed. She stared at Luo Li with a half-smile. "Bunnies, foxes—what else does Luo Li like?"
"I also like…" Luo Li suddenly covered her mouth, belatedly realizing what she was saying to a cat.
But the drunk person didn't feel guilty at all. Instead, she squinted her eyes and leaned closer to Lu Cixue, staring at the suspicious flush on her face. "Senior, are you jealous?"
"Why would I be jealous?" The cat, familiar with Luo Li's shameless tricks, remained composed. Gently pinching Luo Li's cheek, she replied with a faint smile, "But it seems like Luo Li is troubled, drinking to drown her sorrows. You seem so sad."
Luo Li muttered softly, "I'm not."
She didn't think about how this person would know the reason for her sadness.
"Then why were you in a bad mood?"
A cool fingertip lightly pressed against Luo Li's temple, easing her headache.
Her brows drooped like a dejected puppy. "I just felt stupid and foolish. Knowing she didn't like me, I still kept revolving around her. Now that I think about it, it feels ridiculous."
What she didn't mention was that the other person causing her distress was now in the same room as her.
"It's not ridiculous at all. You were brave enough to go for it. That's already more than what many people can say."
Hearing this, Luo Li felt a warmth in her heart, her whole mind filled with the person beside her. Just as she was about to smile, the next sentence made her freeze.
"You're just too brave. It's fine to tell me, but what if your future girlfriend hears about this?" Lu Cixue casually smirked, watching as the smile on Luo Li's face quickly vanished.
Her gentle coaxing was genuine, but so was her subtle warning.
Luo Li stammered, looking anxious to explain something. "I—"
"Hmm? Why so nervous? You don't need to explain anything to me." The woman leisurely stood up from the sofa, ending the topic. "Can you take a shower by yourself?"
Luo Li was still hanging her head in disappointment. Hearing Lu Cixue's intention to rest, she obediently nodded, following Lu Cixue's lead to grab clothes, shower, and blow dry her hair.
But how strange, why did Senior have such childish SpongeBob pajamas? Senior didn't seem like the type to be interested in these things.
Did they have such similar tastes?
Luo Li lay in the guest room, feeling drowsy. She hadn't even figured out an answer before she felt sleepy because of the faint familiar scent in the room.
She slowly closed her eyes, and just before she fell asleep, she saw someone sitting on her.
The elegant woman had soft, flowing hair with a pair of cat ears poking out. Her enchanting eyes sparkled with layers of water, her breath disordered. She leaned into Luo Li's embrace, her finger tracing circles on Luo Li's collarbone, creating a ticklish sensation.
"Senior?" Luo Li heard her own hoarse voice, and her hand instinctively wrapped around the woman's slender waist.
She wasn't surprised by the cat ears and tail that suddenly appeared on Lu Cixue. Instead, it felt like it was meant to be.
This scene felt strangely familiar.
The cold and seductive woman didn't answer, her pink fingertips clinging to Luo Li's shoulder. She bit down on Luo Li's lips without a word, initiating a passionate kiss. The wet sounds filled the air, eliciting a muffled groan from herself as she pushed Luo Li away in a huff.
The little white cat, who kept seducing her, never answered. She lay on top of Luo Li, her tail swaying in front of Luo Li's eyes before wrapping around her wrist.
Luo Li watched dumbly as her fingers were caught by the woman, held captive at her whim.
She remained motionless, forgetting to react, staring as her slender fingers were taken in, firmly trapped. The woman frowned lightly, her eyes growing redder, her expression blissful yet pained, not satisfied as she continued.
Luo Li swallowed unconsciously, her eyes reddening from desire. She wanted to withdraw in concern, but her wrist was gently held in place.
Not forcefully, but the intent to stop her was clear.
All she could do was hold the woman in her arms, coaxing the impatient cat. "Senior, you might get hurt…"
The woman looked up at her tearfully, helpless and aggrieved. The emptiness and strange swelling gnawed at her, causing her to twist, swallow, and repeat.
As the woman kissed her again, Luo Li suddenly awoke, her breathing rapid, feeling parched.
The moonlight outside remained unchanged.
She sat on the bed for a moment, a blush creeping from her cheeks to the back of her ears. Luo Li buried herself in the covers, hiding as she fidgeted with her fingers.
Annoyed, embarrassed, and oddly excited.
Oh no, how could she have those thoughts about Senior…
Drinking really causes trouble. How would she face Lu Cixue tomorrow? But she really liked that dream…
Luo Li was both guilty and blushing.
---
This is strange. Very strange.
Lu Cixue took a sip of her latte, putting the cup down calmly. When she looked up, the person across from her immediately lowered her head, almost burying it in her bowl.
The cat's pure, dark eyes narrowed as she gazed at the girl with a high ponytail, a few strands of hair playfully falling across her forehead.
She was so young and innocent.
Just a kid who couldn't hide her feelings. So what was she so embarrassed about?
Lu Cixue's interest was piqued, but she didn't want to expose it. It was too obvious.
Someone had done something naughty, and it involved her.
The cat felt a bit mischievous, curious to see how Luo Li would handle this.
"Do you have classes this morning?"
"Huh? No, but I have rehearsals for the welcome party. I signed up for a performance. Do you have time, Senior? Do you want to come watch?" Luo Li invited her nervously and eagerly.
"I'm not sure." Lu Cixue kept a noncommittal tone, looking up at Luo Li, whose expression was hard to read—neither happy nor sad.
There was a hint of disappointment, for sure.
"Why not ask someone else to come?" The person who was about to leave the table didn't seem to notice that disappointment. She stood up to grab a warm bottle of milk for Luo Li. "Your roommates, or that friend from yesterday, they can all come, right?"
But it wouldn't be the same.
Luo Li whispered a rebuttal in her heart, but she couldn't bring herself to say it out loud. She didn't realize the subtle shift in the dynamic between the two of them.
Taking the bottle of milk, a thought flashed through her mind as she looked at Lu Cixue. Her eyes sparkled.
"Senior, does anyone else know you can turn into a cat?"
Lu Cixue was used to Luo Li's unpredictable thoughts. "No, no one else knows."
—No one else knows, so she isn't just anyone, right?
"Well, I only invited you, Senior, no one else," Luo Li said, a little smug. "I just want you to come."
Lu Cixue glanced at her watch, a barely noticeable smile gracing her lips. She was very satisfied with Luo Li's reaction.
After breakfast, they went their separate ways, one heading to work and the other back to school. Luo Li felt like the weather was especially bright today, and the milk tasted better.
She followed the map to the practice room. Originally, she was supposed to perform with a teacher, but they had to take extended leave due to a family emergency. Tang Jia had found another freshman girl to take their place.
The girl standing before her was fiddling with her fingers, blushing, and immediately asked for her contact information. After the performance, she invited Luo Li out to eat.
Luo Li thought it was a bit odd but didn't pay much mind to it. Since they had good chemistry, she had a favorable impression of the girl, assuming she was just outgoing by nature.
The night before the event, Luo Li tentatively reached out to Lu Cixue, who then told her she was on a business trip with her mentor.
No wonder she had said she wasn't sure if she could come.
What a pity, but Luo Li was already quite content.
[I'll try to come back early.]
Seeing that message, Luo Li felt rejuvenated.
Sitting in the dorm, she thought it over and decided to take out the gift she had been planning for a long time.
She had completely cut ties with Tao Jinxi and had a candid conversation about the dorm arrangement.
Either she moves out, or I will.
In the end, Tao Jinxi decided to move out herself.
Luo Li didn't feel guilty. She shouldn't have been here in the first place.
Right now, she was more worried about whether Lu Cixue would like her gift…
Before the performance, Luo Li didn't see any sign of Lu Cixue. She had mentioned she was on the plane, so it seemed like she hadn't returned yet.
What a pity, but Luo Li was already very satisfied.
Both girls caused a stir when they went on stage together.
"Are these two freshmen? Oh, one of them was even on the confession wall on the first day."
"There's something even better to ship, guys. That other one is my roommate, the one who posted on the confession wall."
"Wow, I approve of this relationship. I'm sitting at the main table at their wedding!"
Completely oblivious to this, Luo Li was earnestly performing on stage, giving the seemingly nervous girl an encouraging smile.
After the performance, they returned backstage, exchanging a few compliments.
The backstage area was bustling, so not many people paid them any mind. They each went to change out of their costumes. When Luo Li came out, the girl was waiting at the door.
"What's up?" Luo Li was putting her phone back into her pocket. She had just messaged Lu Cixue asking if she had arrived but hadn't gotten a reply yet.
"Nothing much. I just wanted to ask if you'd like to go out to eat. Now that it's over, shouldn't we celebrate?"
She had a point. Luo Li nodded, and they headed toward the back door. "Is anyone else coming?"
As they pushed the door open, the girl seemed a bit helpless at the question. She stopped in front of Luo Li. "Just the two of us. Who else would you like to come?"
"Huh?" Luo Li blinked in confusion. "I thought we were going with everyone."
"I've wanted to get to know you since the first day, but you were always talking to someone else. Then I couldn't find you anywhere, so I never got the chance," the girl said seriously. "I'm pursuing you. It's just the beginning, but I want you to understand my feelings."
Luo Li was stunned. She hadn't seen that coming at all!
"Hmm?" A sound came from the nearby tree.
Both of them looked over to see a woman in a navy blue suit holding a bouquet of white roses. She had likely come straight from the airport, not even having time to change.
She wore a faint smile, betraying no hint of her emotions, and even managed a polite apology. "Sorry, I didn't mean to eavesdrop. Someone invited me to see the show, but I didn't have a backstage pass, so I waited here."
Lu Cixue walked over, placing the bouquet in Luo Li's hands. Now up close, Luo Li noticed how calm and distant she appeared.
"Well done, Luo Li."