Chapter 514 - 513: IF Storyline: Did the Big Shot Vie for Favor Today? 82

Chapter 514: Chapter 513: IF Storyline: Did the Big Shot Vie for Favor Today? 82

"Wow, Lanlan, you’re the best."

Shi Lan and Chen Xinyi both loved soda. Every time Shi Lan bought one for herself, she never forgot to get a lychee soda for her best friend.

The weather was hot, so Chen Xinyi immediately popped the top and took a satisfying gulp. "Ahhh, refreshing."

As she spoke, she noticed the spicy gluten strips on the side and didn’t hesitate to start eating them.

"Yep, spicy strips and soda. There’s nothing better."

"Yeah. Too bad I can’t drink any yet."

Shi Lan had a regretful look on her face. Chen Xinyi smiled and patted her on the shoulder. "It’s okay. Just hold on for a few more days. Once your period is over, you can have all you want."

Hearing this, Yan Huoshui’s eyes shifted. ’So that explains the scent of blood on her.’

Chen Xinyi continued, "Lanlan, I’ve got to get to work. And thanks to you, your shop is so packed today there’s no seating left. Some of the people waiting ended up coming over to my cat cafe."

Shi Lan figured it was probably because of the scene He Hanshi and Jiang Xia had caused yesterday. Her customer traffic, which had just stabilized, was now exploding again.

But since she wasn’t at the shop, she didn’t really care how crowded it was.

Still, she gave her best friend a rare, puzzled look. "Xinyi, not even *God* can keep you here?"

This was the TV series starring her favorite actor, Yan Huoshui.

Chen Xinyi shook her head with an air of mystique. "You don’t understand the pain of us fans who follow weekly releases. I’m just waiting for tonight’s new episode. I’ve already finished everything else. I’ve even rewatched this episode twice at home."

"Hehe, Lanlan, you definitely don’t want me to spoil it for you, do you?"

Chen Xinyi was very talkative. Shi Lan had a feeling that if her friend stayed here any longer, she wouldn’t be able to stop herself from revealing spoilers.

Hearing this, Shi Lan quickly covered Chen Xinyi’s mouth. "Ahem, never mind then. You should get going."

"Alright, alright. You cold, heartless woman."

She feigned annoyance, finished off the entire bag of spicy strips that Shi Lan had opened, and then happily scurried off with her soda.

Shi Lan was exasperated. ’Why is she acting like I was going to snatch the food right out of her mouth?’

’I’m not that stingy with my best friend.’

She smiled, watched her leave, then opened a new bag of spicy strips and went back to her show.

But, as she ate, she just couldn’t resist. Her eyes fell on the incredibly tempting soda on the table, and her hand unconsciously drifted toward it. But just as she touched it, Ping’an stretched out a jet-black paw. Its warm, soft pad pressed against her arm, and his big green eyes seemed to be staring at her with disapproval.

’This woman... She’s on her period and she’s still trying to drink something cold.’

’Even though he was a man and didn’t know the exact extent of menstrual pain, he was in his thirties. He wasn’t that ignorant. He knew it couldn’t possibly be comfortable.’

"Ahem, I... I was just touching it."

Shi Lan awkwardly moved her hand to the warm water beside it. ’I can’t believe my own cat is so considerate.’

’He’s almost too human.’

’Then again, it could just be a coincidence. My hand that he touched was the one holding the bag of spicy strips. He was probably just drawn to the smell.’

At that thought, Shi Lan gently stroked his head again. She moved the spicy strips to her other hand, farther away from the cat, and said softly, "Good boy, Ping’an. Spicy strips aren’t for you to eat."

Yan Huoshui suddenly understood why Benefactor had always loved to roll her eyes at him. He wanted to do the same right now.

’This woman is unbelievable, mistaking my kindness for malice. Does she think everyone wants to fight her for a bag of spicy strips?’

He snorted silently, shook off her hand, and moved to the corner of the sofa.

Shi Lan sheepishly withdrew her hand, not thinking much of it.

The episode ended quickly. With nothing else she wanted to watch, Shi Lan finally had the leisure to think about other miscellaneous things. Her gaze shifted to the concert gift bag that Chen Xinyi had brought over not long ago.

She picked up the gift bag.

She still hadn’t opened or looked at the concert merchandise, but thanks to her best friend, she already knew what was inside.

She opened the gift box inside. The top layer held the standard three-piece Benefactor set.

Shi Lan squeezed the palm-sized white cat plushie and couldn’t resist poking its belly. "Why did they make it so fat?"

’I clearly remember that when I was Benefactor, I had the best figure of all the cats. My body and legs were both so long. I was a delicate and beautiful feline beauty.’

’But this custom-made cat plushie looks a bit dopey and chubby, not delicate at all.’

Curled up in the corner of the sofa, Yan Huoshui glanced over. He completely disagreed with Shi Lan’s assessment. ’Fat? Where is it fat? It’s clearly a very cute little plushie.’

’But... why would she think it’s fat?’

Yan Huoshui’s ears perked up unconsciously. His pupils constricted slightly as he stared intently at Shi Lan.

After playing with the plushie for a bit, Shi Lan took out the card from inside. Even though she wasn’t at the concert anymore, the shudder of guilt that had risen from deep within her when her best friend first read the words on the card still hadn’t faded.

For once, Shi Lan stared fiercely at the text, grinding her teeth. "Damn you, Yan Huoshui. So annoying. Why are you so obsessed with finding that cat? If I had known, I would have run away and found a different meal ticket back then. I never would have chosen you as my owner."

’Choosing him was what caused so much trouble. If it had been a normal person, they probably wouldn’t have been so perceptive...’

Yan Huoshui’s pupils shrank abruptly, his gaze turning dangerous.

’Aha! Benefactor... I’ve found you!’

Unaware, Shi Lan ripped the card to shreds and mercilessly threw the pieces into the trash can.

’From now on, I’m not going to any public events related to Yan Huoshui. Otherwise, I’ll always be on pins and needles, afraid he’ll figure something out.’

Seeing this, a powerful surge of anger flared up in Yan Huoshui’s heart. ’Does Benefactor really want to just cut ties with me completely?’

’She knows full well how much effort I’ve spent trying to find her.’

’No wonder she was so reluctant to stand up when she was chosen at the concert. Turns out she was afraid I’d recognize her.’

’Fine, fine. She’s a clever one.’

If he hadn’t been turned into her cat, Yan Huoshui would never have guessed in a million years that Shi Lan was Benefactor herself.

He used to always think that once he found Benefactor, he would use a custom cat chain to keep her locked up every day. He would never let her run around freely. She would only be allowed to roam within his thousand-square-meter villa, she wouldn’t be allowed near any other humans besides him, and she definitely couldn’t make friends with other cats.

But now that he had found her, he was blinded by rage. He couldn’t stop himself from leaping onto Shi Lan’s lap. He wanted to swipe his claws across her human face, but alas, as a cat, he wasn’t tall enough. Shi Lan’s lap was too soft, and he couldn’t get a firm footing. His paw ended up landing right on her chest.

It was soft. And it bounced a little.

Yan Huoshui froze, his paw stiffening, forgetting to retract it. Shi Lan didn’t think much of it. She just assumed Ping’an wanted to cuddle, since his claws weren’t even out. Just like any other day, she stroked his little head and planted a kiss on his dark forehead. "Good kitty. Mommy will give you a kiss."

As she spoke, she wrapped one arm around him, pulling him closer. For a moment, Yan Huoshui was stunned, then he frantically retracted his paw and struggled to jump out of her embrace.