Chapter 164: Chapter 164: Cat Teacher Is Still Thinking

His breathing drew ever closer.

For a fleeting moment, the world fell silent. It was so quiet she could hear the leaves rustling outside the window and the faint whisper of the air itself.

Jiang Qingli thought he was going to kiss her, and her lashes lowered.

But just as his lips were about to touch hers, Yuan Shimo froze, as if suddenly startled awake.

A mere hair’s breadth separated their lips.

The young man’s Adam’s apple bobbed, his lips parting slightly.

The situation was strikingly similar to that drunken night.

Yuan Shimo had always convinced himself that the kiss that night was just an accident.

An accident born from drunkenness.

After all, from the next day on, she had treated him the same as always. It seemed she didn’t remember it at all.

So, Yuan Shimo had told himself it was best to act like it never happened.

That way, he wouldn’t make her feel awkward, and she wouldn’t avoid him.

Despite telling himself this, the scene from that night constantly replayed in Yuan Shimo’s mind.

He remembered the hazy lights of that evening, the shimmering moisture in her eyes as she tilted her face up at him, and the sweet, soft voice that had called him "Cat Teacher."

And the soft touch of her lips as she had closed the distance and kissed him...

This was different from that time he was in heat.

That night, he was sober.

Every image was exceptionally clear, replaying endlessly in his mind.

"Female master..."

The young man’s jade-green eyes narrowed, his voice laced with hoarseness.

He called out to her in a low voice, his words heavy with a powerful longing and anticipation.

He hoped she would sense his feelings, just like last time, and take the initiative to close the distance.

That way, he could justifiably have her, if only for a moment, once more.

Hearing Yuan Shimo’s voice, the girl lifted her lowered lashes and looked into his eyes.

Their eyes met in total silence.

Gu Nian’s approaching footsteps also came to a halt.

Through the space over Yuan Shimo’s shoulder, Jiang Qingli saw Gu Nian clutching his books, his face pale and his eyes rimmed with red. His pink eyes were locked right on them.

Realizing someone else was there, Jiang Qingli’s face instantly flushed. She clamped a hand over Yuan Shimo’s mouth and pushed him away.

Yuan Shimo retreated a step, completely compliant, a flicker of disappointment in his eyes.

He smoothly plucked a book from the shelf behind Jiang Qingli and handed it to her. "Female master, this one too."

It was a perfect excuse, making it seem as if he had only gotten so close to Jiang Qingli to grab that book.

Gu Nian watched, sneering inwardly.

’Trying to save face after Qingli rejected him? He obviously heard my footsteps and decided to put on a show, didn’t he?’

’Hypocritical, sickly cat.’

His knuckles tightened, and Gu Nian’s eyes began to sting.

The two had only been in that intimate position for a few seconds, but to Gu Nian, it had felt like an eternity.

A storm of complex emotions churned in his eyes.

But when Jiang Qingli took the book from Yuan Shimo and walked over to hand it to him, Gu Nian still managed a sweet smile. "Thanks, Qingli."

"It’s nothing..."

Gu Nian played along perfectly, acting as if he hadn’t seen a thing, which only made Jiang Qingli’s face burn hotter.

The three of them stood in a triangular formation, their striking looks naturally drawing the attention of others in the library.

Gu Nian ignored the stares, simply smiling. "Our next class is starting soon, Qingli. We should get going."

Jiang Qingli nodded.

After checking out the books, the three of them left the library.

Walking side-by-side beneath the shade of the camphor trees, the atmosphere was strangely silent.

Jiang Qingli broke the awkward silence, gesturing to the books in Gu Nian’s arms. "These should help with your art history exam, and the bottom two about sleep should be useful as well."

"Okay. I’ll be sure to read the books you picked out for me, Qingli."

Out of the corner of his eye, Gu Nian glanced at the still-dazed Yuan Shimo, then smiled and said, "Thank you so much, Qingli. I only mentioned I was having trouble sleeping, and you went out of your way to find these for me."

"You’re always so kind, Qingli. Always taking care of everyone around you."

He said it with such sincerity that Jiang Qingli felt a little embarrassed. "Well, I was there anyway..."

A rustling sound came from a hedge up ahead.

They looked over to see a small cat’s head poking out from the bushes.

Gu Nian recognized the cat. "Is that the stray you’re always feeding, Qingli?"

"He’s not exactly a stray. He’s been around for a few years, I think. The animal protection society even set up a little cat house for him near the security booth."

A few days ago, the cat house had gotten a hole, and it was she who had fixed it.

"He would have gotten soaked if I didn’t fix it."

Jiang Qingli crouched down, reached out to the little cat, and made a couple of soft tsking sounds.

The cat knew her well. It let out a MEOW and came right over, rubbing its body and tail against her hand.

"Why are you so clingy today?"

Jiang Qingli expertly stroked the cat’s head, then reached down with a smile to scratch its chin. The cat squinted in pleasure, a contented purr rumbling in its throat.

Watching the peaceful scene, Yuan Shimo felt a tightness in his chest.

’He didn’t know if, in Jiang Qingli’s eyes, he was just like this cat, just a pitiful stray.’

’He didn’t know if her kindness toward him was just as casual.’

...

After petting the cat for a while, Jiang Qingli pulled the last bag of cat treats from her pocket, tore it open, and gave them to the cat.

The little cat took the treats in its mouth and dived back into the bushes.

Jiang Qingli stood up, still smiling, only to find Gu Nian watching her. He was smiling too, but his eyes held an undisguised, fervent heat.

Feeling her ears grow warm again, Jiang Qingli asked, "What is it?"

Gu Nian said, "I really envy that cat. It gets to be touched all over by you."

Jiang Qingli’s face heated up, and she almost reached out to cover his mouth. "Hey, we’re outside..."

"Sorry, it won’t happen again."

Gu Nian raised his hand and made a zipping motion over his lips, his eyes curving into crescents.

When they reached the academic building, Gu Nian and Jiang Qingli headed off to class. Yuan Shimo watched their figures retreat, side by side.

Only after a long while did he turn and head for the science building.

As he walked in, his professor noticed his sour expression and joked, "What’s wrong? Having a spat with that female master of yours?"

Yuan Shimo shook his head.

The professor was used to his silence and just smiled, patting his shoulder. "Hey, spats happen. But I remember the last time you were my TA, she was in the audience. She kept looking at you. She definitely has feelings for you."

At these words, Yuan Shimo’s brow, instead of smoothing out, furrowed even more deeply.

The lecture the professor mentioned was precisely the one where Yuan Shiyao had disguised himself as him and attended in his place.

That day, when Yuan Shiyao came home, he had a girl’s hair on him.

It was her hair.

’What on earth did they do that day? How close did they get? Close enough to leave a strand of hair...’

A detail he hadn’t paid any mind to before now felt like a cluster of silver needles piercing his heart, leaving a dense field of sharp, stabbing pain.

The young man’s hands, hanging at his sides, clenched into fists. His nails dug into his palms, but he felt no pain.

After an unknown amount of time, he looked down at his own shadow.

The shadow wavered, as if trying to console its master. ’You should be content. At least you’re the one who gets to be with her openly.’

’Yes, in a way, he had won against his brother.’

’His female master was very good to him, very gentle. He should be content.’

But the emotion burning in his chest stated, loud and clear, that he was not the least bit satisfied with the status quo.

He greedily wanted more.

-

Jiang Qingli noticed that on the way back, Yuan Shimo was very silent.

Back home, Gu Nian called Jiang Qingli over for dessert. Afterward, she took her books and knocked on Yuan Shimo’s door.

Strangely, there was no response from inside.

Jiang Qingli knocked a few more times before a faint voice finally answered. "What is it, female master?"

"Open the door."

Jiang Qingli insisted.

The person inside paused for a few seconds, then opened the door.

Jiang Qingli saw he was wrapped in a bathrobe, his hair and face dotted with water. Without his gold-rimmed glasses, he looked almost innocent.

The collar of the bathrobe hung open loosely, revealing pale skin and sharp, delicate collarbones.

Dazzled by the sight, Jiang Qingli took a deep breath. "Were you... in the shower?"

Yuan Shimo hummed in affirmation.

There were still beads of water on his collarbones. He must have heard her knocking and gotten out midway through his shower.

Jiang Qingli felt a little embarrassed. "Um... why don’t you finish showering first? I can come back later."

"It’s fine."

Yuan Shimo took a step back, letting her in.

The door closed, and Yuan Shimo turned and walked further into the room.

He asked in a low voice, "Did you need something, female master?"

"To study, Cat Teacher."

Hearing those two words, Yuan Shimo’s pupils constricted.

As if he couldn’t take it, his steps suddenly halted, and he turned and took a step towards her.

Not expecting him to suddenly turn and approach her, Jiang Qingli couldn’t stop in time, her face pressing directly against the skin of his chest.

Her hand, carried by momentum, slipped right through the wide gap in his bathrobe...