Chapter 39: Stealing Away

“Ears... stop playing with my ears again...!”

Nico’s eyes shimmered with tears, her voice trembling with a hint of pleading.

“Ah... sorry! I’m so sorry!!”

Ye Qingfeng snapped back to reality, looked down at Nico’s ruined expression, yanked his hands behind his back in an instant, and offered a deeply embarrassed, sincere apology.

Inside, he was ecstatic—her ears really did feel just like a cat’s!

Nico staggered backward, legs weak, until she slammed into the wall; her limp body finally found support, sliding helplessly down until she plopped onto the floor.

“Huh... huh... huh...”

She gasped for air, eyes vacant, staring straight ahead.

Too intense!! I almost couldn’t hold it... but it was so good...

【Ding! Nico’s affection increased by 10%. Current affection: 30%】

Ye Qingfeng, seeing Nico’s dazed expression, felt a pang of guilt and pulled out a bottle of water—just as a notification chimed in his mind.

His mouth twitched in surprise as he stared at Nico—he’d braced himself for a drop in affection, but it went up instead... is she a masochist?!

“Sorry... it’s just that your cat ears feel so good...” Ye Qingfeng knelt beside her and held out the water bottle. “Cough! I really like small animals! Tell me how I can make you forgive me?”

“Burp! Umm...”

Nico snatched the bottle, downed half in one gulp, then burped the moment she set it down—immediately clapping her paws over her mouth, embarrassed as she scratched the ground with her feet.

“That’s too much! Pervert! You did that to me! And now you want me to forgive you? Impossible!”

She sprang to her feet, pointing at Ye Qingfeng, trying to shift his focus away from what had just happened.

Ye Qingfeng saw right through her distraction. Though he didn’t understand why a burp was so embarrassing, he still felt in the wrong and humored her: “Then tell me what you want.”

“At the very least... you have to take responsibility for me!”

Nico’s face flushed crimson as she shouted at Ye Qingfeng, steeling her resolve.

“Wait... wait a minute!” Ye Qingfeng’s eyes widened in shock. “I just petted your cat ears! And now you want me to take responsibility?!”

“What do you mean ‘just petted’?!” Nico reacted fiercely at first, then paused—her cheeks flushed even deeper. She gripped her skirt tightly, fidgeting as she whispered, “For cat-people... no one’s allowed to touch our ears...”

“They’re too sensitive...”

“I... I really didn’t know!” Ye Qingfeng’s guilt deepened until it felt like his heart was breaking; his forced smile looked worse than crying. “And you’re still young—this kind of thing should at least need your parents’ permission. Let me compensate you with some Ding Ni. Is that okay?”

“I don’t have parents...”

Before she finished speaking, Ye Qingfeng felt his heart shatter—I’m truly a monster!

“Let’s talk about responsibility later, when you’re older, okay?” Ye Qingfeng slowly stepped closer, gazing at her with soft eyes, reaching one hand toward the top of her head.

Nico thought he was about to grab her ears again—her face twisted in panic as she turned to flee.

Too cruel! Won’t take responsibility, and still won’t leave my ears alone! Scumbag!!

Seeing her try to escape, Ye Qingfeng lunged, grabbed her wrist, and pulled instinctively—she tumbled into his arms.

As she watched his hand draw nearer to her head, the sensation flooded back; resigned, she closed her eyes.

Oh no! Here we go again! Why are you so obsessed with my ears?! Should I fight back?

He’s really handsome... and he gave me two cans of food... the feeling was nice...

Most importantly, his scent was incredibly pleasant.

While Nico was lost in thought, a weight settled gently on her head—her body tensed, but the familiar thrill never came.

She slowly opened her eyes to see Ye Qingfeng’s solid chest before her; a gentle stroke brushed her scalp, and her ears rose involuntarily.

“Come home with me, little kitty—I’ve got plenty of cans.”

Still a pervert! Who even cares about those cans...

“By the way, I know a bit about cooking—how about I make you a full fish feast today?”

Silence...

“I’ll even give you pocket money!”

Silence...

“I’ll let you have my bed—I’ll sleep on the sofa, okay?”

Seeing no response, Ye Qingfeng started to lean down—when suddenly, Nico buried her face in his chest, wrapped both arms tightly around his waist, voice trembling with tears: “Don’t think a few cans can get rid of me!”

“Then what do you want?”

Ye Qingfeng gazed at Nico with tender affection, patting her head.

Nico sniffled hard. “You have to buy me cans from now on!”

“Okay~”

“Only anchovy cans!”

“No problem!”

“And pocket money—and you have to give me your room!”

Ye Qingfeng smirked. “Are all kitties this greedy?”

“I’m an adult! If you don’t, then you have to take responsibility!”

Nico understood Ye Qingfeng’s nature well—no matter what he chose, she’d win.

“You win. My bed’s yours now...”

Huh... I finally got used to this bed...

Then again, if I could sleep hugging a tiny thing like Nico... that’d be incredible happiness.

Ye Qingfeng felt the fabric over his chest soaked through—he hadn’t expected her to be this emotional. She must’ve suffered so much before...

Now his family had one more member. Life wouldn’t feel as lonely as it used to...

Wait—Nico’s an orphan, I’m an orphan, Nico’s an orphan, Billy’s a robot!

I don’t even know about Anbi’s situation!

So the Rabbit Den has five people... and we still can’t form a team...

“Nico, how’d you turn into a little stray cat?”

Ye Qingfeng gently pushed Nico off his chest, pulled out a tissue, and softly wiped her face, teasing with a smile.

“I’ll bite you!”

After cleaning her up, Ye Qingfeng offered her a hand with a faint smile. “Come on. Let’s go home.”

“Mm! Home!”

Nico stared at his outstretched hand for a moment, then seized it tightly, as if afraid it might vanish.

Side by side, they stepped out of the dim alley—bright sunlight instantly wrapped around them, banishing the chill that had settled there.

(Wishing everyone a happy new year in advance (?????)

May you prosper! Hand over the red envelopes! Just send three each as love-powered envelopes.ヾ(≧O≦)〃 Ao ~)