Around noon, the streets were still quite busy. I avoided the livelier areas and slipped into a quiet alley, idly gazing at the old-fashioned shops and tiled houses.
In the past, I rarely went out to wander aimlessly. If I had something to do, I followed the principle of handling it at home whenever possible.
But when it comes to anything involving Gu Fan, I realize that staying cooped up in my small space on the bed makes my thoughts veer into narrow, extreme paths. I start devising all sorts of drastic plans to achieve my goals.
Maybe these plans have a high chance of success, but if they fail, the consequences would be catastrophic. I’m certain Gu Fan wouldn’t forgive a crazy woman, even if I’m his childhood friend.
From the moment I woke up until now, I can’t shake this lingering fear. Every breath and swallow requires me to suppress the gloom hovering in my chest first.
The saying “alcohol gives courage” holds some truth. If I were as clear-headed yesterday as I am now, I never would’ve said those embarrassing things.
How did I even dare? To so blatantly question Gu Fan about things that didn’t need to be dwelled on, and to demand over and over that he assure me he cares about me—wasn’t that just making things hard for him?
If the drunken, sleepy version of myself from yesterday were standing in front of me now, I might just grab her by the hair and make her apologize to Gu Fan with me. It’s just too humiliating…
Walking through the alley, I stomped my foot in embarrassment as I recalled yesterday’s events.
I glanced around, confirming no one was nearby and no one would pass by for now. Then, I quietly pressed my forehead against the earthen wall beside me and gave it a slight bump.
“Ugh!”
Ouch, that hurt like crazy!
I didn’t expect my senses to be so sharp. Just a light bump felt like the pain was amplified, making my eyes well up with tears.
My cat ears stood straight up, and the sound of the wind whistling past made me even more irritable. My tail, usually wrapped around my waist, started swishing back and forth inside my clothes due to the intense pain. I had to press my stomach to stop its mischief.
Well, let’s just call it a harsh lesson for myself. A little pain is no big deal.
Rubbing my forehead for a while, the pain slowly subsided. I wiped the tiny tears from the corners of my eyes and continued my walk, searching for something to boost my courage.
Before heading out, I considered that my lack of experience might leave me aimless after wandering around. So, I looked online for advice on handling situations where I felt clueless.
Netizens suggested doing something I’m interested in to spark inspiration. After thinking it over, I realized that besides enjoying time with Gu Fan, I don’t have many other interests.
My life feels so bland… so pure that it only has room for Gu Fan. No wonder I can’t fit into this society.
Glancing at the nearby shops and stalls, they were mostly selling snacks and small treats.
I’m not a foodie. I eat just to fill my stomach and don’t care much about taste. If Gu Fan isn’t around, everything tastes the same to me.
A lemonade vendor nearby noticed my wandering gaze and called out, inviting me to check out his stall.
“Hey, pretty lady, want a cup of lemonade?”
I glanced at him, not planning to approach. I’m not interested in drinks. If it were alcohol, I might’ve been tempted to chase that dreamy, hazy feeling again.
I was about to head down the other end of the alley to keep exploring when, to my surprise, he persistently called out to me again. This time, his pitch piqued my interest.
“Hey, wait, wait! This lemonade is super tasty and great for your skin—especially for cat-girls like you!”
Before I knew it, I had stopped in my tracks. I patiently listened to his long-winded spiel and then decisively turned back to buy a three-yuan cup of his so-called “beauty-enhancing” lemonade.
With the lemonade in hand, I immediately slipped the straw in and started sipping.
I didn’t care much if it was just a marketing scam—it’s only three yuan. If it actually works, then I’ve hit the jackpot! As long as it makes Gu Fan notice me more, any price is worth it.
The lemonade wasn’t much, and after a few gulps, it was almost gone. I found a trash bin to toss it in, but just as I turned to leave, someone called out to me again. Weird… do I look like someone who’s easily swayed into buying things?
Curiously, I looked at the person who called me. It was another cat-girl, probably in her thirties, dressed oddly. She wore sunglasses and a robe but paired them with jeans—a chaotic mix of styles that was almost dizzying.
She sat behind a stall with a sign that boldly read “Fortune-Telling.” Below it were listed services like marriage, studies, wealth, and so on.
“Yo, little cat-girl, don’t miss out as you pass by! You seem pretty conflicted, huh? Need me to do a fortune-telling session for you? Meow?”
I’m a little cat-girl, so does that make her a big cat-girl? Silently dubbing her the “fortune-teller” in my mind, I approached her stall and glanced at the items on the table, but I didn’t rush to sit down.
Because… I felt this fortune-teller didn’t seem very reliable.
“Are you really a fortune-teller?”
“Huh? Of course I am! Doesn’t the sign right there say so? Meow~”
The fortune-teller cradled a crystal ball, chuckling with a strange lilt at the end of her words, which puzzled me. Based on online info about cat-girls and the customers I’ve met while working, this kind of behavior shouldn’t really happen.
What intrigued me most, though, was how trustworthy this fortune-teller actually was.
“Then why do you have a fly whisk and a compass on your table?”
I don’t know much about the difference between fortune-telling and divination or what tools they require. But looking at the random assortment of items on her stall, I couldn’t help but think of a cluttered general store…
The fortune-teller glanced at the mishmash of unrelated items on her table, awkwardly scratching her head with a sheepish smile.
“Ahem, you wouldn’t understand. I’m a cutting-edge fortune-teller, blending Eastern and Western styles. Just ask me anything, and I’ll answer it all, meow!”
So confident? Or is this just how fortune-tellers bluff?
I eyed her skeptically but was urged to sit down. Fine, I’ll give it a try.
“Just so you know, I didn’t bring any money today.”
I figured I’d test her to see if she was just a scammer after cash.
“Ha, no worries! You’re my first customer since opening, so I’ll give you a free fortune-telling session!”
No big deal, meow.
To my surprise, her expression didn’t even change. She just clumsily pulled out a cloth to wipe her crystal ball, muttering something under her breath.