The pure black, round-toed leather shoes landed on the neatly paved stone ground of the alley, and the massive, wavering boulder that had been hanging over the top of my heart finally settled back in place, pressing down steadily and halting its wild pounding.
Slamming the courtyard gate shut without mercy, I could finally let out a deep sigh without holding back, and my tense body instantly softened.
If Gu Fan were by my side right now, there’s no telling—I might have leaned my entire self against him, asking him to carry me all the way to the parking lot in a princess carry. Of course, piggybacking me would be fine too… Gu Fan’s broad back just radiates a sense of security~
After shaking off that annoying father and grandfather, I slowly became aware of the strange sensations my body had developed from being overly tense.
The soles of my feet were damp and sticky; though I’d stuffed several tissues inside my shoes earlier, after such a confrontation with my father, I was still so nervous my whole body was sweating.
At some point, my cat tail had curled up into a tight ball, nestled next to the hem of my skirt.
I used the corner mirror at the alley’s turn to glance at myself. At first glance, I felt that I didn’t look like a catgirl at all—more like a little black bunny girl.
Mmm… If I really were a bunny girl, would my stomach puff up from getting startled like they say? That would be way too embarrassing; Gu Fan would definitely be put off by that. I doubt he’d like me in a round-bellied state, unless there was his own bloodline growing inside.
With my nerves finally relaxed, I couldn’t help but daydream about all sorts of scenes with Gu Fan.
Because of that, I stood dazed at the courtyard gate for quite some time, only snapping back to my senses when the heated arguing of my father and grandfather echoed from the yard. I hurriedly headed toward the end of the alley.
Mother and grandmother were cooling off in the small pavilion at the alley’s entrance. Mother was still sitting with her arms crossed, proud as ever, but her expression had noticeably softened—a far cry from the cold and stern face she’d shown in her standoff with father.
Grandmother quietly boiled water and poured tea, a tea tray of unknown origin laid out on the marble table and benches in the pavilion. Perhaps it was left behind by the relatives before they were driven away?
The bodyguard at the alley entrance, wearing sunglasses, didn’t trouble me. When he saw I wanted to go out, he calmly stepped aside, letting me pass, and only returned to his post after I walked by.
I’d thought this was a Hongmen Banquet, and that I’d end up in a total falling out with father—maybe even have to fight these fit-looking bodyguards.
Of course… with my small frame, it might be more practical to dash into an alley or scale a wall to escape.
Secretly relieved the bodyguards didn’t stop me, I strode quickly toward the silent catgirl mother and daughter drinking tea under the pavilion.
A few relatives I vaguely recognized were hiding in a grocery store some distance away, sitting on plastic stools, peeking over here ceaselessly.
Judging by the resentment in their eyes, mother had probably pulled her cold face tactic, intimidating them into leaving.
Though I deliberately kept my footsteps light, almost inaudible, grandmother still noticed as she’d been watching the alley entrance the whole time.
“Child, come have some tea.”
Grandmother waved to me, her kindly smile instantly sweeping away the lingering gloom in my heart.
I found a clean stone stool and sat down. Grandmother picked up a round porcelain teacup with tongs, scalded it with hot water several times, then poured in the rich red tea from the pot.
All that fuss, plus the little sprint when leaving the old house and arguing with father, had left my body’s water all sweated out.
Now, prompted by grandmother, I realized my throat was dry and even had the urge to stick my tongue out to cool down.
How strange… Isn’t that supposed to be a dog’s habit? Why would a catgirl like me want to do that too?
Thinking so, I picked up the porcelain teacup and took a tentative sip. Though it was a little hot, drinking it slowly in small sips was very refreshing.
As I drank my tea, I stole glances at my mother, who hadn’t said a word since I arrived.
Once I sat down, she’d dropped her arms from their cotton-ball-hugging pose, folding her hands over her stomach and closing her eyes as if dozing.
She ignored the fresh tea grandmother poured for her, nor did she greet me or ask how I was, as still and graceful as a statue.
If it weren’t for the soft cat ears atop her head—just like the ones she passed on to me—twitching in the gentle breeze through the pavilion, I’d have thought she’d really fallen asleep.
Before I knew it, I’d finished all the tea in my little cup. Quietly averting my gaze, I put the teacup back onto grandmother’s tray.
Watching grandmother’s elegant, precise tea-pouring movements, a strange feeling welled up in me—I always felt a bit out of place around them.
Our whole family, even that scumbag father, all had a natural charm.
Even grandfather, with his violent streak, would exude an intimidating aura just by standing tall in his younger days—no wonder I’d so often been frightened to tears by him as a child.
“Ready to go home, Shen Zhinian? Or do you want to stay a while longer and catch up with old friends?”
Just as my mind drifted, mother’s voice suddenly sounded in the pavilion.
She lightly lifted her lashes, eyes like rubies sparkling in the slanting sunlight.
Maybe she was in a better mood—her tone was especially gentle this time, not at all like the icy coldness of the past.
Sitting to my right, my catgirl mother raised her chin slightly, showing off the same graceful air as grandmother.
My heart leapt in surprise. I didn’t know if it was inferiority or just being unused to mother’s gentleness, but I looked down and mumbled back.
“Mmm, I ran into an old acquaintance while out walking. I want to see her and grab some lunch… Oh! She’s a girl, not a boy.”
I’d meant to stop there, but worried mother would misunderstand and think my acquaintance was a boy, I quickly added that explanation.
After all, I’m determined to become a virtuous wife and good mother now—I can’t go around acting suspicious. Since I’ve got a mouth, I ought to use it, not just keep everything bottled up inside.
Grandmother chuckled and poured me half a cup of tea, then gently said,
“If you want to meet old friends, go ahead. Be careful on the road and take your time. Your mother and I will sit a while longer and wait for you to come back.”
“Okay, I’m heading out. Bye-bye.”
I stood and walked out of the pavilion. Mother, head down and swiping her phone screen, seemed absorbed in whatever she was looking at.
Only when grandmother set her teacup on the table with a gentle thud did mother lift her eyes to glance at me, barely managing a gentle tone as she reminded,
“Come back early. Don’t be out too late.”