“Huh ah?!! What, what? Are you serious? Zhi Nian, you actually have a little boyfriend? Whoa, whoa, I really have to see you in a new light now! I never thought little Zhi Nian would find someone before me. Quick, let me see a photo.”
“Ugh… Big Sis, keep it down…”
In an unfamiliar dessert shop corner, Big Sis sat directly across from me.
After saying goodbye to my mother and grandmother, I picked up my phone again and contacted Big Sis, following her directions to meet at this dessert shop.
At this moment, Big Sis’s round eyes were wide open, half-standing with her hands pressed against the table, clearly having misunderstood my recounting of my daily interactions with Gu Fan.
Because she was so excited, Big Sis’s upper body leaned in slightly toward me.
Fortunately, the breezy shirt she was wearing was firmly tucked in at the waist by a thin jacket, keeping her from leaning too far and touching the big bowl of strawberry ice cream piled high on the table.
I could feel the cat ears on my head shrink tight in fright at Big Sis’s sudden move.
Thankfully, today was Qingming Festival. One of us had finished tomb-sweeping and paying respects early, and the other had basically cut ties with her original family, so in a way, we had the whole dessert shop to ourselves. There was no need to worry about the weird looks from bystanders you’d see in TV dramas.
Only the shop clerk not far away, who was slacking off and peeking at her phone, glanced our way. Her face, half-covered by a work mask, was full of confusion, but she didn’t pay much attention and quickly went back to scrolling short videos.
Mmm, though it feels a little too dark-humored to feel fortunate on Qingming, I’ve barely even met my ancestors. Plus, with all the selfish and self-serving things my father and grandfather have done, it’s really hard for me to feel any respect toward them.
Maybe she realized she was being too dramatic, so Big Sis coughed a few times, her deep brown eyes quickly scanning the room. Then she sat down in her chair again and tugged at her shirt to check whether she’d gotten any strawberry ice cream on it.
“Whew, thank goodness. I don’t have a figure as exaggerated as little Zhi Nian’s—maybe that’s the benefit of being flat. If it were you, Zhi Nian, half that ice cream would be done for.”
“Uwah… Big Sis, don’t tease me…”
Being so bluntly called a ‘chubby girl’ with two huge cotton balls stuffed in my shirt by a fellow girl my age made my cheeks flush red all at once.
If I could choose, I honestly wouldn’t want these cotton balls. After walking for a while, my waist and back really get sore, and my shoulders feel heavy. My balance is a bit worse than others, and that’s even with me being a catgirl.
When it gets hot, I have to think about how to keep them cool; sweat gathers up, and I don’t even dare wear light-colored clothes. I go through tissues so fast that I need almost two whole packs every week.
But… as a guy, Gu Fan clearly likes my figure like this. His gaze is always drawn to them now and then, which makes me determined to take good care of them.
Big Sis scooped big mouthfuls of ice cream with her spoon, as if using the coolness of the shaved ice and the sweetness of the strawberry milk to suppress her complicated feelings inside.
I lowered my eyes, scooped up a small spoonful of matcha ice cream, and just as I was about to put it in my mouth, Big Sis suddenly asked again.
“By the way, how far have you gone with that Gu guy? Just kissing, or are you washing bedsheets already? Can you tell me? I still haven’t properly dated anyone yet.”
“Cough cough…”
It was my turn to cough now. The ice cream was so cold it got stuck in my throat. I frowned and paused for a moment, buying myself time to think.
If I were a super vain girl, I’d definitely take this chance to admit that Gu Fan and I are a couple, then make up all sorts of risqué stories to satisfy my fantasies, getting a rush from Big Sis’s surprise.
But I’m just a timid catgirl; I don’t even dare to tell such lies.
Still holding my spoon, I didn’t dare look up at Big Sis. I lowered my voice and replied,
“Um, actually, I haven’t officially confessed to him yet. At best, we’re just childhood friends with some ambiguous feelings—not a real couple.”
“Huh? So you haven’t confessed? Listening to how sweet you two are every day, I thought you were just one step away from being official.”
Big Sis raised her eyebrows in disappointment.
“That Gu kid really doesn’t get it. He’s still waiting for you to confess? Feels like he’s the type of jerk who won’t give you an official status and just tries to get close to you in secret by playing ambiguous. If I were a guy, I’d have already taken down a soft catgirl like you, Zhi Nian, and started enjoying a happy couple’s life. Heh heh.”
For some reason, Big Sis’s smile looked extra evil. But when we were little, she used to tease me like this too—either rubbing my cat ears or tugging at my tail and play-fighting with it.
Still, Big Sis always knew her limits. Her touch was gentle, and she only teased me occasionally, never for too long.
“Speaking of which, Zhi Nian, did you maybe sugarcoat things? Did that guy use any weird tricks to bully you, or say strange things to brainwash you?”
Once she calmed down, Big Sis suddenly looked serious and asked intently.
I quickly shook my head to show that nothing like that happened: “No way, Gu Fan is really gentle. He always takes care of my feelings. Honestly, I’m the clingy one, always crying and bringing him trouble. Gu Fan doesn’t mind and still wants to be with me, so he’s already a really, really great guy.”
“Pfft… Hearing you say that, he sounds pretty decent. What about his looks? Any photos?”
“Photos… I think I do have one.”
When I’m out, I rarely look at my phone and only use it for paying or contacting people.
I think there was only that one time I stayed over at Gu Fan’s place and secretly took a picture of him while he was sleeping, but I definitely can’t show that one to Big Sis.
After thinking for a bit, I decided to show Big Sis the photo we took earlier at the wedding studio.
That ‘couple’ photo of me leaning next to Gu Fan—I’d planned to keep it as a memento.
But when I heard I’d probably be seeing my father during today’s trip back home, I absentmindedly slipped it into my jacket pocket.
At that time, a memory flashed through my mind: my father holding me as a child, drying my hair with a towel after a bath, carefully rubbing my cat ears and tail as well.
I remember it was in a spacious living room, with a giant wall-mounted TV right in front of us. On the screen, a TV drama was playing where the heroine brought the hero home and formally introduced him to her parents.
My father watched the TV, his tone as calm as if he was just chatting.
“Zhi Nian, if you ever find someone you like, you have to tell Dad first. Let Dad take a good look at what kind of person he is. Otherwise, be careful you get cheated out of your heart and your money, or even end up with a baby in your belly. Those kinds of men are the best at hiding their true intentions—especially bad. They’ll just see you as a rich young lady, squeeze you for all your worth, and then heartlessly toss you aside.”