“Boss meow!”
Annie woke with a start from her dream, immediately looking to her side, searching for the reassuring presence.
“Hoo meow!”
She finally let out a sigh of relief, the anxiety on her face easing, her mind no longer so tense.
Thankfully, he was still by her side, their hands intertwined.
The warmth from Lauren’s palm seeped into her, and Annie’s heart unconsciously steadied.
But then, thoughts of Xiao Anjie from her dream crept back into her mind.
At that memory, two tears slipped from her eyes without her realizing.
“Hachimi, what are you crying about?”
Just as Annie was about to weep in emotion, an annoying voice came at an inopportune moment.
Annie looked up to see Li An, who wore a mischievous grin.
She was standing on a chair, leaning forward slightly to look down at Annie, her eyes curved into a playful arc, eyelashes fluttering gently, with shallow dimples on her cheeks.
Because she wasn’t tall enough, Li An had used a chair to elevate herself, bolstering her presence.
The white ribbons of her maid uniform fluttered lightly in the breeze.
“How do you feel, Hachimi? That spring dream?”
“Bet you’re feeling pretty pleased with yourself, huh!”
The word “Hachimi” was something Lauren had told her in her previous life.
In Li An’s memory, Lauren always used that weird dialect word “Hachimi” when referring to cats.
Over time, she’d picked it up too.
Of course, she only used it when she was being provocative.
She had known this moment would come—that she would need to confront this cat-girl maid, because of the issue of who Lauren belonged to.
Li An could sense a huge hostility from Annie.
She hadn’t thought there was any real threat, but after using the water mirror spell to see their shared dream memories…
If this was your strategy!
Fine, Annie!
Using dreams to move people, using vows to prove your feelings—quite the tactic!
You’ve actually given me a sense of crisis.
I have to admit you’re an opponent!
“Since Lauren-sweetie hasn’t woken up yet, I think you and I need to have a proper talk.”
When Annie saw Li An, her temper immediately flared, especially when she saw the maid uniform on Li An. It made her blood boil.
She was about to lash out, but the hand holding Lauren’s suddenly twitched and stopped.
Reason reminded her that there was an important person beside her.
Seeing Annie hesitate like that, Li An grew even more confident.
She looked at Annie with contempt.
Hmph, every move this cat girl makes is within my expectations.
Truly nothing to fear.
Seeing Li An’s smug expression, Annie was furious—but not because she had no way to fight back.
So, she suddenly jerked her head up from the bed, smashing it hard into Li An’s chin, knocking her to the ground.
You little shorty, you can calculate so much, but did you calculate your own height, meow?
Annie watched Li An, completely caught off guard, rolling on the floor in a flustered mess, feeling extremely satisfied.
She glared at Li An and demanded with a cat-like ferocity.
“Wicked woman! How dare you wear my clothes, meow? And use my wardrobe, meow?”
Boss, didn’t you say we’d create a future with Xiao Anjie together?
But why is this woman here?
And!
Seeing Li An in that maid uniform made her breathing quicken.
“Simple-minded, muscle-brained cat girl. How vulgar.”
Li An rubbed her chin.
She didn’t lose her composure, knowing her purpose here.
She had used a little trick to delay Lauren’s awakening, but time was short.
She had to deal with this cat girl quickly.
“I won’t bother with such petty matters with you.”
Li An picked herself up from the floor, dusting off her stained clothes with small hands.
She was a girl who loved cleanliness.
“I came to talk business!”
“What do I have to talk about with you, meow!”
Annie shot back without hesitation.
Li An didn’t mind Annie’s rejection.
She spoke in a casual, conversational tone.
“Why do you hold such hostility toward me?”
“Have we ever met before? I don’t recall. We only met for the first time yesterday, right?”
“Hmph, I’m not telling you, meow!”
“Oh? You won’t say? Then how about I answer for you?”
Li An’s face was full of amusement, as if everything was under her control.
“This isn’t your first life, is it?”
She stared straight into Annie’s eyes, slowly closing in, her presence oppressive as she casually revealed their biggest secret.
“What meow?”
For a split second, Annie stopped breathing.
I won’t acknowledge anything Li An says.
She shook her head.
“What are you talking about, meow? I don’t know, meow!”
“Heh!”
Li An let out a laugh.
Just from Annie’s instinctive reaction, could she not see the answer?
She simply didn’t want to call her out.
“Let me tell you, Annie. I am going to stay close to Lauren-sweetie.”
And lead him down the path I’ve already prepared for him.
“That is my will. No one can change that fact!”
“I don’t care what attitude you take or what methods you use to try to drive me away.”
Li An made a declaration like a challenge, sneering.
“You won’t succeed.”
“You couldn’t before, and you can’t now either!”
“I… I…”
Damn it, Annie Liko, say something to fight back, meow!
But Annie couldn’t do it!
She had already lost once as a cat, and she had no confidence.
A few provocative words from Li An made Annie’s eyes redden.
She struggled not to cry, gritting her teeth, her face flushed with anger.
Li An pressed on relentlessly, giving Annie no time to breathe.
“I’ve already entered his life. You can’t drive me away now.”
“You can keep throwing tantrums. Want to see who ends up being driven away in the end?”
“Or, if you’re not convinced, you can try to challenge me. Let’s see if you can move him, or if he’ll adore me instead.”
“But whether you’re dissatisfied or want to come clean about everything…”
“Think about it carefully. After everything is laid bare, who do you think will end up out? You? Or me?”
“I… I… I won’t give up, meow! Even if I have to break boss’s legs, I’ll make him stay by my side, meow!”
Annie gritted her teeth and said those words.
She felt a deep sense of powerlessness, as if all her strength had drained away.
If she had ever won once, she wouldn’t be like a helpless wife.
The air froze for a moment.
Annie was like a cornered animal, with nowhere left to retreat.
Her hand still tightly clutched Lauren’s—the only thing she could hold onto right now.
Li An stood before her, looking down at her.
No, she wasn’t looking down—the chair had been kicked aside.
She was just standing there, arms crossed, her golden eyes calmly looking up at Annie.
“What are you two talking about?”
“Can you stop arguing? What a nightmare.”