Please Stop Luring Shen Huan

A kitten who wants to be adopted but can only move when someone nudges her along VS a patient Daddy who's been plotting this for a long time

People say that Mr. Pei of Huaicheng lost a cat, a white cat with red eyes, sharp claws, and no fondness for people.

Countless impostors showed up, pretending to be his cat in hopes of winning his favor.

In early winter, his cat came running back on her own. She stood right in front of him, eyes red, not daring to approach. She warily watched the space beside him, her sharp claws hidden beneath her skin.

She'd forgotten everything he taught her.

That night, even with her eyes red from crying, the obedient little cat listened and didn't let go of the arms she had wrapped around him. Pei Yanqi kissed her and gave her a reward for running back to him of her own accord.

The little cat was obedient and timid, and always worried she might lose everything. The Ji family hadn't raised her right, so Pei Yanqi would have to teach her all over again. He didn't think it would be difficult. She was very obedient and learned quickly under his guidance. She even remembered to act sweet and please him, though her eyes were red from holding back her tears.

Of course he agreed. Holding the kitten's paw, he watched her unfocused pupils as his voice sank low. "Good girl."

"Use your voice."

.

From the day she came of age, Ji Youning kept dreaming of the man in Hetan Palace. Those black eyes were always watching her, telling her to behave.

That night, when he announced his engagement to the Ji family, she ran away.

The Ji family had no shortage of children. She ran for three years, and no one remembered a minor character like her. Then she woke from her dream and remembered everything from the past.

The day she ran away was the day he announced their engagement.

The day she came back was the day he announced they were getting their marriage license.

She stood before him, looking at the place beside him, and called out to her sister just as she was about to rise on tiptoe to kiss him. She had finally made her way right in front of him.

She still wanted that place.

*

Mr. Pei found his cat. She had changed since before: the three years she was gone had turned her into a celebrated young painter.

The more time she spent painting, the more time she spent sitting still, and the more time she spent on him, too.

She still got teary-eyed and cried easily, but he was happy to indulge her.

[Bonus Scene]

Ji Youning's eyes were red with desperation. "Can't you stay..."

"You want me to stay?"

She clutched his sleeve, determined not to let him go.

Outside the door, a voice called urgently. His long fingers toyed with the hair falling over her chest. "What did I teach you?"

Pei Yanqi leaned against the door and looked down at her. "If you want it, come take it yourself."

Ji Youning rose on tiptoe and made herself the bargaining chip in this negotiation.

The arm around her waist tightened. The only answer was the crisp click of the lock.

*

Warnings and reading guide

1. Both are virgins. 21 x 29.

2. In the romance, the man is strong and the woman is weak, very weak. This is not a strong female lead story.

3. The male lead remembers all his past-life memories at age 26. The female lead recalls hers in fragments after coming of age.

4. The male lead has no relationship with any woman besides the female lead.

5. The female lead is very downtrodden early on and doesn't dare fight back.

6. This blurb isn't final. Details may be changed to match the story before it's completed.

More to come if I think of anything

Theme: Love and reunion