Notes on Raising Cats

My cat has become a spirit.

Jiang Yao felt a headache coming on.

But the cat, now in human form, had no idea. He flopped down beside her with the shamelessness of a city wall and declared, "I want you to rub my belly."

Jiang Yao punched him.

Yuan Ye curled into a ball, his ocean-blue eyes gazing at her pitifully. "That hurt."

Jiang Yao: "Get lost, or put your clothes on. Now."

Yuan Ye wrapped his arms around her. "Neither. I just want you."

One day, after the rain cleared, Jiang Yao came home from class.

Someone clung to the window railing and called to her. "Come here. The sunshine is best right here."

Jiang Yao: "Three seconds. Get down."

Yuan Ye pouted. "It's so rare to get some sun. My fur's going to get moldy."

Jiang Yao: "Time's up. You're taking a bath tonight."

Thump. A lump of cat hit the floor.

Jiang Yao was stunned. "Are you crazy?"

Yuan Ye curled up miserably. "You told me to get down."

Jiang Yao was furious. "When I used to tell you to get lost, were you deaf?"

Yuan Ye leaped in front of her at the speed of light, then gave her a huge bear hug.

That evening.

Yuan Ye was shocked. "You said I didn't have to bathe tonight."

Jiang Yao sneered and tested the water temperature. "Who told you to take five seconds?"

"..."

Jiang Yao: "Come on. Take it off."

Yuan Ye: "I love you."

Jiang Yao: "Get lost."

Yuan Ye: "If you make me, I'll jump off the balcony!"

Jiang Yao crossed her arms. "I'll have the windows sealed one of these days, so you never see the sun again."

Yuan Ye: "..."

Jiang Yao mercilessly stripped him and shoved him into the bathtub.

Yuan Ye: "I can't breathe!! A-Yao, farewell!"

Jiang Yao took a deep breath. "Then stick your head out."

One day, for the ten thousandth time, Yuan Ye made his daily confession. "You're the person I love most in this world."

Jiang Yao was unmoved, eating potato chips.

Yuan Ye: "I'd do anything you asked, including fighting the stray cat downstairs."

Jiang Yao sneered and turned on the TV.

Yuan Ye: "You're the prettiest person I've ever seen, even prettier than that famous little cat on Weibo."

Jiang Yao clenched her fist.

Yuan Ye pouted, nimbly hung himself around her neck, stuck out his tongue, and licked her without a care.

Jiang Yao had had enough. "! The dried fish is on the second shelf of the fridge! Get lost!"

1. Growing up together.

2. Sweet romance.

3. Irregular updates.