Chapter 33 – A Kiss
Suddenly, Lin Yan changed the subject. “No… the person I hate isn’t the big boss.”
Meiqiu: “Meow.” Who taught you to talk like that?
“But the big boss is bad too,” Lin Yan added. “Our department got a new colleague. He’s really annoying.”
“Meiqiu, if a bad person bullied you, what would you do?” Lin Yan picked Meiqiu up, holding him under the armpits and lifting him straight into the air.
The little Meiqiu was stretched into a long shape. The kitten glanced left and right, looking as if he were seriously thinking about the question.
All of Lin Yan’s worries from the day were healed by Meiqiu at that moment. Watching Meiqiu think so earnestly about his problem made his heart feel warm.
The next second, Meiqiu looked straight at him, as if saying, Look at me. I’ll teach you how to deal with annoying people.
Lin Yan obediently watched Meiqiu.
Meiqiu opened his mouth. His pupils turned into thin vertical lines, and he let out a small hiss, showing his sharp fangs.
“Hahahaha!” Lin Yan burst out laughing. “So Meiqiu really is teaching me how to deal with people! Our Meiqiu baby is amazing. Alright, I’ll learn from you.”
Lin Yan imitated Meiqiu. He opened his mouth, closed his eyes, long eyelashes resting softly against his cheeks. His pink lips looked moist under the light, and then he let out a small “ha” with a smile.
When he opened his eyes again, he looked at Meiqiu.
Meiqiu froze completely.
“What’s wrong, Meiqiu? Doesn’t it look like I did it right?” Lin Yan asked with a laugh.
After turning into a cat, Lu Heng’s reactions became much slower. Lin Yan had said a long string of words, but none of it really entered his ears.
What is he even talking about… I want to kiss him.
That was the only thought in his mind.
But he had been angry today. When Lin Yan came home, he had sworn not to pay him any attention and not to go greet him.
Yet his body moved toward him on its own.
Holding Meiqiu was starting to make his arms sore. Lin Yan kissed Meiqiu again, then set him down. Meiqiu darted away in a flash.
The little guy didn’t run to the cat tree to sharpen his claws, nor did he jump into the cat bed on the bookshelf like usual. Instead, he ran straight to the refrigerator.
Lin Yan found it strange. Why did Meiqiu run over there?
The fridge came with the rental apartment — a small two-level one. Lin Yan watched as Meiqiu stretched his body, reaching for the top compartment with his paws.
After hooking the door latch, Meiqiu pushed hard, and the fridge door opened.
Once it was open, Meiqiu sat down neatly, facing Lin Yan, lifted one paw, and started licking his fur.
Following his gaze, Lin Yan saw several bottles of beer chilling inside the fridge. They were fairly strong, and lately he had almost forgotten they were even there.
After starting work, Lin Yan always kept a few bottles of alcohol at home. Whenever he ran out, he would restock. Drinking was one of the few ways he could relax in his daily life, so the fridge could be empty of food, but it would never be without alcohol.
Ever since Meiqiu came to live with him, he had hardly drunk at home at all. In the past, he would finish two or three bottles a week.
He had no idea how this little guy had learned to open the refrigerator, or how many times he had secretly done it while Lin Yan wasn’t paying attention.
Seeing Lin Yan standing there without moving, little Meiqiu became anxious. He tilted his head to one side and pointed at the fridge.
You kissed me. Now I have to kiss you back.
That was the only thing in Meiqiu’s head.
Such a cute little brain. Lin Yan couldn’t help laughing. How could this little guy be so clever — cunningly clever.
He walked over and closed the fridge door. With his left arm, he hooked little Meiqiu and prepared to put him on the sofa. As he passed the camera, he returned the bag that had been blocking it back into the drawer, then came back again.
Meiqiu was being carried with one arm and kept flailing about, completely unaware of what Lin Yan’s other hand was doing.
He then angrily jumped onto the cat bed on the bookshelf, ready to sulk, when he saw Lin Yan take a bottle of beer from the fridge.
“Have a drink. Relax a little.”
Meiqiu immediately jumped down and went to accompany him.
“Meiqiu, are you keeping me company?” Lin Yan lifted Meiqiu onto the dining table and rubbed his forehead against Meiqiu’s head.
He opened a bottle of beer. With a sharp crack, bubbles rushed upward, dense foam crowding the mouth of the bottle.
He filled the glass, the bubbles slowly settling.
Leaning in to smell it, there was the clean scent of wheat mixed with a hint of jasmine. This craft beer was his favorite.
He had tried many kinds of alcohol — white beer, dark beer — none of them were as easy to drink as this one.
With only one person and one cat in the room, sipping his little beer, his mood instantly relaxed.
It felt as if everything that had happened in the morning had been pushed out of his mind.
But after a few rounds of drinking, he couldn’t help wanting to let it all out.
In a soft, aggrieved voice, he said, “Meiqiu, our company got a new colleague.”
After a pause, Lin Yan caught his breath and continued, “He’s my classmate.”
He finished another half glass, shook the bottle, and when there was no liquid left inside, he went to the fridge for another one, opened it, and poured again.
Drink after drink, he could clearly feel his head getting dizzy. Thinking of what he had just said, he went on, “He’s my classmate, but I don’t like him. He…”
He was already a little drunk. He casually rested his hand on the table, his head leaning on his arm, and stopped speaking.
Meiqiu nudged him with his nose.
Say it. Hurry up. Say it.
Why don’t you like him? Tell me.
The brushing of his hand felt a little ticklish. Lin Yan pulled it back, then suddenly remembered something and added, “I miss my mom.”
As he spoke, the tip of Lin Yan’s nose tingled slightly. Tears wouldn’t stop falling from his eyes. He didn’t cry out loud — he just silently wiped the corners of his eyes.
Meiqiu immediately straightened up and pawed at Lin Yan’s hand.
Don’t cry. Keep talking. Why don’t you like him?
Sniffling, Lin Yan steadied himself and tilted his head. “I haven’t gone to see Mom in a long time.”
Meiqiu’s mind was a beat slow. Lin Yan had already changed the topic.
Mom?
He had never heard Lin Yan mention his mother. During all this time here, he had never seen Lin Yan’s mother come to visit either.
Just as he was feeling puzzled, Lin Yan spoke again. “I didn’t go to see you last Qingming Festival. I don’t know if I’ll have the chance to go this year.”
Hearing this, Lu Heng finally understood. During the time since he took office, he truly hadn’t had any holidays. And this period was also a critical stage for the company’s growth.
There really was no way to give the employees collective leave.
This…
What should be done?
Then Lin Yan began to sob softly again, repeatedly murmuring, “I miss Mom.”
The sobbing gradually stopped, replaced by heavy breathing. Lin Yan’s breathing was slow and deep.
Meiqiu opened his eyes wide and looked at Lin Yan. There was still half a glass of alcohol in his hand — if it wasn’t drunk, wouldn’t it be wasted?
But a kitten couldn’t drink alcohol, so he quietly waited for Lin Yan to fall fully asleep, planning to carry him to bed afterward.
After a while, Lin Yan’s head finally slumped onto the table.
Meiqiu had been running wild around the apartment for a long time already and was exhausted.
He went to look for some water.
He glanced at his cat bowl — no water. He checked the water dispenser — empty.
The only liquid left in the apartment was the unfinished beer in Lin Yan’s glass.
What should he do? He’d been playing too hard earlier, and now he was thirsty.
A kitten couldn’t stay thirsty. He had to drink something.
It should be fine if he drank the alcohol, right? After all, he was originally human.
…Yeah.
He jumped onto the table and looked at Lin Yan. Lin Yan’s breathing was already very heavy.
That meant Lin Yan was sound asleep.
Meiqiu jumped toward the bedroom.
After that, Lu Heng came out of the bedroom wearing pajamas.
His mouth was unbearably dry. He picked up the glass and drank the last of the alcohol in one gulp.
But the alcohol didn’t quench his thirst. Still, he had no choice — drinking something was better than staying thirsty. It would at least ease it for now, and he could go downstairs later to get water.
Lin Yan shook his head without opening his eyes and muttered hazily, “Alcohol… more… I want more.”
Lu Heng supported Lin Yan’s head, afraid he might fall to the floor if he wasn’t careful.
He sat down on the chair beside Lin Yan.
“Alcohol… I want more.”
Lin Yan kept repeating the same words.
But the alcohol had already been drunk by Lu Heng — how could there be any left?
He didn’t drink often. Suddenly swallowing half a glass made him feel rather uncomfortable. His stomach burned, and his whole body felt warm.
So he really couldn’t hold his liquor.
The person beside him was still murmuring, “Alcohol… want…”
You still want more?
Then I’ll give it to you.
Lu Heng cupped Lin Yan’s head, leaned in, and pressed his lips fully against Lin Yan’s.
Lin Yan let out a muffled sound, and his tongue lifted slightly.
The moment his lips brushed against Lin Yan’s tongue, Lu Heng’s eyes lit up. He held Lin Yan’s head with both hands and deepened the kiss.