Tang Xiaoya had been so focused on petting and cuddling the cat earlier, and had already fed the Maine Coon several cans in an attempt to win its affection. Just as she was about to offer another can, the pretty shop assistant stopped her.
"Customer, although our shop provides all-you-can-eat main course canned food, you really shouldn't feed it like this. Maine Coons do have big appetites, but you can't always use food to keep it around."
Even though Lin Lan had given Tang Xiaoya the main course type of canned food—the kind you can feed more of, not the snack cans that can hurt a cat's stomach if overfed—when she asked for three cans right away, she was still startled by the girl's single-minded determination to shower just this one cat with treats.
This served as a wake-up call for her.
Business was slow since they had just opened, and with the Maine Coon's large appetite, a bit of overindulgence wasn't a big deal for now. But once more customers started coming, this kind of situation absolutely couldn't be allowed to happen.
It was her own lack of experience running a shop. She needed to remember this lesson.
Mentally reminding herself and thinking she should prepare a notebook to jot things like this down, Lin Lan continued advising the girl who was solely focused on monopolizing the Maine Coon for cuddles: "The hot milk tea you ordered is getting cold. Would you like me to warm it up for you?"
Only then did Tang Xiaoya, who had been completely absorbed in cat cuddling, remember the food and drinks she had ordered but hadn't touched at all, having spent all this time holding the cat. She felt a bit embarrassed. "Thank you. Um, could I also add a grilled sausage?"
Since she planned to spend the whole day here, of course she'd have her meals here too.
"Of course, please wait a moment." The pretty shop assistant left with a smile.
A few minutes later, the reheated milk tea and a sweet-smelling, grilled hot dog sausage were delivered. It was nearly 11 AM now, and feeling genuinely hungry, Tang Xiaoya reluctantly let go of the big cat and returned to her seat.
The Maine Coon, Shuǐyín, felt as if granted a great reprieve. With a few swift movements, it climbed up the wall-mounted cat tree to a high place out of human reach, determined not to come down for a good while.
Tang Xiaoya just glanced at it regretfully before turning her attention to appeasing her stomach.
Her tea set included a large cup of coconut jelly milk tea and a strawberry cream waffle. With the later addition of a pure meat hot dog, it was more than enough to fill her up.
The shop assistant who reheated her milk tea was very thoughtful; the temperature was just right, slightly hot but comfortable to drink. Tang Xiaoya took a tentative sip, first satisfied with the warmth, and then when she tasted the fruit milk tea, her eyes widened in surprise on her small face.
It was actually better than what she bought from dedicated bubble tea shops!
She quickly picked up the waffle from the plate and took a bite. Although it had lost the warm, fragrant aroma of being freshly made, the taste of the biscuit still made Tang Xiaoya instinctively squint her eyes in happiness. She opened her mouth wide for another big bite; the cake-like biscuit mixed with strawberries and cream was refreshing and sweet.
"Delicious!" Forty yuan was totally worth it. Tang Xiaoya picked up her cup and took another big gulp of milk tea. The coconut jelly in the fruit tea rolled and crunched between her teeth, feeling absolutely wonderful. "With skills like this, you don't even need to run a cat cafe. Just these snacks and drinks alone would make me a loyal regular customer!"
Ironically, the most ordinary item was the hot dog sausage, which wasn't handmade but mass-produced.
But Tang Xiaoya finished it anyway. After polishing off all three items, she felt a bit stuffed.
As noon approached, most of the customers who had been drawn in by the cats earlier left the shop. Only two or three customers, similar to Tang Xiaoya, remained inside, each finding a more comfortable spot to continue resting.
Tang Xiaoya noticed that several of those leaving for lunch had ordered milk tea and pastries to take away before they left, and she immediately thought this was something she had to remember to do.
Then, after using the restroom, she simply lay down on the bed-shaped cushion she had been lounging on earlier. Behind her was a transparent glass floor-to-ceiling window, offering a clear view of the enclosed narrow backyard outside the rear door.
The rectangular yard was covered with artificial green turf. On the left were two rows of lush green cat grass. Perhaps because it was winter, they weren't very tall, but the tender green sprouts were quite delightful. On the right was a set of white square tables and round stools. Sunlight streamed through the glass ceiling, bathing the small courtyard and also falling on Tang Xiaoya, inducing an inexplicable drowsiness.
It was now intermission time. With fewer people, the cats were more comfortable, and the busy shop assistants also relaxed.
Tang Xiaoya could see the staff clearing the leftover food from the tables. Their movements were gentle and careful, seemingly to avoid disturbing the peaceful atmosphere of the teahouse.
The service is really good...
Well-fed, well-watered, and basking in the warm winter sun, Tang Xiaoya grew increasingly drowsy, her willpower weakening. Just as her eyes were about to close halfway, something soft seemed to settle into a ball near her head, apparently also vying for the sunlight. Soon after, she heard a soft purring sound.
It's a cat...
Tang Xiaoya reached out and stroked it a couple of times. The smooth feel made her lips curve into a smile, and then she simply closed her eyes and drifted off.
"Mom, a customer has fallen asleep. Can you get the blanket from the drawer at the counter for me?" When Lin Lan placed that bed-shaped cushion in the teahouse, she knew someone would definitely sleep on it—either a customer or herself—so of course she had prepared a matching blanket.
While spreading the blanket over the sleeping girl, she noticed the cushion wasn't occupied by just the sleeper; several cats were also sprawled on it, sunbathing.
"Meow—" When they saw her approach, the cats meowed at her. (Lan Lan, this is the most comfortable spot. It's warm and quiet. Do you want to join us for some sun?)
With warm sunlight above and a stationary human-shaped heater sleeping beside them, these little cats knew exactly where the most comfortable temperature was, as always.
"No, thanks." Lin Lan shook her head with an amused smile, speaking to them in a low voice. "Keep your movements gentle, okay? Don't disturb this big sister's sleep."
Her cat teahouse was meant to be a place for people to relax and unwind. With fewer customers now, it was also easier to keep an eye on things.
Looking at the scene before her, Lin Lan thought for a moment, took out her phone, and snapped a photo. She would ask the girl if she minded keeping the photo when she woke up. She could use it later to create a photo wall of customer and cat interactions.
Putting her phone away, Lin Lan caught sight of Cheng Fengyang clearing the table for Ms. Yao out of the corner of her eye and quickly walked over.
"Let me handle this. You should go eat and take a break." Lin Lan took the items from his hands and shooed him away before he could object. "After you finish eating, you can take over for me so I can eat."
The young man, who wanted to ask if they could eat together, could only walk away somewhat dejectedly. Lin Lan continued tidying up.
Sitting behind the table, Ms. Yao held her beloved pet. Her mood had long since settled. Watching Cheng Fengyang leave reluctantly and then looking at the completely oblivious Lin Lan, her eyes flickered, but she didn't mention anything.
"Miss Lin," Ms. Yao spoke up at this moment. "My sudden visit has kept you busy. It's about time; I should be going."
"Don't rush, Ms. Yao," Lin Lan stopped her. "There will be a cat performance in the teahouse this afternoon. Pudding is participating too. Are you sure you want to leave now?"
Ms. Yao was immediately stunned and couldn't help but look down at the furry child in her arms. Since when did her Pudding have talents?
Time passed gradually, and the angle of the sunlight shining in the backyard quietly shifted. Tang Xiaoya woke from her nap; it was already past one in the afternoon.
She felt she was having a bit of trouble breathing. Her head, chest, and stomach felt very heavy. When she groggily opened her eyes, she was startled by the cats lying on top of her and around her at some point.
She had only slept for two hours, and she'd grown cats on herself!?
Not bothering with the cats who all ran away upon seeing her awake, Tang Xiaoya sat up in a fluster, her mind gradually clearing. She was surprised that she had actually fallen asleep in a cat café she was visiting for the first time, while also feeling warmed by the thick blanket that had been placed over her.
They even cover sleeping guests with a blanket? Positive review, must give a five-star review!
After freshening up her sleepy face in the restroom and returning, Tang Xiaoya found that the number of afternoon customers had increased again. From their conversations, some were friends recommended by customers who had come in the morning.
"Xiaoya!" Just as she was looking around, a familiar female voice came from the shop entrance.
Tang Xiaoya looked up and saw Wang Jiajia, her colleague and good friend from the company, and immediately broke into a smile: "Jiajia! What brings you here!"
"It's all because you kept posting about cats on your social media, luring me here!" Wang Jiajia pretended to be displeased and glared at her. "Eating alone, you didn't even call me to come to such a great place together."
"That's not true, I only discovered it today myself!" Tang Xiaoya immediately defended herself, changing the topic the next second. "But let me tell you, this shop is super amazing! Affordable prices with royal treatment, the food and drinks are just as good as the trendy little cafes we usually go to. More than half of the cats here are expensive pedigree cats. I'm telling you, besides the Maine Coon I posted about, there are Ragdolls and Abyssinians too. The only local cats are that group of little black cats, and they also..."
Before the girls' chatter could finish, a soft melody rang out in the previously quiet teahouse. Everyone instinctively turned to look and saw a shop assistant pushing a fairy-tale-style mini stage into the open space at the center of the teahouse.
The beautiful female staff member was clapping her hands to attract everyone's attention: "Thank you all for visiting my Cat Teahouse. I am Lin Lan, the owner of this shop."
Tang Xiaoya's smile froze. She had always thought this staff sister was an employee, but she turned out to be the owner?
So enviable! Owning so many little cats must be so happy!
Just as she was thinking this, Shopkeeper Lin was still speaking.
"To express our gratitude to everyone, and to celebrate the official opening of our shop on New Year's Day, the little cats here will put on a celebratory performance. We hope you'll enjoy it!"
What? A cat performance?
The customers who had come to the teahouse to relax and pet cats were first taken aback, feeling they didn't quite understand the meaning of the words. Then they saw Lin Lan start clapping and calling out to the surroundings: "Black Cat Corps, assemble!"
As soon as the words fell, the six black cats that had been lazily scattered around the teahouse swiftly gathered from all directions at Lin Lan's feet.
The crowd immediately let out a gasp of surprise.
"On stage." At another command from Lin Lan, the black cats jumped onto the mini stage and orderly stepped onto climbing frames of various shapes and patterns, forming a triangular, tiered, three-dimensional formation.
The customers, who had now realized what was happening, all wore expressions of novelty and excitement. Many subconsciously took out their phones and started recording videos of the stage.
Just when they thought the black cats getting on stage was the end, what happened next showed them this was only the beginning.
The beautiful shop owner continued calling out, this time using the kittens' names: "Gold Carbon, Ash Gray, Silver White, Sausage, Pudding, Mercury, Sapphire..."
With each name called, a cat leaped onto the stage and obediently settled at the edge. The beautiful pedigree cats of various colors formed a semi-circle, surrounding the black cats in the center, neatly filling the half-cylindrical mini stage.
The original music had stopped and then switched to a more lively and cheerful tune.
The shop owner, who now held a tambourine, gave it a gentle tap in rhythm with the music.
The dozen or so kittens on the stage all called out together: "Meow! Meow meow!"
The meows also followed the rhythm of the music, just like people singing along to a melody. With each gentle tap of the tambourine, the kittens would sing along.
After singing for a while, the tambourine beat changed to two taps. The kittens on stage uniformly raised their little paws, sometimes the left, sometimes the right, sometimes even standing upright on their hind legs. Their hand and paw movements evolved into a very cute, simple dance.
The cats sang and danced, their movements appearing either elegant or adorably clumsy due to their different body types, making a bunch of cat lovers' hearts flutter and their eyes widen in fascination.
Even after this brief performance, lasting less than two minutes, ended and the kittens jumped off the stage as the staff wheeled it away, the customers' excited state didn't subside.
Just based on that performance alone, this cat café could directly become legendary in West City. No other cat café in West City could surpass it!
As for the opening promotional benefits the shop owner mentioned later, like everyone present today receiving a free pass allowing them to pet cats all day without any purchase, were completely ignored by them. They only wanted to see the performance again in the future.
"If there are no special circumstances, there will only be one performance per week, scheduled for Sunday afternoons."
Pestered relentlessly, the shop owner had no choice but to relent, and everyone was satisfied.
By now, all the customers regarded the cats in the shop with a completely different mindset. Even the previously somewhat avoided or ignored black local cats were now sought after eagerly, everyone wanting to try the "Eighteen Ways to Act Adorable" that the shop owner had mentioned the cats all knew.
It's just cans and cat sticks, here you go!
In the bustling teahouse, Ms. Yao hugged her beloved pet again, her face full of pleasant surprise: "Miss Lin, how did you manage this? Pudding can actually sing and dance now, that's really amazing." The last part was praise for her own furry child.
"Trade secret," Lin Lan replied with the universal phrase. "Ms. Yao, are you heading back now?"
"Yes, if I don't go back soon, there will be trouble at home again." Very reluctant, but Ms. Yao had to go. There were already over a dozen missed calls on her phone. A quarrel upon returning home was inevitable, but she was used to it. "Pudding, Mommy has to go. Be a good, obedient child and stay here, okay?"
"Meow—" (Mommy, come see me again next time!)
Of course, Lin Lan couldn't let a pregnant woman go home alone. She directly called Xu Xiangfei, who was lounging at home on the fourth floor, and asked him to help give her a ride. Only after everything was arranged did she return to continue serving the customers.
Due to the earlier cat performance, a wave of customers who had heard the news arrived afterwards. Lin Lan had to stop customers from buying cans, using the excuse that the kittens needed exercise to digest their food. She encouraged them to use various toys to play with the cats or simply take photos together.
This busy period lasted until the teahouse officially closed at five o'clock, when those customers finally left, still reluctant to go.
The first day of business had been quite profitable, but they were also thoroughly exhausted.
"I originally thought I could run this cat cafe by myself, and that I'd only need your temporary help for the first couple of days while I got the hang of things. Now I know I was being naive," Lin Lan sighed to her parents in the water bar. "We really do need to hire someone."
"What do you mean hire someone? There's no need!" Wang Xiuzhi was the first to object, stating that this level of work wasn't tiring at all. "Aren't your dad and I ready-made help? How busy can our little convenience store be? One of us can watch that shop while the other comes over to help you here!"
They had opened the shop precisely because they were afraid of being too idle; being busy now suited them just fine.
The Lin family, accustomed to running a mom-and-pop shop, had no intention of hiring outsiders and sharing the profits.
"That won't do. We still need to hire someone, either a part-time hourly worker or a long-term employee," Lin Lan insisted. She couldn't possibly let her parents exhaust themselves for her shop. A day or two was fine, but doing this every day was definitely not acceptable. "This is not up for discussion. Listen to me!"
The elder Lins were not too pleased and wanted to continue arguing, but she simply pushed them away. "Hurry upstairs and get dinner ready! If you're not hungry, my stomach is growling!"
As their daughter pushed them along, the Lin couple didn't forget to invite Cheng Fengyang. "Xiao Cheng, you'll eat with us, right?"
"No, thank you, Uncle and Auntie," Cheng Fengyang shook his head. He could tell this was a polite gesture; accepting would be presumptuous. "It's getting late, I should be heading back soon. My parents are waiting for me to have dinner too."
The elder Lins soon left, leaving Lin Lan and Cheng Fengyang in the water bar to continue their work, taking inventory and organizing the canned food boxes and bar ingredients.
"Business was really good today. Quite a few customers were willing to spend money on cans," Cheng Fengyang remarked, looking at the significantly emptied cardboard boxes. He was a bit astonished, but thinking about it, he wasn't surprised. The cats in this shop were not only expensive breeds but also particularly skilled at acting cute and coquettish with customers. Their afternoon performance had captivated the entire shop. Even he, a dog lover, was envious, let alone the current or aspiring cat slaves.
"It's just taking advantage of the New Year's holiday convenience. There won't be this many people on weekdays; everyone has to work," Lin Lan replied with a smile. "Thank you, Fengyang, for giving up your public holiday to come help me here."
"It's nothing," Cheng Fengyang waved his hand. "I came because I was curious about how a cat cafe operates, and also because I designed this shop from the ground up myself!"
"Regardless, I still want to thank you," Lin Lan said seriously. "Since you refuse payment, treating you to a meal is the least I should do."
When the shop renovation was complete and everything was put in place, Lin Lan had genuinely intended to pay the design fee after seeing the final result. She couldn't let someone work for free for so long. However, he had firmly refused any compensation, citing their initial agreement. Now he had come to help on opening day... Lin Lan truly felt quite embarrassed.
Hearing Lin Lan mention treating him to a meal, Cheng Fengyang's eyes lit up. "How about we go to the 'Travelogue Food Stall' on the next street tomorrow night for some skewers? Their barbecue is especially delicious. I love their grilled lamb skewers and squid teppanyaki there!"
"I like that place too. Their lamb skewers are truly exceptional. I also like their grilled chives and grilled eggplant... Wait a minute, I say I'm treating you to a meal and you pick a place like this?" Lin Lan, almost sidetracked by the barbecue, looked at him disapprovingly. Was he looking down on her, Lin So-and-so's, savings?... Although, to be fair, they were indeed almost depleted, and even the pretentious designer trench coat had been cashed in.
"Of course not! I genuinely plan to fill up on meat skewers for that meal!" Cheng Fengyang answered her with equal seriousness. "Not only will I eat, but I'll also pack some grilled chicken legs or something to take back for Xingxing!"
Filling up on barbecue, eating and taking some home, all on someone else's tab—pretty ruthless, right?
Lin Lan couldn't help but laugh. Alright, alright, that's so Cheng Fengyang. Recalling their first meeting, where this guy sat in his car teasing a Golden Retriever from a distance with a single sausage, it wasn't hard to imagine him using a chicken leg to continue teasing his Border Collie at home.
And so, as the two said their goodbyes and parted ways, the first day of business for the Cat Teahouse officially came to an end.
Lin Lan had thought Cheng Fengyang would come over the next afternoon to go for skewers with her. Instead, she received a call from him in the morning saying a former client had an emergency request, so he had to dutifully go to work. Work matters were just unavoidable. Lin Lan said it was fine and they could schedule another time, but she felt a little wistful after hanging up.
Just a few months ago, she too had been a working dog, having to crawl out of bed to rush work whenever the boss or a client called. Now, those times felt very distant.
"Meow—" (Lanlan, are we open for business today?)
A cat wound around her legs. The Chinchilla, very accustomed to human adoration, licked its lips, seeming impatient—perhaps impatient to score some free canned food.
"Think about your own stomach. Don't eat too much," Lin Lan could only advise, deciding to order some smaller-sized cat food cans. These cats really had no sense of moderation when it came to eating. "If you eat too much, you'll be running on wheels like hamsters to work it off later." She had already contacted a supplier to have some custom-made.
Once the golden holiday passed, the bustling teahouse business finally returned to normal, becoming much quieter. Like other cat cafes, weekends were busy, while weekdays were slower.
Regardless of how relieved the owner, Lin Lan, felt, Tang Xiaoya was a frequent visitor. Whenever she had free time, she would come by for a visit, to the point where Lin Lan had almost memorized this girl's preferences. She had clearly become a regular here.
Just after serving this particular customer, more guests arrived at the door—a rare trio of grandmother, daughter-in-law, and granddaughter.
—A grandmother in her fifties, a woman in her thirties, and a little girl about eight years old.
Lin Lan put on her professional smile and greeted them as usual. All three went through the disinfection procedure, then took their seats and ordered. The little girl repeatedly tried to break away from the adults to go hug the cats but was held back each time.
Tang Xiaoya, sitting behind them, didn't pay much attention at first. It was only after they finished ordering and the owner turned to leave that she heard the grandmother say something to her granddaughter.
"See? If you don't study and only know how to play all day, you'll end up like her when you grow up, only fit to carry trays for people."
The grandmother pointed at the owner not far away, using her as a lesson for her granddaughter who was clamoring to go hold the cats.
