On Wednesday, Tang Xiaoya moved into the second floor of the small building. By Thursday, the Lao Yu family of three, who lived on the same floor, were already packed up and ready to head back to their hometown.
Before taking a taxi to the train station, they brought Little Kui—the parrot—along with its cage and supplies up to the third floor. The two families went through their now very familiar handover routine.
"Little Kui will be in your care again this year," Uncle Yu, who was often away on business trips, greeted Lin’s family in the living room. "We’ll be back by the second day of the Lunar New Year. We won’t stay in the hometown for too long."
"That’s no problem at all!" Lin’s father agreed immediately, patting the rectangular birdcage that stood over a meter tall. He glanced at the parrot inside, calmly munching on sunflower seeds, and couldn’t help but smile. "Little Kui’s practically a regular here. It’s no stranger to our home. You can rest easy and stay in the hometown as long as you need." After all, coming back on the second day of the New Year was quite early.
"Our return on the second day isn’t just about the bird," Uncle Yu explained with a smile, "There’s also work. On the third day, the company has a big wedding event, and I need to be back to help out."
People in the wedding planning business were always busy when others were on holiday. Hearing this, Lin’s father immediately understood.
"Alright then, wishing your family a smooth journey!" Lin’s father didn’t want to hold them up. "Better get going—missing the train would be a hassle."
"Alright, we’re off then." Uncle Yu didn’t linger, but before leaving, he patted the birdcage. "Little Kui, stop eating and say thank you to Uncle Lin. You’ll be eating and drinking here for a while."
The clever parrot, hearing the cue, immediately lifted its head and squawked loudly, "Thank you, master! Thank you, master!" While calling out, it flapped its wings in a flattering manner. The parrot clearly caught the words “eat” and “drink” and ignored the rest—it never missed those.
Laughter burst out again at the door of the Lao Lin household.
The Yu family soon left. Lin Youyu listened to the fading footsteps in the stairwell, then turned back to look at the cockatoo in its cage. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted the heated pad for the cats lying in the corner of the living room and couldn’t help but pat his forehead.
By this time, Lanlan had already taken the cats downstairs to open the shop. The bird and the cats wouldn’t come into contact for a while, but even if they brought them back together at night, who knew if trouble would break out.
After all, cats are natural hunters and see birds as snacks. Seeing such a large bird would inevitably stir their instincts to try and catch it. Even with the cage as a barrier, there was no guarantee there wouldn’t be problems.
Well, if worse came to worst, he’d just cover the cage with a cloth around five o’clock.
Lin Youyu worried the cats might scare the parrot into trouble, not knowing just how bold Little Kui was—raised and spoiled by humans from a young age. It wasn’t until later, when a chaotic scene of birds flying and cats chasing broke out, that he realized his assumptions had been completely overturned.
Downstairs at the teahouse, everything went on as usual.
With students on winter break, most adults were either caught up in the chaos of Spring Festival travel or buried in the pre-holiday work rush. Only a fortunate few were free and happy. The customers at the Cat Teahouse visibly shifted from young singles to families with children.
Lin Lan had long since asked Xiao Song to put up a sign outside: Children under seven not allowed. The reason was simple—these unruly kids, many of whom hadn’t even started elementary school and lacked any sense of discipline, made it hard to guarantee the safety of the café’s cats. Kids who had been through the school system and received some education were a bit better behaved and more likely to listen.
Generally, parents of children that age tended to be quite young themselves, having grown up with modern education and good manners. When the café rules were clearly explained in advance—and after all, this was a public place—if a child acted out of line, their parents usually stepped in promptly. That saved Lin Lan a lot of worry.
Of course, if they ever did run into irresponsible “bear parents” and “bear kids” causing trouble, she and the café’s surveillance cameras weren’t just for show.
Xiao Song had also experienced the havoc that unruly kids could wreak. After the manager’s instructions, he was on high alert, keeping a close eye on guests who had brought children.
…But then he realized both he and the manager had been overthinking it.
The families who came here weren’t always kids eager to play with the cats; often, it was the adults who were completely absorbed in petting the cats, sometimes so caught up in taking photos that they’d squeeze their kids and the cats into the same frame. Meanwhile, the young children were more interested in the milk tea and cakes brought to their tables.
So the scene usually unfolded with the adults fully focused on the cats, and the kids happily occupied with eating and drinking.
“This is so gross,” Xiao Song said with a sigh, holding his camera. “What’s the difference between this and those people who use their kids as an excuse to sneak into playgrounds and play all day?”
Lin Lan glanced at him. “You’ve done that yourself?”
“Worked a couple of part-time jobs there—once outdoors, once indoors. I’ve seen plenty of adults like that. Never thought I’d find them in a cat café too,” he replied, keeping a straight face as he raised his camera and snapped a photo of a father and son.
Lin Lan hurried over to check the shot. After making sure no faces were visible, she focused on what was captured: a perfectly timed shot of the father and son both reaching out to pet a cat. The composition and angle were so precise she couldn’t help but admire the professionalism.
The cat caught in the frame was none other than the orange Gentleman, who had already completed his charm training and was officially on duty in the café, hunting for treats.
This little guy had great potential. On his very first day at work, he charmed a father and son pair, coaxing them into giving him both canned food and cat treats. He was incredibly affectionate and quickly became their favorite.
“Daddy, I like this Big Yellow cat. Can I take him home?” the boy turned to his father.
The young dad, who had been happily playing along just moments before, hesitated. “Well… I’m afraid your mom wouldn’t agree, and besides, he’s a café cat. We can’t just buy him.”
Lin Lan overheard their conversation and looked at the pair a little longer, but she didn’t intervene.
This father and son were first-time visitors to the cat café today, and the boy was notorious for losing interest quickly. Given all the uncertainties, Lin Lan absolutely wasn’t going to let Gentleman go to them on a whim.
The little boy looked disappointed at his dad’s refusal, then seemed to think of something else and looked up again. “Then, Daddy, can we come here often from now on?”
The young father thought for a moment about the length of his child’s winter break, then nodded. “If it’s just for this holiday, that’s fine.”
“Then next time, can we bring Mom along too?” The boy immediately seized the opportunity. “Mom would definitely like Big Yellow when she sees him!”
“Alright then.” The father indulged his child. “Actually, your mom does like cats quite a bit, but she finds taking care of them troublesome. So it’s not certain she’d manage.”
“Big Yellow is so adorable, I’m sure Mom would be happy to take him home and look after him!” The little boy insisted stubbornly, hugging the orange tabby close to his chest, clearly dissatisfied. “Look how well-behaved he is—he’s never scratched or bitten me like others say cats do. He only rubs against me and even rolls over in your arms to have his belly rubbed. Big Yellow has to be a good cat!”
“Little one.” Lin Lan, who hadn’t planned to move, couldn’t help but step forward. “My cat isn’t called Big Yellow, you know. He has a handsome name—Gentleman.”
The father and son sitting in the teahouse both straightened up when the manager approached. The orange cat in the boy’s arms meowed softly at her: “Meow.” (Lan Lan, it seems they want to keep me. Can I go with them?)
Lin Lan glanced at him but didn’t follow Gentleman’s lead to ask. Instead, she gently patted the boy’s head. “What’s your name, little one? Gentleman seems to like you quite a lot.”
“My name’s Xu Zikai. I’m nine years old!” The boy puffed out his chest and confidently introduced himself, clearly used to being asked this question. “Big Yellow... Manager, you said Gentleman likes me?”
“Yes, he wants to go home with you.” Lin Lan saw the boy’s eyes light up but immediately dashed his hopes. “However, as Gentleman’s current guardian, I won’t let him go with you that easily. Besides getting Gentleman’s approval, you’ll also need your dad’s and mom’s consent, and you have to promise to treat Gentleman well once he’s with you. Otherwise, I won’t let him leave.”
The boy’s face fell, torn between disappointment and hesitation.
The father, feeling a bit awkward, greeted her, “Kids say silly things; we never planned to buy a cat.” From the moment he walked in and saw the teahouse’s strict rules about buying cats, he knew it would be a hassle. If he really wanted a cat, it’d be easier to just go to a pet store.
Besides, although the orange cat was beautiful and gentle, he could easily find a cheaper or even free one from a pet store or the street to cheer up his son. There was no need to deal with all these rules.
Of course, he couldn’t say all this aloud, but Lin Lan could read some of it from his expression. Her smile became even more mechanical.
“I see. Then I won’t keep you two any longer.” As she turned to leave, she glanced at the orange cat curled up in the boy’s arms. “Gentleman, you’ll stay here in the teahouse and keep Xu Zikai company today, alright? I don’t know when we’ll meet again.”
Understanding Lin Lan’s words, the cat’s hopeful mood instantly deflated. He let out a listless meow: (Got it, Lan Lan.) They don’t want to take me with them after all.
Sure enough, on the very first day of hunting, finding a bipedal creature who loves only it was proving to be way harder than expected. It would have to be a bit more patient—just like when it used to wander, waiting motionless in the dry branches to catch a sparrow flying by. With enough patience, it was bound to catch its bipedal.
Back at the water bar, Lin Lan was finally coming to terms with why, even though two cats arrived at the same time, the milk cow cat was still in training while the orange tabby had already graduated early.
This little cat wanted to find a steady meal ticket all on its own, and it had quite the ambition too—hoping to monopolize its human caretaker.
Promising, very promising. A feline with ideals and drive.
As the first cat in the teahouse to show such enthusiasm in marketing itself, Manager Lin felt she should lend a hand. Helping a gentleman fulfill his wishes was the right thing to do.
But suitable customers weren’t easy to come by just yet; patience was still required.
Of course, families with kids couldn’t linger long in the teahouse. They’d leave early for the sake of the little ones, no matter how much the kids begged to stay. That made life easier for the manager and staff.
A quiet, uneventful day passed in the teahouse.
Closing time came. The shop was tidied up, the shutters rolled down, and the doors locked.
As usual, Lin Lan packed the cats into their carriers and headed home. Just as she climbed to the third floor and opened the door, a bird suddenly flapped past her face, the gust of wind startling her into a sharp cry.
“Lan Lan, don’t be scared, it’s Little Kui,” Wang Xiuzhi called from inside, rushing over and gently grabbing the bird to soothe her daughter.
That damn bird!
Lin Lan clutched her chest and shot a glare at the free-range chicken, then hurried inside to shut the door. “Didn’t I say to keep it in the cage? Why is it out again?”
“That’s not us letting it out!” Wang Xiuzhi grabbed the parrot and shoved it into the large birdcage on the balcony, snapping the door shut with a scowl. “It’s the bird itself that pulled the cage door open and escaped! I nearly jumped out of my skin when I saw it flying out while I was coming back from grocery shopping!”
As she spoke, the troublemaker seemed to show off, immediately fluttering to the cage bars, clawing and pecking with all its might. Within minutes, it had undone the latch and pushed the door open on its own.
“It’s out! It’s out!” The free-range chicken proudly proclaimed its jailbreak, strutting boldly across the floor, smugly repeating the phrase Wang Xiuzhi had just said—clearly something it had heard and learned from previous escapes.
What a cheeky little bird.
Lin Lan had no time to fuss over it, though. She turned to the cats still inside their carriers. Many of the kittens were fascinated by the boldly moving bird, some already crouching low, ready to pounce.
“Hey, hey!” Lin Lan had to tap on the cages. “Kittens, I already told you about the bird coming to my place today, right? And I also told you what happens if you eat it, didn’t I? Full meal or no meal, you all know the consequences, right?”
Sure enough, at her words, the cats’ restless excitement was instantly doused.
Almost forgot—Lanlan had said that if any cat dared to eat the birds that came into the house, they’d be stripped of their qualification as a teahouse cat and wouldn’t be hired anymore. In other words, breaking the boss’s rule meant being kicked out of the clan, losing all protection, and going hungry forever!
Thinking about such serious consequences, the cats all started meowing loudly.
“Meow… meow meow!” (Lanlan wouldn’t do that. We’ve got cat food to eat, so why bother with those skinny birds!)
Lanlan nodded with satisfaction. “I knew you all were sensible little kittens. Tonight, I’ll reward you with some dried fish.”
The cats’ cheers grew even louder, and she finally breathed a sigh of relief.
That was close. If she hadn’t mastered cat language, she really wouldn’t have been able to convince them not to go after those pesky birds.
When Lao Yu closed up the shop and headed home, he was shocked by the clear divide between cats and birds inside the house.
Not only were the birds out of their cages, but the cats weren’t locked up either.
The parrot probably stayed away from the living room out of fear, but it was truly surprising to Lao Yu that the cats could control their instincts and didn’t pounce on the chicken at all.
“Why isn’t the cage closed? This is too scary,” his father’s first reaction, just like his wife’s, was to reach out and grab the bird, trying to shove it back into the cage.
No one said a word, but two minutes later, Little Kui answered him with action.
“It got out! It got out!” The big white cockatoo confidently hopped down from the cage and strutted around like it owned the place.
Lao Yu: “…” Never realized this bird was such a daredevil before.
“Don’t worry about it.” Wang Xiuzhi grabbed a handful of peanuts and tossed them into the food bowl inside the cage. The bird, freshly escaped, happily waddled back inside to eat. “Lanlan’s already trained the cats well. They won’t bite it. Let it have its fun for a while. After it eats, you go downstairs and buy a lock for the cage door. Then see if it still dares to open it!”
“Should I go buy it now?” Lao Yu’s father was no longer confident they’d still find the bird safe after he got back.
How much did that big white crested cockatoo cost again? Ten thousand? Or something like that? A five-figure sum—turns out a cheap five-yuan lock is still the safest bet.
Thinking this, his father couldn’t sit still any longer and dashed downstairs.
His gut feeling was right. He expected the bird’s boldness and recklessness, but he didn’t imagine it would get even more reckless. By the time he bought the lock, the house was already in complete chaos.
With Dad out buying something, the family decided to wait to eat. Lanlan, to prevent the little cats from giving in to their instincts and attacking the birds, had repeatedly laid down strict rules and warnings. The cats, used to obeying her commands, were honestly resting in their own corners.
But just because the cats weren’t causing trouble didn’t mean the bird wouldn’t.
Taking advantage of everyone’s distraction, the cheeky bird sneaked up and pecked the tail of a cat who was playing and wrestling with another cat, completely unaware.
“Meow-oww—!”
Suddenly hurt, the two silly cats, who had only been playing around, thought the other had attacked them—and immediately started a real fight.
