A Bengal cat is a pet cat with a relatively high demand for physical activity, and keeping it isolated in a cage all the time is not a long-term solution. Taking advantage of the current lull with no customers in the shop, Lin Lan took Gray out of its cage, cradled it, and rubbed its head with her hand.
Gray, the little kitten, had grown somewhat accustomed to Lin Lan's hands. Apart from the bath, nail trimming, and fur trimming on the first day, it had since received the same treatment as a long-haired cat: a daily grooming session.
At first, Gray was apprehensive and stiff.
Later, upon discovering how comfortable the brushing felt, how delightful it was to have its chin scratched and the base of its ears stroked, and how it couldn't get enough of the full feline massage, it began to willingly lie down and submit to the pampering.
However, this was still limited to Lin Lan alone for now. The little cat only trusted that Lin Lan wouldn't hit it, maintaining a deep wariness towards other humans.
Lin Lan wasn't in a hurry about this. Fine, if you're scared of other people, you shouldn't be scared of other cats, right? Playing with its own kind and listening to their experiences of living with two-legged creatures should be perfectly fine.
Shopkeeper Lin, having already thought this through, had made arrangements with the teahouse cats. She also enlisted them to be responsible for brainwashing... ahem, persuading the Bengal cat. Any kitten who contributed successfully to the persuasion efforts would be rewarded with an extra strip of dried grilled fish from Old Zhou's barbecue shop. There was no limit on the number of cats who could earn this reward; the more, the better.
Still oblivious to all this, the little Bengal cat was carried into the main hall. Seeing there were no loathsome strangers inside, it hesitated for a moment before following Shopkeeper Lin's suggestion.
Having been isolated in a cage for the past few days, it really did want to stretch its legs and move around.
Due to unfamiliarity, the little Bengal didn't immediately start socializing and testing boundaries with the other cats. Instead, it focused on the large cat wheel placed in the corner. One of the two wheels, large and small, was in use, while the other was empty. The Bengal watched the Maine Coon sprinting wildly inside the big wheel for a while, then, following its example, jumped onto the smaller wheel to burn off its pent-up energy.
The cat, whose appearance resembled that of a miniature leopard, gradually picked up speed within the wheel, its form exuding a sense of wild beauty and explosive power.
Lin Lan had only been watching for a short while when another person came to stand beside her.
Wang Jiayi was enthusiastically recording a video with her phone, pausing briefly to smile at Lin Lan. "I'm sending this to Yi Xiaohang."
According to the young lady herself, although Yi Hang, the Bengal's young owner, wasn't as close to her as Cao Yuze, they were still acquaintances. Now that this situation had occurred, she, as the older sister, naturally felt duty-bound to keep an eye on the Bengal's condition from time to time, and would even send some photos and videos over.
Since Lin Lan had managed to handle the Bengal on the very first day, Yi Hang naturally received feedback from Wang Jiayi as well.
However, the high school student's response wasn't very enthusiastic. Upon learning that the Bengal would accept the shopkeeper's touch, he just chuckled over the phone.
["That's great, really. I was genuinely worried Gray wouldn't accept anyone in the future. Professionals really are amazing."]
His words held no urgency to ask when the cat would get better or when he could take it back.
Apart from the young lady, who remained unaware and simply echoed praises for Lin Lan's cat-taming skills, everyone else present could tell that the boy really didn't have much attachment left to the Bengal he had raised for a year.
His fondness for it had almost entirely vanished under the weight of one scratch after another on his arms.
Even so, the high school student continued to follow the Bengal's situation. He looked at every photo and video Wang Jiayi sent him and would reply. This was probably the boy's final act of doing right by the cat.
The young lady, however, remained oblivious, still enthusiastically carrying out her self-appointed role as recorder.
"When Gray can fully accept people, Yi Xiaohang will happily take it back, right?" Wang Jiayi said with a smile while sending the video and talking to Lin Lan. "I remember Yi Xiaohang's academic performance is quite good. If he gets a high score on the college entrance exam this time and then takes the cat back, it would be a double celebration!"
Faced with the girl's naive optimism, Lin Lan hesitated for a moment about whether to pour cold water on it, but ultimately decided not to.
Who knows? With the young lady sending videos so actively, the high school student might watch them, have a change of heart, and decide he's willing to continue being a poop-scooper after all?
One should still have dreams; what if they come true?
Leaving Wang Jiayi to her own devices, Lin Lan glanced again at the Bengal in the wheel. Several cats had now gathered in front of the two wheels, "eyeing" the Bengal intently.
Only Shopkeeper Lin knew these little cats weren't looking for a fight with the Bengal; they had directly equated it with dried fish. Even if just for the dried fish, these greedy cats would warmly welcome the newcomer and proactively teach it the eighteen ways to act cute, encouraging it to learn how to interact with humans.
The effect seemed a bit too strong?
Seeing the Bengal in the wheel appear increasingly "popular with the cats," Shopkeeper Lin looked up at the ceiling and decided to turn a blind eye for the time being.
Around four in the afternoon, Song Xinmin, who had taken leave for a three-day outdoor photography trip, returned, looking a little excited.
"You're back a bit early today. Did you get some good shots?" Wang Jiayi, who had long since returned behind the water bar, asked curiously.
She received an affirmative answer.
"Yes, I got some very satisfying photos!" Song Xinmin was in high spirits and looked up at Lin Lan. "I have to thank you for this, Shopkeeper. If you hadn't helped today, the head cat wouldn't have cooperated so well for me to capture those shots."
A model's cooperation is sometimes crucial. The photographer, who had been following the head cat for three days, finally enjoyed not having to exhaust himself chasing it during this last half-day. The head cat deliberately waited for him noticeably more often, giving him enough leeway to adjust his camera settings and angles to capture the shots he envisioned.
"Coincidentally, a nationally renowned photography magazine is holding a competition. I plan to select some photos to submit," the young photographer Song didn't hide his intentions at all. "I have a feeling the photos I took of the head cat have a real chance of winning!"
"Oh—" Wang Jiayi immediately drew out the sound in understanding and teased him, "So that's why you specifically took leave these past few days! You had it all planned out!"
"Isn't it great?" Lin Lan smiled from the side. "You have a good model, and there's coincidentally a good competition as well. You should seize the opportunity when it arises. Xiao Song, you don't need to help with closing today. Go back and take care of what you need to do."
Watching a dream-chaser gradually get closer to their dream is actually a heartwarming and pleasant thing.
Song Xinmin sensed the well-wishes in her words and couldn't help but offer another grateful smile. "Thank you, Shopkeeper. I'll just go back to transfer the photos and will come back right away to help!"
Before Lin Lan could say anything, he hurriedly left the teahouse.
Watching Xiao Song depart, Shopkeeper Lin's smile gradually faded into a sigh of regret.
Wang Jiayi was full of question marks. "Lanlan, what's wrong?" she asked, wondering why she suddenly sighed.
"Xiao Song is going to leave the teahouse." Lin Lan had a premonition that once the results of that photography competition came out, it would be time for him to depart. "Such a good employee, only staying here for a little over a month. Thinking about it really makes me sad."
Hearing this, Wang Jiayi was taken aback. She lowered her head in thought, then thumped her chest with righteous fervor, declaring to Lin Lan, "Lan Lan, don't worry, I'll stay here forever! When I moved here, my original plan was to stay until spring ended before going home. Now that I've found a job here, I can definitely stay even longer!"
Silly girl, even if you're willing to stay here forever, your parents wouldn't allow it.
Lin Lan glanced at her but still didn't voice this thought. After all, this was the young lady's gesture of sisterly loyalty; she couldn't dampen such good intentions.
"Thank you, Jiayi."
"You're welcome, we're good friends!" The young lady smiled happily. "Oh, right, Lan Lan, I came up with another really delicious milk tea recipe today! Do you want to learn it?"
"...Yes."
Since taking full command of the beverage counter, whenever the teahouse was quiet, the young lady would take the time to pass on her tea-making insights to Lin Lan. According to her, since Lin Lan had been teaching her all this time, it was now her turn to repay the favor. Giving and taking in return was the proper way between friends.
...It somewhat made sense why the young lady, despite her self-centered personality, could still maintain friendly relations with people like Cao Yuze. When she considered you a friend, the treatment was truly different.
The one who felt this most keenly was actually Tang Xiaoya.
As a working adult who could only come in for weekend shifts, Tang Xiaoya was quite surprised by the change in Wang Jiayi when she returned to the teahouse for work after another seven days.
The clumsy person from the Spring Festival period had been completely transformed. While not yet nimble-fingered and capable of everything, she could definitely be said to be doing quite well.
Remembering how she had nearly made the other girl cry on the ninth day of the lunar new year, and yet this one held no grudge, even greeting her warmly upon arrival today, Tang Xiaoya felt complicated emotions.
"While you were away these past few days, I learned how to bake cakes and other things..." Like a student showing off to her teacher, she poured out all her recent progress, finally lifting her chin proudly with a look begging for praise. "So, Xiaoya, how am I doing?"
...No, rather than showing off, it was more like seeking her approval.
Tang Xiaoya: "..." So what was the point of getting her approval?
"I'm no longer someone who can't survive without takeout and a housekeeping auntie!" Before she could ask, the young lady proudly announced the answer herself. "I can clean, make milk tea, bake cakes... Even if I really had to rely only on myself in the future, I wouldn't starve!"
"...Oh." Tang Xiaoya's face remained impassive. She then tied on her apron and started working.
The previously proud young lady, upon witnessing the other's housekeeping skills, which were more than a notch above her own, gradually wilted. With a mix of frustration and determination, she buried herself back into the beverage counter, continuing to refine her tea and pastry skills.
As for the childish rivalry between these two employees, Shopkeeper Lin saw it all but chose to pretend she didn't.
It was like the Chinchilla cat constantly picking fights with the Maine Coon, only to be pinned down with one paw at the start—since nothing serious could possibly come of it, she just let it be.
This weekend, Lin Lan saw a rare guest taking a break at the teahouse.
Programmer Ms. Wei and her cat.
"I took Nian Nian to the veterinary clinic for a pregnancy check-up, then came over to your place to sit for a while." After ordering a set meal at the beverage counter, Wei Yan, wearing a smile, found an empty seat and sat down.
Ms. Wei's demeanor had changed significantly since getting a cat. The half-dead, listless look she used to have even on weekends and holidays was gone. It was as if life had given her something to look forward to; she was now full of energy. As soon as she sat down, she chattered non-stop to Lin Lan, sharing amusing stories about cat ownership.
"I applied to bring my cat to work, and it was approved very quickly. These days, apart from after work, Nian Nian has been staying with me at the company. Let me tell you, Lan Lan, Nian Nian is so popular at the office. The very next day after coming to the company, several colleagues bought her premium cat food cans themselves. Nian Nian is so well-behaved; she doesn't hide from people, lets them hold and pet her, and even knows how to act cute. Our boss absolutely adores her too and even asks me proactively if I've brought Nian Nian to work. After hearing she's pregnant, my colleagues switched to even better cat food for her. The kittens won't be born for another month, but people are already asking in advance if they can have one."
Listening to her, Lin Lan couldn't help but glance at Nian Nian sleeping in the carrier. The grayish-white long-haired cat's body had changed noticeably since their first meeting; her belly was clearly rounded and would grow even larger.
"What did Dr. Liu say?"
Realizing Lin Lan was asking about the cat's condition, Wei Yan quickly replied, "He said Nian Nian is very healthy, but also reminded me not to over-supplement a pregnant cat. If the kittens grow too large in the womb, the mother cat will have a very difficult delivery. I'll have to remind my colleagues about that tomorrow at work."
