Chapter 40 Part 3

Yun Qi shut the door, straightened his clothes, and eyed the rumpled bed. After a moment’s hesitation, he stripped off the bedding and tossed it into the washing machine.

Once the room was tidied, Yun Qi opened the drawer and pulled out a bandage to cover the scrape on his knee. Not wanting to keep Yu Jin waiting too long, he changed clothes in a hurry—no time for fussing over outfits.

It wasn’t until he was washing up in the bathroom that Yun Qi realized just how awful he looked.

His reflection showed a face deathly pale and sickly, lips an unnaturally vivid red. A closer look revealed bloodshot eyes, and his hair was a total mess. His whole appearance screamed exhaustion. No wonder Yu Jin had questioned him earlier with a face like this. Luckily, he hadn’t pressed the issue—insomnia was excuse enough to brush it off, even if one sleepless night shouldn’t leave him looking this wrecked.

But Yun Qi couldn’t come up with anything better.

After finishing up in the bathroom, he slipped on his shoes and noticed some pills that had rolled under the bed at some point. He picked them up and chucked them in the trash.

Only then did he lock the door and head downstairs with a sense of relief.

A few people in the dining hall had already finished eating. Yun Qi glanced around and saw Yu Jin seated inside. As Yu Jin looked up, their eyes met for a fleeting, almost imperceptible moment before Yun Qi turned his gaze to the unfamiliar face.

Not that the guy was a total stranger—they’d crossed paths once before, in that signing room with Yi Yang.

When Yi Yang spotted him, he let out an “Oh!” and stood up, bowl in hand, approaching with a grin. “I’ve seen you before.”

Yun Qi offered him a polite smile.

“At Esports Night, you were in the same room as Brother Jin…” Yi Yang said.

“Signing contracts,” Yun Qi interrupted quickly, steering the conversation away before any misunderstandings could arise. “That was you that day, right? Yi Yang?”

“Yeah! You remember me,” Yi Yang said, circling him excitedly. “My bro shelled out thirty million for you. I heard you even beat Jiu Ke in a one-on-one yesterday?”

Jiu Ke glanced up at Yun Qi, and the two exchanged perfunctory smiles. Yun Qi had heard the stories about Yi Yang getting kicked out and welcomed back three times over. It gave him a good read on the guy’s personality—young, straightforward, blurting out whatever came to mind.

Yun Qi couldn’t just brush him off, not in front of everyone, so he replied, “It wasn’t really a win. We traded blows back and forth, that’s all.”

He made his way to the table, where Master had set aside lunch for him in his usual spot. Liu Ying reminded him to heat it up, but Yun Qi shook his head. “It’s fine. Still warm enough.”

He sat down and started eating.

Yi Yang paced around, clearly fascinated by the newcomer. “So you’re on Jiu Ke’s level, huh? He’s top three in the country right now. If you can go toe-to-toe with him, that means you could break into the top three too. Hey, how about after lunch you two spar again? Let’s settle who’s better once and for all.”

“Will you give it a rest?” Yu Jin looked up sharply. “You just got back, and you’re already stirring up trouble?”

Yi Yang wandered back with his bowl and plopped down next to Yu Jin. “I’m not, bro. I just want them to sort out who’s superior. You know me—I’m always so obedient, right…”

Liu Ying cut in from the side. “Can you shut up already, Yangyang? Ever heard of not talking with your mouth full or while sleeping? If you really want to spar later, I’ll take you on and beat you senseless until you learn some quiet.”

Yi Yang immediately latched onto Liu Ying, unleashing a barrage of retorts.

Yu Jin glanced up at Yun Qi, feigning casualness as he picked up his chopsticks and laboriously shoveled food into his mouth. His eyes flicked occasionally to the side, his expression heavy with unspoken thoughts.

Yu Jin kept his head down and ate. The table was as lively as ever—whenever Yi Yang was around, things inevitably turned into a racket.

After the meal, some headed back to their rooms while others made for the Training Room to spar. Yun Qi simply couldn’t finish his lunch, so he carried his plate to the kitchen. The KRO Base didn’t keep dogs, and portions were fixed for everyone—no one else had leftovers. He had no idea what to do with the rest. The Master had even plated it with care; dumping it seemed like such a waste.

He mulled it over for a moment and decided to save it for dinner. That way, he wouldn’t have to bother the chef again. As he moved to shove the leftovers into the fridge, a voice sounded abruptly behind him. “Just toss it.”

Yun Qi turned. Yu Jin stood in the kitchen doorway.

“We don’t store leftovers in the fridge—only fresh ingredients and fruit. It’ll taint everything if you put it in there.”

Yun Qi had just swung the fridge door open and sure enough, it was crammed full of pristine produce. He flushed with embarrassment. “I really couldn’t finish it…”

Yu Jin stepped over, took the plate from his hands, and scraped the remnants into the kitchen trash. “No one eats leftovers here—portions are measured out precisely. Next time, if you’re not hungry, just let the Master know ahead of time.”

Yun Qi bit his lip and nodded.

Yu Jin loaded the plate into the dishwasher.

“What’s up?” He studied Yun Qi’s face. “Lost your appetite?”

Yun Qi gave a faint shake of his head, already drained just from that. “It’s nothing. I just didn’t sleep well. No appetite.”

“Too worn out these last couple days?” Yu Jin ventured, eyeing Yun Qi’s pallor. “Seven hours isn’t that bad, is it?”

“Has nothing to do with that,” Yun Qi replied. “It’s my own problem.”

Two others entered the kitchen then, murmuring the afternoon’s schedule to Yu Jin before departing. On their way out, they shot a suspicious glance back at the pair.

“I’m fine. Aren’t we taking Tata to the Cat Shelter?” Yun Qi looked up. “Let’s go.”

Yu Jin pressed, “You sure?”

“I’m fine,” Yun Qi insisted.

And he truly was—his old ailment didn’t count as anything serious. After a full night’s comfort, the day should pass smoothly enough.

Yu Jin eyed him for a long moment before they finally headed out.

Yun Qi cradled Tata as he followed Yu Jin to the car.

It was the Continental again. Yu Jin slid into the driver’s seat while Yun Qi took shotgun, Tata sprawled across his lap as he fastened his seatbelt.

The cat craned its neck, peering about curiously, its claws snagging threads in Yun Qi’s casual pants. Yu Jin warned, “Hold it tight. It’ll go scampering when I start driving.”

Yun Qi lifted Tata’s paw and tugged at the damaged fabric. “It’s still scared of car rides.”

Yu Jin gripped the wheel and eased the car out of the garage. “Struts around like a king in the base, but steps outside and it’s all social anxiety. Homebody bully through and through.”

Yun Qi chuckled. “It’s frightened, but I’ve got it. Just take it slow.”

Yu Jin replied, “Tight schedule, big tasks—no time to dawdle for it.”

For all his words, though, he kept the speed well in check the entire drive.

By the time they reached the Cat Shelter, Yu Jin handed Tata off to the staff. They ran through the standard procedures: Tata was a tomcat, so once the female was confirmed pregnant, the owners had to decide on the kittens—one fee if they wanted them, another if not. But Tata’s fine pedigree meant they could walk away with the litter for free if unwanted.

There was a breeding contract too, with options for keeping or relinquishing the kittens. Yu Jin passed it along with a pen to Yun Qi.

“Me?” Yun Qi blinked in surprise.

“Whatever you want.” Yu Jin shrugged indifferently.

Yun Qi accepted the form and began filling it out, phone number included. He hesitated briefly, entering Yu Jin’s number in the owner field before adding his own beneath the line in a neat supplement.

With a thoughtful note: If this one doesn’t connect, try this instead.

Once finished, Yun Qi offered it to Yu Jin for review, but Yu Jin simply signaled the staff to take it—acting for all the world as if Tata were no concern of his. Infuriating, really.

Yun Qi managed a smile for the staffer.

The worker, clad in a scratch-proof apron, said, “You can head to the back now and pick a mate. Take a look—which one catches your eye?”

Yun Qi turned to Yu Jin. “Ready?”

Yu Jin rose, and the two followed the staffer to the back.

Behind them lay a spacious area for the cats to roam, divided by gender into separate zones for males and females. Each cat had its own tidy square enclosure equipped with toys, a cat tree, and food bowls. In front of every one stood a sign explaining the breed, along with details on age, bloodline, and genetic purity.

The staff didn’t know much about breeding either, but they offered helpful advice with enthusiasm. “Actually, Maine Coons pair best with other Maine Coons. Mixing breeds can lead to all sorts of issues—the kittens often don’t turn out as attractive. If you want to keep any for breeding later, we can provide studs here, though there might be an extra fee. We always make sure to mention that upfront.”

Yun Qi started to ask Yu Jin’s opinion, but his companion seemed utterly indifferent to the matter. Emboldened, Yun Qi leaned on the railing and peered at the colorful array of cats inside. He pointed to one. “How about that one? See if these two are a match. If not, you folks can arrange it—we’re not exactly experts.”

By now, Tata could hardly contain itself.

Yun Qi handed it over to the staff, and sure enough, the little thing was in heat. The worker chuckled. “Alright then, leave it to us. Do you want to pick it up today, or come back in a couple of days? This isn’t something that happens in a flash. The kittens have their needs too, and it’s not an on-demand sort of thing. You can board it here for two or three days, no problem.”

The staff kept their wording tactful. Breeding could embarrass novice “parents,” so they’d learned to dial back the crude language that might scare off the more socially anxious ones. Over time, they’d refined their phrasing to be gentle and discreet, ensuring the service could thrive long-term.

Yun Qi got the picture. He watched Tata wriggle in the staffer’s grip, feeling a pang of sympathy. “Okay, but be careful with it. It’s pretty feisty—don’t let it scratch you.”

“No worries, we’ve got professional protection gear.” They’d dealt with every temperament imaginable at the Cat Shelter, and no matter how much a cat thrashed, the handlers remained cool as cucumbers.

Yun Qi watched as the staff carried Tata away.

A knot of worry twisted in his gut. Tata was placed in a room with cats of the same breed, but everything after that happened out of sight. He wasn’t bold enough to peek, so he just stared in that direction.