Chapter 19: The Little Cat’s Worry

The two scratches on Li Ye’s hand had just scabbed over, and his tongue felt a bit prickly when licking them. Li You licked twice and froze, sticking out a bit of his tongue as he stared blankly at his brother’s hand. Subconsciously, he lifted a paw and placed it on the other’s hand.

The freshly bathed little cat’s paw pads were clean and white, with soft fur and pads that had a unique touch.

Li Ye quietly looked at the white paw pressing on the back of his hand and raised his eyes. “Kairien.”

“Yes, Your Highness.” A voice came from somewhere in the air, that mechanical tone.

“What’s going on?” Li Ye asked.

“The cat was sent by General Peisengke, just ten minutes before you returned home.” Kairien unhesitatingly sold out General Peisengke. “He seemed to have planned it in advance. Oh, right, the general also left a card for you. It’s on the tea table behind you.”

Li Ye turned and picked up the card.

Li You’s gaze followed it upward to the pink-tinged hard paper card, muttering in his heart.

【Why does General Peisengke like pink so much?】

Li Ye’s movements paused as he opened the card. He glanced at the cat, who was licking its own paw contentedly, his gaze drifting for a few seconds before he neatly opened the card.

-Dear Your Highness, I bet you’ll like this gift I sent you.

【It’s not like it says he treats me as a gift to send to stinky Li Ye, right?】

Li You, who seemed leisurely licking his paw but was actually super concerned about the card’s content, sneaked a peek at his brother’s expression.

Li Ye: “……”

He looked at the cat, then withdrew his gaze back to the card.

-You know too, after the Kara Star incident, the pet shop lost its owner, and all those cats were adopted by kindhearted people. I thought this little cutie’s home should be with you.

-It likes you so much. You have to take it.

【Doesn’t like Li Ye, doesn’t want Li Ye.】

“……” Li Ye’s gaze uncertainly shifted back to the Ragdoll Cat nestled in the seat.

Li You thought his sneaky peek had been discovered and hurriedly buried his sight to gnaw on the Elizabethan Collar. He looked a bit busy, his fake actions all over the place, and the yellow petal-shaped collar was gnawed full of saliva.

A shadow darkened in Li Ye’s eyes for an instant, his round pupils instantly turning vertical before quickly relaxing.

His auditory hallucinations seemed to be getting worse.

He looked back at the card, the last two lines.

-Take good care of the little cutie. I went to a lot of trouble to snatch it. God, you don’t know how popular it was.

-The cat’s good, and so am I. No need to thank me, just a casual thing~

【Did I agree to come here?】

【Person’s bad.】

Li Ye: “…………”

He set down the card and looked up to call, “Kairien.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Contact Doctor Kavasha.”

“Are you going now?” Kairien sounded a bit surprised. “It’s very late now, Your Highness.”

It added, “Oh, but Doctor Kavasha is on night shift today. She’s at the hospital.”

“Going now.” Li Ye tossed the card into the trash bin, squatted down, and gazed at the cat in the seat.

Li You’s round cat eyes blinked slowly. His four paws vigilantly gripped the soft pad as he nervously scooted backward. “Meow…”

Wh-what?

The cat’s butt pressed against the back of the seat, nowhere left to retreat. Li You could only look at his brother in panic, anxiously gripping his paws and flicking his tail twice.

Li Ye reached out and removed the messy bows from the cat one by one, tossing them into the trash bin. When he prepared to undo the Elizabethan Collar, he paused. He slipped both hands under the cat’s fluffy belly and easily lifted it up, cradling it in one palm.

Li You had just gotten cozy when suddenly moved to a new place. His paws and belly instantly felt cool. A bit unaccustomed to it, his dangling four legs hugged Li Ye’s arm tightly. He didn’t notice that his somewhat opinionated tail had already swished and patted his brother’s chest several times.

The tip of the cat’s tail brushed Li Ye’s chin, spreading an itchy sensation. He gently pressed the cat’s tail with his other hand. The pad of the finger holding the cat moved, scratching the cat’s chest.

Li You couldn’t help but let out a few comfortable purring sounds. Realizing it, he immediately stopped, raised his head, and meowed at his brother.

Li Ye said nothing. He pocketed the cat and rushed out the door. After a few steps, he came back and told Kairien, “Prepare what the cat needs: food, supplies.”

He thought for a moment and added, “And toys.”

“Understood.” Kairien’s voice sounded a bit excited. “It’ll be ready today. Rest assured, Your Highness.”

Li You looked at his brother in shock.

No way, brother? You’re really keeping me?

Good brother, let’s discuss it more. I want to go back to Kara Star.

He nudged Li Ye’s chest with his head.

But the other lightly pressed his head with one hand.

His ears flattened into airplane ears.

Li You: “……”

“By the way, Your Highness,” Kairien reminded Li Ye, who was about to head out again, “General Peisengke hasn’t handled the adoption procedures for the cat yet. Shall I take care of it?”

Li Ye looked at the cat and turned. “No need.”

Li You’s eyes lit up.

“I’ll do it myself,” Li Ye said.

Li You’s brightened eyes drooped again. He flicked his tail and meowed listlessly. “Meow…”

Seeing the cat’s mood suddenly drop, Li Ye’s downward gaze lingered on its drooped ears. After a moment, he scratched the cat again. The action wasn’t skilled, still awkward, but he saw the cat’s flattened ears perk up.

The cat started purring again.

It seemed to like it.

Li Ye headed to the flight vessel docking platform, took the cat aboard, and departed the Imperial Palace. He didn’t go straight to the Central Medical Academy but first stopped by the city center.

Li You was briefly left in the flight vessel. He padded on his hind legs, body pressed against the window, peering out.

The city center’s flight vessel docking platform was huge, filled everywhere with flight vehicles of various brands. Li You couldn’t see his brother, and his tail flicked anxiously. His breaths fogged the glass window with mist. The little cat left little plum blossom paw prints on it. When they faded, he huffed again and printed more. Until the third round, his brother finally returned.

Li Ye opened the cockpit door and came in, placing a large bag of purchases next to the cat.

Li You, who had been at the window, turned back to stare at the bag’s contents. His eyes instantly brightened.

Cat food, cat treats, little freeze-dried snacks—all zero-additive food for kittens.

Looking at the brand, it was the best on the entire Prime Star.

He turned and flopped over, tilting his head to stare at his brother.

Li Ye casually took a cat treat, unwrapped it, and handed it to the cat.

Li You leaned in, twitching his pink nose tip against his brother’s hand to sniff, then tentatively stuck out his tongue to lick.

The taste was great. The little cat purred softly while eating.

It was happy purring.

Li You realized halfway through he was making weird sounds. He paused, smacked his lips and licked his fur, glanced at his brother, then leaned back in to continue eating, holding back any sound for the second half.

Li Ye patiently waited for the cat to finish the treat, cleaned up the trash, opened a bottle of water, filled the cap, and handed it over.

The Ragdoll Cat lapped up the water in the cap bit by bit. Tongue-rolled water droplets splashed onto Li Ye’s fingers, one drop after another.

The cat made a little fountain.

After finishing, Li You meowed at his brother and got another cap of water. He treated it seriously, drinking half before noticing his brother’s hand was soaked.

Li You froze for a second, hesitated a few seconds, then licked the water on his brother’s hand back.

Just as he licked, he spotted the little monster peeking from the cuff. He jolted in fright and shrank back into the seat.

The soft touch on his hand vanished in an instant. Li Ye paused for a few seconds, cleaned up the trash, and piloted the flight vessel to the Central Medical Academy.

–

Central Medical Academy, Psychology Department.

Late-night clinic.

Kavasha had just prepared hot tea when Li Ye, carrying the cat, pushed the door open. She froze for a moment, then smiled up at him. “Good evening, Your Highness.”

Li Ye grunted in acknowledgment. He walked to the seat and saw the steaming tea on the tea table. He asked, “Do you have skim milk?”

The Ragdoll Cat in his arms perked up its head upon hearing this. “Meow—”

“Is it… for the little cat?” Kavasha smiled apologetically. “I’m so sorry. You should have reminded me. I would have prepared some earlier.”

“No need.” Li Ye placed the cat on the seat and turned to leave, leaving the Ragdoll Cat, who wore an Elizabethan Collar and moved a bit awkwardly, to stare big-eyed at Doctor Kavasha.

Li You blinked slowly, lowered his head to lick his paw, then looked up and politely meowed.

Kavasha’s gentle eyes held a smile. She walked over, squatted down, and looked at the well-behaved cat. “Hello there, little cutie.”

“Meow.”

Hello.

Li You was actually a bit worried. From the smart butler’s words before leaving, he learned his brother had contacted a psychologist. His heart had been on edge the whole way.

He did long for freedom and didn’t want to stay by his brother’s side, much less in this place that once made him anxious. But he was genuinely worried about his brother.

What Li You least wanted was for something to happen to his brother.

Hearing they were seeing a psychologist, he fretted over the adoption on the road and worried about his brother’s condition.

The little cat quietly gazed at the brown-haired big sister before him and let out a soft, delicate “mrr.”

Hello, big sister.

What illness does my brother have?

Kavasha rubbed the cat’s head with her hand. “Don’t worry. Your owner will be back soon.”

Li You buried his head and lay down, sighing inwardly.

【If only someone could understand cat language.】

【Communication is so hard.】

Li Ye, who had just pushed the door open, happened to hear these two lines. He stopped at the doorway and gazed at the Ragdoll Cat gnawing on the Elizabethan Collar in the seat. Moments later, he approached and set down the freeze-dried snacks and milk he’d brought from the flight vessel.

He went to the counter, found a glass bowl, poured in a cup of skim milk, placed it on the tea table, and casually picked up the cat and put it there.

Li You’s paws had just gotten warm when they suddenly stepped onto the cool tea table. “……”

He twisted his head to glance at his brother, grumbling inwardly.

【Stinky Li Ye.】

Li Ye looked down at the cat.

He sat in the seat, his gaze fixed on it.

The cat drank milk and ate freeze-dried snacks.

Li Ye stared at the cat.

Kavasha, hands clasped on the opposite seat, glanced at Li Ye then at the cat, smiling silently.

The scene was a bit eerie, especially for Li You—he paused mid-chew of the freeze-dried snack, looking blankly at the two people on either side.

Wh-what?

Never seen a cat eat before?

The little cat’s head shrank back, making the petal collar around his neck look even bigger. Li You locked eyes with his brother, a bit bewildered and at a loss.

No longer hearing those voices, Li Ye’s brows slowly furrowed. Moments later, he sighed soundlessly, raised his eyes to Kavasha, and said, “I need the medication you mentioned this morning.”

Kavasha frowned. “Your Highness said you didn’t need it before. My suggestion was to hold off on medication. And now you have a cat—why not try spending time with it first and observe the situation?”

Li Ye shook his head. “Just give me the medicine.”

Li You panicked upon hearing this. He padded on four paws to the edge of the tea table and lightly jumped onto Li Ye’s lap.

He stepped along his brother’s leg to get closer and looked up. “Meow—”

What’s wrong with you, stinky Li Ye?

Li Ye quietly looked at the cat, raised his hand, and placed his index finger horizontally in front of its mouth. He gazed absentmindedly into the Ragdoll’s clear, sea-like eyes. In those short few seconds, he seemed out of it, as if seeing Li You’s own eyes.

Li You kept meowing but couldn’t rouse the dazed person, so he opened his mouth and bit Li Ye’s finger.

Without much force, his sharp teeth lightly rubbed against his brother’s finger a few times. He looked up to check his brother’s reaction.

The red vertical pupils vanished, and his brother returned to normal.

The cat released his mouth and buried his chin in Li Ye’s hand, nestling still.

【Bro…】

Li Ye raised his eyes.

The cat rubbed against his palm.

【Let’s go home…】

If keeping a cat could help a bit, then no need for medicine.

Just adopt him.

A daze filled Li Ye’s eyes. After a long while, his hand covered the cat’s head, and the corner of his lips curved into a faint smile.