Chapter 38: A Stolen Kiss on the Corner of the Lips Part 2

After devouring the cake, Li You lay on the sofa to digest. Suddenly, he said, “I want to go out for a walk. Do you want to come?”

Yulian suddenly became alert at that moment. “Where do you want to go?”

“Just wandering around.” Li You said, “I want to see what the Empire looks like now.”

“…” Yulian was silent for a moment before standing up. “No, wait for your brother to come back. Let him go with you.”

“Why?” Li You watched Yulian head toward the door. “Where are you going?”

“I’m leaving.” Yulian waved a hand without turning around, then suddenly stopped at the door and looked back. “Silly pig, you better wait for your brother to return and go with him. Don’t go out alone.”

With that, he turned and left, but then opened the door again after closing it, emphasizing once more: “You’d better not get into any more trouble!”

Li You pocketed his hands. “Oh, okay.”

After Yulian left, Li You lay on the sofa in a daze and browsed Starnet for a long time. Feeling truly bored, he got up, stretched his limbs, and headed outside.

He did not leave the Imperial Palace; he just wandered inside.

In the evening, the afterglow of the fiery clouds turned the back garden of the Royal City Imperial Palace into an oil painting. Li You stopped in the glass corridor, gazing at the garden, and suddenly remembered that little stream.

He followed his memory to find it, parted the flower bushes, and a dragonfly brushed against his cheek, tickling him slightly. He squinted, looked up at the departing dragonfly, and felt in a good mood.

He continued around the small grove, winding through several paths, parting the grassy woods, and finally saw the little stream.

From afar, the stream water was still crystal clear, flowing endlessly from the nearby mountains with a babbling sound that attested to its unique vitality.

Li You’s eyes brightened a little as he began planning to bring fishing gear next time. He walked forward, stepped on the pebbles, took off his shoes, waded into the clear, cool water, and slowly advanced before sitting on a large rock. He lowered his head to look at his feet soaking in the stream.

Tadpoles brushed against his toes, tickling him.

For a moment, he felt as if he had returned to that afternoon more than ten years ago when he had skipped class—the air fresh, the sunlight gentle.

Li You supported himself with both hands at his sides, tilted his head back, closed his eyes, and basked in the warmth of the sunset.

Unknowingly, time passed until nightfall. He yawned, wanting to check the time, but lifted his hand and realized the light brain was not on his wrist. He quickly got up and headed back.

It would be hard to find the way if it got any later.

Li You picked up his shoes but did not put them on, walking barefoot.

After several turns, he got lost.

Li You stood in place, looking left and right—pitch black all around.

Trouble.

Even during the day it would have been fine, but at night, this undeveloped area behind the Imperial Palace resembled a horror movie set, somewhat eerie, and the paths were different from before.

Li You felt a chill in his heart and a bit disoriented.

After thinking for a bit, he decisively transformed back into a cat.

A cat’s night vision was much better than a human’s, and besides, what ghost would bear to harm a little kitten?

Li You looked back at the clothes dropped on the ground, nudged them into the nearby bushes with his head, deciding to clean them up tomorrow during the day. Then he puffed out his chest, strode forward boldly, and picked a direction.

He wandered until midnight, completely losing his sense of direction.

Li You found himself in an area overgrown with weeds. He looked up at the sky, his heart going numb.

He stopped his frantic running, observed his surroundings, came to a tree, looked up at the thick trunk, leaped onto it, hugged the trunk tightly with all four paws, and crawled upward like a silkworm. His claws dug in, his fur bristling with effort, and he finally climbed up, sitting there panting heavily.

【…I need to exercise this cat body when I have time…】

After resting a moment, Li You continued climbing to the highest branch, looked up into the distance, and finally spotted the faint outline of the Imperial Palace far to the west.

【I really went in the wrong direction.】

Having confirmed the direction, Li You hugged the trunk again and slowly slid down. Just as he was about to reach the bottom, his butt landed squarely in a warm palm.

He caught a familiar scent and immediately looked up. “Meow!”

【Brother!】

It was too dark, and Li You did not clearly see his brother’s face. He turned and nuzzled into the other’s body, meowing nonstop, but for a long time, he heard no response from Li Ye.

Puzzled, Li You looked up. “Meowr~”

Li Ye’s gaze lowered as he reached up and pinched the scruff of the cat’s neck.

“Li You, you’re very disobedient.” Li Ye’s voice was eerily calm.

Li You shrank his neck at the ticklish pinch and let out a soft “meow.”

Li Ye carried him back the entire way in silence.

The cat nestled in Li Ye’s palm, meowing while chattering inwardly to get his brother’s attention.

“Meow.”

【I just went to see that little stream.】

“Meowr.”

【Forgetting to head back early was my fault.】

“Meowrl.”

【I didn’t expect to get lost, though.】

“Meow meowr.”

【You know I didn’t mean to.】

“Meow——”

【Bro, say something. You’re scaring me if you don’t talk.】

There was no response; no matter how much he meowed, Li Ye would not speak. They arrived at the Imperial Palace in silence, and Li You was pocketed and taken straight to the bathroom. He was placed in the white sink basin, turned around, and finally got a clear look at Li Ye’s current appearance.

Silent, quiet, with vacant eyes, yet always fixed on Li You.

Li Ye scrubbed him clean throughout the process without a word. Anxious, Li You bit Li Ye’s finger, flattened his ears, whined nonstop “whimper whimper,” and opened his mouth: “Meow——”

He clambered onto Li Ye, wetting the other’s clothes, wrapped his front paws around Li Ye’s neck, and nuzzled his chin with his nose.

【Talk!】

【Say something!】

【I’ll get mad if you don’t talk!!】

“Li You.” Li Ye pinched his scruff and lifted him away slightly, staring into those beautiful blue eyes. “I searched for you all evening. Just now, I even thought about locking you up.”

“You can’t leave me again.” Li Ye said word by word. “You can’t. Understand?”

His voice was clearly gentle, yet it sent a chill down Li You’s back.

Li You was no fool. He immediately shifted back to human form, but in his haste, he forgot about the setting and could only sit on the bathroom counter. His cat ears and tail had not retracted, his fur was soaking wet, and his hair dripped water.

He cupped Li Ye’s face, leaned down to meet his gaze, anxious enough to almost stutter. “I-I won’t leave! I won’t disappear!”

Water from Li You’s hair dripped onto Li Ye’s face. He bit his lip, looked into his brother’s eyes, and said very earnestly and sincerely, “Brother, YouYou won’t leave you.”

Li Ye gazed at Li You, his hands twitching before gently grasping his waist.

Li You jolted and “whoosh”—shifted back into a cat, squatting dazedly in the sink for a few seconds before looking up. “Mrrrow——”

Li Ye’s hands were empty. He rubbed his fingertips, still warm from the contact, fished the cat out of the water, pocketed him, took him aside to dry him off, wrapped him up tightly like a swaddled baby, carried him to the room, and placed him on a stool. He took out a hairdryer and carefully blow-dried the cat’s fur.

Li You sat primly, chest puffed out, head held high.

It took some time, but soon he was a fluffy, clean white little cat again.

Li Ye went to the bathroom. Li You stepped on the sofa cushion, thought for a moment, then jumped onto Li Ye’s bed, curled into a ball by the headboard, yawned, and waited for his brother to come out.

Half an hour passed, and his brother did not emerge.

An hour passed, still no sign.

Li You pawed the light brain to light it up, checked the time again, frowned his little cat face, and looked toward the bathroom with its sound of pouring water.

【Is he fighting a water battle in there?】

【He didn’t drown, did he, Brother?】

The kitten leaped off the bed and ran over, pressed against the glass door, kicked off with his hind legs to jump, and scratched at the door with his front paws—like a large cotton ball wiping glass.

“Meow——”

【Bro!!】

“Meowr——”

【Brother——】

“Meowr row row——”

【Li Ye——】

The door opened, and Li Ye picked up Li You. He sprawled on the other, but felt no warmth—only a cold aura that made him shiver violently.

His ears perked up as he pawed at his brother’s body a few times.

【Cold?】

The cat looked at Li Ye. “Meow!”

【You took a cold shower?】

Li Ye pocketed the cat and returned to the bedside, set out a set of clothes on the bed, and said to the cat, “Put them on. We’ll talk.”

With that, he went to the distant vanity.

Li You glanced at the clothes, gathered himself, shifted back to human form, put them on, and stood on the carpet. He looked down.

The shirt and pants were all too big, baggy and loose.

He looked like a kid who had snuck into adult clothes.

Fortunately, the pants had a belt to keep them from slipping. Li You folded up the sleeves and pant legs, then said to Li Ye as he approached, “I need to buy clothes.”

Li Ye handed him a cup of hot milk. “Mm, tomorrow.”

“My room should be cleaned up too.” Li You said.

“Mm, tomorrow. Just like before.”

“…” Li You, holding the hot milk, looked at him and asked, “What do you want to talk about?”

“It was my fault just now. I shouldn’t have ignored you.” Li Ye said. “It won’t happen again.”

“…” Li You scratched his cheek. “Actually, I was at fault too. I shouldn’t have run off on a whim without telling you or bringing the light brain.”

He glanced at Li Ye and reached out. “So, are we good?”

Li Ye looked at his hand, reached out, and grasped it, nearly enveloping it entirely. “Mm, we’re good.”

Li You’s eyes curved in a smile. He sat down to drink the milk and asked Li Ye about his work that day.

“Come to the Imperial Military with me tomorrow.” Li Ye told him. “Afterward, we’ll go buy clothes. How’s that?”

“Sure.” Li You thought for a moment. “Bro, I want a set of fishing gear.”

Li Ye handed him a card. “Buy whatever you want.”

“Thanks, Bro.” Li You took the card.

“No need to thank me. This is all yours by right.” Li Ye said. “Everything in the Empire now should be yours.”

Li You paused, then smiled. “I don’t need all that stuff. Having you is enough.”

Li Ye fell silent, stood up, and lightly flicked Li You’s forehead.

“Ow!” Li You clutched his forehead. “What was that for?”

“Go to sleep, night owl.” Li Ye tidied things and headed out.

“Where are you going?” Li You propped himself on the sofa back, watching his brother’s back.

“The room next door. Contact me on the light brain if anything.” Li Ye stopped, turned sideways to gaze at the youth in his clothes. “Li You, next time don’t shift into a cat in front of people casually, and don’t suddenly shift back to human.”

Li You blinked blankly but agreed. “Okay, got it.”

Then he waved. “Good night, Brother.”

“Mm, good night.”

The door closed. Li You yawned and slowly burrowed back into the bed, occupying his brother’s room and bed without a shred of guilt. He fell asleep in seconds.

At the same time, Li Ye, who had not left and stood motionless outside the door, remained still. The dim corridor held only faint moonlight, his expression shrouded in shadow, save for a pair of red eyes flickering faintly—like a beast lurking in the night.

In the room, the black cat leaped in through the window, lightly jumped onto the bed, stood by the pillow, and gazed at the sleeping Li You.

Gone was its earlier silly demeanor; its aura was now noble and aloof. After observing Li You’s sleeping face for a moment, it devoutly lowered its head and kissed the corner of Li You’s lips.

Outside the door, Li Ye turned his face slightly, expression unchanged, but the veins on the back of his clenched hand slowly bulged.