Chapter 54: Stray Cat (4)

The next day, Meng Yier took Furball to the pet hospital to have its wounds cleaned. On the way back, considering Furball’s injuries, she decided to bring it home to care for it attentively.

Furball seemed quite happy, darting around the house, leaping up and down, restless and unfazed by its wounds. It wasn’t until nearly noon, perhaps exhausted, that it finally settled lazily on the cushion Meng Yier had prepared, basking in the sunlight.

The doorbell rang. Meng Yier hurried to open the door—it was Yu Mingxin, who had brought lunch to share. The moment Yu Mingxin entered, she was immediately captivated by the adorable Furball. She set down her things and began to tease the little cat, but Furball, evidently too tired, responded with indifference, stretching out languidly and barely acknowledging her.

“Mingxin, come eat. Let it sleep for now,” Meng Yier called.

“Alright,” Yu Mingxin replied, though she remained crouched on the floor, still trying to coax a reaction from Furball.

As they ate, Yu Mingxin suddenly asked, “Yier, since when did you start keeping a cat?”

Meng Yier recounted everything that had happened the night before, telling her friend all the details. Yu Mingxin was left stunned, exclaiming in disbelief, “Yier, are you saying this cat belongs to Yan Yichen? And he lives right across from you?”

Meng Yier lowered her head and listlessly picked at her food. “Yes, isn’t it just my luck? Of all people, I end up as his neighbor.”

Yu Mingxin set down her chopsticks with a clatter and reached out to flick Meng Yier’s forehead, grumbling, “You really don’t know how lucky you are. Yan Yichen! He’s a dream come true—how many people would do anything for a chance to live next to him, and look at you!”

Meng Yier rolled her eyes in exasperation, recalling all the unpleasant encounters she’d had with Yan Yichen. Her brow furrowed unconsciously. “That’s because nobody actually knows what he’s like. They’re just mindless fans. If only they…”

“Tell me, did you two know each other before?” Yu Mingxin suddenly interrupted, suspicion written all over her face.

Meng Yier pressed her lips together and sighed softly. She then recounted, with some indignation, everything that had transpired between her and Yan Yichen since her return to the country.

After listening to her complaints, Yu Mingxin looked at Meng Yier in amazement. Then she said, “Yier, are you sure Yan Yichen doesn’t like you?”

As far as Yu Mingxin knew, Yan Yichen had an exemplary reputation in the entertainment industry. He’d never been involved in any scandals, refused to be paired with any female celebrity, and always kept his distance from women. Yet, listening to Meng Yier describe his words and actions when they were together, Yu Mingxin couldn’t help feeling something was off.

This didn’t follow the logic of an ordinary person—unless, of course, he was dealing with someone he liked. In that case, everything made sense.

Meng Yier’s fingers tightened around her chopsticks, and her heart skipped a beat. She instinctively protested, “How could that be possible?”

Yu Mingxin sat down beside her. “Why not?” she replied slyly. “Yier, he asks you over to cook and clean—he’s trying to get close to you. He wants you to take care of Furball so he has an excuse to interact with you, to tie you to him through the cat…”

Meng Yier stared at Yu Mingxin, who was speaking so confidently, utterly disbelieving. Yu Mingxin nodded firmly. “Yes, I’m sure of it,” she declared, convinced by her own reasoning.

Meng Yier laughed. “Mingxin, your imagination is something else—”

How could he possibly like her?

They hadn’t even known each other for a month. As she thought back over their encounters, all she could recall was endless bickering—except for last night.

No matter how she looked at it, Meng Yier simply couldn’t believe Yan Yichen liked her.

Yu Mingxin gazed into her eyes with utmost seriousness. “Yier, you have to trust me. He definitely likes you. I have a feeling about these things, and I’m always right. Alright?”

Meng Yier paused, caught off guard. She pictured Yan Yichen crouched under the mellow glow of the streetlamp last night, feeding Furball, and a gentle warmth spread through her heart.

Realizing she was recalling that scene, Meng Yier shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts. Yet, deep down, she wondered quietly: If he really did like her, just as Mingxin said—what should she do then?