Pet Hospital

Ye Shuang drove to a nearby pet hospital with the kitten in tow. Since the veterinarian had already left for the day, they could only take the cat into the operating room first and let the nurse perform some basic treatment.

Before long, the pet doctor arrived—a young-looking woman who frowned immediately upon seeing the kitten's condition.

"This kitten is far too young. It might not make it… and the costs will be high," the veterinarian said.

She offered the reminder out of kindness—in other words, there was no need to spend that much money on such a young stray, especially one that likely had no bond with its rescuers.

Street cats like this were everywhere, and dropping thousands on one hardly seemed worth it.

Of course, as a professional, the vet wouldn’t say it so bluntly. She could only gently suggest that Ye Shuang and his companion reconsider their goodwill.

Bai Yuyou glanced at the kitten on the operating table, then turned to Ye Shuang. Though she said nothing, the way her small fists clenched told him everything.

"It's fine. Please do everything you can to save it," Ye Shuang said. Once they’d decided to help, there was no turning back.

Seeing their determination, the vet didn’t argue further and soon took the kitten into surgery.

"Worried?" Ye Shuang asked, noticing Bai Yuyou’s gaze fixed on the operating room door. He reached out and gently patted her head.

The girl didn’t speak, only giving a small nod.

"Even if the kitten doesn’t pull through, we did our best. Some things are just out of our hands," Ye Shuang reassured her.

The world was full of regrets, after all. Not everything could be perfect. If the kitten didn’t survive, there was nothing more they could do.

And if it did pass, Ye Shuang could use the moment to teach Bai Yuyou about loss.

Time passed slowly until the vet finally pushed the door open again, removing her mask.

"The wounds are treated, but the kitten is so young, and the infection is severe. Whether it survives depends on the next few days."

"Its stomach was full of plastic and trash—probably couldn’t even find proper food."

Hearing that the injuries had been addressed, Ye Shuang and Bai Yuyou turned their attention to the tiny creature being wheeled out. Smaller than a palm, it still managed to tug at the heartstrings of everyone present.

Bai Yuyou suddenly extended a slender finger. At the same time, the kitten unconsciously lifted a paw—

Their touch met.

"So small…" Bai Yuyou murmured. "And… warm…"

"Even the smallest life is still a life," Ye Shuang said, noticing the distant look in her usually calm, deep eyes.

Afterward, he went to the front desk to settle the treatment and hospitalization fees.

Pet hospitals didn’t accept insurance, and the costs—tests, surgery, overnight care—were steep. Just tonight’s emergency care, with no survival guarantee, had already drained five thousand from his wallet.

"Ridiculously expensive. You could buy a dozen of these strays at the market for twenty," Ye Shuang muttered, though he couldn’t shake the memory of Bai Yuyou’s expression earlier.

Maybe, to her, saving this kitten felt like saving herself.

"Ah well, it’s her money anyway. Why should I care?" Returning to the recovery room, he found the kitten already asleep in a cage, wearing a cone.

Bai Yuyou stood there, silently watching, so absorbed she didn’t even notice Ye Shuang’s return.

"Let’s go home?" he suggested.

"What about the kitten?"

"It needs to stay here. We can visit after school to check on its recovery."

"Really?"

"Yeah."

Still, Bai Yuyou lingered, reluctant to leave the tiny patient behind.

By the time they got home, it was late. After showering, they climbed into bed.

Exhausted, Bai Yuyou fell asleep the moment her head touched the pillow. Around Ye Shuang, she’d grown increasingly relaxed—so much so that she didn’t even care when her pajamas slipped loose.

Eyeing the exposed pale curve of her shoulder, Ye Shuang sighed and adjusted her collar for her.

Gazing at her peaceful face, he gently brushed aside the strands of hair on her forehead.

Feels like raising a daughter.

The thought made him chuckle softly. Unable to resist, he pinched her soft cheek.

Bai Yuyou’s eyes fluttered open, staring at him.

"Sorry, didn’t mean to wake you," he said.

"Hold…" she mumbled sleepily, reaching out.

Ye Shuang obediently lay back down, letting her burrow into his arms. Without realizing it, he’d grown accustomed to being clung to like this.

After nights spent on the floor, sleeping in a proper bed tonight had him dozing off quickly.

Once, he’d been a chronic night owl, staying up until exhaustion forced him to sleep. But lately, his schedule had begun to normalize.

Moonlight spilled over the bed, where the two lay entwined.

Morning came without incident.

When Ye Shuang opened his eyes, he found Bai Yuyou wrapped around him like an octopus, her warmth and weight pressing against him without restraint.

"Terrible sleeping posture," he mused, carefully untangling himself to get ready for the day.

"Sizzle—"

Buttering toast in the pan, Ye Shuang mentally reviewed today’s plan: escorting Bai Yuyou to school. After yesterday’s incident, he wanted to check on things personally.

He fried eggs, heated milk—every motion practiced and smooth.

After all, he’d spent nearly a decade making breakfast for a certain woman.

Soon, Bai Yuyou shuffled in, still in loose pajamas, eyes half-closed. Oblivious to the exposed curve of her collarbone, she leaned into him for a hug.

The moment she did, Ye Shuang noticed how she seemed to melt against him, even nuzzling his chest unconsciously.

What am I, some kind of comfort object?

Not that he minded—she was soft, warm, and smelled nice.

"Go wash up," he urged. Only then did she blink awake, swaying toward the bathroom like a sleepy penguin.

After breakfast, Ye Shuang changed into his usual undercover teacher attire—today, he’d be spending the morning at Yinshan Academy. If nothing else came up, he’d return in the afternoon.