Herrscher of Thunder, Damn it! I'll remember this grudge!
Mei watched Fu Lin's back, a trace of disappointment flashing in her eyes. She lowered her head and softly responded, momentarily forgetting about making him a meal.
Fu Lin stepped onto the windowsill, glancing at Mei out of the corner of his eye. Seeing that she still hadn't spoken up, he pursed his lips anxiously.
"..." Is she not going to invite me for a meal?
Just as Mei thought Fu Lin had left, she looked up and saw him still standing on the windowsill.
"Why are you still here?"
---------------------------------
Fu Lin stepped down from the windowsill, looked at Mei's innocent eyes, scratched his head, and gave an awkward laugh, "Haha... I'm a little afraid of heights, I'd better take the front door."
As he spoke, he walked toward the door. When he reached Mei's side, a note fell out of his pocket and landed right at her feet.
Mei bent down to pick it up, blinked at the contents, and curiously tugged at Fu Lin's sleeve, "Fu Lin, do you want to eat this Basque... cheesecake?"
Fu Lin turned back with a smile, "No, it's your... cat who wants to eat it."
Mei showed a half-understanding expression, thought for a moment, and then gave a specific time, "I'll prepare the ingredients tomorrow... Three days, come over in three days." If you want to eat it, just say so—no need to be roundabout. But nice wording, 'my cat.' No one is taking it away.
"Ahem, since you've invited me, I'll have to show you some respect. See you then." Fu Lin waved his hand and then left through the door under Mei's gaze. As the sound of the door closing echoed, Mei's eyes flickered. She leaned against the door, pressing her ear to listen for Fu Lin's departing footsteps.
As the footsteps abruptly stopped, Mei silently calculated, found the right moment, and dashed toward the living room upon opening the door.
But when she saw Little Li lying leisurely on the sofa, tail swaying contentedly, she puffed up her cheeks in frustration, regretting not having installed surveillance cameras all over the house.
"Meow~" What are you doing, Mei?
Fu Lin lifted his head and looked at Mei on the stairs, appearing calm as usual but sweating internally. His tail curled up, hiding a sock he hadn't had time to take off, and stuffed it under himself.
"Little Li, so you were here."
Mei held onto the railing and walked down the stairs, each step making a thumping sound that sent a tremor through Fu Lin's heart.
As Mei got closer, Fu Lin slowly shifted backward until his front paws touched his clothes. Only then did he let out a sigh of relief and quickly stored everything into the system.
"Come here, let me hug you (づ●─●)づ"
Mei reached Fu Lin, scooped him into her arms, and looked down at the obedient cat. She then glanced at the neat and tidy sofa, her expression thoughtful.
Three days later, in the afternoon...
Mei tied on an apron, looked at the prepared ingredients on the table, and took out the note Fu Lin had left behind. Her gaze turned serious as she examined the precise measurements.
"I must succeed on the first try." Failure is not an option—this is the only chance.
Outside the kitchen, Fu Lin watched the determined Mei with a satisfied expression. "Good thing I wrote down the Basque cheesecake recipe back in Elysium..."
Then, he turned and walked outside, heading into a shadowy corner where he transformed into his human form, put on clothes, donned a mask, and rang the doorbell. Under Mei's welcoming invitation, he stepped into the villa.
However, his seamless movements were witnessed by a figure crouching in a distant tree.
Bianca's face turned red. She slowly put down the binoculars, bit her lip in excitement, and dug five claw marks into the thick tree trunk beside her. She muttered under her breath,
"A cat that can turn into a human... This must be the Archbishop's test for me. Hold on, Bianca."
Otto's voice came through her communicator, "Bianca, what's the status of the mission?"
Bianca cleared her throat, suppressing her urge to cuddle the cat, and said,
"Ahem, Archbishop, the target has appeared in the wealthy district of Nagazora City. What are the next orders? Do you want me to capture him and bring him back to Schicksal?"
Otto nodded in satisfaction and then said, "No need for that. You're not strong enough to do so yet. I need you to find a way to get close to him. Based on our current analysis, his guard is almost nonexistent when it comes to young girls, so you..."
Bianca was full of confusion and asked hesitantly, "...I understand, but will this really work?"
Otto sent Bianca a surveillance video of Mei and Fu Lin talking and firmly assured her, "Of course it will, Bianca."
"...Understood, Archbishop." Bianca blinked at the video, her eyes shining as she fixated on Fu Lin's cat ears. Scenes of herself petting him flashed through her mind.
"Mmm." Otto watched Bianca with satisfaction, then ended the call, stood up, and opened a hidden door. He gazed at a research chamber holding a soulium body and fell into deep thought.
"Bianca, my student, don't let me down." Otto took out a handkerchief, wiped away the fog on the research chamber's mirror, and smirked as he looked at the golden-haired, green-eyed soulium girl inside.
"Hopefully, I won't need to use this. I'd rather not face that man again."
Fu Lin, Don't disgust me!
Back to a few minutes ago...
Mei looked at Fu Lin in front of the TV, pouted, put down her work, and blocked the screen with her body. Hands on her hips, she said, "Mr. Fu Lin~ Won't you come help me in the kitchen?"
Fu Lin lifted his head, pointed at himself, and looked utterly baffled, "Huh?"