Unknown Intrusion

Chapter 31 This Cat

"Meow..."

The cat's tone changed slightly, but Su Yu, who was just listening, couldn't understand what the cat was thinking, while Song Qiongyao seemed to really understand.

"...No, I'm not worried about anything."

"Meow~ Meow meow~"

"That's it, anyway!" she pleaded with the cat.

Finally, the cat abandoned its original decision, took graceful steps, and led them in one direction.

Su Yu followed behind without expression.

An elegant white cat and a beautiful young girl communicate in a way that Su Yu finds hard to understand.

Is this also part of the mystery?
Cat language?

My gaze couldn't help but fall on Song Qiongyao's ears. They were pointed and delicate, and looked so soft. They must feel really nice to the touch.

The girl, seemingly sensing something, twitched her ears slightly and blushed slightly.

She didn't turn around; she simply played with her hair, hiding her cat ears beneath it until she disappeared.

The purpose of long hair is probably to hide the ears?

The cat led them into the shopping street.

This is one of the most bustling areas in this seaside city.

The road is smooth, lined with stone houses, and glass shop windows reflect the bright sunlight.

There weren't many pedestrians on the road yet. There were students in uniforms, groups of gentlemen and ladies, a little girl holding flowers standing at the street corner, a boy selling trinkets, and housewives seemingly strolling around...

It was still very early.

It was around four or five in the afternoon, and it was getting late, but there were still more than two hours left.

Su Yu, who had spent the day herding sheep, was accompanied by a cat, a cat girl—the cat led her to a roadside stall.

"In the end, I still couldn't control myself..."

Su Yu watched silently, inwardly complaining.

Song Qiongyao seems to really like this cat.

The cat still led her to the stall selling dried fish.

She actually followed along and bought food from the street stalls.

"Please." A slender little hand was held up in front of her eyes.

Those were fragrant dried sweet fish, wrapped in clean oil paper, emitting an enticing aroma in the sunlight.

"Thank you." Su Yu took a bite. The honey-coated fish was crispy fried and mixed with spices. It had no fishy smell at all and tasted delicious.

"good to eat."

"Right? It's delicious." Song Qiongyao smiled and took a bite.

"This child has been to all the roadside stalls, and she told me that the dried fish here is the best."

Su Yu nodded deeply, agreeing wholeheartedly.

Cats, with their tongues, definitely know the most about dried fish.

However, Su Yu also noticed it.

Song Qiongyao seems to have a particular fondness for roadside stalls, and... quirky little shops on the street?

Along the way, they had already visited three shops, all of which sold all sorts of novel and unusual things.

It's clear that she genuinely likes it this way.

But this means we're supposed to find the sender...

"In the end, I forgot it all."

"Brother, let's buy this sister a bouquet of flowers?" A little girl's clear and melodious voice rang out, as gentle and melodious as a lark, evoking a sense of wonder.

Su Yu looked up.

She was a little girl, about eight or nine years old, dressed in clean and simple clothes, looking at me timidly.

She was holding a large bouquet of flowers in her arms, the blossoms towering above her head.

"Brother, can I have a bunch?" she pleaded earnestly. "Only two copper starfish, it's very cheap!"

Su Yu's heart softened, and his gaze turned gentle.

“Selling flowers like this… won’t do.” Su Yu himself didn’t realize that his tone was excessively gentle at this moment.

"Fresh flowers, dried flowers, and succulents should be sold together."

"Fresh flowers can only be sold for three days at most, after which they'll be dried; some people will like that," Su Yu explained confidently. "Also, when buying flowers, you must choose the freshest ones, those that can last a long time."

"You also need to pay attention to the types of flowers. Some flowers don't sell well, while others are more popular."

"How much stock to order also depends on your experience; it's hard to explain in detail."

The little girl's eyes brightened, and she nodded slightly, showing some surprise.

"Brother, have you ever sold flowers before?"

“Yes, I’ve sold flowers.” Su Yu’s eyes softened. He himself hadn’t, but as a native, he had sold far more than just flowers.

During that period, I tried every job imaginable in order to pay off my debts.

At that time, he was unemployed, burdened with debt, his mother's condition worsened, and creditors kept coming to his door to collect debts... He was practically crazy, searching for money everywhere.

I remember when he first tried it, he was so tongue-tied and went from person to person trying to sell flowers... but after half a day, he only sold less than three bouquets... How did he manage to sell the flowers for that period later?

The memories have faded; they probably couldn't be sold and all rotted away.

I've worked at the docks, carried luggage, worked as a waiter, tried my hand at clerical and accounting jobs... I was rejected time and time again, and failed repeatedly.

His luck was so bad that no matter what he did, all sorts of unexpected events would happen, leading to failure.

Even something as simple as selling flowers requires a lot of effort to earn a meager profit.

Those years were incredibly difficult; who could have imagined?
When recalling the past, the pain of those days has faded considerably through layers of filters.

Even so, it still looms over my heart like an endless dark cloud.

It makes you feel like you can't breathe.

But don't worry... the truth will eventually be revealed.

"Thank you, big brother."

The little girl, her eyes narrowed into crescent moons, earnestly held up a bouquet of flowers.

"This bouquet is for you." Her voice was sincere and clear: "Wishing my brother and sister a long and happy life together, just like today."

As she spoke, the little girl bowed and performed a proper ladylike curtsy.

then.

"Quickly give this to my sister." She gave a sweet smile and ran away.

Caught off guard, Su Yu stood frozen in place, holding a bouquet of flowers, somewhat at a loss.

"I didn't realize you were so popular with children," Song Qiongyao said softly. "The flowers are nice, can I have them?"

Su Yu handed over the bouquet.

"Thank you, I really like it," she said naturally.

Actually, both of them knew that she was just trying to ease the awkwardness Su Yu was in.

Etiquette varies greatly, but it can be appropriate or inappropriate in different environments.

Song Qiongyao's elegant and composed response impressed Su Yu: "This is true ladylike manners."

Suddenly, Su Yu felt... that he actually liked it a little.

Is the level of affection mutual?

"What would have become of her if I hadn't intervened?"

"It's said that he's still dead!"

Holding a flower, Song Qiongyao walked along the smooth, stretching street. The sky had cleared up after a long time, and was a clear, azure blue.

Quietly accompanying her, strolling along the sun-drenched streets, her smile was radiant and bright.

The leisurely and languid atmosphere of the afternoon captivated Su Yu.

"Su Yu, hurry, that child said he'd take us away." Her voice echoed in my ears, as if pointing the way. She lifted the white cat and rested it on her chin.

The elegant white cat seemed to quietly lick its paws, where crumbs of dried fish still lingered.

The cat, having completed all this unhurriedly, resembled a true noblewoman, her amber eyes meeting Su Yu's gaze directly.

At that moment, Su Yu seemed to read a scrutinizing meaning in the cat's eyes.

"This cat..."

The illusion lasted only a brief moment.

After that, the cat jumped down from her arms, landed on the ground, and meowed softly.

"She said that after we ate the dried fish, she could take us there!"

(End of this chapter)