361 Chicken Dinners and a Newcomer ? (1/2)
Next, Zhao Yao sought out Red Packet.
He felt that their trip to Chuan Xiao District had helped them bond. He trusted him enough to let him roam freely in the belly. The cat was now flopped on the floor, eyes glued to an anime that lit up his tablet screen.
He immediately tensed when he noticed Zhao Yao approaching.
”Don't stab me! Don't stab me!” he cried, scrambling to get onto his feet.
Zhao Yao rolled his eyes. It seemed like Red Packet's impression of him was very much shaped by his performance at Chuan Xiao.
He patiently explained what really happened to the frightened cat, whom gradually calmed down. Zhao Yao tentatively reached out to stroke his back.
”Hey,” he started, ”I still don't know what your power actually is.”
Red Packet eyed the human suspiciously.
”Good luck, I guess. I seem to be able to make money more easily from anything I do.”
”Make money more easily from anything you do?” Zhao Yao repeated, his eyes lighting up like a jackpot machine.
He always knew that this fortune cat could roll in cash, but now he understood how it worked.
He had a plan.
”Red Packet, I run a cat cafe. Do you want to try working there?” he asked.
”Cat cafe?” he shook his head profusely, ”That would mean selling my body. I'm not ruining my good name by doing - .”
He swallowed the rest of his sentence when he noticed the murderous look on Zhao Yao's face.
”That's utter bull,” he said firmly, ”We operate a clean, family-friendly business where cats and people can interact and form friendships. Sell your body? What an insult. Get ready to start work tomorrow.”
”...”
Zhao Yao did not wait for a response. He spun on his heel and left the belly.
He made his way home, where he started checking off the usual list of daily tasks.
When night rolled around, Baiquan brought the troupe of supercats to the house.
Zhao Yao looked up when the front door swung open. The first thing he saw was Matcha's gloomy expression as he shuffled in.
When the ginger cat passed the food bowls, he swatted them forcefully, sending them flying. He let out a hmpf, then leapt onto the massage chair. He then started punching the backrest manically.
Zhao Yao watched this with furrowed brows.
”What's up with him?” he asked Baiquan.
Baiquan laughed good-naturedly, ”According to Elizabeth, the power his beloved Lu Ban used to pack has been weakened. He's lost every match he played today.”
”Playing on the job again, has he?” Zhao Yao shook his head at the angry cat, ”I'll handle this. Thanks for running the cafe today, Baiquan. Everything okay with Old Man Zhuang?”
Baiquan lifted his hand, his index finger and thumb meeting in an ”OK” sign.
”All went well. Elizabeth and I worked together to serve him.”
The next person to enter the house was Hanako, who had Rice Cake in her arms. The Scottish Fold sprung from her and darted straight for the study table. She switched on the laptop, then launched her favorite game, all with an eager expression on her face.
Hanako had stopped in her tracks. She was staring at Lightning with widened eyes. He was still cleaning the floor diligently.
”Why is Lightning mopping? Zhao Yao, why are you bullying the poor thing?” she demanded.
”Me? Bully him?” Zhao Yao said incredulously.
He recounted in vivid detail what Lightning had done. As she listened, Hanako's expression morphed from indignation to disgust.
”Lightning!” she shouted, glaring at the cat.
He flopped onto his belly in fear, ears flattened against his head.
As Hanako lectured the cat, Zhao Yao made his way to the massage chair.
He patted the top of Matcha's head.
”What's wrong? Are you angry about something?”
”Mmm.”
Matcha turned away from him, so Zhao Yao started gently scratching the side of his neck. He tried to evade his touch, but eventually succumbed to the enjoyable contact.