Chapter 25 Türkiye (8) A contest between a kitten and a human...

"I don't like cats—"

This sentence stood before Chichi like an unquestionable pause.

The system has emphasized this matter countless times, but they stubbornly refuse to believe it.

There's no way to struggle now.

The kitten stood still, its mind a jumbled mess, like a tangled ball of yarn, unable to make sense of anything, its ears still ringing with fragments of the other person's words.

How could someone with a 36-degree mouth utter such cold words!

With its head drooping and tail hanging listlessly behind it, it slowly turned around, jumped onto the roof, and returned to the somewhat empty wooden box.

The dark agate stone was still kept in the crack of the cushion, emitting a restrained, dim light, just like the other's eyes, making it impossible for the cat to see through.

The youthful face contrasted sharply with those overly calm and worldly-wise eyes, as if a huge vortex was firmly locked behind a barrier.

But Chichi always felt that beneath the calm surface, something more complex seemed to be hidden.

1221, who had been pretending to be dead, finally couldn't hold back and floated above the kitten's head: "I knew it, that's why I told you to stay away from him."

“There are many people who don’t like cats, and there are also many people who like cats,” 1221 said. “Don’t forget how many people in the market like you. There are so many humans, we don’t need one more.”

It doesn't matter.

Chichi comforted herself, telling herself that she already knew from the system that the other party didn't like cats, so she just assumed that disliking cats was an inherent NPC trait.

Even so, the other person would still feed her canned food and pick up her lost bells. Even if she didn't like cats, the other person was a kind and good person.

That stubborn desire to get closer to the other person took root and sprouted in my heart as more and more questions arose.

Whether it's an NPC or a real human, they always have some strange and inexplicable preferences, just like she herself doesn't like dogs and seagulls.

People who can maintain kindness and action even when they dislike something have a much softer heart than many who say they like something but do nothing about it.

He hesitated for a long time before hiding the agate stone back under the cushion, waiting for the right moment to knock on the door.

"The anniversary is in a few days, and the streets will be very lively. I'll take you to find a great spot to watch the ceremony." 1221 thought that the kitten had given up on getting any closer to the person and was instead looking for something interesting to distract them.

Chichi: "Okay."

"We can also find a more suitable place to stay along the way. When it rains heavily in a few days, this box may not be able to keep us dry."

One autumn rain brings one chill.

She was close to the people she cared about here, and she was reluctant to leave. But 1221 was right. It would get colder and colder to stay on the rooftop until late autumn or early winter. She should go explore new areas.

On the day of the anniversary parade, locals and tourists mingled together, and even the wind seemed to carry the rhythm of drums.

I lingered on the open-air railing of an old house near Istiklal Street, where I didn't have to go down and get jostled by people, and I could also enjoy a panoramic view of the entire street.

The procession is about to cross Independence Avenue and proceed to Taksim Square.

The wide red granite sidewalk below was completely occupied by a bustling crowd, with children shouting excitedly and buzzing with conversations, while shops on both sides set up stalls to sell their wares.

The sweet aroma of roasted corn wafted from the vendor's cart, and right in front of me was a cart selling Turkish ice cream.

Before the parade arrived, she had already watched several times as the vendors used magic tricks to amuse customers who came to buy ice cream.

The other person wore a traditional hat and had a cute, upturned mustache. He used a long metal rod to hold a milky-white ice cream, swinging it around in the air and making various difficult moves.

He didn't seem like a street vendor, but rather a skilled magician.

The customer tried to take the cone, but was quickly lifted up just as he was about to touch it, causing the onlookers to burst into laughter.

I was itching to watch, and after trying to resist, I couldn't hold back any longer. I jumped off the terrace and came to the stall to watch the performance up close.

The next customer was a tourist. The little boy was pushed forward to receive the ice cream. With his mustache and sly eyes, he deftly dodged the cone just as it was about to be placed in the other person's hand.

The movements were incredibly fluid and humorous, causing the child to miss his target repeatedly.

Chichi's tail tip started twitching uncontrollably, and its eyes followed the movement back and forth.

Tall Beard noticed the kitten watching intently, and his playful side arose. He deliberately waved the ice cream cone in front of Chichi.

The other party used the same trick again, teasing the kitten as if it were a human, causing the kitten to reach out its paw to grab the "cunning" ice cream cone that the little boy had not gotten.

After several unsuccessful attempts, the humans around him seemed to enjoy watching, which made the man with the upturned mustache even more smug.

1221 floated around cheering her on: "Everyone is watching you. It's turned into a competition between a kitten and a human now."

"I'm determined to catch him today."

He became serious, lowered his body slightly, and made a sound like he was hunting prey, clearly having already identified the ice cream cone in the other person's hand as his prey.

Although the kitten thought it looked like a professional feline hunter, its extremely soft, sweet kitten voice had already made the onlookers smile like doting aunts.

They all watched with great interest as the man with the mustache teased the cat.

The kitten missed the first time, then the second... Its honey-colored eyes followed the other's hand rapidly, and on the third time it pretended to hand it over, it suddenly pushed off with its hind legs.

With swift, precise movements, the little paws reached up and slapped the ice cream cone down accurately.

"Meow!"

It let out a triumphant cry, then landed lightly on the ground, its right paw still holding the nearly fallen ice cream cone, with a few strands of ice cream still clinging to it due to its elasticity.

The whole movement was done in one smooth motion, leaving Tiao Huzi stunned as he looked at his empty hands.

Normally, no one has ever successfully taken an ice cream from him unless he gives up on his own initiative, but now he has lost to a kitten.

The people around applauded, cheering for the patient and decisive kitten.

Amused by the kitten's comeback, everyone pulled out their phones to record it. Even the cat with the mustache couldn't help but squat down and scratch Chichi's chin, laughing and saying, "Here's your spoils, take them and eat them."

The cone was crispy and had a creamy, biscuit-like aroma.

He tentatively licked the vanilla ice cream that was stuck to it.

It was icy cold, and the texture was different from what she had imagined. It was very sticky, even a bit stringy, and had a peculiar texture that could stick to her tongue and palate.

Chichi shook his head and pawed at his mouth, trying to free his tongue from the sticky confinement.

Humans were so amused they were doubled over with laughter, even 1221 was overjoyed.

"What kind of ice cream is this?" After finally managing to swallow that mouthful of ice cream, Chichi quickly took a bite of the crispy cone to get rid of the sticky feeling.

1221: "This Turkish ice cream contains a special orchid stem powder, which makes it particularly chewy and less prone to melting than regular ice cream."

I see.

After quickly finishing the remaining cone in a few bites, the man with the mustache immediately started teasing the next eager customer.

The loud sound of trumpets reached my ears, and the rhythmic beat of drums drew near; the parade was approaching.

They returned to the fence after a long delay to watch the huge moving formation.

The deafening noise and the surging crowd were overwhelming. The other street cats had instinctively run to hide in secluded corners, while Chichi remained quietly on the terrace, watching the spectacle.

This city, connecting East and West, not only boasts a strong exotic atmosphere but also features grand and solemn performances. The powerful emotions gathered among the crowds and formations create an invisible energy that firmly attracts Chichi's attention.

She listened to wave after wave of surging sounds, remaining a small, insignificant observer.

The parade seemed endless, and the festive atmosphere lingered for days, with the afterglow of the holiday still present.

I followed 1221 and went on a crazy run in the Batra district for a few days, waiting for the festivities of the anniversary to be replaced by everyday life.

She joined an impromptu cat chase in the paint-splattered neighborhood, following several other street cats as they chased glass marbles thrown by children.

Five or six cats, along with a slow-moving cat, rushed down the steep cobblestone slope, leaped over the sky-blue painted wall, squeezed through the rusty railing, and ran under the clothesline, startling a few cooing pigeons along the way.

Several glass marbles were bounced into a dead end. Chichi, with her agility and petite size, broke through the chasing group first and snatched a marble.

In the end, the cats intercepted the beads with their paws and had a great time playing with them.

I played happily with the street cats for a while, until finally I was so tired that I didn't even have the strength to walk.

"So tired."

1221 landed and bothered her, responding weakly and listlessly, not even bothering to move its tail: "But it's so much fun, the cats here run so fast."

"But you still got first place, you're the best kitty!"

"Come play with them again next time."

After regaining some strength, I found a place to sleep and took several rides the next day before finally returning to the familiar market.

She found a corner in the market and lay down to sleep, trying to regain the energy she had lost playing games. She didn't even respond to the touches from passersby, just kept sleeping.

The once lively and affectionate kitten became indifferent to humans, leading the vendors to believe she was ill and lacked energy, so they came to visit her one after another.

I was relieved to see the kitten lazily showing its belly and acting cute after waking up.

During the few days of rest, Aisha was not seen at the stall. Ahmed was busy running around by himself, without his usual little helper.

The other party still feeds the kitten two small dried fish whenever they see it, and will unfailingly throw them to her whether she is full or not.

Chichi had become quite familiar with her father, and when she got tired of playing with the other vendors, she would come to the spice shop and lie there for a while, helping them attract customers.

As the weekend drew to a close, Aisha still hadn't arrived. Guessing that she might be somewhere, he went to Hussein Street again.

Chichi had just entered Zelin's backyard when he twitched his nose a few times and noticed that the smell of medicine in the air seemed stronger than before.

Her ears twitched, and she keenly heard the voices inside.

The kitten scratched at the bottom of the glass window and meowed twice into the window. Sure enough, Aisha opened the window a moment later.

He greeted the two girls warmly, and was just about to jump onto the bed to rub against Zelin's hand, which was bruised from the needle prick.

There was a knock on the door from the outside.

Aisha quickly hid the kitten in her schoolbag, then grabbed a book and pretended to study it with Zelin.

The nanny brought in the medicine and a glass of water and then left.

He slowly emerged from his schoolbag and watched as Zelin swallowed pill after pill of varying sizes, even those the size of a fingernail, without batting an eye.

"Isn't it bitter?"

Aisha was astonished.

“A little.” Zelin took a sip of water and put down the glass. “It was okay when I ate it, but after a while my mouth tasted bitter and it took a long time to get rid of it.”

"Would you like something sweet?" Aisha asked. "I'll go home and get you some dried fruit or dates."

Zelin shook her head: "I want something sweeter."

What would you like to eat?

"Baklava".

Türkiye's most famous dessert, honey mille-feuille.

Crispy shortbread baked in butter is stacked layer by layer, with pistachio and other nut fillings sandwiched in the middle, and topped with a layer of honey syrup.

"Ideally, it should be fresh out of the oven."

Zelin smacked her lips, as if reminiscing about a familiar taste.

“My dad used to bring me mille-feuille from that dessert shop in Kadekoy. They were very popular, only open until 2 p.m., and they would sell out in two or three hours. They would replace the honey with rose syrup, so in addition to being sweet, it also had the aroma of roses.”

Chichi's mouth watered at the sound of it, and she swallowed hard.

“I’ve never had a rose-flavored mille-feuille before,” Aisha said.

“You can try it next time you go to Kadkoy.” Zelin’s eyes dimmed, and she touched Chichi’s head. “I can’t eat it.”

Aisha didn't speak, as if she was thinking about something.

Chichi was also thinking about how to get Zelin to eat what she wanted, but before she could come up with a solution, she sensed the thumping footsteps outside and perked up her ears.

Immediately afterwards, the iron gate to the backyard was banged on.

A burst of excited chatter came from outside the window; it was Lana and the others.

"Is she here...?"

"Who knows? Let's shout it out first and see..."

"Aisha, are you there?" Lana called out towards the door, her voice tinged with impatience.

Aisha and Zelin exchanged a glance, remained silent for a few seconds, and then the shouts of other children urging them on came from outside.

She walked to the window and opened it suspiciously: "What is it?"

"A super-sized luxury cruise ship has arrived at Golden Horn Bay," a boy exclaimed.

"It's docked at the pier. It's more than ten stories high, and it even has an outdoor swimming pool and a dance hall. Come with us to see it, or it'll be gone soon."

"I've never seen such a big cruise ship before! It's bigger than any cruise ship I've ever seen before, and it's brand new!"

"Come out quickly," Lana urged her. "Come play with us."

Aisha hesitated, then subconsciously turned to look at Zelin lying on the bed.

She had only stayed with the other person for a short while when the other person showed signs of exhaustion and drowsiness due to physical weakness. Now she was struggling internally, torn between whether or not to go out and leave with the group of children.

He wanted to join in the fun, but he was worried about Zelin.

As if sensing her inner turmoil, the person who had been sleeping had opened her eyes at some point and was quietly listening to Aisha's conversation with the children outside.

"Go ahead."

Zelin reached out and gently tugged at Aisha's sleeve: "You don't need to stay here with me all the time."

"but--"

“I also want to see what such a big cruise ship looks like,” Zelin said longingly. “Go see it, and tell me about it later.”

“Then I’m going.” Aisha glanced at Zelin, bit her lip, and said, “I’ll be back soon.”

Aisha was half-pulled, half-dragged away by her friends outside the window, her figure blending into the group of excited children.

The room returned to silence, even more spacious than before.

Zelin's eyelashes trembled slightly. She instinctively tried to get up, but found that even such a simple movement was becoming increasingly difficult, and in the end, she could only lie back down.

The sounds of laughter and play outside the window have long since faded away, leaving only a chilling loneliness.

She jumped to the bedside, lay down next to Zelin, and made soft snoring sounds to soothe her. But Zelin kept looking at the empty street, as if a part of her heart had been taken away.

Zelin felt a vibration from the kitten's throat on her wrist. She turned around, stroked the kitten's head, and said nothing.

They stayed together quietly until the sun set.

As the crowds dispersed from Golden Horn Bay and night deepened, Aisha returned home chilly. Upon hearing from the nanny that Zelin had already gone to bed, she had no choice but to swallow the stories she wanted to share and walked home with heavy steps.

Before leaving, she glanced back at the closed window. The other person's eyes lingered in her mind, and the spirit that used to be so easily lifted when running around with other children was now completely gone.

It felt like a wad of waterlogged cotton was stuck in my throat, making me feel suffocated.

She wished Zelin could play with them too.

When Aisha came back the next afternoon, Zelin still had an IV drip in her hand, but she still managed to force a smile when she saw her.

"How big is the cruise ship? Is it fun?"

"It's huge, incredibly huge, like a mountain. Lana's brother told us this cruise ship is even bigger than an aircraft carrier..."

"There's a large swimming pool on the top floor, which you have to go up to see. There are also water slides and zip lines that you can slide from one end of the ship to the other. They also said that there are underwater sightseeing devices on the ship, where you can sit in a transparent sphere and dive into the sea to see the fish and corals below."

Aisha held Zelin's hand and described her to her in the most vivid and detailed language.

"Once you get better, we'll save up together to go on a ride together. It might be a bit expensive, and it'll probably take us several years to save up."

“I can help out at other shops, work part-time, or help my dad expand his spice stall business so we can earn more money.”

Aisha had already begun to imagine a bright future, and her eyes lit up.

She saw Zelin's gentle gaze, a hint of sadness in it that she could never have understood before. As she grew to know her better, Aisha gradually came to understand.

She suddenly felt a little sad, and her voice became slightly nasal.

"Once you are cured, I can openly make a wish to Allah for wealth."

Aisha tried to sound relaxed as she said, "Otherwise, I wouldn't dare pray now, for fear that Allah would hear my wish to become rich and forget to grant my wish to become healthy. You have to put that first."

"So you need to get better soon, otherwise you'll stop me from making money."

Zelin's eyes crinkled into a smile: "Okay, in order for you to get rich, I have to get better too."