Chapter 24

Li Miao was already an adult cat, and according to the constitution of a civet cat, she would soon enter her first heat cycle.

Li Xuan thought it would take a while longer for the goods to arrive.

When he saw the photo Pei Huai sent him of Li Miao blushing because she was sick, he guessed what had happened.

Kittens are in their prime, healthy and energetic, and getting a little rain won't make them catch a cold or fever easily.

There's only one possible reason why I blushed.

Li Xuan raised her hand and gently stroked the stray hairs on her younger brother's forehead, her eyes filled with heartache and pity.

Having experienced the heat cycle firsthand, he knows that being in heat is not pleasant.

"Brother, the medicine is so bitter," Li Miao said pitifully, her voice soft and listless.

"Brother has some candy on him. If you eat one, the bitterness won't be so bad." Li Xuan peeled off the coating of the fruit candy and fed it to his younger brother.

The strawberry-flavored fruit candy on her tongue made Li Miao a little happier.

"Brother, I want to let my ears out," Li Miao asked her brother if it was okay.

Li Xuan drew the white curtains surrounding the hospital bed tightly, glanced inside to make sure there were no security cameras, and then rubbed Li Miao's head.

"Can."

As soon as he finished speaking, Li Miao's bouncy cat ears popped out.

When Li Xuan saw this, he couldn't help but chuckle and even pinched it. It was so soft and cute that it made his heart flutter. He wished he could bite his younger brother's ear like he did when they were little.

"Hehe, this feels much better." With her ears sticking out, it seemed to help dissipate heat, and Li Miao smiled at her brother.

Whether it was the medication or not, his drowsy mind felt much better and he wasn't as dizzy as he had been at the beginning.

“Brother, you came so quickly,” Li Miao said.

"Yes, Pei Huai contacted his cousin, and as soon as Qing Song told me you were sick, I rushed over immediately." Li Xuan sat on a stool by the hospital bed, pulled back the blanket to take a look.

The fluffy tip of a cat's tail was already showing on Li Miao's waist.

The cat's tail twitched playfully before disappearing back under Li Miao's bottom.

"I have to thank Pei Huai for today. He brought me an umbrella when it rained, and he thought I was sick, so he carried me to the infirmary right away."

"When he carried me on his back, I hugged his neck and felt his body was cool and comfortable."

Li Miao spoke softly, unaware that Li Xuan's expression changed when he heard him say "icy and cool, comfortable".

"Brother, if I go into heat again, will I just have to keep taking the medicine?" Li Miao asked obediently, her fingers pinching the edge of the blanket, revealing most of her face.

"Taking medicine can greatly relieve fever."

"It can significantly reduce the civet cat's desire to mate and reproduce kittens."

"But it only provides temporary relief, and the effectiveness of the medication will decrease as the number of estrus cycles increases. During this period, you must... find a partner to do some things with you."

"Like how my brother found his cousin Pei Huai as his partner?" Li Miao asked innocently.

Startled by the sudden interruption and the return to talking about himself, Li Xuan's face flushed crimson.

"Don't ask questions you shouldn't ask." Li Xuan put on a stern face, establishing his authority as the older brother.

"Don't ask, meow~" Li Miao meowed sarcastically, knowing that her brother was embarrassed. Li Miao covered her mouth and secretly laughed at her brother.

Li Xuan: "..."

I have very keen hearing, okay?

If it weren't for the fact that his younger brother was still lying in the hospital bed, he would have pinched Li Miao's cheeks hard, leaving red marks that hurt a lot.

"What kind of things?" Li Miao blinked her eyelashes and continued to ask.

Li Xuan didn't know how to explain matters related to love and romance.

"Why are you asking me this? If you don't understand, go back and look it up on your phone. It's about what couples do when they're being intimate."

“Oh, I’ll go back and check,” Li Miao said.

"So, is mating the only option?" Li Miao asked innocently again.

Li Xuan coughed lightly: "Well, that depends on whether you can control your desires."

"Did your brother hold back?" Li Miao couldn't help but gossip.

"Li Miao, do you know the saying 'curiosity killed the cat'?" Li Xuan ground his back teeth.

Li Miao's eyelashes trembled slightly, and she immediately admitted defeat.

I dare not ask anymore, I dare not ask again.

“We civets have an art to finding a mate; it’s best to find a good one,” Li Xuan explained in detail.

"What exactly does that mean?" Li Miao asked.

Li Xuan: "Miao Miao, when did you become a walking encyclopedia of questions? You always look for the positive side: high IQ, good-looking, and fit and healthy."

"Is it someone like Pei Huai?" Li Miao asked.

"!!!" Li Xuan stared wide-eyed at his younger brother.

"You're not allowed to ask Pei Huai for help, he's a man! His body is structured the same as yours! You're not allowed to date that kind of perverted cat lover! Otherwise, you'll definitely be sucked to death by him!"

Li Miao scratched his cheek. He was just using Pei Huai as an example to illustrate whether good genes were like his own; he didn't actually want to ask Pei Huai for help.

"If you seriously find a girl to date, you can kiss and cuddle with her a lot," Li Xuan said.

Li Miao felt so embarrassed just thinking about it that she wanted to cover her face with the blanket.

"But I don't have a girl I like." Li Miao has many girls on her phone who have hit on her.

He initially thought they were just making friends.

Pei Huai told him that most people who approached him wanted to take things further.

Asking him to find a girlfriend right now to deal with the next fever is not only too urgent in terms of time, but also makes Li Miao feel guilty.

The motives for dating are no longer pure; it feels like I'm taking advantage of them.

"No, I don't want to date girls," Li Miao murmured softly.

"Then let's get rid of the egg. How about this weekend? I'll help you contact a pet hospital." Li Xuan lifted a corner of the blanket and peeked inside.

Li Miao blushed and pressed the blanket tightly with her hands.

"I'm wearing pants, brother, what are you looking at?"

"Hmph." Li Xuan snorted coldly.

"Besides, how can you just kill your balls like that? Brother, you're bullying me." Li Miao pouted unhappily, sulking.

Li Xuan was also in a difficult position.

In fact, a long time ago, the younger generation of the Viper Clan did not have to worry about their heat cycles.

At that time, the civet cats had not received any cultural education and still carried the primitive feline genes in their bodies.

If everyone helps each other, more kittens can be bred and the population can grow.

However, with the development and progress of society, the spiritual energy between heaven and earth is becoming increasingly scarce, and even if offspring are born, they may not all be able to transform into human form.

In addition, as people begin to learn and develop their own values, they are no longer willing to mate casually like real animals.

"This won't work, that won't work either." Li Xuan had a headache.

As Li Miao mentioned earlier, it would be very comfortable to be close to Pei Huai.

He looks exactly like he did a few years ago.

He was tricked by Pei Qingsong from the beginning, starting with mutual help, until he ended up like this today.

Pei Qingsong acted inhumanely again last night, and now his back is aching.

Miaomiao is so cute, if she really got together with Pei Huai, she would definitely be devoured without a trace.

"I don't have any other good suggestions."

"Or you could seriously find a girl to date properly. Kissing and hugging is perfectly normal. Look at those benches around the artificial lake on campus; every night people sit there and hug each other affectionately."

Li Miao couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Indeed, when he went fishing, he saw couples talking and flirting every day, but he didn't dare to peek because he was based on a cat.

“Still laughing…” Li Xuan lowered his eyes and stared at the blush that had not completely faded from his younger brother’s eyes, shaking his head helplessly.

He pursed his lips and remained silent, thinking of Pei Huai...

"Otherwise, if all else fails, you can go to Pei Huai," Li Xuan said reluctantly.

At least for now, Pei Huai seems to care a lot about Li Miao.

"ah?"

Upon hearing Pei Huai's name, Li Miao's cheeks inexplicably flushed slightly.

"What do you mean 'ah'? Didn't you say it's cooler to stick close to him? Stick to him more often during this time, it might help you get through your heat period."

“You are roommates, you see each other all the time, and you have a lot of opportunities to spend time together.”

"But we can only hug and cuddle, you hear me? No kissing, and definitely no procreation!"

"Brother, what are you saying? How could I kiss Pei Huai and have children?" Li Miao's face was flushed with embarrassment.

Li Miao muttered, "Pei Huai is just my roommate, my good friend."

"Heh." Li Xuan silently complained in his heart. He was more like a pervert than a friend. He was clearly a freak who coveted his younger brother.

People with the surname Pei are all like this; they're always sexually frustrated when they're in a relationship.

“Miaomiao, it’s best to have someone who loves you back.” Li Xuan said earnestly, “Finding someone who understands you is also a part of the experience. It’s up to you to choose.”

Li Miao heard the concern in her brother's voice and nodded, "Brother, don't worry about me. I will try my best to get through the fever safely. You can trust me."

“Okay, then you can lie down for a while longer. I’ll order some takeout and make some chicken soup, how about that?” Li Xuan said with a smile.

"It sounds delicious." Li Miao's mouth was watering. "But my other roommate has already gone to buy me some porridge."

“You’re not really sick with a cold or fever, plain porridge is so boring, I ordered takeout to eat with you.” As soon as Li Xuan finished speaking, her junior sister called, saying that there was a problem with the experimental data and it had to be dealt with immediately.

"I'll be back as soon as possible."

“Brother, you go ahead and do your work. I can manage on my own,” Li Miao said sensibly.

"Okay, I'll order takeout before I leave." Before leaving, Li Xuan reminded Li Miao, "I don't think it'll be long before I have another fever. I'll bring you some new medicine in a couple of days."

"Okay, meow~" Li Miao said cutely.

"Good girl!" Li Xuan vigorously rubbed Li Miao's chubby cat ears and said, "Alright, take them back now. I'm leaving so no one else can see them."

"Okay, okay." Li Miao withdrew her ears, and the large broom tail hidden under the blanket swept back and forth.

***

Li Xuan didn't expect that when he left the infirmary...

Pei Huai was still waiting outside and hadn't left.

Thinking that Miaomiao might really need Pei Huai's help in the future.

With Pei Huai bringing his younger brother to the infirmary today, Li Xuan softened his attitude.

"Uh, I have something to do in the lab and I have to go now," he said. "I was in a bit of a hurry earlier, which is why I asked you to leave temporarily. Thank you for today."

A hint of surprise flashed in Pei Huai's eyes.

He thought Li Xuan disliked him.

"It's nothing, it's just what I should do."

"I ordered takeout. If your roommates bring back dinner later, you and Li Miao can eat together," Li Xuan said. "Then I'll be going now."

“Okay.” Pei Huai nodded blankly.

The heavy rain has turned into a drizzle.

Li Xuan didn't hold an umbrella either.

I had only taken a few steps forward when I heard a boy's cool voice behind me.

"I'll take care of Li Miao, so you can rest assured."

Li Xuan: "???"

My foot slipped, and I almost fell on the wet floor.

He turned his head and glanced at Pei Huai, who was taking advantage of the situation.

No, I didn't ask you to take care of Miaomiao for me.

What kind of tone is this, like meeting the parents and promising to entrust one's life to them?!

Li Xuan resisted the urge to glare at him and turned to leave.

***

Pei Huai returned to the bedside and found that Li Miao's complexion had improved a lot.

My face isn't as red as before, and I look more energetic.

"The IV fluids are working pretty fast; the fever seems to have gone down." Pei Huai reached out and touched the boy's forehead.

It's slightly warm.

"Hmm." Li Miao felt a sense of comfort as Pei Huai's cool palm touched her forehead.

It must be his strange constitution acting up again.

When Pei Huai tried to take the hand away.

Li Miao's slender fingertips pressed down on the boy's pale wrist.

"It's ice cold, just leave it there."

Li Miao's tone was very soft and gentle.

As her eyelashes trembled slightly, they brushed against the inside of Pei Huai's wrist with the heel of her palm, stirring up a lingering, itchy sensation.

"Hmm, don't take it, just leave it there." Pei Huai licked his dry lips.

Li Miao let out a triumphant chuckle and asked Pei Huai curiously if he hadn't left, since he had come in as soon as his brother left.

“I haven’t left. There’s nothing to do back there. Besides, Liang Yixuan hasn’t come over yet,” Pei Huai said.

"Oh, I see. Actually, I don't have a fever anymore, so I can go back to the dorm," Li Miao said.

"Then lie down a little longer, the IV drip isn't finished yet." Pei Huai glanced at the IV bag.

Li Miao: "Alright then."

Before the IV drip finished, Liang Yixuan brought in dinner.

Just then, the takeout that Lixuan ordered for her younger brother arrived.

Pei Huai placed the things on the small table next to the hospital bed and had dinner with Li Miao.

"A big chicken leg!" Li Miao's eyes lit up.

Pei Huai couldn't help but smile as he broke off a chicken leg and put it in Li Miao's bowl.

Li Miao ate chicken leg and porridge, along with some delicate side dishes, and her hungry stomach quickly filled up.

Smelling the delicious aroma of the goji berry chicken soup, Liang Yixuan couldn't resist having a bowl himself. His stomach, which was already full after dinner, felt even more bloated.

"I can't take it anymore, I'm going to go outside for a walk. I just drank an extra bowl of chicken soup, and I'm so full I could barely breathe!" Liang Yixuan got up and said he was going outside to get some fresh air.

Li Miao thought he was silly; who would eat themselves to the point of being stuffed?

***

After Liang Yixuan left, only the two of them remained in the lounge.

The IV drip is almost finished.

The school doctor came in, checked on Li Miao, and took her temperature. Her temperature had gone down.

"Call me to remove the needles after the rest are finished. There's nothing serious."

Li Miao: "Okay, thank you, doctor."

"It's alright, get some rest." The doctor smiled and slowly walked away.

Regarding his heat cycle, Li Miao felt that her brother was worrying about him too much.

They even gave him advice, telling him to find a partner, a girlfriend, and so on.

Li Miao felt that there was no need to go through all that trouble.

Since his brother also said that Pei Huai could make him lose, and even told him that he could cuddle and hug Pei Huai more often.

Maybe sticking together without mating will help him get through the fever period.

How about we start tonight...?

"Don't you really like Miaomiao, the pet your brother raised?"

“I just told my brother, and he agreed to let Miaomiao come and play with you tonight.”

"Miaomiao? Cat?" Pei Huai felt that Li Miao was jumping the topic a little too fast.

"Yeah, yeah, didn't you really want to pet Miaomiao?"

"I really want to, but does your brother really agree?" Pei Huai looked suspicious. When he met Li Xuan earlier, he couldn't tell at all that Li Xuan was willing to give him his pet kitten to play with for a night.

“I agree, you don’t need to worry,” Li Miao assured her.

"If you agree, that's fine. I welcome Miaomiao to come visit me anytime." Pei Huai's sharp, slender eyes slanted slightly upwards.

It was past dusk when I left the infirmary. The sky was overcast and even darker than it had been in the past few days.

Evening rest time.

Pei Huai asked Li Miao curiously if the kitten would come again tonight.

Li Miao replied: 【Sure, you can lie in bed and play on your phone for a while, watch videos, and the kitten will come to your dorm to find you in a little while.】

Pei Huai was filled with anticipation: 【Hmm】

Li Miao hasn't had enough time to surf the internet yet.

The next video is always better than the last. Li Miao feels like she's getting addicted to the internet; mobile phones are just too fun.

Everyone in room 304 got into bed.

As soon as Li Miao put down her phone, she transformed back into a cat on the bed.

Quietly, she stepped over the partition between Pei Huai and his bed.

Then she slipped under Pei Huai's bed curtains.

Li Miao's soft, fleshy paws landed on Pei Huai's blanket.

She stepped on Pei Huai's thigh in one go.

Pei Huai was startled and looked up to see the kitten standing on the thin blanket covering his legs.

“Meow~~! (Oh, you finally found me!)” Li Miao stood there obediently and greeted Pei Huai.

Unexpectedly, Pei Huai sat up in bed with lightning speed the next second.

He hugged the kitten tightly.

Li Miao thought to herself, "I'm not running away, is it necessary to be so agitated?"

That's what I was thinking.

The cat's bottom was slapped twice by a warm, large hand.

"Were you deliberately keeping quiet to scare me? I didn't even know you were here." Pei Huai gently patted the kitten's bottom again.

"???"

Li Miao was utterly shocked and felt humiliated.

You stinky Pei Huai, who gave you permission to spank my butt?

That's incredibly audacious.

Li Miao nestled in the boy's arms, opened her mouth, and bit down on Pei Huai's chest muscles.

Even through his clothes, Pei Huai felt a slight stinging pain as he was bitten on the chest, but he just smiled and assumed the kitten was playing a game with him.

"Good baby, don't bite."

Pei Huai pulled his clothes back from the cat's mouth.

Li Miao was dissatisfied and meowed.

I wasn't just biting randomly, I was really going to bite!

Who told you to spank me, you bad guy?

However, Pei Huai did not have the ability to communicate with cats.

Not only did they not apologize, they added fuel to the fire.

"By the way, I still don't know if you're a male or female cat. Let me see," Pei Huai muttered to himself.

Then, before Li Miao could react...

The entire cat was lifted up and flipped over.

Pei Huai saw the cat's two small bells.

"It turned out to be an adorable little male cat."

My little bell was seen unexpectedly.

Li Miao was incredibly righteous.

What made him even more ashamed and devastated was—

Pei Huai actually reached out his hand!

I pinched his little bell twice.

"It's small and cute." Pei Huai's dark eyes were full of love for the cat.

"Meow! Meow meow meow!!!" Li Miao gritted her teeth, so angry that she cursed loudly.

(You're so small!!!)

(You're adorable in every way, your whole family is adorable!)