Chapter 120 You've grown some skills? You can talk back now?

Once they were a little further away from the crowd, Lin Yiyao asked in a low voice.

"Is there really a cat?"

Lu Zhuo glanced at her sideways; the corridor lamp cast a soft shadow on his brow bone, and he smiled nonchalantly.

Why would I lie to you? You just scratched my sleeve with fur.

He raised his hand, and sure enough, a few strands of snow-white cat hair were caught on the cuff of his dark gray suit.

Lin Yiyao couldn't help but chuckle softly.

Lu Zhuo casually picked up a small macaron from a passing waiter's tray and held it to her lips.

He smiled, and only when he saw her instinctively open her mouth to take it did he curl his lips in satisfaction.

Is it sweet?

Lin Yiyao puffed out her cheeks and nodded, like a hamster.

"good."

"It's alright, just not sweet enough."

Lu Zhuo clicked his tongue and naturally reached out to wipe away a crumb from the corner of her lips with his fingertip.

The movement was so fast that there was no time to react; all that remained was a fleeting warmth on the skin.

Lin Yiyao's ears turned bright red, and she took a half step back.

"Lu Zhuo!"

"Um?"

He should have been at ease and put his hand back into his pocket.

"When you were little, you never felt embarrassed when you smeared snot on me, but now you're avoiding me when I wipe my mouth?"

"That was when I was a child!"

"Are you older now?"

Lu Zhuo stopped and leaned against a pillar, his gaze falling on her reddened earlobes.

"Can't my older brother take care of me now that I'm older?"

The dim lighting made his silhouette appear blurry and dangerous.

Lin Yiyao's heart skipped a beat, but she remained stubborn.

"Who needs your care..."

"OK."

Lu Zhuo nodded and made a turning motion.

"Then I'll go get some fresh air myself, and you'll go back and keep putting on a smiling face?"

"Why!"

Lin Yiyao subconsciously tugged at his sleeve, but with very light force.

Lu Zhuo turned around, unable to hide the triumphant smile in his eyes.

"What? Need it again?"

Lin Yiyao held her breath, let go of his hand, and muttered softly.

"It's windy outside, and I'm a little cold."

"Too much to do."

Lu Zhuo scoffed, but deftly took off his suit jacket and draped it over her shoulders without a word.

His oversized coat, carrying his body heat and a faint scent of tobacco mixed with cedar, instantly enveloped her.

"Put it on, and stop nagging."

His tone was impatient, but his hand adjusted her collar, avoiding her skin and only touching the fabric.

Lin Yiyao clutched the edge of her coat, her nose brushing against the soft lining, and hummed softly.

"oh."

Lu Zhuo looked at her slender figure accentuated by her coat and took the lead.

"Stay close, or no one will look for you if you get lost."

Lu Zhuo led Lin Yiyao through the side door of the banquet hall and pressed the button for the private elevator that went directly to the top floor.

The rooftop garden is shaded by greenery, and starlight and moonlight spill over into it.

A summer night breeze carries the scent of fresh grass, and glass floor lamps are embedded beside the cobblestone path, casting a soft glow.

The noise from the banquet hall in the distance was filtered through layers of tree shadows, leaving only a faint background sound.

Where's the cat?

Lin Yiyao stopped in her tracks, clutching her skirt, her voice soft.

Lu Zhuo, with his hands in his pockets, turned to look at her.

"You need to be patient, my little darling."

He gestured with his chin towards the greenhouse in the distance.

"It's squatting over there. I just fed it a small dried fish, and it's probably licking its paws now."

Lin Yiyao's eyes lit up, and she lifted her skirt to head towards the flower room.

The back garden was secluded, and moonlight streamed through the trellis.

There was no litter of Ragdoll kittens on the cushion.

There was only one fluffy blue double doll, with an extremely delicate dark green velvet bow tied around its neck.

In the dim light, its blue eyes looked like water-soaked glass, and its fluffy tail swayed gently, making it look adorable.

Lin Yiyao blinked, clearly a carefully prepared kitten.

"See, I wasn't lying to you, was I?"

Lu Zhuo let go of his hand and stood aside with his hands in his pockets.

Lin Yiyao squatted down and carefully reached out with her hand.

The little doll came closer and rubbed against her fingertips.

When she smiled, her eyes curved into crescents, revealing the vibrancy that comes with age.

Lu Zhuo stared at her profile and suddenly spoke.

"You like cats?"

"Um."

Lin Yiyao responded softly.

"My family won't let me keep it, they say it sheds."

"There are so many rules."

Lu Zhuo chuckled and squatted down as well, his long legs bent, his suit pants taut.

He casually grabbed the doll, pinched it by the back of the neck, and brought it up to his eyes.

The kitten let out a howl and kicked its paws wildly.

"fool,"

Lu Zhuo raised an eyebrow and scratched its chin with his finger.

"I don't even know how to please people."

Lin Yiyao couldn't help but reach out.

"Don't yell at it..."

Lu Zhuo shoved the cat into her arms, and the fluffy ball instantly buried itself in her gauze skirt.

Lin Yiyao hurriedly caught it, and the cat's paw hooked onto her necklace, causing the pendant to sway.

Lu Zhu leaned in, his nose brushing against the top of her head.

"I'll do it."

His voice suddenly went hoarse.

With deft fingers, she untangled the chain.

Lin Yiyao froze, her breath caught in her throat.

Under the moonlight, his profile, with his eyes lowered, was focused, and his roguish air faded, leaving only a gentle aggression.

"alright."

He stepped back half a step, his expression returning to its lazy state.

Lin Yiyao looked down and discovered that he had adjusted the pendant at some point, and it now rested precisely on the curve of her chest.

Her cheeks burned intensely.

Lu Zhuo, however, acted as if nothing had happened and flicked the cat's forehead with his finger.

"Little thing, you know how to pick a spot to mooch off others."

The cat meowed and snuggled into Lin Yiyao's arms.

She hugged the cat tightly, grasping its soft fur.

Lu Zhuo looked at Lin Yiyao's profile as she played with the cat. The moonlight shone down, and her eyelashes drooped, taking on a soft glow.

"You like it that much?"

His voice was a little hoarse. He took out his cigarette case, then, as if remembering something, put it back.

Lin Yiyao didn't look up, her fingertips scratching the cat's chin.

"Yes, more obedient than others."

Lu Zhuo chuckled, stretched out his long leg, and touched the hem of her skirt with the tip of his shoe.

Who are you indirectly insulting?

Lin Yiyao shrank back a little, and the cat purred in her arms.

"Who should be scolded?"

Lu Zhuo raised an eyebrow, leaned closer, and his shadow enveloped her.

"You've grown bolder? You've started talking back now?"

He reached out, not to touch her, but to pinch the cat by the scruff of its neck and lift it gently.

The kitten let out a yelp and was lifted away by him.

"My cat!"

Lin Yiyao panicked and reached out to grab it.

Lu Zhuo lifted her up, but she couldn't reach it even on tiptoe.

"Beg me."

His smile was wicked, but his eyes reflected the moonlight, shining with an astonishing brightness.

Lin Yiyao bit her lip, her eyes slightly reddening.

Lu Zhuo paused, clicked his tongue, and shoved the cat back into her arms.

"Just kidding, why are you crying?"

His tone was a little agitated, but his fingers brushed against the corner of her eye; it was dry, without tears.

"You're lying to me?"

Lin Yiyao hugged the cat and turned her head away from him.

"Who told you to lie to me first? There wasn't a whole litter, just one."

Lu Zhuo leaned back against the trellis, took out a lighter, twirled it between his fingers, but didn't light it.

"One isn't enough for you? You're greedy."

He glanced at her.

"This one is beautiful, a blue double, the best of the best among ragdolls. It's more pleasing to the eye than your jewelry."

Lin Yiyao lowered her head, burying her face in the cat's fur, her voice muffled.

What is it called?

"Nameless."

Lu Zhuo's voice became indifferent.

"You get up."

Lin Yiyao paused for a moment, then looked up.

"Give it to me?"

"Otherwise what?"

Lu Zhuo twitched the corner of his mouth.

Do I look like someone who owns a cat?

His gaze swept over her brightened eyes, and he added a sentence.

"Get vaccinated regularly, and don't let it scratch you."

Lin Yiyao hugged the cat tightly, a smile involuntarily creeping onto her lips, which she then tried to suppress.

"Thanks."

"Lu Zhuo".

She suddenly looked up.

Why did you bring me to see the cats?