Xia Lan looked at them, eagerly awaiting their food, and carefully nodded their heads.

"The mother cat should come back, right?" Xia Lan turned to look at Qin Yu, who looked at the kittens and nodded.

"I will come back."

Qin Yu looked at the four kittens, but he was troubled. Judging from the mother cat's fierce reaction just now, the chances of her returning were slim.

But seeing how much Xia Lan cared for them, Qin Yu couldn't bear to make her sad.

“They’re in the cupboard, and the mother cat is too scared to come in when she comes back. I’ll go find them a cardboard box.”

Qin Yu went out and found a cardboard box, and put some of his old clothes inside. Xia Lan carefully took the kittens out one by one and put them in the cardboard box.

Qin Yu placed them in the corner.

Xia Lan didn't dare to keep looking at it. She took out a book and pretended to be reading it carefully, but in reality, she kept her eyes fixed on the cardboard box, hoping to see the mother cat return.

But after waiting for a long time, there was still no movement. The kitten cried pitifully, and Xia Lan felt heartbroken.

Seeing Xia Lan like this, Qin Yu immediately carried her out of the room.

"With you here, it's even less likely to come back. Come with me to the kitchen to cook."

Xia Lan nodded and followed Qin Yu to the kitchen to help.

Although it was said to be helping out, Qin Yu was actually the one doing all the work, while Xia Lan was assigned to tasks like washing vegetables.

"Brother Yu, what will you do if I get into university?" Xia Lan asked while washing vegetables.

"You can go to school as long as you want." Qin Yu was stir-frying vegetables, his hand trembling slightly, and he replied with feigned nonchalance.

"You trust me that much? Aren't you afraid I'll be blinded by the outside world?"

Xia Lan looked at Qin Yu's feigned expression and asked with a sly smile.

"Then I'll clean your eyes."

Qin Yu replied.

"No matter where you are, just remember that I'm here waiting for you at home."

Xia Lan was taken aback.

Looking at Qin Yu's broad back, Xia Lan felt a pang of sympathy for him upon hearing the humility in his words.

"You're so wonderful, I won't be blinded by the outside world. No matter how beautiful the world is, I only have the desire to share it if you're by my side."

Xia Lan stopped teasing Qin Yu and gave him the most honest answer.

"I don't want just anyone!"

Qin Yu's heart stirred, and he turned to hug Xia Lan, eager to kiss her lips.

"Brother Yu, the food is going to burn." Xia Lan hugged Qin Yu's waist and whispered a reminder.

"..." Qin Yu looked at the food in the pot with a sense of frustration, and could only reluctantly let go of Xia Lan.

Xia Lan, who had narrowly escaped, chuckled slyly.

Qin Yu prepared the meal, and Xia Lan prepared some rice and water, placing them next to the nest, hoping the mother cat would come in and eat.

As the two were eating in the courtyard, a white figure sneaked in.

Xia Lan and Qin Yu both saw it, exchanged a glance, and silently continued eating, ignoring it.

The white cat jumped into the room through the window, then turned back to warily watch the two people in the yard, ready to escape at any moment if they made a move.

The kittens kept calling for their mother to return, but the mother cat couldn't bear to leave them. She returned to her kittens and found food next to the nest. The mother cat, who had been hungry all day, immediately pounced on the food and devoured it.

After finishing her meal, the mother cat drank some water before jumping into the cardboard box, where the dim light made her feel safe.

After sniffing her kittens, the mother cat relaxed and lay down.

Xia Lan was overjoyed to see that the mother cat had not taken the kittens away. She excitedly grabbed Qin Yu's hand.

"Do you want to keep it?" Qin Yu asked, seeing how much Xia Lan liked the stray cat.

Xia Lan was taken aback.

Remembering that this isn't the past life, people nowadays can't even feed themselves, let alone a stray cat with only one mouth to feed, plus four kittens...

"...Can I keep it?"

Xia Lan's bright eyes, clear and sparkling like stars, curved into crescent moons when she smiled excitedly, as if her spirit itself was overflowing.

Qin Yu always felt that Xia Lan was like a kitten blinking its big eyes and asking him for a reward, so obedient that he couldn't help but reach out and pet it.

While thinking this, his hand had already touched Xia Lan's soft, smooth hair and subconsciously ruffled it.

Qin Yu's deep voice, each word distinct and deliberate, seemed to strike Xia Lan's heart. His voice carried a hint of seduction, as if he would agree to anything she did to please him.

"It depends on your performance."

Xia Lan looked at Qin Yu and slowly leaned closer to him.

They were so close that she could see his eyelashes and her own reflection in his dark eyes. His hot breath was right next to hers. She was stunned for a moment, her eyes filled with a hint of shyness, and she wanted to back away.

Qin Yu immediately wrapped his arms around her waist to prevent her from backing down, and gestured for her to continue.

Xia Lan blushed slightly, bit her lip helplessly, and finally mustered up her courage, reached out and wrapped her arms around Qin Yu's neck, pressed her red lips to Qin Yu, and gave him a gentle kiss.

"Brother Yu~ Please?"

Her big eyes were misty and clear, so pure they were almost alluring.

"..."

Qin Yu's Adam's apple bobbed slightly, his whole body stiffened, feeling a little regretful yet enjoying her flattery.

Seeing that Qin Yu remained motionless for a long time, Xia Lan thought he disagreed.

Her round, large eyes were bright and moist, and her soft, light-colored hair resembled a cat's smooth face. Her small, light pink fingers wrapped around his slender fingers, revealing her nervousness.

"Brother Yu?"

"……good."

Qin Yu felt his throat was extremely dry, as if he hadn't drunk water for days.

"You're the best."

Xia Lan smiled, and the feeling of being pampered was truly captivating.

"...One more kiss."

Xia Lan finally noticed the burning passion in Qin Yu's eyes, and her cheeks flushed slightly.

Their eyes met, and no more words were needed. An ambiguous atmosphere filled the air. Their burning lips pressed together, their chests rising and falling slightly as Qin Yu stole her already thin breath.

They kissed each other passionately, their souls merging in a bond that surpassed all others in the world.

After the kiss, both of them were slightly out of breath, and Xia Lan's eyes were hazy as if she were drunk.

Qin Yu tensed up and pulled Xia Lan into his arms. The two embraced each other, their breathing gradually returning to normal.

"I really don't want to let you go." Qin Yu gently bit Xia Lan's earlobe, his desire unfulfilled, causing her to tremble.

Xia Lan retaliated by biting his Adam's apple.

"This is not my fault."

The aroused desires only intensify when they meet, becoming unstoppable.

Qin Yu could only separate Xia Lan and go to clean up the dishes.

Xia Lan quietly walked towards the room, paused for a moment, and seeing that the mother cat had not been frightened and run away, Xia Lan moved step by step to the cardboard box, where she met the eyes of the mother cat who was lying inside feeding her kittens.

Meow~

Xia Lan saw the mother cat's true form: it was a pure white cat with snow-white fur and one yellow and one blue pupil. The beautiful heterochromatic eyes surprised and delighted Xia Lan.

The current environment is not suitable for stray cats to survive. Ordinary families can barely feed themselves, and no one has enough food to keep a pet.