A Café Encounter

After playing a mobile game, I was starting to get bored. Just as I was thinking about checking the resources Zhang Zhibo had just sent to my phone, I heard the jingle of a doorbell.

Bored out of my mind, I turned toward the sound. A familiar figure stepped into the shop.

“W-welcome.” The server who went to greet the guest was visibly terrified, trembling as they led the guest to a table, gently placed down the menu, and stuttered, “What would you like to order, miss…”

“Hmm, I’ll have a foie gras, a black pepper red wine steak, a cheese burger, a serving of grilled wings, a cheese baked rice, a brownie cake, two scoops of Häagen-Dazs, and finally a caramel macchiato~ Oh, and also some dried fish.” After saying this, the woman gave the server a sweet smile.

That smile alone made the server see stars and go weak in the knees. They timidly replied, “O-okay… Then, your, your dried fish will be up shortly.”

“Thank you~”

“How could I not…”

Seeing the server’s reaction, I found it perfectly understandable. Because there sat Qian Tangjin, raising her hands to stretch, her ample chest impossible to ignore. She let out a soft sigh, looked around expectantly, and soon a little cat leaped gracefully onto her lap, nuzzling affectionately against her belly.

‘If I’m reborn, I must become a cat! Or be gifted with a transformation ability! I’ll be a cat for sure! But… seriously, maybe becoming a bird is more practical—then I can overlook the sisters’ cleavages from above. Hmm, tough choice…’

Just as I was lost in my stray thoughts, the server tremblingly presented a plate of dried fish—on one knee, no less.

“Milady, the dried fish has been offered. Please enjoy, no, please savor it!”

“Okay~ Thank you~”

“I am deeply honored!”

With that, the server scurried back to the kitchen.

“Meow~ Meow~ Hehe, so cute.” Qian Tangjin fed dried fish to the kitten while gently stroking its back, her smile growing brighter. Then she lifted her head, and our eyes met.

“Ah, ah.”

Qian Tangjin let out two ambiguous sounds. The last piece of dried fish slipped from her hand and fell to the floor. The kitten on her lap leaped down, snatched the fish, shook its fur, and walked off without looking back.

‘What the! That cat is so high and mighty! A rich young lady personally feeds you, and you still act so aloof! You’ve sat on her lap! Nuzzled her belly! Eaten her food! And now you just walk away! Absolutely absurd! None of that compares to this loyal dog right here! Miss, do you need a dog—one that can write love letters, heh.’

“Boo… I was seen by Huaimo.” Qian Tangjin’s face flushed red, tears welling in her eyes as she looked at me. Her hands trembled nervously in front of her chest.

“Ah, haha.” I raised a hand in greeting, then turned my face away. ‘Better not make her more embarrassed…’

“So you two really do know each other.” Zhibo looked at us in surprise.

“Ah, it’s complicated.”

“Hmm… I won’t ask. By the way, Huaimo, I’m doing a ten-pull livestream. Want to watch?”

“Watch!”

****

“M-milady, your meal is ready.”

“Okay, thank you.”

“Then, I’ll take my leave.”

I sneak a peek. Wow, an entire table of delicacies. Drool… I want to eat…

“Another ten-pull and it’s a bust.” Beside me, Zhibo was devastated, gripping my shoulder for support.

“It’s fine, it’s fine. Save up a few more pulls, and you’ll get it eventually.” I turned and patted his shoulder in consolation.

“But what if I never get it in my lifetime!”

“What’s meant to be will be; what isn’t, don’t force. The same goes for gacha. Having love doesn’t guarantee a drop, but without love, nothing is possible!”

“I understand! I’ll wait patiently—spend when I have money, and gamble when I have life.”

“You still have one pull left. Let me do it.”

“Okay…”

I took the phone and was about to press the draw button when Qian Tangjin walked over to us.