The Vinegar Vat and the Rivalry of “Enemies”

Upon arriving at the pet shop, Chu Ci was the first to be hauled out of the car by Ji Yanli, tucked under his arm like a stiff briefcase.

Forced into a bent-over, awkward posture, Chu Ci looked incredibly ridiculous. Bo Yu, following behind, couldn’t help but lower his head and let out a soft chuckle at the sight of Chu Ci’s disheveled state.

The laughter drifted shamelessly into Chu Ci’s ears. He whipped his head around, baring his teeth in a glare at Bo Yu, only to have his head forcibly twisted back by Ji Yanli. The arm clamping him even tightened its grip.

Chu Ci’s ribs ached from the squeeze. He tilted his head up to see Ji Yanli’s downturned lips and slightly knitted brows, still unable to fathom why this guy was so unhappy.

‘Didn’t you agree to come see the cat yourself? If you didn’t want to come, you could’ve just gone home!’

‘Brother, seriously, I have zero interest in the temperature of your armpit.’

‘Wait! Can you let go? Do you understand that this pose is an insult to my dignity! My dignity!’

‘…Wait, could it be because I was getting too close to Bo Yu, so Ji Yanli is jealous?’

Chu Ci stroked his chin with one hand, deep in thought. At that moment, he noticed the arm restraining him loosen significantly. Chu Ci rolled his eyes, a sudden realization dawning on him.

‘Ah—so it really is jealousy.’

‘Ji Yanli, are you the reincarnation of a vinegar vat?!’

‘You and Bo Yu have barely known each other for long! And you’ve already learned to be jealous! This isn’t right…’

“Ow…!”

Chu Ci suddenly let out a yelp of pain.

He gritted his teeth, twisting his body forcefully to break free from Ji Yanli’s grasp. Hissing through the chill, he rubbed his waist with one hand.

While he was busy calculating that Ji Yanli was jealous for Bo Yu, Ji Yanli had unexpectedly tightened his grip and intentionally pinched him!!

‘Despicable villain! Shameless wretch! Petty, ungrateful wolf! I’m looking out for you at every turn, and you repay me with such cruelty!!’

‘I’m done with you!!’

The skin on his waist was likely red by now. Chu Ci stood to the side, glaring at Ji Yanli with gnashed teeth. However, the latter chose to ignore his sharp gaze entirely. Without looking back, Ji Yanli walked past Chu Ci, pushed open the glass door, and entered the pet shop.

Chu Ci’s eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets. He stared at Ji Yanli’s retreating back, clenching his fists at his sides in a fit of impotent rage.

“You…” Just then, Bo Yu, who had been trailing behind, didn’t follow Ji Yanli immediately. Instead, he stopped in front of Chu Ci. Turning his head, he dropped a sentence as if possessed: “You and Ji Yanli have a really good relationship.”

After saying that, he gave Chu Ci a polite smile, walked a few steps to the door, and pushed open the transparent glass.

Chu Ci stood frozen on the spot, Bo Yu’s words fading into the wind.

Good relationship?

He and Ji Yanli have a good relationship??!

“Pah.”

Chu Ci snorted coldly.

“He’s got two eggs hanging under his brows—they only blink, they don’t see.”

“Me and Ji Yanli? A good relationship?!”

Chu Ci stormed inside, intending to vent his anger on Ji Yanli, but he stopped when he saw Ji Yanli and Bo Yu standing together with their backs to him.

There was only half a head’s difference in height between them. From the back, they looked perfectly matched. No wonder the original author chose Bo Yu as the backup to replace Song Qichen.

In front of them was a large cat cage. Curled up in a soft blanket was the small brown stray. It wasn’t purely brown; it had several distinct light stripes on its back, making it look like a lazy tiger cub.

Chu Ci stopped moving forward. When it came to advancing the bond between the leads, he was always tactful enough not to interfere. Instead, he found a perfect vantage point and stared intently at their handsome profiles.

Bo Yu leaned over, his gaze softening the moment he saw the kitten. He reached out and touched the kitten’s pink nose. Hearing the little creature start to purr comfortably, Bo Yu’s eyes crinkled into crescents as he looked up and said something to Ji Yanli.

Chu Ci couldn’t hear the specifics, but in the original plot, this was the moment Bo Yu began to fall for Ji Yanli. He would be moved by Ji Yanli’s soft heart and thoughtfulness, eventually falling uncontrollably in love.

Chu Ci crouched down, propping his chin on his hand. His gaze bounced between Bo Yu and Ji Yanli, completely unaware that the corners of his own mouth had unconsciously curled upward.

‘I’m starting to ship you two a little bit.’

Hearing the familiar internal voice, Ji Yanli turned his head. He caught sight of Chu Ci crouching on the floor with a full-blown “shipper’s smile.”

His expression remained neutral. Before Chu Ci could react, he stepped over and grabbed Chu Ci by the collar—hauling him up like a kitten by the scruff of its neck—and pulled him over.

Chu Ci was helpless in Ji Yanli’s grip. He didn’t even bother trying to break free this time. After being dragged over, Chu Ci immediately focused his attention on the cat, casually tossing out: “You guys continue, don’t mind me.”

He picked up the kitten from the cage, ready to make his exit.

But before Chu Ci could take a single step away, Ji Yanli pulled him back again.

“Don’t run,” Ji Yanli said in a low voice. “We weren’t saying anything special. What is there to ‘continue’?”

His gaze slid down, lingering on Chu Ci. “You like cats. I’ll just play with you.”

Chu Ci’s mouth twitched.

‘Stop it!’

‘Why do you have to keep bothering me!’

‘Can’t you walk on your own without me!’

Ji Yanli remained deaf to Chu Ci’s frantic internal protests.

He expressionlessly picked up a teaser wand, waving the soft feathers in front of the kitten. Once he had the kitten’s full attention—it was even raising its paws to pounce on him—Ji Yanli suddenly spoke: “See, it seems like it really wants to play with me too. If you refuse…”

Ji Yanli paused intentionally, lifting his gaze to sweep over Chu Ci.

“That would be a bit too cold and heartless.”

The meaning in his eyes was unclear. Chu Ci felt his temples throb.

Ugh… so annoying.

He bit his lip and stayed silent. Ji Yanli clearly noticed his suppressed irritation. He lifted the teaser wand, the tip of the feathers brushing against Chu Ci’s nose.

“Do you want a turn?” Ji Yanli’s tone was laced with a hint of a tease.

The tickling sensation made Chu Ci frown. He reached out and swatted it away in disgust, turning his head to ignore Ji Yanli.

Ji Yanli tilted his head and leaned in: “Are you angry?”

Chu Ci sneered: “No.”

Then he rolled his eyes internally.

‘You’re the cold and heartless one! Your whole family is cold and heartless!’

“Achoo—!!”

Ji Yanli suddenly sneezed.

He lowered his lashes, rubbing the tip of his nose, and said innocently: “But I feel like you’re cursing me.”

Chu Ci: “…”

Why did my heart just skip a beat in guilt!

He swallowed nervously. “How could I curse you? I… I can’t love you enough! Just seeing you, I—I feel like my whole life was meant for loving you!”

For the first time, Chu Ci was grateful the “Deep Affection Buff” kicked in so timely.

“Is that so?” The corners of Ji Yanli’s eyes tilted up slightly. He brushed the feathers against Chu Ci’s nose again. “Then, have you forgiven me?”

“No—”

Chu Ci answered instinctively.

Immediately after, he realized what he had just said.

“Wait! I mean, I’m really not angry!”

‘Kidding.’

‘Am I as petty as you are, brother!’

Chu Ci looked up at Ji Yanli. Seeing that the youth didn’t have much of a reaction, Chu Ci began to wonder if Ji Yanli had discovered something.

“By the way… ah!!”

Suddenly, the kitten—annoyed that it hadn’t caught the feathers—lashed out with its claws. It missed the teaser wand and instead scratched Chu Ci’s neck. Several distinct red marks appeared on his fair skin, and a few drops of blood seeped out.

Realizing it had messed up, the cat scrambled out of Chu Ci’s arms and curled up nearby, watching him cautiously with wide, round eyes.

Chu Ci felt a burning sting on his neck. He frowned, reflexively grabbing Ji Yanli’s sleeve and whimpering: “It hurts, Ji Yanli.”

Looking at the wound, Ji Yanli reached out to take the disinfectant an anxious staff member handed over. Seeing Chu Ci’s pitiful expression, he couldn’t help but curl his lips: “Weren’t you acting so tough just now? Getting scratched by a cat and only knowing how to cry for pain. Are you a dummy?”

Chu Ci closed his eyes at the jab.

He accepted it.

“Oh dear, what happened?” Bo Yu ran over then. Seeing the wound on Chu Ci’s neck, he frowned. “Xiaobai doesn’t like being held for too long. He probably got annoyed. But you can’t disinfect a cat scratch immediately; you need to rinse it with running water first.”

As he spoke, he grabbed Chu Ci’s hand to lead him toward the restroom.

Ji Yanli watched with downcast eyes, then silently grabbed Chu Ci’s other hand.

“No need to trouble you. I’ll take him.”

Bo Yu blinked: “It’s no trouble! I have experience with animals. I can help Chu Ci clean it properly.”

Hearing this, Ji Yanli didn’t let go. His gaze turned a few degrees colder. He even pulled Chu Ci a bit closer to himself. “Don’t you want to see Mochi? Spend some more time with Mochi.”

Chu Ci was caught between the two of them, being pulled back and forth like a game of tug-of-war. After several rounds, he took a deep breath, his temples throbbing violently.

Wait…

What is with this inexplicable “cremona” (shura field) atmosphere?!

Chu Ci planted his feet firmly and shook off both Ji Yanli and Bo Yu.

“I’ll go by myself!”

He threw out the words angrily, snatched the disinfectant from Ji Yanli, and ducked into the restroom.

The door closed, and the world went quiet. Finally away from those two, Chu Ci let out a sigh of relief.

He stood before the sink, turned on the tap, and let the cool water hit the scratches on his neck. The chilly sensation soon soothed the stinging pain. He looked at the red marks in the mirror and muttered “stinky cat” under his breath.

However…

Chu Ci reconsidered.

Why was the atmosphere between Ji Yanli and Bo Yu so weird?

Thinking of the scene just now made his head ache.

Had Bo Yu not fallen for Ji Yanli yet?

Impossible!

He clearly remembered this part of the plot!

But the way it developed seemed off…

Only when his skin felt numb from the cold did Chu Ci turn off the tap and wander out of the restroom, deep in thought.

Opening the door, he saw Ji Yanli and Bo Yu sitting on the sofa, but with a distance between them wide enough to fit a galaxy.

Neither of their faces looked good. Fortunately, they were sitting with their backs to each other, so they didn’t have to look at each other’s sour expressions.

With just one glance, Chu Ci hurriedly hid back in the restroom.

He leaned against the door, breathing heavily in unease.

Something’s wrong…

Something is very wrong…!!

The vibe between those two didn’t look like one person having a crush on the other at all.

It looked exactly like—

Two rivals in love, being jealous of each other.