1

Jianghuai City, the most prosperous city in Country C, was as bright as day even at night. Neon lights illuminated the streets, and the ceaseless flow of vehicles and people hurried in all directions.

A bar situated in the prime area of the city was the most indulgent and noisy haven. The golden liquid in martini glasses shimmered under the various lights, with the rich aroma of liquor and intoxicating fragrances filling the air, creating an atmosphere ripe with ambiguity.

Luo Li furrowed her brows, staring at the freshly squeezed juice in front of her. From time to time, bold men and women approached to strike up a conversation. Under the dim lighting, her superior profile appeared even more impatient and irritated.

The screen of the phone in her hand lit up and dimmed again. It had long surpassed the time she and the other person had agreed to meet.

The bar switched to a more upbeat dance track, making Luo Li, who was already feeling down and irritable, even more annoyed. She lifted her foot, intending to leave.

But she stopped abruptly as she turned her head, her gaze falling on a group of boys not far away.

They looked quite young, probably a bunch of school dropouts. Each one dressed like a typical street thug.

However, what caught Luo Li's attention was not the boys, but the woman surrounded by them. She was out of place in the boisterous atmosphere, dressed in a meticulously tailored suit. Her fair cheeks were visibly flushed as the boys tugged at her from all sides.

The woman offered little resistance, but her expression was full of rejection, which only made the boys more aggressive.

Having spent years abroad, Luo Li had seen plenty of things.

It was highly likely that this woman had been intoxicated by these young punks. But with so many of them, no one around dared to step in and help.

Tsk, she had only just returned home and shouldn't be causing trouble for the old man at home. But she was really displeased with her father's arrangement, so maybe starting a fight to blow off some steam wouldn't be such a bad idea?

Besides, she couldn't just stand by and watch such a beautiful woman suffer.

Without any hesitation, Luo Li immediately walked towards the group. She wasn't here to party tonight, so she had only casually thrown on a hoodie. Now, she rolled up her sleeves as she approached.

"What are you guys doing?"

The boy closest to Lu Cixue turned around at the sound of her voice. Seeing that Luo Li was alone, he looked at her with disdain. After sizing her up, a smirk of ill-intent appeared on his face.

"We're just taking my sister home. Miss, are you here by yourself too? How about we give you a ride? It's not safe for you to go home alone this late."

The woman being held struggled to catch her breath. She tried to see who was in front of her, but her body was overwhelmed by waves of heat, making it hard to stand. She could only bite her lip and endure the situation in distress.

Luo Li rolled her eyes. The phone in her hand was on an ongoing call, and she brought it to her ear without any hesitation.

"Brother Zhao, come in quickly and help me send these helpful young men home." She hadn't noticed that a few others were sitting nearby. With so many of them, she might not be able to take them all on by herself.

As soon as she finished speaking, a group of well-trained bodyguards entered from outside, even frightening the bar manager, who didn't dare approach and stood watching from a distance.

The boys, who had never seen such a display, turned pale with fear. They tried to flee but were quickly surrounded.

"Please see that they are well taken care of," Luo Li said with a friendly smile to the boy who had spoken earlier, "and arrange for them to spend a free night at the police station."

Meanwhile, the woman, who was barely conscious, almost collapsed, but Luo Li caught her just in time.

The woman buried her face in Luo Li's neck, her breath warm against the tiny hairs on Luo Li's skin, her soft, warm lips lightly brushing against her.

Lu Cixue's mind was ablaze, only aware that this embrace was cool and comforting.

It was so comfortable that she almost let down her guard and sank into it, with the last bit of tension in her nerves on the verge of snapping.

But the warmth through her clothes didn't seem enough. Lu Cixue's long lashes trembled as she raised a hand to grasp the collar of Luo Li's hoodie, slowly opening her eyes and lifting her head.

Luo Li, who had never embraced anyone like this in her twenty-plus years of life, instantly froze, dragging the woman out of the bar with her.

She didn't notice that the woman in her arms was staring at her intently, her dazed eyes filled with a mix of shock and surprise, quickly replaced by suppressed groans due to her special physical condition.

Something unfamiliar seemed to stir in Lu Cixue's heart, and under the dual torment of heat waves and unknown emotions, she couldn't help but tremble, tears welling up in her eyes.

"Wait, stop touching me!" Luo Li felt the trembling of the woman in her arms, like a kitten soaked in the rain, and couldn't help but soften her heart.

Just as she was about to put the woman in the car, she felt a hand slip under her clothes, directly touching her abdomen.

Luo Li immediately pushed her away, and the woman, now more awake from the cold wind, steadied herself by holding onto the car door.

Damn, who does she think she is?

"So what if you're pretty? Being pretty doesn't mean you can take advantage of others. I haven't even found a wife yet, and you…" Luo Li grumbled, but her words abruptly stopped as her heart skipped a beat, staring blankly at the breathless Lu Cixue.

The woman's hair was disheveled, her eyes glistening with unshed tears, and her cheeks flushed. Despite her delicate beauty, there was an undeniable coldness about her.

But why did she look so sad, as if Luo Li was the one taking advantage of her?

No, it must be a mistake, definitely.

But to be fair, she was really beautiful, perfectly hitting all of Luo Li's aesthetic points. Being touched by her wasn't necessarily a loss…

"Sorry…" Sure enough, her voice was as cool and elegant as her demeanor, with a slight tremble. "Thank you for helping me."

Then, the woman who had just taken advantage of her turned and left.

Luo Li heard the tremor in her voice and frowned slightly, feeling that something was off. Reflecting on the woman's expression, she chased after her while calling the bodyguards, asking them to check the drinks in the bar. However, she had already lost sight of the woman.

No way, she's already gone? She should know to go to the hospital, right?

Luo Li, worried, took a few steps forward, only to hear a faint meow nearby. A pure white kitten slowly approached her.

The kitten sat in front of her, its large blue eyes gazing up at her, unblinking.

Luo Li's eyes lit up immediately.

So soft, so cute, so pretty!

This cat looked just like the one she had before, though it definitely wasn't the same one. So much time had passed, and that one must have grown up by now.

Thinking of the one she had rescued, Luo Li couldn't help but sigh, a wave of guilt washing over her. She carefully reached out her hand, approaching the kitten gently. "Are you lost?"

The kitten, unafraid of people, didn't shy away. Its tail lightly swept across the ground as it elegantly walked up to Luo Li, gently rubbing its small head against her hand.

If it weren't for the crowd, Luo Li would have screamed in excitement.

But this kitten looked so elegant and noble, definitely not a stray. If it didn't go home so late, its owner might be worried.

Luo Li picked up the kitten, and it didn't resist at all. It simply lay contentedly in her hand, even extending its tiny pink paw to try and hug her finger.

Then, it innocently stuck out its tiny pink tongue and licked her.

Luo Li felt like she was going to lose her mind.

"Do you live nearby?" She glanced around, only to see a busy road full of people. Had this kitten wandered over by itself?

"What should I do? Are you hungry? Can you wait here for me?"

The kitten didn't understand what this human was muttering, only rubbing its soft little body against her palm.

But in the next moment, it was placed on the ground.

As soon as Luo Li stood up, the kitten immediately followed, sticking close to her feet, clearly indicating that it wanted to follow her wherever she went.

Its bright blue eyes were full of innocence, staring up at Luo Li, as if wondering why she wasn't moving, without any thought that this person could be dangerous.

"Do you want to come with me?" Luo Li tried taking a few steps forward, and the little white ball wobbled along with her.

Luo Li closed her eyes and took a deep breath, her conscience itching as she struggled between being a cat thief and the more reasonable choice of trying to find its owner.

What if it had been abandoned? She couldn't just leave it here.

So, Luo Li scooped up the soft, milk-smelling kitten and ran.

No, she couldn't resist anymore! She couldn't leave such a pitiful little cutie all alone. She'd take it home first and then try to find its owner.

When she returned to her car with the kitten, there were already a few police officers inside the bar, investigating the situation. Luo Li cooperated with them, giving a brief account of what had happened.

The surveillance footage wasn't very clear, only showing the woman hurrying inside and then being surrounded by a group of boys.

"That's really my sister, and we didn't do anything! Go ahead, check it out. Where would we even get that kind of stuff?" The lead boy didn't show any fear and looked at Luo Li with disdain.

With no evidence, the police could only issue a verbal warning.

Brother Zhao shook his head slightly at Luo Li, who frowned. Could she have been mistaken? In any case, it was a relief.

The kitten in her arms was restless, rubbing against her and meowing non-stop. It started licking her fingers again, the tiny barbs scratching her skin slightly, pulling Luo Li's thoughts back.

"Are you hungry? We'll go home now, okay?" Seeing the kitten turn over in her arms, Luo Li's smile grew wider. The day's frustration and unhappiness seemed to have been cured by the kitten.

Though it seemed her little kitten was a bit active, constantly rubbing against her.

On the way home, she bought kitten food and milk powder. Once home, Luo Li rushed to close the windows, then carefully checked the living room for anything the kitten might accidentally eat before gently placing the white kitten on the sofa.

Luo Li had owned a cat before, albeit for a short time, so she had a bit of experience. She worried that the kitten might feel scared or uneasy in a new environment.

To be honest, she had only recently moved in. After graduation, she finally had the chance to live independently. She hadn't even been in this neighborhood a few times; her parents had prepared everything for her, and she had just moved in.

She hadn't even met the neighbors across the hall.

But Luo Li soon realized her worries were unnecessary. The kitten immediately became restless once its paws touched the sofa, flicking its tail and jumping into her arms, looking up at her. Then, as if possessed, it leaned in and pressed its tiny nose against Luo Li's lips.

The warm, wet nose touched her skin.

It didn't seem to like being alone, preferring to stay close to Luo Li, starting to mark its new owner with its scent.

It was smart for a kitten.

Very clingy.