Become The Domesticated Pet Cat of a Mature, Bossy Lady Superior - Chapter 60.1

The bell for the end of the morning reading session rang, and she couldn’t go in. Watching the departing figure of Shi Xinyu, Ying Miaomiao disappointedly walked away.

It was still early. The whole town seemed to be just waking up. However, the elderly women and men who exercised in the morning were already preparing to buy groceries and go home.

Ying Miaomiao wandered around for a while before returning home.

Fortunately, the skylight in her house was never completely shut, otherwise Ying Miaomiao would have to find another place to stay.

Since she had nothing to do, Ying Miaomiao simply patrolled the house. The changes of ten years were neither too big nor too small.

The TV had evolved from a small screen with a large body to a large, thin flat screen, and the landline phone had long been replaced…

Ying Miaomiao suddenly missed Ms. Ying.

She sighed. Suddenly, she found something glittering under the sofa. Measuring the length, Ying Miaomiao’s cat paw could just reach it.

After struggling to pull out the glittering object, Ying Miaomiao froze for a moment. She remembered this ring; it was inlaid with a sapphire, the same color as her eyes.

This ring seemed to have disappeared when Ying Miaomiao was a child, and Ms. Ying had been depressed for a period because of it.

So it was here all along.

Carrying the ring in her mouth, Ying Miaomiao thought for a moment and placed it on the shoe cabinet—not immediately visible, but not too hard to find either.

The process of moving the ring onto the shoe cabinet was quite difficult for Ying Miaomiao. The ring was small and delicate, hard to hold in her mouth, and she dropped it a few times.

Fortunately, the ring was made of metal and the gem was sturdy, otherwise it might have been lost here forever.

“If only I could turn back into a human.”

This thought grew stronger in Ying Miaomiao’s mind. She had a few experiences of transforming from a cat back into a human, but those seemed to have only happened under conditions of intense emotion and passivity.

Could she consciously transform back into a human?

Ying Miaomiao pondered and felt that it wouldn’t hurt to try.

The time was approaching noon. In junior and senior high school, Ying Miaomiao was particularly fascinated by Wuxia novels, anime, and TV dramas.

The protagonists would either absorb the essence of the sun and moon or fall off a cliff and have a fortuitous encounter.

Falling off a cliff for a fortuitous encounter was a method Ying Miaomiao didn’t dare to try. Although there were high mountains, actively jumping would not only result in “cat mush” (a pun on “cat cake” and being flattened) but also genuinely turn her into cat mush.

The essence of the sun and moon, however, could be tried; she only needed to choose the time to sunbathe and moonlight.

Ying Miaomiao ran to the washroom, thoroughly cleaned her paws, dried them, and then jumped onto the sofa.

Before twelve o’clock, she meditated for a while, imitating a martial arts master. Although she couldn’t cross her legs, she immersed her entire being.

“Transform back into human form, transform back into human form…”

She muttered repeatedly for a long time, but nothing changed.

Ying Miaomiao opened her eyes, not showing much disappointment. She wasn’t sure if she could transform back into human form. It seemed that the foolish method really didn’t work.

She lay down on the sofa in self-pity, starting to miss her previous mundane life.

“If only I could really turn back into a human.”

She covered her eyes with her hand, then froze.

Hand?

Ying Miaomiao shot up into a sitting position. She tried to silently chant: “Transform back into a cat.”

She really transformed back from a human to a cat. After trying several times, Ying Miaomiao found that she had truly mastered the method of switching between the two forms.

It was like an epiphany!

Being in human form made things much easier. Ying Miaomiao used some ingredients from the house to simply cook herself some plain noodles.

The taste wasn’t fantastic, but it was the most comfortable meal she had eaten since returning to ten years ago.

The afternoon passed quickly, and before she knew it, it was evening.

Today was a holiday for high school students. After the daytime classes, they didn’t have to attend evening study sessions. Ying Miaomiao timed her return to the cat form to coincide with their dismissal time.

She quietly waited by the school gate and immediately spotted Shi Xinyu walking out with the flow of people. She was tall and very noticeable in the crowd.

She wore the school uniform, her hair tied up in a high ponytail, and her porcelain-white face was expressionless, making her look quite formidable.

Shi Xinyu walked out of the school alone.

Ying Miaomiao secretly followed behind her until a corner near Lin Jing’s house, where Shi Xinyu paused and looked back.

Her expression was less tense than in the morning, much softer, vaguely resembling her appearance ten years later.

“Not going to find someone else?”

Shi Xinyu looked down at the little cat at her feet, her voice languid, with a slightly upturned lilt.

Ying Miaomiao pretended to be clueless and didn’t step forward, just sat on the spot looking at Shi Xinyu, but clearly expressing her intention.

The little cat’s tail wagged from side to side, the little white tip being particularly conspicuous.

Shi Xinyu quickly squatted down and rubbed the little cat’s head, which served as a reconciliation. Then she stood up, adjusted her backpack, and said, “My grandmother is back today, so I need to go home early for dinner. You should rest early too.”

Ying Miaomiao suddenly understood why Shi Xinyu hadn’t been home much in the past few days—it was because her grandmother had been away.

After a moment of hesitation, Shi Xinyu added, “Little cat, are you going to be good?”

Before Ying Miaomiao could respond, Shi Xinyu continued, “If you’re good, then follow me.”

Ying Miaomiao meowed in agreement. The person and the cat walked towards Shi Xinyu’s house.

Ying Miaomiao had visited this area ten years later, and the general layout hadn’t changed much, only the surrounding facilities were much newer, especially the rusty gate next door which was now glossy and new.

Shi Xinyu didn’t take Ying Miaomiao inside the house. After a moment, she hurried out.

It was still a plastic bowl, containing some cat food, which Shi Xinyu must have bought at some point.

Ying Miaomiao had transformed back into human form and eaten a big meal today. Seeing the cat food now made her feel a little nauseous, and she couldn’t eat anything.

She symbolically leaned her head over to sniff it but didn’t eat.

Shi Xinyu watched Ying Miaomiao. Seeing that the little cat had no desire to eat, she suddenly felt confused. She shook the plastic bowl, “Don’t you like this?”

She also whispered a curse, “Who said all cats love this?”

…

At seven in the evening, almost immediately after finishing dinner and resting for a while, she came out of the house carrying her guitar.

Shi Xinyu had changed out of her school uniform, wearing a simple black T-shirt and jeans, with a guitar case slung over her shoulder. This outfit made her look coordinated.

For ease of movement, she still had her hair tied up in a high ponytail. But Ying Miaomiao didn’t approach her as usual; instead, she quietly followed Shi Xinyu from a distance.

Based on the conversation she overheard that day, Shi Xinyu’s destination today should be that small bar.

The summer nights darkened late, and at seven, it was only halfway dark, still with a faint light.

The small bar was located in the center of the town, a very lively and prosperous area. It was Ying Miaomiao’s first time in such a place.

Using her small size, she slipped into the bar during the commotion.

The bar from ten years ago looked quite new, with a strong sense of everyday life, but the wisps of cigarette smoke that entered her nostrils made Ying Miaomiao feel like her throat was choked.

The lighting here was dim, barely allowing her to see the floor and the tables.

The time was still early, and there weren’t many people. The few members other than Shi Xinyu were waiting backstage. Ying Miaomiao sharp-eyed spotted the stage with a dark red carpet in a small corner of the bar.

That was where they were about to perform.

Ying Miaomiao felt uncomfortable in the noisy environment, but after waiting for a while, more people gradually arrived.

A ‘scratch’ sound was heard.

The entire bar seemed to come alive. A middle-aged man who looked like both the owner and an MC held a microphone and announced, “The performance is about to begin. Please welcome the band ‘Lost’ to the stage.”

The spotlights above the stage lit up, particularly striking in the dim space. Ying Miaomiao could see tiny specks of dust dancing in the illuminated path of the spotlights, then disappearing.

Shi Xinyu strummed the guitar strings, like a pebble dropped into a silent lake, creating ripples throughout the bar.

The noise in the bar gradually subsided. Ying Miaomiao, like the most devoted fan, listened to Shi Xinyu’s performance from a corner of the bar.

The first song was carefully selected, the tune was slow, and the lead singer was, for once, not off-key.

Shi Xinyu wore a mask and didn’t look at the audience. She only focused on strumming the guitar in her hands. The light shone on her brows and eyes, making her exposed features look particularly deep-set.

Ying Miaomiao could smell the spread of alcohol in the air, the hazy smoke, and even the scent of sweat.

But the distant, faint orchid fragrance that wafted over seemed to override everything. She squinted her eyes, feeling Shi Xinyu’s performance.

In this atmosphere, playing a slow song indeed had a unique flavor.

When the performance ended, there was thunderous applause. Shi Xinyu put down her instrument. Ying Miaomiao could see the beads of sweat on Shi Xinyu’s forehead under the stage light.

Seeing the middle-aged man preparing to go on stage, Ying Miaomiao quietly slipped into the dressing room behind the stage.

The cramped dressing room contained some clothes. The people waiting backstage were not only the band; revealing performance outfits seemed commonplace here.

Ying Miaomiao didn’t like this atmosphere. She looked around but only saw the other three members, not Shi Xinyu.

She quietly moved closer. Through the loud music, she could barely hear what the three people were saying.

They were celebrating. The effect of their first performance was quite good, and they might be able to earn some pocket money here long-term and build recognition.

But the lead singer’s tone suddenly changed. His face was a bit gloomy, “Is Shi Xinyu still refusing to go?”

Another girl nodded, “Didn’t we agree from the start that she would only play the guitar and not participate in anything else?”

The lead singer heard this and grew more frustrated, almost grinding his teeth, “Yes, but who knew the person in charge invited us out for a late-night snack, and Shi Xinyu refused to go? He felt snubbed.”

There was a long silence.

The boy who played the bass hesitated, “Should we discuss it with her later? It’s just going out for a meal; it’s not like she’ll lose a piece of flesh.”

Ying Miaomiao immediately had a hunch that something was wrong. She quietly moved even closer.

“Why don’t we ask her later? If she doesn’t go…”

The lead singer’s expression stiffened, “If she doesn’t go, we might not get this opportunity again.”

He clearly had more to say, but due to the crowd, he didn’t say it outright.

Ying Miaomiao seemed to understand a bit. She thought not good. She had guarded against a lot, but she hadn’t expected the person she should truly guard against was right next to Shi Xinyu.

No wonder their relationship with Shi Xinyu was just average—it turned out to be a matter of mutual benefit. Shi Xinyu probably wanted a chance to freely showcase herself, and they lacked a guitarist.

Besides the first set, the band had one more number scheduled for a later stage, so the few of them had to wait for a while.

Shi Xinyu returned just then. Ying Miaomiao guessed she must have gone to the restroom.

The other three chatted normally, just like usual, but the keyboard player hesitated for a moment and ultimately chose not to offer a warning.

They waited for a while. There was still some time before their next performance. The lead singer spoke, “After we finish, are you coming out for a late-night snack?”

He added, “Someone is treating.”

Shi Xinyu didn’t agree and politely refused, “No need, thank you.”

The few of them exchanged glances, then went up to perform as normal.

Ying Miaomiao felt that this time, in her cat form, she wouldn’t be able to accomplish what she intended next. She quietly slipped into the restroom stall and skillfully transformed back into human form.

While at home, she had rummaged through Ms. Ying’s wardrobe and put on an outfit suitable for the present time, in a style convenient for movement.

It was surprisingly fitting.

Fortunately, there were many people in the bar, and surveillance wasn’t well-developed at the time, so Ying Miaomiao didn’t attract attention and successfully transformed back into human form.

She blended into the dressing room behind the stage. Although it was called a dressing room, it was essentially a small cubicle casually built behind the stage.

The soundproofing was poor, and it wasn’t very concealed.

Listening to the music outside, Ying Miaomiao felt a little regretful. She actually quite liked seeing Shi Xinyu on stage, dazzling and radiating the unique brilliance of her youth.

When the music stopped, Shi Xinyu approached the dressing room side of the stage. Ying Miaomiao walked up, grabbed her wrist, and led her away from the dressing room.

But Shi Xinyu didn’t recognize Ying Miaomiao. She subconsciously struggled, but after Ying Miaomiao made a shushing gesture, she hesitated for a moment and chose to follow her.

Both of them were dressed inconspicuously and conveniently for movement. Blending into the dimly lit small bar, they easily exited.

The scorching temperature of Ying Miaomiao’s palm was transferred to Shi Xinyu through her clothes, feeling a little hot.

After leaving the bar, Ying Miaomiao still felt uneasy, so she led Shi Xinyu to a corner near the lively commercial street before stopping.

However, it was approaching ten o’clock now, and only a few scattered food establishments were still open on the commercial street, nowhere near the bustling, brightly lit scene of midnight in the future.

In the alley, Shi Xinyu pulled her hand away, her eyes guarded and distant: “Who are you?”

Ying Miaomiao suddenly wanted to tease Shi Xinyu. She leaned in closer, deliberately meeting Shi Xinyu’s gaze. She paused, not speaking immediately. Just as Shi Xinyu was about to lose her patience, she finally spoke: “Don’t you remember me?”

Shi Xinyu took a few steps back, turned her head, and seriously thought about the appearance of the person in front of her.

Her hair was neither long nor short, falling softly over her shoulders. Her skin was fair with a reddish glow, looking very healthy, but her lips were pinkish-white, and she had a pair of round apricot eyes.

But what was most striking was the pair of sapphire blue eyes. Such a special eye color was extremely unusual in the small town. Shi Xinyu silently took a few more steps back: “I don’t know you. Who exactly are you?”

Although the appearance and tone of the person in front of her made Shi Xinyu feel that she had no aggressive intent or malice towards her, one should always be wary of such a stranger.

“I’ve come to repay a kindness.”

A hint of confusion appeared in Shi Xinyu’s eyes. She couldn’t remember doing anything kind to help anyone else, especially a very good-looking adult woman.

Judging by her attire, she was clearly someone who was already working.

But the certainty in the other party’s words made Shi Xinyu a little unsure.

She pursed her lips and, after a long time, asked, “What did I help you with?”

Ying Miaomiao found it difficult to suppress her laughter. Shi Xinyu at this age was so innocent and easily fooled, completely lacking the mature and stable demeanor of the future.

She cleared her throat, managed to suppress her smile, and said seriously, “Before, when I couldn’t afford a meal, you treated me to one.”

In reality, it was many meals.

Shi Xinyu was even more confused. She truly couldn’t recall doing this, yet the person in front of her was utterly strange.

She couldn’t muster any sense of caution towards this person.

“I’m leaving now.”

Shi Xinyu didn’t dare to indulge this feeling.

Ying Miaomiao caught up in a few steps, “Why are you leaving? Aren’t you curious who I am?”

Shi Xinyu stopped and turned her head to look at Ying Miaomiao, “Who are you?”

Ying Miaomiao raised an eyebrow, a smile curving her lips: “My name is Ying Miaomiao, and I’m very familiar with you.”

“How can you prove it? I haven’t heard that name.”

Ying Miaomiao thought for a moment before saying uncertainly, “I know your name. You’re Shi Xinyu, sixteen years old. You only have your grandmother at home, you like playing the guitar, and you have a birthmark here.”

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