Chapter 100: A Heartbeat Missed by Half a Beat (Two Days Until Release!)
Upon hearing this, Lin Luyao no longer refused.
At half past five, Chen Xujia waved his hand and announced that everyone could leave work an hour early.
Normally, they would finish work at half past six, then head straight to the restaurant to eat, and afterward take a ride back to school. The whole routine was automatic, no thought needed.
But today, with an hour earlier dismissal, Lin Luyao found herself somewhat at a loss about what to do.
She thought about finding Jiang Xiaohan, but Jiang had left yesterday for a research trip in a neighboring city and wouldn’t return until Tuesday.
After pondering for a while, Lin Luyao realized that her best place to go was actually Qin Shishen’s café.
***
Without hesitation, Lin Luyao entered the café and immediately spotted Kele amusing himself on the scratching post.
“Hey, why’s there only one? Where did the little cutie run off to?”
Lin Luyao gently reached out two fingers and lightly scratched the top of his head.
“You came to see them again?”
Turning around, Lin Luyao saw Qin Shishen holding Cute in his arms. Judging by the look, this was probably Cute’s nth+1 failed escape attempt.
“Did she run off again?”
“Yeah, just now a customer left, and before I noticed, this little rascal slipped out with them.”
What a clever little thing.
Lin Luyao couldn’t help but laugh.
“May I hold her?”
“Of course.”
Qin Shishen said that as if passing a child, gently placing Cute into Lin Luyao’s arms.
This was the first time, despite knowing each other for so long, that the two were this close. Qin Shishen, having worked with coffee for a long time, carried a subtle aroma of coffee on him.
Their faces were almost touching, and the scent of coffee on Qin Shishen seeped into Lin Luyao’s nose.
Her heart fluttered inexplicably.
Later, when she and Qin Shishen talked about moments that made their hearts race, she confessed:
This close contact was the first time she couldn’t ignore his gender.
Cute, already sulking from her failed “escape,” grew even more restless in Lin Luyao’s arms.
Suddenly, Cute’s two hind legs kicked lightly against Lin Luyao’s lower abdomen, twisted her feline body, and dashed to the floor.
“Well? Did she scratch you?”
“Don’t worry, I’m fine this time!”
Lin Luyao smiled sheepishly, then discreetly rubbed her belly where Cute had kicked.
That little cat sure packed a punch!
Seeing she couldn’t hold Cute, Lin Luyao focused her attention on teasing Kele.
Watching Lin Luyao interact so intimately with his cats, Qin Shishen hesitated to break the tender mood.
“You… why are you here so early today?”
“We got off work early today. I guess this counts as one of those ‘once in a lifetime’ moments!”
Lin Luyao glanced up at him briefly, then quickly looked away, lowering her gaze.
She felt like he was staring at her the whole time. Being watched so intently by a handsome guy was almost overwhelming!
“Hmm, then I suppose you can return to school early and get some rest.”
“No way!” Lin Luyao stopped what she was doing, crouched down, and looked up at Qin Shishen. “Tonight’s the pre-sale for Double Eleven. Everyone has to work overtime. They say we won’t get off until after one in the morning.”
“That late? That’s tough for your line of work. Where will you stay tonight? Going back to school?”
“Not bad. I’m staying at the company tonight. There’s a sleep pod upstairs. It was originally reserved for a colleague, but she gave me the spot.”
Watching Lin Luyao’s faint smile, Qin Shishen’s heart skipped a beat this time.