Chapter 59: I Am the Little Princess

“Wow, what a beautiful little black cat!” Zhang Xin’s lovely eyes sparkled as she gazed at the enchanting cat and asked, “Chen Xian, what’s her name? Can I hold her?”

Meow~~~

Before Chen Xian could answer, the enchanting cat let out a crisp, melodious cry.

To Chen Xian’s ears, it sounded like: “If you want to hold me, bring me snacks first!”

Zhang Xin thought the cat had agreed to be held and reached out her fair, slender hand. But to her surprise, the little cat turned her head away in a haughty gesture, like an aloof, noble princess refusing all overtures.

Seeing this, Chen Xian couldn’t help but laugh and said to Zhang Xin, “Her name is Xiao Mei. If you want to hold her, you’ll need to bring her some tasty treats.”

“Xiao Mei, what a lovely name!” Zhang Xin’s lips curved into a charming smile. “Chen Xian, she’s a little girl, isn’t she?”

“That’s right,” Chen Xian replied, nodding.

“Then let’s go buy Xiao Mei something delicious,” Zhang Xin suggested.

At the mention of buying treats, the enchanting cat immediately turned her little head, her sapphire-blue eyes shining as she gazed at Zhang Xin.

Chen Xian, noticing this, affectionately rubbed the little black cat’s head. “What a greedy little thing!”

With that, he opened the car door and sat in the front passenger seat.

Zhang Xin also got in, stroked the little cat’s head, and said, “Xiao Mei, let’s go to the big supermarket and buy you something yummy!”

Meow~~~

Xiao Mei nodded and let out a joyful cry.

Twenty minutes later, Zhang Xin, Chen Xian, and Xiao Mei arrived at the largest supermarket in H City and headed to the third floor, where all kinds of food were on display.

Chen Xian pushed the shopping cart while Xiao Mei sat inside, her sapphire eyes roaming over the dazzling array of snacks, her mouth watering.

She kept stretching out her forepaws, pointing at sausages, cookies, lollipops, and more, meowing incessantly: “Master, I want this one, and that one, and also this…”

But to Zhang Xin’s ears, it was simply a series of cute mews.

Watching the adorable black cat, Zhang Xin felt her heart melting. Wherever Xiao Mei pointed, Zhang Xin would immediately fetch the snack for her.

Soon, the first cart was full, then the second, and the third… In the end, they filled five shopping carts before Xiao Mei reluctantly stopped at Chen Xian’s command.

Because there were so many snacks, they had to push the carts to the checkout one by one.

Chen Xian and Zhang Xin, with Xiao Mei in tow, went to the second floor, where there was an area selling doghouses, cathouses, and pet food.

Chen Xian remembered that they didn’t yet have cathouses for the three stray cats at home or for Xiao Mei, so he said, “Zhang Xin, let’s take a look over there.”

Once there, Chen Xian pointed at the cathouses and said to Xiao Mei, “Pick out the one you like, and also help pick one each for Xiao Yi, Xiao Er, and Xiao San!”

“Master, just buy three cathouses for Xiao Yi, Xiao Er, and Xiao San. I’m a princess—I want a big bed, not a cathouse.” Xiao Mei shot Chen Xian a look of disdain, her childish voice full of pride.

Chen Xian was both amused and exasperated.

“Chen Xian, can you understand Xiao Mei’s cat language?” Zhang Xin asked curiously.

Chen Xian nodded. “After spending so much time with her, I can more or less guess what she means from her cries and expressions.”

“What did she just say?”

“She said she’s a princess and wants to sleep in a bed, not a cathouse!”

“How adorable!” Zhang Xin beamed, growing ever fonder of Xiao Mei.

In the end, Chen Xian picked out three cathouses and three bags of cat food for the others—Xiao Mei didn’t eat cat food.

After checking out, Chen Xian became a porter, carrying six or seven large bags to the Lamborghini.

Zhang Xin held Xiao Mei, chatting with her along the way. Xiao Mei gripped two lollipops, noisily sucking on them.

They had bought so much that both the trunk and the back seat of the car were packed to the brim.

“Where shall we eat tonight?” Zhang Xin asked from the driver’s seat, holding Xiao Mei.

“You decide,” Chen Xian replied.

Zhang Xin’s eyes sparkled. “Then let’s have Western food. I know a newly opened steakhouse in H City with great steak and wine, and it’s very close!”

“Let’s do as you say!”

…

The steakhouse was just a few minutes’ drive from the supermarket. It was now past 7 p.m., the peak dinner hour.

Zhang Xin got out of the car with Xiao Mei in her arms, glanced at the two hostesses at the entrance, then looked at the cat in her arms, feeling a bit uncertain.

“Chen Xian, the restaurant doesn’t allow pets. What should we do?” she asked, troubled.

Chen Xian patted Xiao Mei’s head. “Don’t worry, Xiao Mei can come in. Let’s go.”

Seeing Chen Xian so confident, Zhang Xin hesitantly carried Xiao Mei and headed toward the restaurant.

She thought, if they really won’t let Xiao Mei in, she’ll just have to let her eat snacks in the car.

When they reached the entrance, the two hostesses greeted them with a polite “Welcome.” It was as if they hadn’t noticed Xiao Mei at all.

“Chen Xian, what’s going on…” Zhang Xin’s eyes widened in surprise as she looked from the cat in her arms to the young man beside her.

Chen Xian’s lips curved in a slight smile. He leaned in and whispered into her ear, “Xiao Mei knows hypnosis.”

At this revelation, Zhang Xin’s delicate lips parted in astonishment.

Shhh!

At that moment, Xiao Mei lifted her head, sapphire eyes glinting as she looked at Zhang Xin, stretching out a paw as if to hush her.

It took Zhang Xin a while to calm her shock before she and Chen Xian made their way to a window-side table in a quiet corner.

Zhang Xin was so strikingly beautiful that, upon entering with Chen Xian, they immediately drew the attention of many diners.

But neither of them paid any mind.

A waiter approached.

Zhang Xin asked, “Chen Xian, what kind of steak would you like, and which wine?”

“Order for both of us. I’ll have whatever you have.” Chen Xian had never dined at a Western restaurant before and was unfamiliar with steak and wine.

Seeing through his thoughts, Zhang Xin smiled at the waiter. “Two medium-rare steaks, please, and a bottle of…”

Xiao Mei had no interest in steak or wine; she curled up on Zhang Xin’s lap, nibbling on snacks.

Soon, the waiter brought over two steaks and a bottle of wine, arranged the glasses, poured them each a small amount, and then withdrew.

Chen Xian picked up the fork in his right hand and the knife in his left, ready to dig in with clumsy enthusiasm.

Zhang Xin smiled, her beauty radiant. “Chen Xian, you’re holding them wrong. Let me show you!”

She stood up, came to his side, and gently guided his hands.

“The napkin goes here, fork in the left, knife in the right, like this…”

Her graceful form was almost pressed against him, her delicate fragrance drifting to his nose, the softness of her arm against his own. Chen Xian’s heart thumped faster and faster, his cheeks flushing red.