Tong Sui remembered he still had a bag of accessories. He simply took them out and carried them into the bathroom. The jingling of the bells echoed as they collided. Tong Sui closed the bathroom door, and as the warm shower water cascaded over him, his fair face became adorned with a lovely blush.
Wrapping himself in a towel, he dried off. Looking at the clothes hanging on the rack, though thin, the fabric and design were top-notch. The dress featured a black and white color scheme, with a circle of crisscrossed corset-style straps at the waist, topped with a white maid apron. He also had white lace gloves and stockings. The shop gave him a pair of fluffy cat ears and a choker with a bell.
Tong Sui thought of a recent animated series he watched where chibi characters wore such adorable outfits and waved magic wands to attack. He was trying hard to convince himself that it was just a piece of clothing; it wasn’t a big deal.
He took the dress down, awkwardly pulling it over himself. The shoulder straps wouldn’t stay up, and the dress kept slipping down, providing him no sense of security. He could only tighten the waist ribbon little by little. Omegas were usually shorter than Alphas, and the dress he bought was already the largest size available in the store.
Tong Sui’s face was delicate and doll-like, but he was still a tall Alpha with a good proportion—slim waist and long legs. The already short hemline appeared even shorter on him.
After a struggle, he finally put on all the accessories. Looking at the fluffy cat ears, he hesitated but eventually pinned them into his hair. He glanced at the mirror in haste before lowering his head again.
As he grasped the doorknob and took a deep breath, he heard the sound of a door opening outside. The courage he had mustered felt like a balloon that had suddenly been punctured, deflating rapidly. Tong Sui quickly slammed the door shut.
His heart raced wildly, rising and falling in his chest as he pressed his back against the slightly steamy door, listening as footsteps approached. There was a knock at the door.
Ye Lin Yuan’s voice came through, “I noticed you didn’t eat much earlier, so I washed some strawberries and cherries for you.”
“Oh, I-I’ll be out in a moment.” Tong Sui replied, lowering his head, his toes curled up in the stockings.
After a few minutes, the bathroom door moved. A small gap opened, and Tong Sui, blushing, stepped out carefully. He couldn’t bear to look at Ye Lin Yuan’s expression; clutching at his dress, he felt his face was about to explode.
Help. He was starting to regret his decision.
“I think I should change back…” Tong Sui began, but just as he spoke, he felt a gust of wind rush past him, leaving him cold. A powerful hand grabbed his wrist.
The warmth radiated from Ye Lin Yuan’s palm as he softly commanded, “You’re not changing.”
Tong Sui felt a bit dazed as he was pulled forward; the little bells around his neck jingled incessantly, his heart racing out of sync with the sound. Pressed against Ye Lin Yuan’s sturdy frame, Tong Sui’s pale skin flushed bright red, his cheeks spreading the blush up to his ears, as if a light layer of blush had been applied.
Dropping his gaze, he felt the delicate mist clinging to the dark feathers of his hair, his eyes slightly red. Ye Lin Yuan’s gaze roamed over him in a calculated manner, like a predatory wolf contemplating where to begin its feast.
Tong Sui’s palms were sweaty with nervousness. Ye Lin Yuan raised a hand, causing Tong Sui’s eyelashes to flutter.
“Little cat,” he murmured, adjusting the fluffy ears atop Tong Sui’s head, asking deep in thought, “Why do your ears look crooked?”
The tips of Tong Sui’s eyelashes trembled, “I… I don’t know…”
“Even if your ears are crooked, can you still hear?”
His fingers wandered through Tong Sui’s hair, massaging his scalp gently.
Unlike Tong Sui’s pampered hands, Ye Lin Yuan’s were roughened from years of handling mecha and weaponry. Tong Sui felt a tingling sensation as his head was kneaded.
It felt as if those soft cat ears were genuinely attached to him, as Ye Lin Yuan, with mischievous intent, toyed with them.
Tong Sui embarrassedly said, “Ye Lin Yuan, stop it.”
He tried to pull Ye Lin Yuan’s hand away but was easily restrained; the large hand effortlessly held both of Tong Sui’s hands.
Deep in Ye Lin Yuan’s eyes lay an abyss. “Does the little cat have a name tag?”
His fingers slid down to the black choker around Tong Sui’s neck, pressing lightly.
Tong Sui’s Adam’s apple bobbed up and down.
The small bell jingled as it swayed, creating a cheerful sound.
“Why is there only a bell and no name tag?” Ye Lin Yuan asked playfully, “Are you a stray cat?”
Tong Sui’s face turned beet red.
He dared to glance into Ye Lin Yuan’s deep, dark eyes, which felt like an endless whirlpool.
After hesitating for a few seconds, Tong Sui subtly nodded.
The bell jingled again.
He regretted wearing that choker!
Ye Lin Yuan seemed pleased with his reply, his fingertip brushing against Tong Sui’s neck. “A cute little cat like you can end up abandoned?”
He reached for the freshly washed fruit on the bedside.
Vivid red strawberries and cherries, each speckled with water droplets.
“You must be hungry after wandering for so long,” Ye Lin Yuan said, pinching a strawberry between his clearly defined knuckles and bringing it to Tong Sui’s lips. “Eat.”
The sweet and tangy scent of the fruit wafted towards him.
Tong Sui, in a daze, opened his mouth and bit down; the strawberry was incredibly sweet and juicy.