Chapter 310: Stray Cat?

The temple messenger carried the faint scent of mint and lemon. His slender frame was leaned back in a plush chair, and Yu Zhizhi quickly snuggled into his embrace.

Her cheeks were flushed, and her ears were practically burning red.

Her fingertips slowly undid his buttons, and she found the Cat Clan youth offered no resistance. His hands rested on the chair’s armrests, making no move to cross any lines.

It took a great deal of effort from Yu Zhizhi before he finally showed some reaction.

Through the white mask, she couldn’t see the emotion on his face. Yu Zhizhi buried her face in his chest, a trace of shyness in her heart as she slowly rose and fell with his breathing.

’It’s like...’

’I’m in complete control.’

A vein gradually bulged on the Cat Clan youth’s arm as he gripped the armrest. His breathing grew slightly heavier. He stared intently at the Rabbit Clan female in his arms. Her head was lowered, and as she moved, her two rabbit ears would occasionally brush against his cheek.

Suddenly, the temple messenger sensed something.

He immediately spun the back of the chair around, grabbed his coat from where it was draped nearby, and covered the young female in his arms.

Yu Zhizhi froze. Before she could react, she felt as if he had hidden her completely. She lay quietly against his chest, with her two white rabbit ears peeking out from under the edge of the coat covering her.

’Wh-what’s wrong?’

Just as she was about to speak, she heard a man’s flat, indifferent voice. "Is the gift ready?"

’Someone’s here?!’

Yu Zhizhi tensed and shuddered. The temple messenger frowned in response, placing a hand on the Rabbit Clan female’s back as he suppressed his own voice and slowly regained his composure.

"Of course..."

The temple messenger tilted his head up slightly. He had turned the chair back around. While it might look suspicious to an outsider, at least they couldn’t see who was sitting in his lap.

The Cat Clan youth’s voice was a bit hoarse. He probably hadn’t expected No.2 Envoy to show up today.

After all, he had been gone for a long time.

Normally, he was impossible to contact.

However, the temple messenger remembered the request he’d made during his last visit and had prepared for it long ago. The Cat Clan youth snapped his fingers. A circular Array slowly materialized in the middle of the round table, a white gift box resting upon it.

"It took a long time to find. The Little Princess should like it."

Yu Zhizhi huddled in the Cat Clan youth’s arms, not daring to move. She slowly curled her toes, terrified of being discovered by the sudden visitor.

’Although... he probably already knows...’

’Sob... We should have picked a different spot...’

’But the Divine Hall Illusion Realm is only so big. We were originally super far from everyone else, so I can’t be too picky about the setting.’

"No. 2," the Cat Clan youth said suddenly. "Are you coming to the next gathering? I’d like to introduce you to a new friend."

’No. 2?’

Yu Zhizhi couldn’t help but lift her head slightly. All she could see was the white mask on the Cat Clan youth’s face. ’So, this visitor has already joined the Divine Hall Alliance?’

No.2 Envoy took the gift box, opened it, and glanced inside.

His voice was cold. "I won’t disturb you. Carry on."

The Cat Clan youth made a "mhm" sound, feigning distress. "Don’t be such a stranger."

’Ah, he was politely refused again.’

’This No.2 Envoy... he’s so cold and distant. It feels like he could leave the Divine Hall Alliance at any moment.’

Yu Zhizhi found the man’s voice incredibly familiar...

She thought hard, but couldn’t place it for the time being.

No.2 Envoy left.

Before he left, he glanced at the deliberately turned back of the chair. The very tip of a rabbit ear was peeking over the temple messenger’s shoulder.

Yu Zhizhi was a nervous wreck.

She didn’t dare look up, unable to tell if the man had gone or not.

She was so tense that her entire body was rigid.

After No.2 Envoy departed, the Cat Clan youth lowered his gaze to the young female hidden in his arms. Her face was impossibly red, and her rabbit ears trembled slightly. With every breath, her bite tightened.

His throat bobbed. The hand that had been resting on her back slowly moved away, returning to the armrest.

"You... may continue," he said slowly.

Yu Zhizhi’s face grew even redder.

She sniffled, adjusted her position slightly, and lifted her head, her forehead bumping right into his white mask. She let out a small "oof" of pain. Hearing a faint noise, she quickly ducked back down.

It was the Array that had transported the gift, and it was now disappearing.

Seeing the little Rabbit Clan female staying silent and trying her best to hide, the Cat Clan youth couldn’t help but let out a couple of muffled chuckles.

’...Not so brave, are we?’

’Perhaps just a little greedy.’

Yu Zhizhi’s legs and back ached. She had been the one doing all the work and had long since run out of strength.

Biting her lip, she couldn’t help but ask, "Is he gone?"

"He’s gone."

"Did he come to—to get the gift?"

"Mhm. It’s a gift for his precious daughter. The Divine Hall Alliance spent a long time looking for it. That beautiful little one should like it."

The Cat Clan youth noticed something.

The young female in his arms seemed to be making small talk, but in reality, she was out of energy and trying to take a break.

He chuckled softly. "If this is all you’ve got, I won’t be surrendering, you know."

The temple messenger placed his right hand on the top of her head. He slowly leaned in, his white mask pressing against her rabbit ear, his lowered voice like an electric current caressing her eardrum.

"You’ll have to try a lot harder, my Master."

...

Yu Zhizhi left the Divine Hall Illusion Realm.

She was curled up on the bed in the study, panting softly.

’Sob...’

’So tired.’

She had entered the Divine Hall during her afternoon nap, and now it was nearly evening. She slowly sat up, her bare feet touching the floor as she headed for the backyard.

She had to wash up before the Duke returned.

That evening, the Duke came back.

He picked up the little rabbit as usual, cradling her in his arms. She smelled of shower gel from her recent bath.

The Duke sat at his desk, reading a letter in his hand. He held the young female with one arm, stroking her soft rabbit ears from time to time.

Yu Zhizhi was hugging his long, slender smoking pipe, which still had the blue Luck Bag she had given the Duke hanging from it.

She toyed with it gently.

Her thoughts had long since drifted to the Divine Hall.

’...I wonder what [Zero]’s identity is in the real world?’

He wore a mask the entire time, so Yu Zhizhi couldn’t get a glimpse of his true face.

Curled up in the Duke’s arms like this, she thought for a while before drowsiness washed over her. Her eyelids grew heavy, and she fell asleep leaning against his chest, still hugging the pipe.

The Duke finished up some official business.

Seeing the little rabbit had fallen asleep, a hint of a smile appeared in his golden, serpentine eyes.

He stood up and carried her to the bed.

After laying her down, he tucked her in and prepared to leave.

Suddenly, he caught a whiff of...

A strange scent.

’—The bed?’

The Duke sat on the edge of the bed. He lowered his gaze to the little rabbit who was still hugging his pipe in her sleep, then his eyes fell upon the snow-white bedding. The Duke’s brow furrowed deeper and deeper.

’Why is there a faint, almost imperceptible scent of...’

’Catnip?’

He got up and began to slowly survey the entire room. ’Could a stray cat have snuck in while I wasn’t paying attention?’

The little rabbit had previously gone to the Cat Clan in Varolan to meet many of their males.

Because of that, the Duke had all the Cat Clan servants and guards in the entire estate transferred away.

And the study, in particular, was off-limits to any and all males.

(One more Chapter, please turn the page~)