Chapter 21: Cat – Fated Encounter vs Childhood Friend
Another morning.
Xi Nian put on his outdoor winter clothes and headed for school. It was the last day of classes for the week. The day after tomorrow would be Christmas, and schools across America would start winter break tomorrow—a full week off.
Passing through the usual intersection, he didn't see Gwen this time. Maybe she was still out sick.
But as he walked past the road beside his neighborhood, a small orange shadow suddenly darted out from the park lawn, startling Xi Nian.
Maybe it was because ever since that night he'd stepped into the extraordinary world, he had been constantly exposed to things beyond imagination.
With one foot already on the threshold of the supernatural, Xi Nian's mind was tired, his worldview was constantly being reshaped, and he stayed tense at all times.
Cautiously scanning the area, he saw the figure—a small cat crouching on the ground. Not even a year old, its tiny frame looked thin and frail. Its orange fur revealed its breed.
"Just a little stray cat," Xi Nian sighed in relief, though he couldn't help but smile bitterly.
He really was on edge lately. The world was big—no way he'd run into superhuman things at every corner.
"Hungry, huh?"
The kitten had no collar, looking dirty and pitiful. Clearly it was a stray abandoned at the park.
Thinking for a moment, Xi Nian jogged to a nearby convenience store, bought three hot dogs, and returned.
But when he approached, the little orange cat quickly retreated into the grass, its pair of emerald vertical pupils glaring out, full of guarded suspicion.
"It's food, see?" Xi Nian said. He unwrapped one hot dog in front of it and took a big bite himself, then placed the other two on the ground in front of the bushes.
Since class was about to start, Xi Nian didn't linger.
After leaving the park, he turned back once, just in time to see the grass rustle violently. The hot dogs on the ground had vanished without a trace.
Xi Nian chuckled and went on toward school.
In the bushes.
Those emerald eyes quietly followed Xi Nian's departing figure. The little cat licked its paw. Its belly showed no sign of being full, and the two hot dogs—including the wrappers—had completely disappeared.
…
At the school gate.
Xi Nian ran into Gwen, who had arrived at the same time. Both froze for a moment at the sight of each other.
"Gwen, feeling better from your cold?" Xi Nian called out with a smile.
But Gwen puffed her cheeks, pretended not to see him, and quickly strode into the school.
Xi Nian blinked in confusion.
What was that about?
Girls' thoughts really were hard to guess.
Shaking his head, he decided not to overthink it.
But chasing her—that he would do.
Xi Nian sped up, but the faster he ran, the faster Gwen dashed away.
One after another, they ran into the school building.
Just then, a voice called out to Xi Nian from the hallway: "Excuse me, senior, can you stop for a moment?"
Looking up, Xi Nian saw a girl about fifteen.
Her golden hair was tied into a plain ponytail, messy strands hanging over her forehead and cheeks. She wore thick black glasses, head lowered shyly, making her look like the quiet, invisible type—or the kind of girl bullies often picked on.
Xi Nian didn't remember her well, but out of politeness he asked gently, "What is it, classmate?"
"Um…" The girl hesitated, biting her lip before mustering her courage. "My name is Kara Danvers. We met at the school's opening ceremony."
"Oh, I remember." Xi Nian nodded. That day she had been sitting alone in a corner, isolated from the crowd. It had reminded him of his own lonely childhood before meeting Gwen, so he had approached her and explained some school rules.
But that was nearly half a year ago.
"You still remember me." Kara's eyes suddenly lit up. She lifted her head slightly, staring straight at Xi Nian. Her hesitation melted away, as if she had finally made up her mind.
"Hm?" Gwen, who had stopped further down the hallway, felt a sudden chill in her chest. Whether it was her sharp spider-sense or just a girl's instinct, something felt wrong.
She wanted to step in and interrupt.
But as if predicting Gwen's move, Kara clenched her fists tightly and blurted out quickly, her voice rushing forward with all her courage:
"Senior, I… I like you! Please go out with me!"
Her voice wasn't too loud, but it wasn't quiet either. Nearly everyone in the hallway heard it.
Xi Nian's mouth fell open.
"What—!" Gwen's eyes widened in shock. Within seconds, the whole hallway erupted in noise.
"Youth is wonderful," a passing teacher muttered, pretending not to notice.
…
The bell rang for the next class.
The vast campus buzzed with noise as students poured out of classrooms. Most were chatting about homework or lunch, but plenty were gossiping about the silver-haired goddess and this morning's public confession.
Childhood friend vs sudden new girl?
The school's most popular vs the least popular?
This was definitely making the campus newsletter. Luckily, break was starting tomorrow.
Meanwhile, the boy at the center of it all—Xi Nian—had already packed his things and slipped out of the gate. Behind him, Gwen stomped quickly after him, boots clattering, her earlier sulkiness already forgotten.
"Xi Nian!" she snapped, cheeks puffed. "You didn't seriously accept that girl's confession, did you?"
"It wasn't the first time we met," Xi Nian corrected. "It was the second."
"The second? That's even worse!" Gwen fumed.
"Relax. I didn't accept her."
"But you didn't reject her either!"
"That's because…" Xi Nian paused, then looked at her seriously. "Do you realize how much courage it takes to confess like that in front of everyone?"
He sighed softly. "I haven't decided yet how to respond to that kind of courage and determination." He gave Gwen an apologetic smile. "Sorry, Gwen. I dragged you into this. It really doesn't have anything to do with you."
Gwen stared blankly at his retreating back. Her lips, soft and pink, were pressed tightly between her teeth.
No, she thought. This has everything to do with me.
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