Nekomiya impatiently tore open the can, her claws—sharp even in her humanoid form—making quick work of the metal lid. She grabbed a plump, oily mackerel fillet and shoved it into her mouth. Before she could manage two proper chews, her hand dove back in for another, stuffing it in alongside the first.
"Mmmh! So delicious!"
In just a short while, the entire can was empty. Before she had even swallowed the mouthful bulging in her cheeks, she was already fumbling to open the next one, her tail lashing with frantic, happy energy behind her.
Ye Qingfeng was completely stunned, watching her whirlwind eating style. The controlled, almost elegant girl from moments ago had vanished, replaced by a creature of pure, ravenous instinct.
Look at how hungry the poor thing is... How long has it been since she's eaten?
Judging by her state and what she'd said earlier, she was probably living on the streets. It was possible she was in a situation like Nicole's, deep in debt, or maybe even worse. She didn't look like a fugitive or anything. I'll give her some Dennies later, as a good deed.
Of course! If I could also get to pet those cat ears again, that would be even better!!
"Wah—!"
Just as Ye Qingfeng was lost in thought, Nekomiya, eating far too quickly, choked. Her eyes went wide. She pounded her own chest with one fist while slowly reaching her other hand out toward him, her voice a strangled gasp. "Cho... choking..."
"Quick, quick! Have some water!"
Ye Qingfeng snapped into action, pulling out a bottle of mineral water. He thrust it toward her. She frantically grabbed it but fumbled with the plastic cap, her slick, panicked fingers unable to get a proper grip. She twisted and turned it to no avail.
A pair of large, watery eyes—gleaming with unshed tears from the choking—looked up at Ye Qingfeng pitifully.
...Is she an idiot?
He didn't waste any more words. He took the bottle back, twisted the cap open with one effortless motion, brought it to Nekomiya's lips, and placed his other hand firmly on her back, patting with just the right amount of force.
"Gulp, gulp, ahhh! I'm alive!"
Nekomiya chugged down more than half the bottle. Thanks to Ye Qingfeng's quick intervention, she recovered rapidly. She bent over, hands on her knees, panting heavily. "I thought I was a goner..."
[Ding! Nekomiya's favorability has increased by 5%. Current favorability: 20%]
Ye Qingfeng looked at her heaving form and felt a cold dread. If she had been wandering on the streets for two more days, he might never have seen this "romance target" of his again...
Because he had pressed the bottle right to her mouth and poured, nearly half of the water had spilled from the corners of her lips, cascading down her chin and neck, soaking a large, dark patch into the front of her already thin clothing.
Clearly, Nekomiya's clothes weren't the kind that became transparent when wet, but the soaked fabric clung tightly to her skin, outlining the contours of her body without reservation.
On closer inspection, Nekomiya had a pretty decent figure. Of course, compared to Anby or Qingyi, she was slimmer, and she couldn't compare to the more... substantial assets of Nicole or Zhu Yuan.
That's right, when she pounced on him earlier, she was pressed right up against him... but he'd been too flustered then to pay much attention.
"Benefactor, benefactor! Why is your face a little red?" Nekomiya straightened up, standing on her tiptoes to wave a hand in front of Ye Qingfeng's glazed eyes. "Are you not feeling well?"
Ye Qingfeng had just snapped out of his daze when he lowered his gaze. The sight that greeted him was undeniably alluring. The dark, wet fabric clung to her skin, revealing a tantalizing deep shadow and a hint of soft, pale curve. It was a line that see med capable of snaring a person's soul.
"It's nothing... I just feel a little hot..." Ye Qingfeng's voice was slightly strained. Afraid he'd lose control, he immediately averted his gaze. The flush on his face didn't fade. The image of Nekomiya's curves and that pale line kept flashing behind his eyes. He raised a hand to fan himself, but it was a futile gesture against the heat rising within.
"But I feel a little cold!" Nekomiya shuddered, finally noticing her own discomfort. She looked down and saw the large, damp stain. She plucked at the fabric where it stuck to her skin. "Ugh, how did my clothes get so wet? This feels awful!"
Then, as if remembering something important, her cat ears perked up. "Oh, right! Benefactor! I don't even know your name yet!"
"Ye Qingfeng. Just call me Qingfeng." He fumbled in his pocket and pulled out a pack of tissues, handing them to her. "Here, wipe yourself... By the way, why are you calling me 'benefactor,' anyway? Just for two cans?"
"No, no, no!" Nekomiya shook her head vigorously, her damp hair flying. "These aren't just any cans! This is the super-duper delicious mackerel can!"
"..."
Nekomiya tore open the pack of tissues, pulled out a few, and inelegantly dabbed and pressed them against her chest. After the tissues had absorbed most of the moisture, she slowly looked up at Ye Qingfeng again, her large eyes blinking. "Benefactor, I'm still so cold!"
More accurately, she was staring pointedly at his jacket.
The corner of Ye Qingfeng's mouth twitched. Now that she's eaten and drunk her fill, she's eyeing his clothes? Does he look like an easy pushover? He was genuinely speechless.
"...Here you go."
But he still found himself taking off his jacket and handing it to her. After all, he was indirectly responsible for her predicament.
"Thank you so much, benefactor!" Nekomiya snatched the jacket from his hand, as if afraid he'd change his mind, and quickly slip into it, zipping it up all the way.
On Nekomiya's smaller frame, Ye Qingfeng's jacket was comically oversized. She could barely poke two fingertips out of the sleeves, and the hem hung down, covering half of her thighs, making it look like she was wearing a loose minidress.
"It smells like the benefactor!" Nekomiya lowered her head, burying her nose in the collar and taking a deep, audible sniff. A contented smile spread across her face. "Mmm... it smells so good!"
Ye Qingfeng's heart, already in turmoil, did another somersault. He was forcefully suppressing a rising, restless fire within him, but Nekomiya, completely unaware, was teasing his senses at every turn.
Ever since arriving in this world, Ye Qingfeng felt there were only two clear benefits.
One was the chance to forget past experiences and start anew.
The second was that this world was home to beastfolk.
When elements like fluffy fur, nimble, expressive ears, and swishing tails were combined with a human form, the effect was explosively potent, creating an allure greater than the sum of its parts.
"Nekomiya." Ye Qingfeng's voice dropped slightly. He took a deliberate stride forward, closing the distance between them. He now stood directly before her, his shadow falling over her. "Since I'm your benefactor now, shouldn't you... repay me?"
"Wha... what do you want..."
Nekomiya looked up at the suddenly imposing figure before her, subconsciously swallowing. She slowly tilted her head back, her large, watery eyes reflecting a flicker of weakness and helplessness. An inexplicable, familiar scent from the jacket—his scent—seemed to wash over her, more concentrated now.
It was unclear if she was stunned by his sudden proximity or if this intimate aura had triggered a deep, instinctual flutter, but a heat began to radiate from her own core. Her limbs felt strangely weak, refusing to obey her mind's command to step back.
"That kind of thing... no!" Her voice was a breathy whisper. "At least not... here..."
Nekomiya tried to will her feet to move, but they remained rooted. The blush on her cheeks deepened, painting her delicate features with a captivating hue. Perhaps due to a lack of confidence or the overwhelming sensations, her voice trembled, taking on a soft, almost sticky quality.
"Here I come!"
Ye Qingfeng looked down at her with a grin that was equal parts playful and predatory. His hands, which had somehow risen to shoulder level, began their slow, deliberate descent toward her.
"No..."
Nekomiya seemed to give up the struggle. She squeezed her eyes shut tightly, her breathing suddenly becoming shallow and rapid. A fine tremor ran through her body.
Then, his hands found their targets...her ears.
Two large, warm palms settled firmly on her shoulders, just above the collar of the oversized jacket. His thumbs began to rub slow, firm circles into the tense muscles there.
"Ah~ Not there... you can't! Meow—!!"
A surprised, choked mewl escaped her. The sudden, intimate contact and the skilled pressure on her stiff shoulders sent a jolt through her system that was entirely different, yet no less overwhelming, than the ear-rubbing. A wave of relaxation mixed with acute sensitivity flooded her nerves.
Nekomiya panted heavily, the continuous, kneading stimulation melting the tension from her body and clouding her mind. Her small, pink tongue peeked out unconsciously, the tip glistening. A single, crystal-clear thread of drool escaped the corner of her slack mouth.
"Ha... ha! It's too much... I'm gonna break..." she slurred, her body going limp, supported entirely by his hands on her shoulders and the wall at her back.
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