Chapter 69 – Kissing the instep

Tang Qing ignored Lu Bei and took a few steps back, trying to pretend he didn’t know this person. Feeling the onlookers’ complex gazes, he was so embarrassed that he felt like jumping into the lake.

Was it too late to change his name now?

He quickly left the school and returned home. He felt incredibly lucky for the first time that his house was close to the school, allowing him to return home whenever he wanted.

As he opened the door with his keys, Lu Bei’s tall figure once again leaned in, speaking by Tang Qing’s ear, his breath tickling his earlobe, almost pressing against Tang Qing.

In a lazy and leisurely tone, Lu Bei said, “Why, is my little cat feeling shy?”

Tang Qing was getting goosebumps and didn’t want to engage with him, impatiently nudging him a few times with his elbow.

But the force was too light, and Lu Bei’s athletic body remained stiff, feeling no different from a cat’s scratch.

Lu Bei paid no attention, putting his arms around Tang Qing, half-hugging him, his chest rubbing against Tang Qing’s back over their clothes, feeling quite comfortable.

“Aren’t you my little cat that I’ve raised since you were young? Why are you still denying it, you lousy cat,” Lu Bei said. This wasn’t an exaggeration. When Tang Qing was young, his parents were often away on business trips, and they would often leave Tang Qing with Lu Bei’s family. Later, when Lu Bei found out that Tang Qing could turn into a cat, he treated the little cat as his own.

Of course, Lu Bei’s parents were unaware of Tang Qing’s ability to transform into a cat. They thought Lu Bei was just helping to look after a little kitten from Tang Qing’s family.

When the little cat was sick as a child, Lu Bei would sleep with the cat every night, paying close attention to its health. He would feed it water and goat’s milk, clean up after it, and take care of it even more meticulously than Tang Qing’s parents, being more attentive and thoughtful.

As the Lu family’s business grew, they became one of the prominent wealthy families in City A. Although they had bought a luxurious villa, they still primarily lived in their old house because Lu Bei refused to move.

“Stop fooling around, someone’s coming.”

Tang Qing heard the footsteps and the door opening, giving Lu Bei a stern look.

It turned out to be Lu Bei’s parents returning. They had come back to see their son, but finding him not at home, they realized he was next door again.

Lu Bei’s mother warmly invited, “Tang Tang, come and have dinner with Xiao Bei.”

Tang Qing smiled and nodded, exchanging pleasantries with them. The Lu parents had always treated him like a half son, especially in recent years when his own parents were often overseas, he saw Lu’s parents more frequently than his own.

Mother Lu prepared a table full of dishes, half of which Tang Qing loved, and the other half was also his favorite.

Because Mother Lu knew that if she asked Lu Bei what dishes he wanted, he would always mention the ones Tang Qing liked.

At the dining table, Lu Bei skillfully peeled the crab for Tang Qing, placing the meat in his bowl. “Tang Tang, have more. Mom’s crab is delicious. I’ll have her make it for you again tomorrow.”

Mother Lu chuckled, “Yes, yes, Tang Tang, come over tomorrow.”

Tang Qing repeatedly thanked Mother Lu. He knew it would be impolite to have Lu’s parents see their son not eating at all and only serving him. However, from childhood to now, whenever Lu Bei was around, he insisted on peeling all shell-covered foods for Tang Qing, regardless of the occasion or any attempts to dissuade him.

Father Lu asked, “Xiao Bei, it’s been a while since school started. Are you dating anyone?”

Lu Bei, focused on peeling the crab, casually replied without looking at his father, “Not interested.”

Father Lu didn’t want to deal with his rebellious son and turned to Tang Qing, asking, “What about you, Tang Tang? Have you made any friends?”

Tang Qing quickly answered, “No, uncle.”

Mother Lu teased, “Tang Tang, you’re so pretty, and your personality isn’t as stubborn as that stinky kid Xiao Bei. Surely many girls like you.”

Lu Bei immediately became displeased and impatiently interrupted, “What are you two doing? How can you encourage Tang Tang to date early?”

Mother Lu laughed, “Still dating early in university. Xiao Bei, you can’t assume Tang Tang is like you. My silly son.”

Lu Bei didn’t understand what “still dating early” meant, he just looked sternly at his mother, “Mom, don’t talk nonsense. Tang Tang promised me he won’t date. We’ve decided to be together for life and won’t marry anyone else.”

Hearing this, Mother Lu and father exchanged a glance, their expressions turning serious. They earnestly said, “Xiao Bei, we’ve told you many times. Tang Tang has his own life. He can freely decide who he wants to be friends with, and you can’t restrict his life.”

At this, Lu Bei stopped his careless demeanor, his expression turning cold as he gazed at his parents, “What do you mean? Isn’t it enough for Tang Tang to have me? Do you also want to encourage him to make new friends? What’s the point of new friends? Who else can take care of him like I do?”

Tang Qing watched the three of them argue shortly after meeting, feeling a headache coming on. He quickly intervened, “Uncle and aunt, Lu Bei isn’t restricting my life. I’m not an adult yet, and my focus is on studying. I currently have no plans to date.”

Upon hearing Tang Qing’s response, Lu Bei shot a triumphant look at his parents, his face expressing satisfaction. If he were a dog, his tail would be wagging right now.

He detested his parents’ constant criticism of his control over Tang Qing.

That’s his Tang Tang, the one he’s cared for since childhood, the Tang Tang he’s unwilling to let suffer even a bit. He carefully screens Tang Qing’s circle of friends, all for Tang Qing’s well-being.

Otherwise, with Tang Qing being so cute, having a soft personality, there are surely many ill-intentioned people around him.

Father Lu and Mother Lu exchanged a helpless glance, another failed attempt at communication. They had long noticed their son’s almost pathological obsession with controlling Tang Qing, far beyond normal possessiveness.

It was truly incomprehensible. Both parents were intellectuals, and the family had no history of mental illness. Why did they raise such a twisted son? Whenever there was an issue involving Tang Qing, he behaved like a mad dog, impossible to reason with.

Fortunately, Tang Qing had a good temperament and could tolerate their silly son.

Thinking about this, Mother Lu peeled two shrimp and put them in Tang Qing’s bowl, saying with concern, “Tang Tang, you work hard studying, eat more.”

Tang Qing looked at the bowl full of crab meat and shrimp, thanking Mother Lu.

In the evening, Lu Bei followed Tang Qing back home. While Tang Qing was studying after taking a shower, Lu Bei went to the bathroom to get Tang Qing’s newly changed clothes.

He picked up Tang Qing’s socks and couldn’t help but glance at them again.

When his Tang Tang wore white socks, his legs looked slim and long, giving a special feeling. In his eyes, they were even more beautiful than a goddess wearing high heels.

Moreover, Tang Qing rarely sweated, and he often smelled him, always catching a faint body fragrance.

He dared to guarantee that Tang Qing’s socks must also smell good.

Thinking this, he casually brought the socks to his nose and took a sniff.

Indeed, he knew it – his Tang Tang’s feet smelled good.

He wasn’t a pervert; he just wanted to prove to himself that he wasn’t mistaken.

—

It was not yet six in the morning, the sun hadn’t fully risen, everything was silent. A hint of light appeared on the eastern horizon, gently dyeing the pale blue sky.

Tang Qing, who should be sleeping soundly, woke up groggily.

It was still early, and he hadn’t turned back into a human yet, still in his fluffy tuxedo cat form.

He realized that his cat hind legs were being lifted, and warm breath was falling on his feet.

“Meow.”

Tang Qing was deeply asleep, his voice groggy, very soft and low.

He impatiently kicked out and turned to see Lu Bei holding his furry cat paws, sniffing them continuously. “Tang Tang, your feet smell so good…”

“Meow!”

Had this guy forgotten to take his medication again? He seemed crazy so early in the morning. The cat struggled impatiently.

Seeing Tang Qing awake, Lu Bei simply turned him over, burying his face into the cat’s belly. The cat’s belly was soft and fluffy, warm to the touch. Lu Bei deeply inhaled, feeling like he was melting.

“Tang Tang, you’re so soft, my little soft Tang Tang.”

Tang Qing couldn’t stand it, feeling so bothered. He glared fiercely at Lu Bei, who, with a face that had been adored and admired by many girls, was now completely infatuated.

Like a maniac.

Tang Qing’s paw hit this annoying guy’s face, disturbing his peaceful dream.

“Meow!”

The maniac, however, seemed delighted, taking Tang Qing’s paw in his hands, holding it up, squeezing the pink paw pads, and kissing them several times. “I’ve noticed, Tang Tang’s paw pads have a very special scent, quite intoxicating.”

When watching videos, Tang Qing had seen many people secretly sniffing cats while they slept. He concluded which parts of his body the master could touch and which parts he couldn’t when he was a cat.

Now that he was a cat, he realized that those who filmed these videos should be dragged out and severely punished!

He jumped up, ready to pull his paw away and show the weirdo Lu Bei who’s boss.

But suddenly, a feverish feeling overcame him, and Lu Bei in his view shrunk, becoming the same size as himself.

Lu Bei dumbfoundedly held Tang Qing’s paw, looking at the young man lying on the bed.

The boy’s face still showed annoyance, his black almond eyes wide open, staring at him, his fair face turning crimson.

Lu Bei’s gaze traveled from the boy’s delicate face, graceful swan-like neck, the two pinkish spots on his chest, soft waist, slender legs, all the way down to the snow-white feet in his hands.

This was the reason why Tang Qing never let Lu Bei sleep with him at night.

When he turned back into a human in the morning, he wasn’t wearing any clothes!

Lu Bei, seeing Tang Qing’s darkened expression, stammered, “I, um, got carried away and forgot…”

He looked at the smooth and delicate snow-white foot in his hand. The ankle was cool, the joints distinct, exquisitely delicate, like a fine piece of art.

For a moment, he forgot about Tang Qing’s angry gaze, leaning down until his face was almost touching the foot.

He devoutly placed a kiss on it.

Unable to tolerate it anymore, Tang Qing clenched his fist and swung it.