Peach-Orange! – Chapter 266 – The “New Member” of the Family

While Su Tao was lost in her thoughts, Chi Xiaocheng had already picked up King with a look of disdain.

“Why did you get so dirty? You’re staining the floor. Couldn’t you have cleaned up outside before coming back?”

Compared to the night they first met, King now looked like it had rummaged through several trash cans, reeking of filth.

King gazed at Chi Xiaocheng pitifully and helplessly.

After letting out a soft “meow,” it turned its head toward the ragdoll cat and called out twice.

Under normal circumstances, the haughty King would have responded to Chi Xiaocheng’s complaints with a look of contempt before strutting over to Su Tao, as if to say, “Foolish human, hurry up and clean me!”

But now, for some reason, it lowered its proud little head.

Its tone conveyed a message to Chi Xiaocheng:

It hoped she would take in the ragdoll cat behind it.

Only then did Chi Xiaocheng take a proper look at the timid, somewhat nervous ragdoll cat.

Its fur was pure white and silky smooth, with a small patch of cherry-pink on its forehead. However, after being out on the streets, its pristine coat was inevitably stained with dust and dirt.

The ragdoll cat sat obediently on the floor, as if allowing Chi Xiaocheng to inspect it better, though its darting eyes still betrayed unease.

It resembled an elegant little princess who had been lost, still shy and fearful. If Chi Xiaocheng didn’t have her affinity skills, the little thing probably wouldn’t even dare to step inside.

Looking back down at King’s pleading eyes, Chi Xiaocheng couldn’t help but ask, “Where did it come from?”

“Meow meow!”

Chi Xiaocheng nodded slightly. “So you picked it up. But why this one out of all the stray cats outside? Because it’s pretty?”

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She poked King’s face. “You little pervert, always making trouble for your owner!”

Still, Chi Xiaocheng didn’t refuse. Instead, she turned to Su Tao, who was walking over. “Tao-Tao, can we adopt this cat?”

“This ragdoll is clearly someone’s pet. Look, it even has a little tag on its neck. It might be lost. We should contact its owner first.”

Hearing this, Chi Xiaocheng realized—

King might have lured it here rather than simply “picking it up.”

She tossed King aside and crouched down, beckoning to the ragdoll cat. “Come here, little one~”

After a brief hesitation, the ragdoll cat stood up and walked over to Chi Xiaocheng before obediently lying down again, suppressing any possible aggression.

Compared to King, whose intelligence had been enhanced by Chi Xiaocheng’s medicine, this ragdoll cat was far more clever.

After gently petting the cat to ease its wariness, Chi Xiaocheng took the tag hanging from its neck and read the two characters engraved on it.

“Ying Ran.”

“Meow~~”

Hearing its name, the ragdoll cat responded softly.

Flipping the tag over, Chi Xiaocheng found a phone number on the back.

She and Su Tao exchanged glances before Chi Xiaocheng took out her phone and dialed the number.

“Who is this?” A timid female voice answered.

Chi Xiaocheng replied calmly, “Hello, did you lose a ragdoll cat named Ying Ran? It’s white with a bit of cherry-pink fur on its forehead.”

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The girl on the other end fell silent for a long moment before taking a deep breath and saying slowly, “My family went bankrupt… We can’t afford to keep the cat anymore. Please take it to a stray cat shelter or something.

“If you want to adopt it… please treat it well. Also, it likes….”

As if pouring out her sorrows, the girl slowly explained the ragdoll cat’s habits.

By the end, her voice carried a hint of tears.

Before Chi Xiaocheng could say anything else, the girl apologized and hung up.

In the background of the call, the sound of two people arguing and glass shattering could faintly be heard.

Bankruptcy, arguments, a cat….

Chi Xiaocheng sighed softly and looked at Su Tao again. “Tao-Tao, should we keep it?”

Or rather, what she was really asking was: Can our family afford another cat?

Though Chi Xiaocheng could earn some money using her hacking skills, maintaining her persona meant she absolutely couldn’t tell Su Tao about it.

Right now, Su Tao was the one managing the household finances.

Since Chi Xiaocheng had asked, Su Tao naturally wouldn’t refuse.

Just the fact that the “new member” was this ragdoll cat and not Fang Ning was reason enough for her to agree.

“I’ll go give them a bath. They’re both filthy right now.”

“Need any help?”

“No need. Xiaocheng can just wait in the living room.”

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In a good mood, Su Tao didn’t even wait for the cats to protest before picking up the little white ragdoll.

“From now on, Ying Ran, this will be your new home~”

At that, King immediately ran over and rubbed against Su Tao’s socks. “Meow meow~”

It wanted to be carried too.

But Su Tao gently nudged King aside with her foot. “I can’t carry both of you at once. I still haven’t scolded you for dirtying the floor. Follow me on your own.”

“Meow?”

‘What’s this, servant? You’ve got a new cat and forgotten the old one?’

Bathing cats was a hassle, and Chi Xiaocheng would’ve found it tedious.

But Su Tao happily took care of everything. In no other aspect did she exude a “housewife” vibe, but when it came to chores, one couldn’t help but think of her that way.

Evening soon arrived.

The sound of fireworks and firecrackers filled the air outside. Seeing Chi Xiaocheng standing on the balcony and gazing at the sky, Su Tao had an idea.

“Xiaocheng, do you want to go see the fireworks show?”

Chi Xiaocheng turned her head. “Fireworks show?”

“Yeah.” Su Tao nodded and pulled out her phone. “It’s by the riverside. They have a fireworks display every year, plus a drone show. Look at last year’s video….”

She played the video, thinking that if they went together this year, it would surely become a wonderful memory.

After all, emotions flourished in the right atmosphere. Countless confessions in novels and manga happened under fireworks. Maybe, in that romantic setting, her relationship with Xiaocheng would grow closer too?

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This New Year’s, with just the two of them, Su Tao had many ideas.

She wanted to experience them all with Xiaocheng.

But to her surprise, the girl on the balcony declined her invitation.

“The fireworks show starts at 9 p.m., right? It’s too late, so let’s not go. Besides….”

“Besides?”

Su Tao paused at those last words.

Just then, a “ding-dong” echoed through the living room.

The doorbell had been pressed.

Chi Xiaocheng’s face lit up with joy. “Besides, I invited Ningning to come play! Whether we go to the fireworks show or not, let’s ask her first.”

She scampered happily toward the door, her short legs carrying her swiftly. “Coming, coming! I’ll get it!”

Her tone was far more cheerful than when she spoke to Su Tao.

Watching that retreating figure, Su Tao’s expression gradually stiffened.

The echo of Chi Xiaocheng’s words from noon rang in her ears.

New member….

With a bitter chuckle, her hopes for a romantic evening for two dissolved into disappointment.