DMPSA CH 11

Chapter 11: The Fragrant Golden Lily Oolong

At the end of May, Yue Qi noticed two new cats at the Night Owl Tea House—a mother cat and her kitten.

When the mother cat leaped onto his table, Yue Qi exclaimed in surprise, calling the cat’s name, “Jasmine!” Jasmine rolled onto her back, exposing her belly, inviting Yue Qi to pet her.

Su Qing walked over with a menu in hand. “I thought this might be your Jasmine. But now, she’s my cat.”

It turned out that at the beginning of May, Su Qing had taken the tea house’s cats to the veterinary clinic for their regular checkups. There, he happened to see this litter of mother and kitten. After speaking with the clinic assistant, he realized their story matched the one Yue Qi had mentioned about finding a stray cat. Curious, Su Qing asked about the person who had rescued them, and sure enough, it was a Mr. Yue.

This must be the very cat Yue Qi had rescued.

Su Qing stroked the mother cat’s head and played with the kittens for a while. Just then, the veterinarian returned the three cats Su Qing had brought in for their checkups.

“All done! They’re in great health,” the vet said. “Cha Cha behaved so well today, no fussing at all. And Hua Dian was much braver this time—not trembling as much as last time.”

“Meow!” protested Da Huang from inside the carrier.

The vet glanced down at Da Huang and couldn’t help but chuckle. “You need to lose some weight! Nine out of ten orange tabbies are chubby, and the last one is extra chubby. If you keep eating like this, you’re going to be that extra chubby one.”

Da Huang huffed, turning its back to the vet, clearly upset with these humans who constantly demanded it diet.

Su Qing took the carrier, laughing as he thanked the vet. Noticing Su Qing playing with the clinic’s foster cats, the vet had an idea and asked if he could adopt a few more. The vet explained that while three of the kittens had already been reserved, the mother cat and one of her black kittens were still waiting for a home.

Surprised, Su Qing remarked, “This one’s a ‘Snow-Stepping Cloud’! How is such a beautiful kitten still unadopted?”

The vet was equally astonished. “You know about the Snow-Stepping Cloud pattern?”

The term Snow-Stepping Cloud aptly describes a black cat as dark as an ink-black cloud, with four pristine white paws resembling clouds stepping on snow.

“Snow-Stepping Clouds are undeniably beautiful,” the vet said with a touch of melancholy. “But older generations often dislike cats or dogs with white paws, believing they bring bad luck. Little Snow has already been rejected twice after adoption plans fell through. Each time, a family elder saw the photos and refused to let them keep it.” The vet gently scratched the chin of the little black kitten and cooed, “But white paws are adorable, aren’t they? Right, little one?”

Su Qing, a cat lover through and through, had already observed them for some time. He noticed that the mother cat was very sociable, and the kitten was irresistibly cute. He even let Cha Cha, Hua Dian, and Da Huang greet the new pair. Although Da Huang was sulking, the other two cats curiously meowed at the new arrivals through the carrier.

After asking the vet about the health and temperament of the cats, Su Qing concluded that they would likely adapt well to the tea house’s bustling environment. He decided to bring the mother-and-kitten pair home.

From the vet, Su Qing learned that the mother cat had been temporarily named Jasmine by the rescuer. He saw no need to change it. As for her little male kitten, he simply named him Taxue^[1].

They had been at the Night Owl Tea House for nearly a month now. Little Taxue adapted quickly, while Jasmine, a former stray, was already used to humans due to her time wandering around A University’s campus. Students there were kind to stray animals, which had made Jasmine naturally unafraid of people.

Within their first week, the pair seamlessly joined the tea house’s “hosting squad,” taking on the task of accompanying guests.

Two weeks later, the kitten had grown fast and was fully showcasing his playful personality, much to Jasmine’s exasperation.

Even the originally friendly Hua Dian, Cha Cha, and Da Huang were thoroughly irritated by the new arrivals. The mother-and-kitten duo had stolen all the attention. Particularly the mischievous little kitten—adorable and cheeky—winning over the silly humans who couldn’t resist.

Right now, one such silly human was cuddling both cats, completely smitten.

Yue Qi wore the classic dumbfounded smile of a fool in love, holding the cats and burying his face in their fur. Hua Dian sat nearby, looking forlornly at his formerly loyal patron, letting out pitiful meows.

Su Qing nearly burst out laughing. He scooped up Hua Dian and handed it to Yue Qi. “Don’t forget about Hua Dian! He’s been waiting at the door for you all day.”

“Oh, Hua Dian, how could I forget you?” Yue Qi exclaimed, now looking like a satisfied gentleman with three adoring companions. He was so preoccupied with the cats that he didn’t even glance at the menu, simply telling Su Qing to serve “the usual.”

Chuckling, Su Qing returned to the counter to prepare tea. Yue Qi had recently developed a liking for Golden Lily Oolong^[2]. This lightly fermented tea had a low caffeine content and a natural creamy aroma with a hint of osmanthus. It was a popular choice among tea lovers.

Yue Qi used to let Su Qing choose his tea for him. Considering Yue Qi had to wake up early for work, Su Qing always recommended teas that were calming or low in caffeine. He often introduced Yue Qi to different teas until he stumbled upon Golden Lily Oolong. Yue Qi’s eyes lit up, and from that point onward, it became his regular choice. Su Qing suspected that the creamy flavor was the key to its appeal.

Most people loved Golden Lily Oolong for its natural milky aroma, but only a rare few could detect the subtle osmanthus fragrance hidden beneath the tea’s creamy notes.

Su Qing was one of those rare individuals. To him, the osmanthus aroma was far more enchanting than the milky scent.

Since entering the tea house, Yue Qi had been busy playing with the cats. Mischievous Little Taxue, ever fickle, played with him briefly before scampering off to the kitchen to bother the “boss cat.” Left behind, Jasmine and Hua Dian dutifully kept Yue Qi company. When Su Qing brought over tea and snacks, he also handed Yue Qi two mini crystal-wrapped dumplings, explaining that the Dragon Boat Festival was just around the corner and the tea house had ordered these dumpling-shaped treats as a special gesture for their customers.

Yue Qi finally looked up, glancing around the tea house. Sure enough, every table had the same adorable dumpling treats. While inspecting the delicate snack, he noticed some changes in the tea house’s decor.

New promotional posters adorned the walls, and the usual soothing music had been swapped for trendy pop songs. Yue Qi listened to the unfamiliar tunes and examined the posters, his expression surprised.

“Wow, they’re already releasing posters?” Yue Qi asked. “They’ve even got an album out?”

“Yeah,” Su Qing replied, glancing at the wall. “They’ve made it into the top ten now. Merchandise is starting to roll out, and this music is a compilation of their competition songs. A few girls brought the posters here two days ago. They knew Xiao Yang used to work here as a server, so they bought the posters and asked me to put them up to help promote their idol.”

Looking at the posters, Su Qing continued, “Next time Xiao Yang visits, I’ll have him autograph all of them. Then we can do something like a promotion—spend a thousand and get a poster, or collect ten receipts to redeem a signed one. It’s bound to attract customers.”

Yue Qi burst out laughing. “Leave it to you to think of something like that. You’re a natural businessman!”

“Boss, save two posters for me, too!” a customer at the next table chimed in, joining the lively banter.

“Don’t worry, there’ll be plenty! I’ll have him sign a few hundred. Everyone’s welcome to drop by and get one!” Su Qing cheerfully responded, entertaining the crowd.

Qin Yang, young and dashing with a good singing voice, had recently signed with a management company. The agency’s strategic branding molded his image into that of a sunny and innocent gentleman, endearing him to countless fans. In no time, he had captured the hearts of many young men and women alike.

“Your boyfriend’s a big star now,” Yue Qi commented earnestly. “Xiao Yang sings really well.”

“Doesn’t he?” Su Qing smiled, his head lowered as he wiped the counter.

Yet, Yue Qi couldn’t shake the feeling that Su Qing’s smile seemed forced, and his complexion appeared off.

Seated at the table closest to the counter, Yue Qi glanced around. The other customers were chatting amongst themselves, paying no attention to their corner. Only then did he lower his voice and ask cautiously, “Xiao Yang hasn’t been back since he left last time, has he?”

“Mm,” Su Qing replied softly.

“But it’s okay. He’ll come back once he gets through this busy period.” Su Qing lifted his head, flashing Yue Qi a reassuring smile, his voice filled with certainty.

As Qin Yang’s soulful singing played in the background, the night deepened. One by one, the customers settled their bills and left. After finishing his mini crystal dumplings, Yue Qi slung his bag over his shoulder, carried his tea in one hand, and held Hua Dian in the other, with Jasmine padding along at his feet. They moved to the cozy sofa by the bookshelf. Yue Qi picked up an old detective novel Su Qing had sourced from a secondhand bookstore and began reading with great interest.

The “boss cat”^[3] had clocked out early again, even taking little Taxue home with him. Su Qing, meanwhile, busied himself behind the counter, cleaning up the tea-making tools. The two of them chatted idly, the atmosphere light and easy.

Midway through their conversation, the faint aroma of oolong tea wafted through the air.

Yue Qi frowned, puzzled. Su Qing was tidying up, so how could there suddenly be tea brewing?

“Are you testing a new tea? It smells amazing—this must be a new Golden Lily! The osmanthus aroma is even stronger in this one; I can smell it from here.” Yue Qi shamelessly added, “Pour me a cup too. I’ll help you taste-test—”

Before he could finish, the sound of cups and plates crashing to the floor interrupted him.

“Su Qing?” Yue Qi called out toward the counter. “What happened? Do you need help?”

“No, I’m fine,” came Su Qing’s voice from behind the counter, strained but trying to sound calm. “I just knocked over a few cups. Let me clean up. Sorry about that…”

Su Qing was likely crouching behind the counter, picking up the shattered pieces. Yue Qi waited a while but didn’t see him emerge. Concerned, he asked again, “Are you sure you’re okay?” He set down the cats and started toward the counter to check, only to hear Su Qing’s heavy, labored breathing.

“Don’t come over!” Su Qing barked sharply from behind the counter. His raspy voice, tinged with panting, tried to sound commanding but lacked the ferocity of an angry cat.

Su Qing’s unusual behavior, coupled with the intensifying aroma of oolong tea, made Yue Qi realize something.

He understood instantly.

Su Qing was entering his heat.

(To Be Continued…)

T/L: So Su Qing is an Omega…? Omg （⊙_⊙）

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