Lin Yu and Chi Qingshui took a taxi back to the Apartment.
Before they even opened the door, they heard a commotion from inside.
"That's strange, what is Qimeng Jie doing? It sounds like her voice, right?"
Chi Qingshui asked suspiciously.
When Lin Yu opened the door and saw the chaotic living room on the first floor, he was truly shocked.
The living room looked like it had been robbed; the shoe rack near the entrance was askew, and slippers were scattered everywhere.
A vase had also toppled onto the wooden table, and water was everywhere on the floor.
Before the two who had just entered could ask any questions,
A girl wearing thick gloves was the first to speak, shouting:
"Xiao Yu, Xiao Chi, quickly close the door! Don't let Budong run out!"
The girl had her hair tied in a high ponytail, with a few wisps fluttering against her fair cheeks.
Her white short-sleeved top was tucked into light blue overalls, revealing her slender, straight long legs, showcasing her youthful vitality.
She had the aura of a refreshing, vibrant young girl.
Mao Ruirui!
The owner of a small pet shop!
She was usually generous and enthusiastic, loved sports, and adored small animals.
Lin Yu remembered she was… 25 years old?
At this moment, Mao Ruirui looked a bit disheveled; both straps of her overalls had fallen to her elbows.
She didn't bother to tidy herself, crouching and bending like a small leopard.
Not far in front of her was the “Budong” she had mentioned.
A Ragdoll Cat!
Normally, a Ragdoll Cat should be gentle and cute.
But at this moment, its tail was held high, its fur was bristling all over, and it was emitting fierce growls from its throat.
The way it moved, taking two steps at a time, suggested it was ready to dart off in an unknown direction at any moment.
Chi Qingshui was very obedient; she quickly closed the door, preventing Budong from potentially escaping outside.
Then, she immediately hid behind Lin Yu.
She wasn't afraid of gentle small animals, but the Budong in front of her was clearly anything but gentle.
"Xiao Yu, there are gloves by the door, remember to put them on!"
"Absolutely do not let the Cat scratch you, be careful!"
"The Cat just had its sterilization surgery, it's very irritable!"
Chen Qimeng's voice came from around the kitchen corner.
It seemed that...
Budong must not have spared the kitchen on the first floor.
The broom and dustpan lying around the corner were the best proof.
Seeing Chen Qimeng, Lin Yu was speechless!
Chen Qimeng was holding a stainless steel steamer pot and tiptoeing forward, ready to help.
Lin Yu: "..."
Don't be so ridiculous!
If it were a laundry basin, it would still make sense.
What on earth was a steamer pot for?
No wonder Budong was so irritable.
The poor Ragdoll gentleman had just been forcibly turned into a Ragdoll eunuch.
In the future, facing a room full of female Cats at the pet shop, he wouldn't be able to hold his head high as a Cat.
Coming home to throw a tantrum, and then being frantically hunted by two women.
How could it not be irritable?
"Swish!"
Before Lin Yu could think further,
Mao Ruirui moved first.
She pounced on Budong on the ground, like a leopard spotting its prey.
Unfortunately,
Though both were “felines,” a Cat’s speed was seven times that of a Cat.
Mao Ruirui landed with a "thud," while Budong deftly dodged, circled around the obstacles on the ground, and ran towards the stairwell.
"Oh, it got away again."
"Qimeng Jie, it's coming for you!"
Mao Ruirui regretfully patted the floor.
Chi Qingshui gripped Lin Yu's sleeve and exclaimed in surprise:
"Wow, this Cat is even fiercer than the last one, it can jump so high!"
"How are we going to catch it, it's too fast?"
Lin Yu picked up the gloves from the table and put them on.
Fast?
It was certainly agile.
But Budong's movements, in Lin Yu's eyes, seemed just average?
Was it the physical changes brought about by consuming the pill?
In any case, if he didn't act now, the next one to scream would be Chen Qimeng.
Seeing Budong run over, Chen Qimeng held the pot with both hands, gesticulating, moving back and forth...
Trusting the pot in her hands was less reliable than trusting the Cat to return to its cage on its own.
Lin Yu quickly ran out, heading straight for the stairwell on the first floor.
Chi Qingshui only felt a gentle breeze pass by.
When she reacted, she realized that Lin Yu, who had been blocking her, had disappeared.
Chen Qimeng's actions actually had a slight attracting effect.
It caused Budong to slow its escape slightly, buying Lin Yu some time.
Lin Yu seized the opportunity and lunged forward.
Chen Qimeng only saw a fleeting afterimage, not even clearly seeing who it was.
Budong's reaction was slightly faster; it jumped onto the stair railing.
It was preparing to play a game of "Qin Wang circles the pillar" before jumping back to shake off the annoying human who had caught up.
Only, unfortunately,
Budong's proud wild speed was like a child climbing and jumping wildly in Lin Yu's eyes.
The moment it was about to launch itself with a "swish."
Lin Yu's hands shot out extremely fast, firmly grabbing Budong.
The little creature still struggled incessantly, its Cat claws flailing in the air, emitting threatening growls.
But these posed no threat to Lin Yu whatsoever.
【Ding!】
【Excellent capture! The rampaging Spirit Beast has been completely subdued!】
【Congratulations, Host, for successfully completing the timed mission!】
【Reward: 50 sect contribution, 100 spirit stones!】
【Ding!】
【Your agile movements have revealed your potential to the sect elders; this child possesses the demeanor of an immortal, with limitless prospects!】
【Reward: 30 spirit stones】
"Ruirui Jie, I caught it."
Lin Yu held up Budong and called out to Mao Ruirui, who had just gotten up by the door.
The three women in the living room all looked towards Lin Yu in unison.
From the moment they realized Lin Yu had acted until the capture was completed,
The entire process was so fast that none of the three women clearly saw what Lin Yu had done.
"That's great! Xiao Yu, thanks to you, you reacted so fast! Wait for me... thirty seconds!"
Mao Ruirui excitedly ran over, then remembered something and ran towards the shoe rack.
Subsequently,
She retrieved the Cat carrier from the corner and, together with Lin Yu, carefully placed Budong inside.
During the process of putting the Cat back, their arms inevitably touched.
A virtual information panel appeared beside Mao Ruirui.
【Mao Ruirui】
【Age: 25 years old】
【Sect Identity: Ling Shou Yuan Elder】
【Intimacy Level with Host: 25% (Second Realm, Chance Encounter)】
【Number of Dao Companions (Soul Cultivation/Body Cultivation): (Intimacy level with Host not met, currently unavailable for viewing)】
【Attribute Skills: (Host's status is low, currently unavailable for viewing)】
【Other Information: (Host's status is low, currently unavailable for viewing)】
【Current Task:】
【Spirit Beast Feeding (Daily Task): The treated Spirit Beast is very weak and urgently needs food to replenish its spiritual energy.】
Ling Shou Yuan Elder!
What a grand title.
So, it turns out he's the only outer disciple intern in the entire Apartment, right?
Based on Lin Yu's judgment, Ruirui Jie was most likely not his online dating partner.
If she were, at least the intimacy level should reflect it.
Among the nine women in the Apartment, three had already been ruled out, further narrowing the scope.
"Xiao Yu, thankfully you were here, it was driving me crazy."
"I'll take it upstairs first, and I'll thank you properly later, big sister."
Mao Ruirui picked up the Cat carrier and said with a grateful expression.
Lin Yu replied easily:
"It's nothing, just a small favor. It really jumps high!"
Mao Ruirui suspiciously leaned closer to the Cat carrier and sniffed:
"No, it's not? Its urine doesn't smell bad."
"Hmm? It doesn't seem to have peed either."
Lin Yu: "..."
Among the female roommates, Lin Yu didn't have a deep impression of Mao Ruirui.
Hearing Mao Ruirui's reply made him instantly recall the "Hard of Hearing Sister" in the Apartment!
He was talking about the Cat jumping high, and she was talking about the Cat's urine smelling bad...
They were both talking about different things.
Absolutely a master of mishearing, guessing what others said.
Chen Qimeng put the steamer pot on the ground and hurried over.
She took off the gloves Lin Yu was wearing and thoroughly checked his palms, the backs of his hands, and his elbows...
"That's good, it's good you weren't scratched. Xiao Yu, you're really amazing, your reaction was so fast!"
"I hadn't even reacted, and you had already caught it!"
Chen Qimeng gave a thumbs-up, praising him with gentle concern.
Chi Qingshui also came to Lin Yu's side, looking up at him with starry eyes:
"Xiao Lin! You just went 'swish'... 'thud'... 'meow'!"
"And then... you caught the Ragdoll Cat!"
"Whoo-hoo!"
"Like an actor in an action movie, Lin Cheng Long!"
"So cool!"
Chi Qingshui gestured with both hands and feet, her skirt flapping continuously.
From the perspective of the three women, Chi Qingshui was the only one standing at the doorway, providing a wide-angle view.
She saw all of Lin Yu's actions.
His agile posture and sharp movements stimulated the little homebody's nerves.
"Haha, Cheng Long is a bit too exaggerated, isn't it?"
Lin Yu felt a small sense of pride inside.
Sincere praise, whether from men or women, is always well-received.
Mao Ruirui, contentedly holding the Cat carrier, said, "Qimeng Jie, Xiao Chi, I'm going upstairs now. You two chat."
Chi Qingshui nodded in agreement: "Okay, Ruirui Jie, and Cat, you be good."
Watching Mao Ruirui's retreating figure as she went upstairs, Lin Yu couldn't help but lower his voice and complain to Chen Qimeng:
"Ruirui Jie is still the same, she seems quite deaf!"
As soon as he finished speaking,
Mao Ruirui, who was going upstairs, immediately stopped.
Lin Yu's heart tightened, and he awkwardly looked up at the stairs.
She didn't hear that, did she?
Isn't she hard of hearing?
But then...
Mao Ruirui looked out the window on the stairs: "Where are there eagles?"
Lin Yu: "..."
Chen Qimeng: "..."
Chi Qingshui: "..."
...
After the farce ended,
Chi Qingshui, holding the gifts and Lin Yu's action figures, returned to her room first.
Lin Yu, on the other hand, stayed in the kitchen, wanting to help Chen Qimeng with tasks.
Although the ten people in the Apartment lived under the same roof,
Their daily meals were separate; there was also a small kitchen on the second floor for everyone's use.
Chen Qimeng only prepared a day's worth of food and drink for herself and Lin Yu.
Occasionally, she would call upon individuals who hadn't eaten, were too lazy to eat, or didn't feel like eating.
Today, she had specially prepared a portion for Chi Qingshui as well.
With her elder sister Qingshui not at home, her self-care abilities were quite concerning.
Before Qingshui returned to her hometown, she had specifically asked Qimeng Jie to look after her younger sister, and even forcibly gave her a few days' worth of food expenses.
Although the two sisters were young, they were quite sensible in their actions.
Looking at the fish, beef, and various vegetables laid out on the kitchen table...
Lin Yu asked in puzzlement:
"Qimeng Jie, even if we add an extra pair of chopsticks for Xiao Chi, we can't possibly finish this much, can we?"
"Is it overly lavish, or is today some special occasion?"
Chen Qimeng, while picking vegetables, said,
"It's not three people, it's four. Ying'er from upstairs will also be eating with us."
