Peninsula: I run a bed and breakfast on Jeju Island

In the evening, the two ate dinner as usual.

Choi Jin-ri returned to her bedroom, preparing to let Brin get used to the new cat bed she had bought.

As soon as she was about to put the pudding on, it wrapped itself around Choi Jin-ri's arm with its arms and legs.

"Oh!" She gently patted its head. "This is where you sleep. It's not like it's some kind of hellhole."

"It's not much different from the one we had at home before, is it?"

Brin showed no sign of loosening her grip; her fine nails gently snagged the fabric, not hurting her, but binding it tightly.

It buried its head in her arms, making soft purring sounds, and every now and then it would lift its head and rub its nose against her wrist.

"Meow~"

Choi Jin-ri's heart softened immediately.

She squatted on the bedroom carpet, her arms aching from being wrapped in it, but she couldn't bear to pull it off forcefully. She could only use her other hand to stroke its back gently.

"You little clingy thing," she said softly, gently scratching its chin with her fingertips, "Didn't you always sleep by yourself at home? Why are you clinging to me here?"

"It could also be because they recognize the taste."

Choi Jin-ri looked in the direction of the sound.

Li Ran stood at the door holding a glass of warm milk.

He came in, placed the warm milk on the bedside table, and carefully crouched down so as not to startle Brin.

He pointed to the cat's bed, "It's probably a new bed that was just unpacked and washed again. It smells like laundry detergent, but not like you."

"It doesn't feel safe, so naturally it won't go in."

Choi Jin-ri then realized what was happening and nodded.

She looked down at Brin, who was still clinging to her, and then at the empty cat bed, feeling a bit amused and exasperated. "I thought it just wanted to stay with me."

"Half of it is because he wants to rely on you," Li Ran smiled, gently touching Brin's head with her fingertips. The little guy didn't dodge, but just snuggled closer to Cui Zhenli. "It's a good thing that Brin is close to you."

He looked up at Choi Jin-ri and said, "Find an old, unwashed T-shirt, put it in the nest, and it will stay there because of your scent."

She hugged Brin in her arms, got up and went to the closet to find a pure white cotton T-shirt that she often wore.

The clothes still carried the faint scent of her usual peach-scented laundry detergent, as well as her unique personal fragrance.

She went back to the carpet and carefully laid the T-shirt flat at the bottom of the cat bed, pressing down even the corners.

After doing all this, she looked down at the kitten in her arms and coaxed, "Okay, now it smells like me. How about you go in and try it?"

This time, when she put Brin into the cat bed, the little guy didn't struggle to jump out again.

It stepped on the soft T-shirt, circled around in its nest twice, sniffed it again and again, and finally felt relieved after confirming the familiar scent.

She curled up into a little dumpling and rested her head on the sleeve of her T-shirt.

It stared at Choi Jin-ri for a long while with its round eyes, the gurgling sound in its throat growing louder and louder, and its eyes slowly narrowing into slits.

Choi Jin-ri and Lee Ran squatted down beside them, even breathing softly, watching the little guy gradually fall asleep. His little belly rose and fell with his breathing, and even the tip of his tail stopped wagging.

After a while, Li Ran stood up first. Her knees were numb from being pressed down, so she moved them around a bit.

"Alright, go to sleep."

Choi Jin-ri squatted for two more seconds to make sure that Brin showed no signs of getting up before slowly straightening up.

She gently moved the cat bed closer to the bed, and then casually draped a corner of the small blanket next to it to block the night breeze seeping in through the window cracks.

Li Ran stood at the door and waited for a while. When she saw that she had finished, she made a gesture to the outside.

The two went out and closed the door, making almost no noise.

The lights in the corridor were on, casting a warm yellow glow on the floor.

In the living room, Xiao Hei had moved back to its sleeping mat, resting its head on it, its eyes half-open and half-closed, its tail occasionally swishing gently.

Perhaps because Brin wasn't around, it finally regained its former glory.

"The milk is on the bedside table, remember to drink it before bed," he said.

"Yes." Choi Jin-ri nodded.

"Good night."

"Good night."

They each went inside.

After a while, Li Ran returned again.

I almost forgot to turn off the lights.

……

The next morning, when Li Ran got up, Xiao Hei was already squatting at the kitchen door.

Upon seeing him come out, its tail immediately began to wag.

It stuck out its tongue and looked up at him.

"Wait a minute."

He washed his face first, and then started preparing breakfast.

Little Black followed Li Ran everywhere, its steps very close.

I guess I had my sleeping mat stolen by Brin yesterday, so I'm trying to make up for the loss of my presence today.

Li Ran glanced down at it, rummaged through the cupboard and took out the meat strips they had agreed on yesterday, tore open the packaging, squatted down and handed them over.

Xiao Hei took the meat strip and started gnawing on it in the corner of the kitchen.

They were chewing very loudly, crunching away.

"Alright, that's enough compensation. Don't ask me for more after this." Li Ran clapped her hands.

It put the last piece of meat into its mouth, looked up at him, licked its lips, and looked like it wanted more.

Li Ran stood up, placed the porridge on the stove, and turned down the heat.

The sun is shining brightly outside the window. The damp, oppressive atmosphere after yesterday's rain has completely dissipated, and the morning breeze is refreshingly clean.

He glanced towards the courtyard.

The sky was so blue that even the clusters of flower buds on top of the tomato seedlings looked exceptionally vibrant in the sunlight.

……

When the porridge was ready, Choi Jin-ri came out.

She hasn't eaten breakfast in her room for several days.

I've been eating with Li Ran for the past few days.

She changed into a loose light gray sweatshirt, her hair was casually tied up, and she still looked a little tired from not having slept enough.

"Where's Brin?" Li Ran didn't turn around; she was still stirring the porridge.

"Still sleeping." She yawned. "I didn't expect it to sleep for so long."

"That's how cats are."

She sat down at the dining table, resting her chin on her hands, her gaze fixed on the tabletop, somewhat unfocused.

Li Ran glanced at it.

"How did you sleep last night?"

"It's alright." She thought for a moment, "I think I slept a little more soundly than the past few days."

He ladled out the porridge, brought it over, and said, "That's fine then."

She looked down and saw it was still pumpkin porridge, orange-yellow, thick, and steaming hot.

There were also two thick slices of toast on the side, toasted until the edges were slightly charred and crispy.

"The weather is nice today," she said casually, picking up her spoon.

"It's pretty good."

Li Ran sat down opposite her, picked up a slice of toast, and took a bite.

"I promised to go shopping with you last time, but the rain ruined it." He chewed on his toast without looking up. "Are we going today?"

Choi Jin-ri paused slightly in her spoon.

She looked up, her eyes lighting up. "Are you serious?"

"Nonsense." He glanced at her. "When have I ever lied?"

She pursed her lips, pressed the corners of her mouth upwards, then tried to pull them down, but in the end she couldn't hold them in and they curled up.

"Okay." She lowered her head. "I'll change my clothes after I finish eating."

"No rush," Li Ran said, taking a sip of porridge. "Eat your rice first."