Why bother with dating when you already have a cat?

Ai Qing: "..."

He didn't know how to respond to that.

On the contrary, Xiaoyu was quite happy. She picked up one of the boxes, looked at it, and then said, "Then I'll try it with my brother tonight."

"Shut up too." Ai Qing pressed Xiao Yu's head down with a helpless expression, then quickly put the things back in their original place, closed the box, and took it back to the bedroom to put away.

At this moment, Xiao Youqian and Li Qiqi had already followed into the kitchen to help Xiaoyu prepare the hot pot broth, seasonings, and ingredients.

A short while later, there was another knock on the door.

Ai Qing ran to open the door, and Kong Fugui and Wu Yong walked in.

These two guys were very casual; they didn't even have the concept of birthday gifts. They just each carried a case, one containing beer and the other containing juice.

Ai Qing didn't mind. Birthday gifts are something you can give whenever you want, as long as the person can come. Besides, she even brought drinks.

"Huh? Why has your cat changed breeds?" Kong Fugui changed into slippers and walked into the living room. He saw Vera squatting on the sofa, walked over, pressed her down, stroked her a couple of times, and patted her pert butt.

"Sister Qian's Ragdoll cat is named Vera, not mine." Ai Qingxin said that her cat was in the kitchen, but she repeated the same excuse as before, indicating that her cat was with her grandmother.

Ordinary people wouldn't imagine a cat turning into a human, so Kong Fugui and Wu Yong naturally wouldn't think much of it either.

After all, no one would have guessed that Ai Qing's cat was in the kitchen right now, preparing hot pot broth for everyone.

Because of the ample reserve of warm liquid, the little fish had already tucked in its cat tail and ears, and no one noticed anything unusual.

……

Around 5 p.m., Ai Qing and the other two placed the dining table in the center of the living room.

The six people sat down together.

Ai Qing only had four chairs, so she went to Xiao Youqian's room across the street and brought two more to make do.

The induction cooker that Lang Xiangying brought over has already started working.

The pot contained a broth made from small fish that had been cooked in advance, and it quickly came to a boil.

The table was covered with plates of ingredients, all of which were bought ready-made, saving the trouble of preparing them myself.

Kong Fugui opened a bottle of beer and said with a smile, "How about it? It's Ai Qing's birthday today, so how about all you ladies do me the honor of having a drink?"

"Come on." Xiao Youqian didn't care at all. She didn't even plan to pour any drinks. She just grabbed a bottle of beer, pried it open, and started chugging.

Li Qiqi was rather reserved; she genuinely couldn't hold her liquor, so she asked Kong Fugui to pour her a small cup.

The little fish next to her had bright eyes, but still looked at Ai Qing: "Brother, I want to drink."

"I'll pour you a glass." Ai Qing took a bottle of beer, poured her a glass, and said, "If you feel dizzy after drinking it, don't drink any more."

In reality, one beer won't make you drunk at all; Ai Qing was just saying that.

After everyone had poured their drinks, Xiaoyu got up, walked to the cabinet, took out the cake, and placed it on the edge of the table, close to Aiqing.

After Xiaoyu inserted and lit the two number candles, Xiao Youqian got up and turned off all the lights in the living room.

The living room suddenly became dim, with only the moonlight from the window and the reflection of the city's neon lights casting a faint glow on everyone's faces, which mingled with the candlelight on the cake.

Everyone clapped their hands, and Kong Fugui, in a carefree manner, took the lead in singing the birthday song. Ai Qing, on the other hand, felt a little awkward, but she also clapped along.

After they finished singing, Xiaoyu put her hand on Aiqing's shoulder and said, "Brother, make a wish. I wish that you and Xiaoyu will be together forever."

Ai Qing chuckled, but still clasped her hands together and made a small wish in her heart.

He then opened his eyes, looked at the flickering candle in front of him, and then looked around, his emotions fluctuating somewhat.

At that moment, he suddenly understood something.

I probably don't really care whether I celebrate my birthday or not.

It just doesn't matter to me when it's my birthday.

Thinking of this, Ai Qing smiled with relief and blew out the candle.

Ai Qing then put the cake aside and told everyone to eat it as a snack after they finished the hot pot.

"What did you wish for?" Xiaoyu quietly approached Aiqing and asked.

"Wishes won't come true if you say them out loud."

"No, it won't happen." Xiaoyu whispered in Ai Qing's ear, "If we do it quietly, it will be fine."

Ai Qing wasn't that superstitious, so she smiled and whispered in Xiao Yu's ear, "I wish that we both live to be a hundred years old."

"Huh?" Xiaoyu paused for a moment, then asked softly, "Why not forever together?"

"Because if we can both live to be a hundred years old, then we will definitely be together forever."

"Brother," Xiaoyu couldn't help but squeeze her legs together, "How about we stop eating for now and go try the gift Sister Youqian gave us?"

"...Let's have hot pot instead."

I feel like Xiaoyu is becoming increasingly susceptible to being provoked; I always feel the urge to exploit him.

Ai Qing, looking exasperated, pressed down on Xiao Yu's restless head, then picked up a piece of cooked mutton roll, dipped it in the sauce, and stuffed it into her mouth.

"Oh my, time flies." Kong Fugui took a sip of wine and then sighed, "You're already 25."

"As if you're not one of them."

“Then I haven’t had my birthday yet, I’m still 24,” Kong Fugui retorted, then added, “You all have jobs and can earn money to support yourselves, I’m so envious.”

"What you're saying is a bit rude," Ai Qing rolled her eyes at him. "If you want a job, just go work at your dad's company."

"That's no fun at all. I'd rather work at your cat cafe."

“Sure,” Ai Qing nodded in agreement. “If you’re so capable, then come and try.”

"If you allow me to add the customer on WeChat, I'll consider it," Kong Fugui said shamelessly.

"roll."

If Ai Qing were to add Kong Fugui to her WeChat contacts, she suspected that one day someone would come knocking on her door demanding an explanation.

However, since the conversation had turned to topics related to love, Ai Qing immediately looked at Wu Yong and chuckled, "Old Wu, don't just eat, drink some wine."

"Hmm." Wu Yong picked up his wine glass and clinked it against Ai Qing's.

Then Ai Qing continued, "Tell us about your relationship with your girlfriend."

"What?!" Xiao Youqian's face showed great surprise. She immediately looked at Wu Yong, looked him up and down, and asked in surprise, "Wu Yong, you have a girlfriend? I didn't realize that."

"No, no." Wu Yong waved his hands repeatedly when he heard Ai Qing say that. "She's not my girlfriend yet, just a colleague with whom I have a good relationship."

"Holy crap, he actually dated a female teacher?" Xiao Youqian found it even more intriguing and quickly pressed for details, "How did you meet? What does she look like? What's her personality like? Where is she from? How was your first date? How's it going?"

Xiao Youqian was like a gossipy old woman, asking all sorts of questions, leaving Wu Yong completely bewildered.

Xiaoyu and Li Qiqi sat nearby watching the show, while also eating hot pot meat.

Li Qiqi couldn't help but complain midway through: "My brother even told me he would introduce you to me, but when I turned around, I saw you walking into the store with a girl."

“Uh…” Wu Yong paused for a moment, then said, “I’m sorry.”

Li Qiqi: "?"

"What are you apologizing for?" Xiao Youqian rolled her eyes. "Don't change the subject. Explain clearly what's going on now?"

"We just ate out a few times," Wu Yong said helplessly, unable to withstand Xiao Youqian's persistent questioning. "Then a few days ago I took her to Ai Qing's cat cafe, that's all."

"I don't believe you." Xiao Youqian crossed her arms and questioned her carefully, "Is there anything else?"

That's all.

"What about at school?" Li Qiqi, who also enjoyed watching the sweet moments, asked on Xiao Youqian's behalf, "For example, do you usually sit together at meals? How do you greet each other when you bump into each other at school? Do you have any little secrets that other teachers don't know about?"

Wu Yong: "..."

"Oh ho, something's up." Kong Fugui chuckled when he saw that he suddenly couldn't answer. "Old Wu always needs a while to prepare before lying, otherwise he would have said there was nothing. I want to see how you're going to make this up."

Wu Yong looked at Kong Fugui speechlessly, never expecting his own brother to betray him so swiftly.

"It's not as complicated as you think... It's mainly because she and I are both new teachers who joined the school this year. There are only five or six new teachers in total."

"Moreover, the other teachers all came from other schools and are experienced teachers."

"I'm the only one who hasn't actually taught a class with her, so we're relatively more familiar with each other."

"We probably bumped into each other at the cafeteria at lunchtime, and might have lunch together or something..."

When pressed for drinks and questioned by a group of people at the table, Wu Yong, an honest man, couldn't withstand it and quickly confessed everything.

It has to be said that the romances of virgins are more captivating.

People like Kong Fugui, when they hear he's in a relationship, nobody really cares.

"Come, come, let me toast you again, birthday boy." Ai Qing filled Wu Yong's glass, then clinked glasses and said, "I'll try to bring her out for a meal with everyone during the New Year."

Chapter 215 Cream Battle

When I was a child, I saw my classmates every day when I went to school.

At that time, Ai Qing thought that since everyone was so close, they would definitely stay good friends forever.

After going through many school entrance exams, I realized that I only had a few true close friends with whom I could maintain long-term contact.

Most so-called classmates and friends will eventually drift apart due to distance, until they become strangers again.

Therefore, Ai Qing cherishes her relationship with Kong Fugui and others.

After all, it's rare to find people who have stayed in touch since childhood, and even if they've been separated for a few years, they can still be so familiar with each other that they can tease and joke with each other when they meet again.

Even better news is that Ai Qing has become a full-time online novelist, opened a cat café, earned a lot of money, and has very flexible working hours.

Needless to say, Xiao Youqian and Kong Fugui were free to roam the world after graduating from university.

One ran away to open a pet hospital, while the other was a rich second-generation heir who was largely ignored by his family as long as he didn't misbehave, and had plenty of free time.

As for Wu Yong, although his family's circumstances were relatively worse than the other three, they were still better off than some and worse off than others.

After finding a job as a physical education teacher, the job became relatively easy.

He owns a house, has a stable job, and can collect rent in addition to his salary every month. He is also frugal in his spending habits, not as extravagant as Kong Fugui. Overall, his conditions are not bad.

Moreover, physical education teachers get off work early and don't have to be in charge of students' evening self-study. If they don't eat dinner at school, they can just stroll out after class in the afternoon.