"Pfft. Can you not make it sound like you're a pet?" Lu Meili laughed. Though she actually... wouldn't mind taking him in.

She laughed at her own imagination. When did she become so perverted?

She suddenly remembered that they should go back home for dinner. "Oh, look at the time. We should head back."

"Sure."

"Eer... what will I do with this guy for now? He absolutely can't enter our house....

Wait, I know what to do. I'll ask my nanny to drop him off at your home... if that's okay with you."

Mu Zhichen found her too cute. She was no different from a little girl right now. "That's alright. I'll have someone recieve him."

After sending off the cat, they rushed back home. Lu Meili knew that Wan Jia didn't call them back for fear of distracting them, but she was really hungry after walking around. Mu Zhichen must be hungry too.

___

As soon they got home, the awkwardness begun.

Earlier, Mu Zhichen had held that cat too. If he didn't take a bath, it wouldn't be a guarantee that the duo who were allergic to cats, Lu Aotian and Lu Xian Li, wouldn't be affected. They might shake hands later.

They had already lnstructed the nanny to bring back a change of clothes from the Mu residence.

But... How to let him take a shower without making people's imagination run wild? That was not too difficult to handle but...

...

Later when they appeared at the dining table in different clothes, Wan Jia coughed in a fit.

No need to ask. They had obviously misunderstood.

Lu Aotian took a glance at her then in the next second, he glared at Mu Zhichen murderously. How dare he take advantage of his daughter right under his roof? Although they were going to be married, a man should restrain himself a little more. Wasn't this only their second meeting?

Wan Jia held the hand of her husband who was about to erupt and whispered laughingly. "Honey, they are adults."

Lu Meili couldn't be any more embarassed.

She scratched her head. "Mom, earlier while we were taking a walk, we rescued a little cat. It's seriously so cute."

Wan Jia tittered. "Is that so?" Obviously, she didn't believe a word of it. Even a young boy like Xian Yu wouldn't buy it, okay? In fact, it only seemed to confirm her suspicion and she looked happier.

Lu Meili slapped her forehead. What kind of weird situation was this?

...

Luckily, Lu Xian Li finally arrived at the dining table. Mu Zhichen was on Lu Meili's right. She said hi to him and sat on Lu Meili's left.

A few seconds later.

"Sis, what crazy animal did you bring home this time?"

Lu Meili was still feeling happy from adopting a cat. She was not in the mood to bicker with this troublemaker. "None."

"Really? But my skin is suddenly itchy. I only sat beside you for a few seconds."

"I did hold a cat, but I took a bath. I don't expect you to still get an allergic reaction."

Lu Xian Li stood up. "Was this deliberate?"

Lu Meili was annoyed "If it was deliberate, why did I not bring the kitty home? Besides, there were very many seats. Did you have to sit next to me?"

"Do you have to be so mean every time I speak to you?"

"You think I'm mean?"

"Both of you shut up." Lu Aotian couldn't stand this pair anymore. "Xian Li, you should be looking for medicine instead of picking fights with your sister.

You, Meili, how old are you? I can't believe you still want to fight with a teenager over literally nothing."

Mu Zhichen felt the most awkward. He was the outsider here.

Lu Meili could sense his tension. "We cannot waste a lively atmosphere, right? Let's dig in."

Although she was the one who said to dig in, she was also the one who didn't have any apetite. She stopped eating after a few bites.

Lu Xian Li didn't return to the table and asked a nanny to bring her food to her room instead.

___

"I'm sorry. Your first time meeting my family wasn't so nice." She said to Mu Zhichen as she walked him out after dinner.

Mu Zhichen stroked her hair. "What are you saying? They will be my family soon and - the main point is this - we had a nice walk and even adopted a pet."

Lu Meili's smile returned. How can a man be so considerate? She had to admit that her mother was right. Sometimes, love wasn't what mattered in a relationship. She would be happy as long as the man was kind to her.

"You don't have a good relationship with your sister?" Mu Zhichen asked curiously.

Lu Meili looked like she had swallowed a bitter pill and let it all out. "She will always find fault in me. No matter how much I dote on her, she still thinks I don't like her. I don't know what to do with her. Can't we just be like mom and aunty?"

Mu Zhichen chuckled. "That's a thing with younger siblings."

"It is?"

"Yeah. Sometimes they can make you wish to throw them away.

Some even get jealous because you were born before them and were doted on by your parents for a few more years than them and they could never make up for it.

But for your sister, I noticed she is in her rebellious stage. She must have been too serious for her age as a child so her rebellious stage is now."

Lu Meili held her chin in her hand. "That's true. I used to think she is too mature and she really does think everything she does is right.

Mu Zhichen, you're amazing. I almost thought she had something against me." When Lu Aotian made it look like she was at fault, she was extremely angry. Why did parents always think that the older sibling had to be responsible for every argument?

But when Mu Zhichen explained it, she thought it made sense. It would be a waste of breath to argue with a girl who is being rebellious.

Gee, why did it suddenly feel better to be with Mu Zhichen?

...

"I'll go back to filming the day after tomorrow and will only be back when I'm done." She said when they reached his car.

"Alright. You should go back to the house now."