After Cat A Saved the Wrong Female Lead - Chapter 18

Chapter 18: The “Sister” Tang Li Called—Wasn’t Her?

A simple line-drawing of a little fish.

It was drawn plainly yet adorably. Tang Li, who had been feeling unwell and low in spirits, was instantly comforted just by seeing it. She opened the package to find a neatly folded scarf, a small plush lamb sealed in a plastic bag, and a necklace.

Somehow, she already had a hunch—and when she took the items out, she was immediately greeted by a familiar tea fragrance. It tugged at the already fragile nerves of an Alpha in the midst of a sensitivity period. Everything in the box had been carefully arranged, and at the bottom was a letter, written in elegant and neat handwriting:

Little Tang Li: I left in a hurry yesterday and still have things to deal with today, so I can’t be with you. The necklace is one I wore frequently, the plushie is something I often cuddle with when I sleep, and the scarf—though for winter—has been used for a long time, and still carries my scent. If none of these help, use the strong suppressant. I’ll come see you this weekend.

At the very bottom of the box was a sealed packet of pheromone suppressants—everything fully prepared, down to the last detail.

Tang Li, still new to this world, had never gone through a sensitivity period before. She didn’t yet understand just how volatile an Alpha’s emotions could get during such times. Truthfully, she’d already felt a subtle sense of loss last night after parting ways with Qin Shiyang post-dinner.

She wanted the Omega to be with her.

The scent of spring mist tea was like an invisible hook—it had planted itself deep within her heart, sprouting and taking root, tightly coiled. When lingering faintly on personal items, the clean fragrance lost its strength; it was too light to fully satisfy the emotional cravings of an Alpha in heat.

Thankfully, she had temporarily marked Qin Shiyang the day before. The taste of the Omega’s pheromones still lingered in her mouth—a scent that couldn’t be scrubbed away with mere brushing or bathing. Only a specialized pheromone-cleansing spray could truly eliminate it.

Receiving these items brought a strange sense of peace to her restless heart. Tang Li didn’t care that it was May and already too warm—she carefully wrapped the scarf around her neck. The soft feel of the cashmere comforted her. She hugged the lamb plush tightly and rubbed her cheek against the little flower in its arms, indulging in the Omega’s lingering scent that now filled her olfactory senses.

Her tense body slowly began to relax.

….

Qin Shiyang was always busy. She could only spare a portion of her attention to this “little one.” That night, she’d noticed Tang Li spacing out during dinner. Alphas never hid their contentment—or lack thereof—it was always written plainly on their faces. Still, she had deliberately parted from her quickly.

Partly because Tang Li truly needed rest, and partly because Qin Shiyang had sensed the danger in the satisfaction. Her reason had kicked in just before instinct could take over—she didn’t want anything else to happen between them at that moment.

After all, Alphas in the middle of a sensitivity period could, in some ways, resemble beasts that had lost control. Tang Li had an innocent, pure face, but the strength she’d used to restrain Qin Shiyang had been startlingly powerful.

The next day, Shen Zhihe had returned to the country but was called away for drinks, so she didn’t visit. That left Qin Shiyang free to attend a dinner arranged by her second sister-in-law.

Bai Wanle was a rather attractive Alpha—slightly younger than Qin Shiyang by a year or two and very skilled at keeping the mood light. The two met at a finely decorated western restaurant where elegant piano music played in the background. Before the dishes even arrived, Bai Wanle was already chatting eagerly:

“Word is you’re good with many instruments, Miss Shiyang. I suppose piano is one of them too?”

“I wouldn’t say I’m good,” Qin Shiyang replied modestly. “My family encouraged me to explore different interests, so I tried many things.”

Bai Wanle laughed and continued, “I heard you’ve won several awards—that’s hardly ‘just tried.’ This place plays Chopin, but I actually prefer Schubert. Do you have a favorite LP? Or anything else you like? I’d love to get you something. You must be tired of the usual perfume or roses—someone as beautiful as you must have no shortage of Alphas chasing after you, right?”

She smoothly transitioned the topic from music to probing about Qin Shiyang’s relationship status. Anyone with serious intentions would’ve done some homework beforehand, but direct answers were always more accurate—assuming both sides were genuinely interested.

But that assumption didn’t hold here.

Qin Shiyang felt no interest in the Alpha before her. Hearing the repeated “Shiyang-jiejie” (Shiyang-sis) made her vaguely uncomfortable. Unfortunately, Bai Wanle failed to notice her unease. Instead, after a few lukewarm replies, she suddenly perked up and asked with curiosity:

“Oh right—someone told me your name used to be different, something with the character ‘Yu’? Why did you change it?”

By that point, Qin Shiyang was already feeling encroached upon. To her, this dinner had been just a meal—nothing more. Since it hadn’t been explicitly labeled a matchmaking date, she didn’t treat it as one.

If not for the Bai family being joint partners with hers, she wouldn’t have shown up at all.

Though her lips still curved politely, her expression turned colder—like an exquisitely carved ice flower, delicate but distant.

Bai Wanle had tried to present herself as a cheerful, talkative younger woman, hoping to break the ice quickly. But the truth was, she—like Qin Shiyang—was used to being on top and didn’t really know how to hold a humble, open conversation. Her rapid-fire questions felt more like subtle jabs, and she assumed Qin Shiyang wouldn’t notice.

But Qin Shiyang saw right through her.

Two sizzling steaks were brought to the table along with a few beautifully plated sides. Qin Shiyang didn’t answer the question about her name. Instead, she simply gestured with a polite hand to indicate that Bai Wanle could begin eating.

And that was the end of it. Bai Wanle didn’t even get the chance to send her home. She watched helplessly as the Omega got into a car and drove away, her smile fading and a trace of resentment creeping into her gaze.

The Bai and Qin families were both collaborators and competitors. Bai Wanle had long harbored feelings for Qin Shiyang—marrying such a stunning Omega would elevate her status and bring prestige. But this Omega had a spine—refusing to flatter or entertain her. All of Bai Wanle’s admiration dissipated in one dinner, replaced by bitter resentment.

As the car turned a corner, the driver glanced into the rearview mirror to confirm no vehicles were following.

“President Qin, shall we head there now?”

For once, Qin Shiyang wasn’t using the car ride to go over business. She nodded, then pulled out her phone to message Tang Li.

It wasn’t that she was overly concerned—it was just that she genuinely wanted to know how the Alpha was doing now. After all, those cat ears and that tail from yesterday had piqued her curiosity.

She sent a simple, casual message. The reply didn’t come right away—but ten minutes later, her phone rang with a video call from Tang Li.

Qin Shiyang instinctively answered. On-screen was the girl lying in a soft white bed, tucked under the covers, with her big, beautiful eyes wide open.

Her pale cheeks were tinged with a soft blush. Tang Li’s hair was messy and still slightly damp—she must’ve just showered. She had clearly rushed to make herself presentable before calling, like a guilty wife checking in with her partner.

Qin Shiyang didn’t know why her brain went there—but maybe she was just overtired and imagining things.

“Jiejie, thank you. I’m actually doing okay.”

Tang Li shifted into a more relaxed, lazy pose. From Qin Shiyang’s angle, she could see a droplet of water trickle from Tang Li’s damp hair down her neck, tracing the smooth curve and soaking the collar of her sleepwear.

Qin Shiyang’s eyes lingered on her. When she heard Tang Li call her “jiejie,” she took a sip of water.

Tang Li had become softer—more spoiled—after being away from her. Her energy was still low, and she clutched the little lamb plush like a pillow, leaning sleepily against the headboard. Though clearly still recovering, she seemed stable enough for an Alpha on day two of her sensitivity period. Qin Shiyang scanned her figure—no sign of the cat ears or tail. Oddly, she felt a brief flicker of disappointment.

After confirming that Tang Li was okay, and seeing the car turn toward the outskirts, Qin Shiyang was about to hang up.

But before she could say goodbye, she heard Tang Li roll over and snuggle deeper under the blanket. Her voice came muffled:

“Jiejie, where are you now? If you’re close, I’ll just tell you the door code—you can come in yourself.”

Her Alpha voice was a bit hoarse, but what stunned Qin Shiyang was—

Wait.

She and Tang Li hadn’t planned to meet today… had they?