After Cat A Saved the Wrong Female Lead - Chapter 28
Chapter 28: Visiting That Kind of Store
The collar was beautifully made.
A flawless, pure black leather band, inlaid with three deep brown cat’s eye stones—one in the center and two at the ends. Under the car’s dome light, they shimmered like real, living feline eyes, glinting with dazzling luster. Although she didn’t know the price, it clearly wasn’t cheap.
Seeing that Qin Shiyang had actually given her this kind of gift, Tang Li blurted out:
“This… is too expensive, isn’t it?”
She didn’t know much about the original storyline’s female lead, but she knew the woman was extremely career-driven and hardworking. She had juggled school and part-time jobs, bought a pre-furnished apartment with her, and now had both a house and a car in Huadu. From the sound of it, her family wasn’t all that supportive either, so she must have savings.
Tang Li didn’t want the other woman spending her money on such things.
Noticing Tang Li’s slightly concerned expression, Qin Shiyang leaned forward and playfully pleaded like a child:
“But I already bought it, and it’s custom-made—you can’t return it.” She tilted her head up, her eyes sparkling, urging, “Come on, try it on. Let’s see if it fits. If not, there’s a limited window to adjust it.”
Surprisingly, it fit quite well. The leather was high-quality with no off-putting smell, and the cat’s eye stones were set in such a way that they didn’t irritate the sensitive skin of her neck. Stylish and eye-catching, the collar made Tang Li’s neck appear long and elegant—perfectly complementing a certain black evening dress she owned.
Tang Li’s pale blond hair was natural—not like dye that would fade—and her fair complexion carried this sense of luxury effortlessly. Even in simple jeans and a white shirt, she never looked plain.
Qin Shiyang scanned her from head to toe with satisfaction. Especially in this costume from the film set, Tang Li looked like a blossoming crabapple flower—radiant and graceful, glowing with a rare brilliance that was hard to look away from.
The costume was from the production and not something she’d wear daily, so there was no point in buying it. After changing into her own casual clothes, Tang Li got into Qin Shiyang’s car.
To maintain her image in front of the “kid,” Qin Shiyang always chose a modest older car when it was just the two of them. Though it wasn’t large, it was clean and comfortable.
They had a proper meal first. Afterward, Qin Shiyang suggested taking Tang Li to an exhibit.
“It’s a short one—probably just an hour. Won’t take long.”
Tang Li was already a little tired, but after eating and a short nap in the car, she felt rejuvenated and curious about the exhibit. She tried to ask what it was about, but Qin Shiyang wouldn’t say. Her pale earlobes were even turning slightly red, which only fueled Tang Li’s curiosity.
She remembered what the system had told her about the completely illogical worldview of the Flower City.
No way… Could it be that kind of exhibit? Wouldn’t that be too bold?
The car stopped in front of a minimalist three-story building in white. Looking at the golden cursive script on the sign—Yue Ji—Tang Li was still wondering if this might be an art studio or something.
That is, until two uniformed attendants approached. After scanning Qin Shiyang’s invitation card, they also asked for her ID.
The biggest print on the rules posted at the door read: Minors and males are not allowed to enter.
Tang Li: …She got the idea now.
The exhibit was semi-self-guided. Visitors could collect wristbands at the entrance. Inside, every glass display case was neatly organized with privacy panels separating each section. The entire space had a strong sense of design and intimacy—no noise, soft music playing, and a faint scent of boiled water in the air. It was the classic smell of scent blockers.
Since the ABO divergence, the dynamic between Alphas and Omegas had become both naturally attractive and much more open when it came to intimacy.
As an educated adult, Qin Shiyang had no sexual shame. Still, buying things online and visiting a place like this with your partner were two very different things.
Truthfully, she had never been particularly interested in this kind of thing. It was only after trying out a toy or two herself that she barely managed to figure out enough to “teach” the kid…
Tang Li had already wandered over to one of the display cases, curiously inspecting a toy shaped like a cat paw. It had a cute pink-and-white cap that opened and closed. Next to it were Bluetooth earbuds, little star-shaped items—all with adorable designs that drew the eye.
There was even a pale blue toy camera. Tang Li poked her finger into one of the silicone openings, surprised to find it didn’t feel the way she’d imagined.
So… was this a toy store?
Tang Li was about to comment that these seemed a bit childish for a 22-year-old adult when a smiling store clerk approached them gracefully and professionally asked:
“Are you two looking for something single- or dual-use? We’ve just added some new shared-use items for this limited-time exhibition.”
Qin Shiyang: “We’ll look at the dual-use ones.”
In AO relationships, although an Alpha could gain pleasure by marking an Omega’s scent gland, the real intimacy often leaned more toward psychological fulfillment.
Sure, being the pampered “pillow princess” was enjoyable, but she also wanted the kid to have a better experience.
That was why they came to this pop-up event.
Tang Li’s big eyes were wide with wonder at everything. Qin Shiyang, unusually, didn’t speak. The staff gave them space instead of hovering. Though there were other customers, each person had a private compartment they could access with their wristband and close the door—maximizing privacy.
In the end…
Qin Shiyang chose a small strawberry-shaped toy, a ring with a “fishing hook,” and a butterfly bow. She also bought some aromatic essentials, paid, and left.
Right then, she got a work call. Knowing Qin Shiyang didn’t like others overhearing her business—even if they worked in the same company—Tang Li stepped aside out of courtesy.
While Qin Shiyang took her call, Tang Li was checking her messages. Bai Xuan had invited her to a birthday party in a few days, which gave her a headache.
If she were still single, she might have gone. But now, her “wife” didn’t like showing up in public, and they’d agreed on that from the beginning. For Qin Shiyang to suddenly go back on that would be way too much.
She replied with an emoji. Unexpectedly, Bai Xuan called her directly, speaking lightly:
“Sweetie, are you getting along well with that actress named Yu? I heard from Yu Zhou that she was asking if you were free that day—wanted to come by and drop off a gift. You’re still interning, right? You’re not too busy, are you?”
Of course she wasn’t busy. Which meant… she had no good excuse!
Sweating, Tang Li looked at the darkening sky and at Qin Shiyang, racking her brain for a believable reason:
“It’s fine, just… sometimes I have to travel. I’m not exactly doing nothing.”
Bai Xuan laughed:
“Oh, relax! I’m not saying you’re slacking. My precious girl is the best—found a real job all on her own without any help from me.” Then she suddenly added, “Oh, right. You don’t have to come, really. Just bring your wife. You didn’t see how smug your Fourth Aunt was, saying you’d never land a decent job or a good partner. I need to show her my daughter didn’t do too badly, thank you very much!”
She didn’t even know who Tang Li had married. Luckily, the original Tang Li hadn’t been all that reliable to begin with—always doing her own thing. Bai Xuan must’ve heard from Yu Zhou that Tang Li had matured a bit. Compared to the troublemaker she used to be, even a slight improvement was cause for celebration. Naturally, they credited it to whoever she married. If not for being held back, they probably would’ve shown up with wedding gifts already.
Still, Bai Xuan had prepared a generous gift.
“We’ll see. My wife’s super busy with work. Maybe she can ask for time off?”
Tang Li knew Bai Xuan wasn’t actually domineering—her spoiled tone was reserved for specific people, not juniors. Tang Li used the classic “retreat to advance” strategy. As expected, Bai Xuan quickly backtracked:
“No, no, it’s fine. We’ll play it by ear. If you can’t come, I’ll have food delivered to you two. Don’t drag her away from work, alright?”
“Got it—”
She hung up.
Qin Shiyang ended her call earlier. With confirmation from Wei Ling, all the recent frustrations melted away like fog under sunlight. She let out a long breath, even the corners of her lips curled with a faint smile.
Those earlier collaborators hadn’t been sincere enough, so she found someone better—Wei Ling. Both sides were genuinely interested, and the project could now move forward.
Even if others were eyeing the opportunity hungrily, whether they could actually grab it was another story. Even if they wanted a piece of the pie, they’d have to be capable of chewing it.
In a great mood, she saw Tang Li walking over and playfully flicked the choker around the Alpha’s neck. The material was soft—she had tested it herself. They had similar builds and neck sizes, but usually, chokers were worn as fashion accessories. Collars, on the other hand, were more commonly used in intimate scenarios…
Or for certain… alphabet-based roleplays.
But ever since Tang Li received it, she hadn’t taken it off. Even during dinner, when the busy waitstaff didn’t notice, some passersby did.
When Qin Shiyang had the collar made, she hadn’t thought about those associations. She just felt the cat’s eye stones reminded her of Tang Li’s—clear and luminous, beautiful and sharp.
Just… who exactly was Tang Li?
She’d wondered more than once. Even considered soul transmigration or long-lost twins. All of it sounded ridiculous. But when she saw that dazzling Alpha gaze fixed solely on her, all those wild theories didn’t seem to matter anymore.