The Little Bookworm Marked Her Ex-aunt - Chapter 8: Ji Shiyi, My Name

Chapter 8: Ji Shiyi, My Name

Shu Yue closed the door and swayed her body, preparing to float back to the bedroom.

Always well-behaved but persistent about seeking affection, Shiyi blocked her path, tilting her head and meowing at her.

Shu Yue yawned, squatted down, casually petted her twice, and stood up to continue toward the bedroom. Her pant leg got bitten by the kitten. It stubbornly refused to let her go.

Shu Yue sighed, “Why so clingy all of a sudden?”

She had no choice, picked up the cat, held it in her arms, and stroked it from top to bottom, smoothing its fur.

Knock, knock.

Another knock came at the door.

Shu Yue froze, looked at the cat in her arms, and asked, “Did you hear that?”

Shiyi frantically scratched at her chest, “Meow!”

The sensation of claws raking across felt too real to be fake.

Was she not dreaming?

Shu Yue turned her head and looked at the door behind her.

Knock, knock, knock.

The knocking sounded clear and distinct.

Shu Yue held the cat, hesitated, walked to the door, and peered through the peephole. The woman, who earlier looked tired, now seemed barely able to stand, leaning against the wall by the door, appearing in bad shape.

What was going on?

Was someone trying to scam her?

Shu Yue cautiously placed her hand on the doorknob, carefully twisted it open, leaving only a small gap.

However, that small gap was enough for her to smell the pheromone scent suddenly filling the air.

It felt like opening a window one day to find heavy snow falling outside, covering everything. A solitary snow mountain stood in the distance. Nearby, snow-laden pines carried green, and with a gust of wind, thick snow would shake loose.

Just this natural scent alone stirred a bit of instinctive longing in her.

“Meow!” Shiyi swiped a paw across her cheek.

Shu Yue snapped awake, bit her lip, grabbed an inhibitor bracelet from the entryway cabinet, put it on, and lowered her pheromone emission frequency. Once her own scent calmed, she opened the door a bit wider.

The words the woman said earlier echoed in her ears.

“Shiyi’s owner?” Shu Yue asked tentatively.

Ji Shiyi, half-collapsed, struggled to stay upright. Her usually casual and cold eyes brimmed with conflicting resistance.

“Put the cat down,” she said, her voice low.

Shu Yue didn’t understand, “Shiyi’s owner?”

Ji Shiyi repeated firmly, “Put the cat down!”

Shu Yue couldn’t grasp what this was about, but since it was the woman’s cat, she obediently let go, setting Shiyi back on the floor. Shiyi’s paws touched the ground, but she didn’t run. She stayed by Shu Yue’s leg, rubbing against it, showing none of the excitement typical of a pet seeing its owner.

Seeing Shiyi rub uncomfortably, Shu Yue couldn’t bear it, bent down, and petted its arched back.

“Whimper—”

The sound came not from the kitten but from the woman in front of her.

Her body seemed to tremble, though Shu Yue wasn’t sure, as she hadn’t paid close attention.

Acting on her researcher’s instincts, Shu Yue reached out and petted the kitten’s head again.

“Hmm—”

The woman’s teeth bit her soft pink lips, her eyes tinged with a smoky hue. Her body leaned softly against the wall, glaring at Shu Yue. It should have been an angry expression, but her current state gave it a hint of petulance.

“Stop it,” Ji Shiyi said, desperately suppressing the urge to move closer.

Shu Yue’s mind fully woke up.

Without a word, she raised her hands in a surrender gesture.

“Can I come in?” Ji Shiyi asked.

Shu Yue thought, isn’t that inappropriate, an omega entering my home? But given the woman’s condition, leaving her in the public hallway seemed even less appropriate. After a moment’s thought, Shu Yue stepped aside, opened the door, and invited Ji Shiyi in.

Ji Shiyi propped one hand against the wall, hunched over, and stumbled into the entryway.

“Shiyi’s owner, take it easy,” Shu Yue said, not following her inside. “There’s no one else in my house, so you can relax. When you’re ready, knock on the door, and I’ll come back in.”

She closed the door for Ji Shiyi, leaving herself outside.

Ji Shiyi paused, looked down, and saw the kitten, just like her, a bit stunned.

The girl’s home was clean and tidy, with only the most basic furniture and no extra items, not even a TV. Everything was spotless, remarkably simple. The only notable items in the living room were the cat supplies she had bought earlier.

The lingering alpha pheromone scent in the air wasn’t strong but was everywhere.

Ji Shiyi sniffed lightly.

It was a subtle, almost imperceptible grassy scent.

It lacked aggression, like common wild grass, easily overlooked.

But when a whole prairie appeared before you, you couldn’t ignore it anymore.

Ji Shiyi felt enveloped by that prairie now.

Since the other party had thoughtfully given her space to recover, Ji Shiyi stopped holding herself up, changed out of her shoes, and walked barefoot inside. The kitten followed, jumping onto the sofa. Ji Shiyi accepted the invitation and sat on the sofa.

This was probably the girl’s usual spot, as her scent was much stronger there.

Ji Shiyi closed her eyes, removed her mask, and focused on adjusting her state.

“Little Shu?” Early that morning, the neighbor auntie, escorting her granddaughter to school, saw Shu Yue standing at the door and asked, puzzled, “What’s wrong? Forgot your key?”

Shu Yue still wore her pajamas, slippers, and her hair was a bit messy.

She reached up, smoothed down some stray strands, and answered, “Yeah, I’m waiting for the locksmith.”

The neighbor auntie warmly invited, “Want to come to my place and sit? It’s early; don’t catch a cold.”

Shu Yue shook her head, “Thanks, Auntie, but no need. The locksmith will be here soon.”

The auntie didn’t insist, saw the elevator arrive, and said goodbye to Shu Yue.

Only when the elevator reached the ground floor did the auntie realize, “Wait, Little Shu’s place has a keypad lock, doesn’t it?”

Her granddaughter tugged at her sleeve, “Grandma, grandma, keypad locks can run out of battery too.”

Was that so?

The auntie thought for a moment and said, “Then when we get to your school, remind Grandma to buy some batteries at the supermarket so we don’t get locked out next time.”

Shu Yue, voluntarily locked out, didn’t know how long she waited.

Bored, she stood at the door, reciting pi. After a while, she looked out the hallway window, searching for any birds.

Then she thought of Meng Zhiyu, wondering when Meng Zhiyu would call her. Shu Yue wanted to have a good talk with her, as Chen Mi had suggested. But knowing Meng Zhiyu was a challenge for her, to avoid losing control of her emotions and sinking into subtle sadness, she decided to keep watching for birds.

When she spotted a white-cheeked starling hopping on a branch for the third time, the door she leaned against suddenly stirred.

Shu Yue quickly stepped forward.

The door opened.

The woman had removed her mask, revealing a beautiful lower face. Her features weren’t striking, unlike Meng Zhiyu’s captivating, attention-grabbing look. She appeared almost plain, with delicate brows and eyes, pale lips, and smooth black hair that made her skin look even whiter, like the clear moonlight at night.

Shu Yue didn’t know what others thought, but she could appreciate this cool, understated beauty.

Too bad her brain seemed a bit off.

Shu Yue observed, saw her expression was much more natural than before, and guessed, “Shiyi’s owner, are you okay now?”

The woman nodded and said, “Ji Shiyi. My name.”

Shu Yue said, “Miss Ji.”

Ji Shiyi looked at her. Earlier, she hadn’t noticed, but now, looking again, she found her adorably dazed. Thinking of the bird on Shu Yue’s WeChat profile, Ji Shiyi inexplicably wanted to smile.

It kind of fit.

Shu Yue didn’t understand why the woman suddenly showed a faint smile and asked, confused, “Miss Ji?”

Ji Shiyi restrained her smile, stepped aside, and said, “Miss Shu, right? Come in. I have something to discuss with you.”

Shu Yue thought, this is my house, why does Miss Ji act like she’s in charge? But seeing Ji Shiyi’s demeanor, she did have the aura to make any place her own.

“Miss Ji, what do you want to talk about?” After entering, Shu Yue sat with Ji Shiyi at the dining table.

Ji Shiyi didn’t answer but asked, “What about you? Don’t you have anything to ask me?”

Shu Yue definitely did.

But she felt curiosity could cause trouble; asking more meant more trouble, so she’d rather keep quiet.

Ji Shiyi seemed determined not to let her off, tapped the table lightly with her fingertip, and gave Shiyi a look.

Reluctantly, Shiyi moved over, leapt effortlessly, and stepped onto the table via Ji Shiyi’s lap.

Ji Shiyi stroked Shiyi’s fur, looked at Shu Yue, and said, “There’s something I lied to you about.”

Shu Yue’s heart sank, thinking, did Chu Yufei get it right? Was this some new kind of scam?

Then Ji Shiyi said, “Shiyi isn’t actually a cat.”

Shu Yue: “…”

“Miss Ji, hold on.”

She stood, went back to the bedroom, grabbed the glasses by her pillow, came out, and put them on.

Shu Yue said, “Miss Ji, what did you just say?”

Ji Shiyi never knew glasses could affect hearing.

She patiently repeated, “Shiyi isn’t actually a cat.”

Shu Yue fell silent.

Ji Shiyi looked at her and said, “My brain isn’t sick.”

Shu Yue, startled, raised her hand to cover her mouth. Had she just said her thoughts out loud?

Ji Shiyi chuckled, “Miss Shu, has anyone told you you’re easy to read?”

Shu Yue shook her head.

“To be precise, Shiyi isn’t a real cat. It’s my spiritual body, and for some reason, I can’t retract it for now.” Ji Shiyi took out her phone, opened a diagnosis report from Yu Qianyue, and showed it to Shu Yue. “What I just said isn’t nonsense but a genuine request.”

“I’m asking you to mark me, if you don’t mind.”

Ji Shiyi was very sincere, even preparing a contract on her way. She showed the electronic contract to Shu Yue and said, “Miss Shu, as long as you’re willing, you can name any condition.”

Ji Shiyi handed over a blank check.

Along with a pen.

“You can write any number you like on it,” Ji Shiyi said confidently, with ease. “I mean, any.”