302: Okay, girlfriend

An hour and a half later, the movie ended. Shang Wan Ning held the empty bucket, commenting with lingering interest: "The scenery design of this mushroom cave is passable."

Lin Ran: "???"

[Forget it, as long as Her Majesty is happy.]

For afternoon tea, they chose a popular milk tea shop in the mall, with a long line in front. Shang Wan Ning stared at the colorful menu, her brows knitting into a knot.

"Taro paste boba milk tea, mango sago, brown sugar pearl milk..." She pointed at the menu, looking conflicted: "ARan, this is so hard to choose!"

Lin Ran silently pursed her lips, ordering a signature pearl milk tea with less sugar for the indecisive Shang.

Inserting the straw into the cup, Shang Wan Ning took a suspicious sip. The rich milky aroma mixed with tea flavor instantly filled her mouth, and the soft, chewy pearls slid down her throat.

Shang Wan Ning's eyes suddenly lit up.

She held the cup and took another big sip.

Her cheeks bulged slightly, her teeth crushing the chewy pearls as she mumbled in praise.

"Mmm, this is good. Much tastier than Coke soup." Her amber eyes curved, like a tabby cat that had successfully stolen a treat.

Lin Ran looked at her girlfriend, at the corner of her lips stained with a little milk foam. The mist in the depths of her heart seemed to be pierced by a ray of light, seeping out a bit of warmth.

At two in the afternoon, the two strolled through the pedestrian street.

Shang Wan Ning had little interest in the dazzling array of shops, until they passed a cat cafe:

Inside the glass window, a dozen furry cat masters were lazing about. Some were elegantly licking their fur, or chasing toys...

Shang Wan Ning's footsteps stopped instantly, her gaze seemingly pulled by a magnet. It turned into a tangible force directed at those carefree creatures, hot enough to almost pierce through the glass.

"Do you want to go inside and take a look?" Lin Ran asked with understanding.

Shang Wan Ning nodded vigorously.

Her line of sight was glued to a fat cat inside the window that was exposing its orange belly to the sun, unable to move away even an inch.

Lin Ran paid the fee and helped the Empress put on shoe covers.

Just as they stepped into the space filled with catnip and fluffy scents, a noble-looking Ragdoll cat sauntered over and carefully sniffed around Shang Wan Ning's pant legs.

The tip of its fluffy tail hooked around her ankle.

Shang Wan Ning stood frozen in place, holding her breath, not daring to move. Her spiritual sense followed the Ragdoll's big tail, revealing a strong desire.

[Really want to pet it, want to touch the base of its tail.]

[Fox tail vs cat tail, whose texture is better???]

Lin Ran picked up a feather cat teaser from the side and gave it a gentle shake.

The Ragdoll was attracted, pouncing with a "whoosh," circling and jumping in place around the teaser.

"Meow meow meow... meow meow~"

Shang Wan Ning set aside her fantasies and followed Lin Ran's example. She squatted down and slowly extended her sinful hand toward a calico cat napping in the corner.

Holding her breath and focusing, her fingertips got closer and closer to the sleek, shiny fur.

Just at the moment she was about to touch it, the calico's ears twitched sensitively. It lazily opened one eyelid and glanced at Shang Wan Ning.

Then, as if in disgust, it turned its head away, pointing its fluffy butt at her.

Shang Wan Ning: "..."

Her extended finger hung awkwardly in mid-air.

Lin Ran finally couldn't hold it in and burst into a laugh. She picked up a small bag of freeze-dried snacks, poured some into her palm, and then signaled for Shang Wan Ning to hold out her palm as well.

The tempting aroma of the freeze-dried snacks attracted a few clever, greedy cats.

Shang Wan Ning spread her palm as instructed, and a rather bold American Shorthair tentatively approached.

Its wet little nose touched her palm.

Then it lowered its head to nibble at the food, its whiskers brushing against her palm, creating a slight tickle.

Shang Wan Ning held her breath, feeling the fuzzy sensation from her palm.

The corners of her lips curved upward uncontrollably, revealing a smile so pure it was almost childish.

The afternoon light filtered through the window, falling warmly on the two of them.

Lin Ran watched Shang Wan Ning's focused profile as she petted the cat, her long, lowered eyelashes hiding surging, complex emotions.

[My God!!!]

A silent sigh issued from her heart, the taste sour yet soft.

[Your heart holds the Netherworld, holds Lady Meng Jiang, holds the Secretary-General... To be able to share this one day with me is enough.]

The American Shorthair finished the snacks and good-naturedly rubbed its head against Shang Wan Ning's palm.

It let out a satisfied "meow."

Shang Wan Ning rubbed her fingertips and looked up, bumping straight into Lin Ran's doting gaze.

Her pretty face was full of satisfaction after petting the cat, her eyes clear, devoid of their usual depth.

The slight sourness in Lin Ran's heart was suddenly washed away by this almost heartwarming smile.

She naturally reached out her hand to pluck a conspicuous orange cat hair stuck to Shang Wan Ning's off-white hoodie.

"Let's go!"

Lin Ran stood up and reached out to her beloved.

"I'll take you to eat ice cream, the mint-flavored kind."

Hearing this, Shang Wan Ning's eyes brightened even more. She reached into Lin Ran's palm without hesitation, using the leverage to stand up, her ponytail tracing an arc with the movement.

"Okay, girlfriend."

...

In the ice cream shop's glass cabinet were colorful scoops of ice cream, and the mint green bowl was emitting fine white mist.

Lin Ran had just finished paying, and when she turned around, she saw Shang Wan Ning on tiptoe, her nose almost touching her own lips.

"Be careful not to catch a cold." Lin Ran handed over a small spoon and took a scoop herself first.

The chill, carrying the crispness of mint, exploded on her tongue, and she couldn't help but squint her eyes.

Shang Wan Ning continued to follow ARan's example, scooping up a large spoonful of ice cream. In a few bites, she had eaten most of it, with a smudge of green stain at the corner of her mouth.

Lin Ran pulled out a tissue to wipe the corner of the Empress's mouth, the spot where her fingertips brushed feeling slightly hot.

Shang Wan Ning looked up at her, still holding half a mouthful of ice cream, mumbling: "Sweeter and softer than the Ice Soul of the River of Oblivion."

"If you like it, eat more." Lin Ran said dotingly.

She pushed her own ice cream, which she hadn't touched much, over.

"You really don't want it?" Just as Lin Ran was about to shake her head, Shang Wan Ning had already scooped a spoonful of mint green ice cream and brought it to ARan's lips.

A mischievous light flashed in her eyes.

"Hey, girlfriend. It's only sweet if we eat it together."

As Shang Wan Ning said this, she scooped another spoonful herself, her ponytail swaying with the movement. The cold air from the glass cabinet drifted out, settling on their touching arms.

Lin Ran looked at the bit of frost on the Empress's nose, reached out to wipe it off for the deity, but as soon as she withdrew her hand, it was gripped back.

"Where are we going after eating?" Shang Wan Ning licked the corner of her lips, her palm gripping Lin Ran's hand tighter.

"Let's go for a walk by the river, okay?" Lin Ran looked at the setting sun outside the window.

"I heard there's an evening breeze."

Shang Wan Ning nodded vigorously, stuffed the last spoonful of ice cream into her mouth, mumbled "Okay," and pulled her out of the shop.

Her ponytail brushed against the back of Lin Ran's hand, like the tip of that Ragdoll cat's tail from earlier, tingling and numb.

"Lin Ran, I'm sorry. I don't seem to be a competent lover."

"No need to apologize, having once possessed a deity is already my good fortune."