The Eldest Daughter is Delicate and Pretty, How Can She Be a Malicious Supporting Character - Chapter 20

Chapter 20: Transformed into a Cat

The dim candlelight cast a warm glow, revealing the peaceful sleeping face of the young lady. Her black hair spread out on the bed, and her clothes shifted slightly, exposing a glimpse of her moon-white undergarments.
Xiao Huaice was stunned for a moment, followed by shame and unease.
He hastily covered his eyes, only to realize that his hands had transformed into a pair of small paws.

This was clearly a cat’s paw. How had he… how had he become a cat?
This was absurd. In the middle of the night, he had inexplicably appeared on a woman’s bed.

Was he dreaming? He had been in his own chamber just moments before.
He had always scoffed at supernatural phenomena, but now he had literally become a cat on a woman’s bed.
The situation was too bizarre. He needed to figure out his identity and where he was.
Just as he was about to escape from the bed, the person behind him suddenly woke up.
“Snow Ball? Are you feeling better?”
The woman’s voice was husky from sleep.

Xiao Huaice was startled, his fur standing on end. “I, I didn’t mean to get on your bed,” he tried to say, but all that came out was “Meow, meow, meow.”
Pei Lingyi was relieved to see the cat’s energetic behavior, which was a far cry from its earlier lethargy.

She wrapped her arms around the cat’s fluffy belly and pulled it into her embrace. “You’re fine now. Just rest, or you’ll need to see the doctor again tomorrow.”

The poor Xiao Huaice could only endure the affectionate attention.
His nose was filled with the woman’s fragrance, and his back was pressed against her body. He had never been this close to a woman before, and his face turned bright red.
This was too much. How could she be so affectionate with a cat, letting it sleep on her bed?

Xiao Huaice thought to himself, but Pei Lingyi held him tightly, and he didn’t want to wake her up again.
The room was warm and cozy, unlike the cold atmosphere of his usual chambers. Despite the absurdity of the situation, Xiao Huaice felt drowsy in the woman’s gentle breathing.
The night passed without dreams.

When he woke up again, the sky was bright.
The morning sunlight streamed through the worn-out window lattice, casting a warm glow on the man’s handsome eyelashes.
The man on the bed was awakened by the light. Xiao Huaice moved his eyes, expecting to see the woman from last night.
However, he was greeted by the familiar, dilapidated chamber.

A simple desk, a few worn-out wooden stools, and a leaky window that couldn’t be fixed. He rubbed his eyes, disbelieving, and looked at his palms. They were human hands again, with distinct joints. Had he really transformed back?
Last night… he had clearly…

He had felt the fragrance, the warmth of her embrace.
But everything around him reminded him that he was still Xiao Huaice, the fifth prince who could be bullied by anyone in the palace.

He chuckled to himself, thinking that it was impossible for someone to turn into a cat. The dream had felt so real, and he couldn’t help but be drawn into it, his mind confused.
…
In the Pei mansion, Lanyue Pavilion.
“I knew Snow Ball must have been tired yesterday. Look how lively it is today,” Pei Lingyi said, watching the snow-white sable cat chasing a colorful embroidery ball in the courtyard.

Layan held the embroidery ball, teasing Snow Ball, and they were having a great time.
Luoxu brought over a cup of flower tea and smiled. “I’m not sure if Snow Ball is tired, but I think you’ll be exhausted today.”

The weather was getting cooler, and Layan was sweating slightly, indicating that she had exerted herself quite a bit.
“Alright, alright. Stop running around. Go change your clothes. The wind is strong, and you might catch a cold,” Pei Lingyi said.
When Pei Lingyi spoke, Layan stopped playing with Snow Ball and threw the embroidery ball up. In an instant, the white ball of fur pounced on the red tassel of the ball.

“Our Snow Ball is amazing. Come here,” Pei Lingyi said, and the white sable cat jumped onto her lap, holding the embroidery ball in its mouth.

“Snow Ball is indeed intelligent. It looked ill yesterday, but after sleeping with you, it’s fine today. It must have missed you,” Luoxu said.
Pei Lingyi stroked the white cat, listening to Luoxu’s words, but didn’t respond.
When she woke up last night, she noticed that Snow Ball seemed to be distrustful of her and tried to run off the bed. Luckily, she caught it.
She didn’t know what happened, but today it was back to normal.

The doctor came this morning and said there was nothing wrong.
Maybe… it had reached the age of wanting a female cat?
Pei Lingyi thought for a moment, then dismissed the idea.
Just then, someone arrived at Lanyue Pavilion.

“Tangtang? Why are you here today?” Pei Lingyi was surprised. She didn’t expect Pei Sitang to come visit her, especially since she rarely did.
Pei Sitang looked down, seeming anxious.
After a while, she said, “Eldest sister, can I really not go to the gathering with the gentlemen?”

“Why?” Pei Lingyi asked nonchalantly, stroking the cat with one hand and holding the rope of the swing with the other.
Pei Sitang knelt down as soon as she heard Pei Lingyi’s tone. “I’m sorry, eldest sister. I didn’t mean to ruin your plans. It’s just that…”

“Was it your mother who didn’t want you to go?” Pei Lingyi finished Pei Sitang’s sentence.
Pei Sitang looked up, tears welling up in her eyes. “Eldest sister, how did you know?”
Pei Lingyi handed Snow Ball to Luoxu and went over to help Pei Sitang up. “Don’t worry, eldest sister will talk to your mother. If she promised to take you to the gathering, she will keep her word.”

Pei Lingyi wiped away Pei Sitang’s tears as she spoke.
Pei Sitang looked at her gentle older sister and couldn’t help but burst into tears. “I’m sorry, eldest sister. I let you down.”

“It’s okay, Tangtang. Eldest sister is here, and you don’t need to worry about anything, okay?”
Pei Sitang cried for a long time, as if she was releasing all the grievances she had accumulated over the years.

After she left, Pei Lingyi sighed. “Why isn’t Concubine Bai satisfied with having a daughter like Tangtang? She insists on comparing Tangtang to me in everything.”

Luoxu thought about Concubine Bai’s actions over the years and didn’t know how to comment. “Second Miss has always been intelligent, but to fulfill Concubine Bai’s wishes, she’s become like this. Only with you, Miss, can she be herself.”

“You follow me to the Lihua Courtyard… wait, maybe it’s better to go to Mother’s place directly,” Pei Lingyi said. She initially thought of going to see Concubine Bai herself, but since Concubine Bai was a senior, it would be better for their mother to handle the situation.