The Nutrition is Too Good - Chap 36 Spouse

Rong Mian dazed for a while, and then he began to feel happy.

Because this was the first time Rong Mian heard Zhong Yi personally say to him that he also liked him, and for Rong Mian, this sentence was already enough.

As for the bunch of words Zhong Yi said afterward, Rong Mian felt like he understood, and yet he also felt like he didn’t.

Although he didn’t understand why Zhong Yi seemed so serious, Rong Mian felt that he could vaguely understand the meaning behind Zhong Yi’s words.

Cats like them, who had the ability to transform and had awakened their minds, had a certain level of self-control. Therefore, the male cats in the cat café were still in their original forms.

But the nature of small animals was ingrained in them, so even after everyone had transformed into human forms and started moving around, every spring season, Guo Wukui would often stand at the entrance of the cat café with a broom, eagerly watching the passing stray female orange cats for a long time.

Rong Mian had a vague concept of a spouse.

In his perspective, he only knew that having a spouse meant they could groom each other’s fur, search for food together, and cuddle up together in winter.

However, when Rong Mian was a stray, he couldn’t even spare a thought for his own hunger. After transforming into a human, he spent every day watching palace dramas with Kong Sandou.

Later on, Rong Mian started learning acting and tried to take on his first role. His social circle slowly expanded, and his life became more fulfilling, so he rarely thought about the issue of a partner.

Rong Mian didn’t expect Zhong Yi to actually think about mating first.

Although Zhong Yi didn’t have fluffy fur or a tail, and both Rong Mian and Zhong Yi seemed to be male, Rong Mian wasn’t sure how the process of mating would work in this special case. However, he felt that as long as it was Zhong Yi, he had no reason to refuse.

Zhong Yi was an outstanding human; he had a superior appearance and physique, and he was talented in acting, good at cooking, and gentle with Rong Mian.

Rong Mian believed that if Zhong Yi became his spouse, he would definitely be a great companion.

Rong Mian had already started envisioning his future with Zhong Yi. He became engrossed in his thoughts, so he kept his head down and remained silent.

However, Zhong Yi interpreted this as Rong Mian hesitating.

Taking a deep breath, Zhong Yi realized that his previous words may have been too direct.

But Zhong Yi knew that only by being clear and straightforward with his words, Rong Mian could understand the problem they currently faced.

From Rong Mian’s perspective, the words he had just spoken might indeed be a bit puzzling, and Zhong Yi was willing to give him time to process it.

So Zhong Yi remained silent for a while and said to Rong Mian, “Take your time and think it through. No need to rush.”

“When you’ve figured it out, come and talk to me.”

He said.

Rong Mian stared at Zhong Yi’s face for a while.
After a moment, he murmured softly, nodded his head slightly, lowered his head and thought for a while, then looked up at Zhong Yi and said in a low voice, “I understand.”

Rong Mian knew what he had to do.

Next week, the cat café will have its first dessert launch, and Yun Min has prepared a grand tasting event to gather opinions on the new coffee mousse flavor.

Besides being the owner of the cat café, Yun Min is also their shared manager.

After the tasting event, Yun Min announced the schedule for everyone’s next month and made further adjustments based on their feedback.

Yun Min had developed a chronic illness during his time as a stray cat, so he still needed medication for maintenance.
Apart from his role as the owner of the cat café, he also took his responsibilities as a manager very seriously and handled every aspect with utmost care.

Guo Wukui and Guo Sigua, due to their young age, currently work full-time in the shop, sweeping the floor and fetching water. The other cats work part-time as models, while Rong Mian is the first actor to come out of the shop.

Yun Min cares a lot about Rong Mian. When Rong Mian was studying acting, Yun Min found him a good teacher and used his connections to help him secure good resources.

When Rong Mian’s first web series was released, Yunmin forced the shop’s small TV to play the show on loop for two months. This resulted in the Guo brothers, who swept the floor in the lobby every day, being able to recite the lines backward.

So whenever Rong Mian encountered something significant or urgent, he would choose to talk to Yun Min first.

Today was no different. While Rong Mian was helping Yun Min wash dessert plates, they started talking about the dishwasher, and somehow the conversation shifted to Zhong Yi.

“Uncle Yun,”
Rong Mian pursed his lips and said to Yun Min, “Actually, I really like Zhong Yi.”

Yun Min wasn’t surprised, just smiled and said, “He is indeed a very charming human.”

Rong Mian nodded and continued, “Zhong Yi said he also likes me.”
Yun Yin smiled and nodded, “That’s great.”

Yun Min suddenly fell silent.

“I also really like Zhong Yi, so I want him to be my mate,” continued Rong Mian.

Rong Mian happily put down the plate in his hand and said, “So, Uncle Yun, I need your help.”

The filming of the web drama is coming to an end, and Zhong Yi’s scenes are also about to be finished, so he is busier these days.

Being busy with filming is one thing, but Zhong Yi has been feeling a little off these past few days.

Since their conversation that day, Rong Mian has never actively asked Zhong Yi for a kiss again, nor has he initiated any conversations with him.

Zhong Yi did promise to give Rong Mian time to think, so he couldn’t rush to urge him. He could only wait for Rong Mian to figure things out and then come to him.
But waiting is truly agonizing.

They still interacted the same way as before, rehearsing their scenes, having lunch on set, cooking dinner together at home, watching antique appraisal programs, and saying goodnight to each other.

It’s the same pattern of interaction as before, just without the new version of kissing.

These past few days, Zhong Yi has been feeling frustrated, so he can only use his phone to distract himself. During the breaks on set, Zhong Yi secretly started browsing cat-raising guides on a certain way.

After looking at other people’s pets for a while, Zhong Yi would put down his phone and space out for a moment.

Then, almost involuntarily, he would open a certain online shopping platform and browse various types of cat toys, catnip, and scratching boards. Finally, after hesitating for a moment, he even added an electric cat litter box worth several thousand yuan to his shopping cart.

After adding it, Zhong Yi remembered that Rong Mian probably didn’t really need cat litter or a cat litter box in this situation. However, upon seeing the pictures, he couldn’t help but find them adorable, so in the end, he proceeded with the purchase.

Once the money was spent, he was left with a sense of emptiness.

As a result, Zhong Yi couldn’t help but want to watch videos of cute kittens playing and rolling around. However, reason kept telling him not to watch, as that particular black kitten might not necessarily be his in the future.

Zhong Yi’s mind was itching, and after that, he would start feeling conflicted, which would then lead to a sour feeling.
But Zhong Yi also knew deep down that regardless of the current situation, he had to take the next step.

He could certainly give Rong Mian the kisses he wanted, but if Rong Mian remained clueless about his feelings and didn’t actually mean it, then doing so would be taking advantage of him.

That mental hurdle in Zhong Yi’s mind was one he couldn’t overcome.

However, what’s even worse is that Zhong Yi feels like Rong Mian is avoiding him.

One day after work, Rong Mian would say there are things to do at the cat café, and after promising not to take any guests, Rong Mian would leave with Kong Sandou. For three consecutive days, he didn’t come back before 10 o’clock at night.

So these days, Zhong Yi didn’t have the intention to cook, and he would order takeout every night.

When he opened the refrigerator to put away the leftovers, he saw sausages and bacon on the top shelf, and Zhong Yi would feel extremely frustrated.

But when Rong Mian came home, he seemed genuinely exhausted, but there was also a faint excitement hidden in his tired expression. Zhong Yi couldn’t understand what was going on.

On the sixth day, Rong Mian said he would go back to the cat café and help out in the evening, so he would be home later. Zhong Yi felt even more suffocated inside, but in the end, he could only remain silent and agree.

That night, Zhong Yi happened to have a late-night performance, so when he got home, it was already half past eleven.

He stood at the doorway, estimating that Rong Mian should have arrived home earlier than him today. So he took a deep breath and decided that no matter what, he would have a good talk with him today.

Zhong Yi opened the door, only to find the living room light on, and Rong Mian himself curled up on the sofa, eyes closed, looking like he was already asleep.
However, he wasn’t wearing his usual loose and oversized pajamas, but rather a set of formal-looking, white suit.

Zhong Yi hesitated for a moment and called out his name.

The boy in the suit curled up on the sofa, made a small movement, and then lazily opened his eyes.

After a brief moment of confusion, when he saw Zhong Yi standing in front of him, Rong Mian’s expression instantly turned into delight.

Rong Mian said to Zhong Yi, “You’re back.”

Zhong Yi hummed softly.

Zhong Yi said, “I wanted to talk to you…”

“Zhong Yi.”
Rong Mian said, “I wanted to talk to you.”

Rong Mian’s cheeks had a slight blush, and his eyes were bright.
In preparation for his first mating ritual, Rong Mian made a lot of preparations.

He took a shower and specifically used the sweet orange-scented shampoo that Uncle Yun bought, just to make his scent similar to the citrus fragrance on Zhong Yi’s body, in order to increase the success rate of the mating ritual.

He also changed into a suit that he would only wear during his previous acting rehearsals, and then carefully combed his hair in front of the mirror.

After thinking for a while, Rong Mian was afraid that some uncontrollable special situations might occur, so he finally transformed his tail and carefully groomed the fur on it.

However, he was too excited last night and couldn’t fall asleep. Zhong Yi also didn’t come home tonight, and Rong Mian felt tired after filming for a day, so he fell asleep on the sofa while waiting.

But the planned process and the words to be said were already well-rehearsed in Rong Mian’s mind, so he was full of confidence at this moment.

So Rong Mian said to Zhong Yi, “Please have a seat.”

Zhong Yi hesitated for a moment, but Rong Mian’s expression was firm, so after a short pause, Zhong Yi slowly sat down beside Rong Mian.
“You said that day, I could talk to you once I figured things out.”

Rong Mian said, “I feel like I’ve figured things out now.”

Zhong Yi was taken aback and remained silent for a while before responding with an “Mm.”
“I like the guests who give me cat treats, and I also like you, who fry sausages for me.”

Rong Mian said earnestly, “But I’ve thought about it for a long time, and my feelings for both of you are different.”

“I really hate eating vegetables, so before I met you, Sandou was always worried that I would develop strange illnesses in the future. She said that I would have malnutrition like this.”

Rong Mian said, “But since I met you, I might have had some excessive nutrition instead, because anything you make, even dumplings with chopped carrots, I’m willing to eat them all.”

“So I think the reason why I like those guests is because they give me cat treats.”

Rong Mian looked at Zhong Yi and said, “But I like you, not because of the sausages, bacon, and dumplings you make for me, but simply because I really like you.”

Zhong Yi’s breath hitched, but Rong Mian earnestly called his name again.

“Zhong Yi.”

He said, “I don’t have memories from when I was just born, but Uncle Yun said that my estimated age in human years should be around 22.”

“It’s just that after we can transform, our lifespan and aging speed become similar to humans.”

Rong Mian said, “So if you’re willing, I can accompany you for a very long time.”

“I like cleanliness. When I’m in human form, I take a bath every day, and even when I’m in cat form, I groom my fur properly.”

After thinking for a moment, Rong Mian earnestly said, “My cat weighs about seven pounds, although it’s not very strong, but I’m very good at fighting. I can scratch cats that are several pounds heavier than me until bald.”

“So I can protect you,” Rong Mian said.

“I can catch birds and fish, as well as flying insects and butterflies,”

Rong Mian patiently continued, “Although I don’t earn as much money as you do, I have saved some. If one day you don’t want to act anymore, I will give half of my savings to Uncle Yun and give the rest to you. We can live by the seaside together.”

“I can already fry sausages, bacon, eggs, and boil broccoli. I don’t know how to make dumplings yet, but I can learn,”
Rong Mian said, “I can also catch fish for you every day, so you won’t go hungry.”

Then Zhong Yi looked at Rong Mian with a momentary blank expression, clearly showing a look of suddenly forgetting what to say.

“…To film this movie, I even specially learned human chemistry and mathematics,”
Rong Mian struggled to rack his brains, “Although mathematics is a bit difficult for me, I can memorize the first three rows of the periodic table and know some simple chemical reaction formulas…”

Rong Mian clumsily started listing his own strengths one by one, like a peacock displaying its feathers, proudly showing off every beautiful feather on his body to Zhong Yi.

Zhong Yi was completely caught off guard and couldn’t figure out what he was doing for a moment.

Then Rong Mian said again, “Uncle Yun said that humans often use roses to express love.”

“But I don’t know why, whenever I smell this kind of flower, my nose gets itchy, and I keep sneezing.”

Rong Mian said, “So I thought of giving you something else.”

Unable to give flowers, Rong Mian took out a circular object from his pocket. He carefully held it in his palm and then raised his eyes, quietly staring at Zhongyi’s face.

It wasn’t a ring, it was a collar.

Zhong Yi recognized this bell collar. It was the one Rong Mian wore around his neck when they met on Zhong Yi’s unforgettable 30th birthday in a hotel.

Rong Mian wanted Zhong Yi to be his owner back then.

But now it seemed that being an owner might not be the most suitable role.

Because an owner sounded more like a dominator or controller, while Zhong Yi had always treated Rong Mian as an equal.

He never asks or commands himself, patiently asking for his opinion. He is gentle and awkward, but he respects and cares for himself from beginning to end.

Rong Mian feels that being partners is more suitable for him and Zhong Yi’s current situation, because it is an equal, deeper bond, and a more intimate relationship.

“I really like you,”
Rong Mian said, “Although I have told you many times before, I want to say it again now, and I will continue to say it to you many, many times in the future.”

Rong Mian lowered his head and looked at the collar in his hand.

And this time, Rong Mian finally had the courage to raise his hand and hold the collar in front of Zhong Yi.

But this time, he asked, “Zhong Yi, would you like to be my spouse?”

Author’s Note:

“Spring has come”