Cat O, But Traveling Into The Normal World Chapter 14

Chapter 14 Sleepwalking: Are you sure you’re sleeping alone tonight?

At six in the morning, the alarm clock rang loudly in the room. Yu You had set it specifically so he could get to the early shoot on time.

Yu You’s long eyelashes were closed, and he was sleeping soundly curled up in Jiang Xunzhou’s arms, completely oblivious to the noise. When he was woken up, he was completely dazed: “Did the alarm go off?”

Jiang Xunzhou sighed: “It’s the second time it’s gone off. Little Fish Baby, you should change your name to Little Pig Baby.”

Yu You was a little unhappy about being called that, but remembering that Jiang Xunzhou was still his boss and his indispensable partner for the Heat Period, he swallowed his annoyance and sat up on his own: “Thank you for waking me, Husband. You can go back to sleep.”

Jiang Xunzhou had been woken up and lost his sleepiness. He rubbed his brow and said, “I won’t sleep anymore. I’ll take you to the set.”

Driver Wang knew Yu You’s schedule and was waiting outside with the car. He picked up the two of them and drove toward the filming location.

When they arrived, Yu You was about to get out of the car when Jiang Xunzhou called him back.

Jiang Xunzhou pondered before speaking: “I have a Banquet to attend this afternoon, so I might not be free to pick you up when you finish work.”

He was prepared for Yu You to be unhappy and for him to have to coax him a little, but he didn’t expect Yu You to agree without any objection, nodding obediently: “Okay, okay.”

Jiang Xunzhou was stunned. Before he could react, Yu You had already gotten out of the car and left without looking back.

Shi Sanlin was waiting outside in advance and happily came over to greet him: “Little Yu!”

Yu You greeted him warmly: “Brother Shi!”

Shi Sanlin walked inside with him, chuckling as he asked, “How was it? Did you sleep well last night?”

Yu You curled his lips: “Mhm, I slept very well.”

The Heat Period officially ended last night, and when he woke up this morning, he immediately felt the change in himself.

The sense of dependence on his Alpha partner quietly receded like a tide. His body no longer craved the comfort of Pheromones and skin contact.

Even when he smelled the vetiver scent emanating from Jiang Xunzhou, he only found it fresh and pleasant, without the obsessive desire to cling to him that he had felt the past two days.

Yu You’s steps were light, and he felt like the whole world was brand new.

Shi Sanlin had been worried that Yu You would be upset by the online discussions last night and wouldn’t sleep well, affecting his acting state today. Seeing Yu You so energetic this morning, he was completely relieved: “That’s good!”

Yu You went to the set for styling and noticed people around him whispering, occasionally glancing his way.

Jiang Mingyan specifically came over to comfort him: “Little Fish, don’t pay attention to what those people online are saying. They’re just making mountains out of molehills and don’t understand you at all.”

Aside from Fang You’s original fervent fans, many original novel fans were also questioning Yu You, who had no previous works, being cast as the third male lead.

Jiang Mingyan was also one of those being criticized, which made her feel a sense of shared sympathy for Yu You.

She had even messaged Jiang Xunzhou, asking why he didn’t have the PR department manage the comments for Little Fish. She worried about how upset Little Fish would be if he saw those things online, but Jiang Xunzhou had flatly refused.

The reason he gave was—trying to suppress the comments now would only cause more dissatisfaction. It would be better to wait until the entire drama was filmed and broadcast before seeing the public reaction.

Thinking of this, Jiang Mingyan’s expression toward Yu You couldn’t help but turn sympathetic: “It must be hard dating my brother, right? As long as something is related to work, my brother’s approach will always be dominated by rationality, putting work first.”

Yu You looked confused: “Huh? Isn’t putting work first very normal?”

Jiang Mingyan’s eyes instantly changed: “I didn’t realize, Little Fish, you’re a workaholic just like my brother.”

Yu You smiled shyly.

At noon, due to the character’s positioning, he needed to lose weight for the later stages. Yu You didn’t receive the set’s boxed lunch, only the low-fat meal Shi Sanlin brought him.

Yu You poked the boiled chicken breast with a plastic fork, feeling like his life was utterly bleak.

He was new here and didn’t have many friends. While gnawing on broccoli, he idly took out his phone and messaged Jiang Xunzhou: [What are you eating for lunch?]

Not long after, Jiang Xunzhou replied with a photo.

The background of the business Banquet carried an air of extravagance, and the food on the table was luxurious and exquisite.

The Arctic surf clam sushi was tempting in color, the black truffle ham slices made it easy to imagine the savory and fresh taste in the mouth, and the artichoke with pesto was served on a snow-white round plate, sprinkled with a little chopped parsley for garnish, looking incredibly appetizing.

Yu You painfully closed his eyes. The broccoli in his mouth tasted like chewing wax, and he couldn’t eat any more.

Why did he have to ask Jiang Xunzhou of all people?

Jiang Xunzhou: [What are you eating?]

Yu You sent back a photo.

Jiang Xunzhou: [Is the crew running low on budget?]

Yu You: [No, I’m filming the early scenes of the character these few days. Later, there’s a change in identity, and the image requires weight loss.]

He could still eat a few bites of tasteless chicken breast these days, but before the later scenes started filming, the portion might have to be halved to meet the standard, and he might not even get chicken breast.

The more Yu You thought about it, the more desperate he felt. He eagerly asked Jiang Xunzhou: [Is the Arctic surf clam sushi delicious?]

Jiang Xunzhou: [Average.]

Jiang Xunzhou: [If you want to eat it, after filming is done, I’ll take you to a restaurant. Their seafood is flown in fresh that day.]

Yu You: [Really?]

Jiang Xunzhou: [Really.]

Yu You’s fighting spirit was ignited: [Okay! After this drama is finished, I’m going to feast!]

The small amount of food Yu You ate at noon wasn’t filling. This body was only a nineteen-year-old boy, and he quickly digested it. He was already starving during the afternoon shoot, and when he received a dinner meal similar in size to lunch, he felt so wronged he was close to tears.

Shi Sanlin comforted him nearby: “It’s all to fit the character image. Just lose weight during this period. You won’t have to eat this after half a month of filming.”

Yu You responded listlessly.

He had also lost weight for filming in his previous life, but perhaps because this body was young, he had never found weight loss this difficult before.

After the day’s scenes were finished, Yu You got into the car and found that Jiang Xunzhou was surprisingly in the back seat.

Yu You was stunned: “Didn’t you say you had work today and wouldn’t have time to pick me up?”

Jiang Xunzhou’s lips curved slightly: “It finished early over there. Since I had time, I came by on the way.”

Jiang Xunzhou reached out, grasped Yu You’s wrist, and with a gentle pull, drew the young man into his arms.

Yu You tumbled onto Jiang Xunzhou’s lap, instinctively bracing himself on his shoulder to steady his body, looking dazed and slow to react.

The next moment, Jiang Xunzhou’s palm slipped through the gap in his clothes, pressing against Yu You’s thin abdomen with a light squeeze.

The instant their skin touched, a scorching heat transferred, causing the young man’s sensitive waist to tremble uncontrollably, and a pitiful whimper escaped his nose.

“Checked. Didn’t sneak any food. Your stomach is completely flat from hunger.”

Jiang Xunzhou looked at him, his tone holding a faint smile: “Why is our Little Fish Baby so pitiful?”

Yu You’s ears burned red. He glared at him with a hint of annoyance: “Did you finish work early just to come and laugh at me?”

Jiang Xunzhou nodded frankly: “Yes.”

The business Banquet was filled with celebrities, clinking glasses, and everyone wearing the perfect mask of fake smiles and flattery.

He suddenly found it boring and wanted to leave early to see a certain little cat whose stomach was flat from hunger.

As he expected, the little cat was listless from starvation. Even when getting angry, he lacked his usual aggressive clawing demeanor, looking pitiful no matter how you viewed him.

Yu You pushed him away and sullenly retreated to sit in the corner.

Jiang Xunzhou raised an eyebrow and said, “Not actively rubbing against me today?”

Yesterday, he wouldn’t have been willing to be separated for even a moment.

“Yesterday I was—”

Yu You wanted to explain but couldn’t articulate it clearly, so he simply said, “There’s no one else here right now, so Mr. Jiang and I don’t need to pretend, do we?”

Was he angry from being teased and deliberately trying to distance himself again?

Jiang Xunzhou only found it amusing. He nodded: “Yes, sitting on my lap in the car for ages yesterday and refusing to get down was pretending. Sleepwalking into my room at night and burrowing into my arms was also pretending.”

Yu You’s cheeks were hot: “I told you it was sleepwalking. I can’t control where I go. And tonight I’m sleeping alone. I guarantee I won’t run around sleepwalking.”

Jiang Xunzhou’s gaze became meaningful: “Is that so?”

“Of course.”

Yu You spoke confidently: “I’m sleeping in the Guest Bedroom tonight. I absolutely, positively won’t run over to your place. I don’t have a shoot tomorrow morning, and I want to sleep in alone!”

His Heat Period was completely over, and he didn’t need an Alpha partner by his side.

Yu You silently clenched his fist.

He was going to prove it to Jiang Xunzhou tonight!

Jiang Xunzhou nodded leisurely: “I understand.”

He even kindly offered a way out: “But I understand. Sleepwalking can’t be controlled. If you miss me in the middle of the night… ahem, if your sleepwalking acts up and you come looking for me, I won’t blame you.”

Yu You said with confidence: “Absolutely not.”

Jiang Xunzhou’s eyes held a smile, his face clearly showing that he didn’t quite believe it, and he slowly replied, “Alright, I look forward to it.”

After returning, Yu You went to the Guest Bedroom, quickly washed up, and happily burrowed into bed, rolling around joyfully wrapped in the blanket.

The joy of having the big bed all to himself!

While he was enjoying himself, there were two knocks on the door.

Yu You poked his rosy face out from under the blanket.

Standing at the door was Jiang Xunzhou, wearing a black sleeping robe. The tie was loosely fastened, the sides of the robe hanging open, revealing the firm lines of his tanned chest, with water droplets rolling down—very sexy.

Wow…

Yu You’s gaze slightly glazed over, uncontrollably sticking to him. He swallowed lightly, feeling somewhat dizzy from the sight.

Was Jiang Xunzhou showing off his muscles?

The man’s handsome face held a half-smile: “Are you sure you’re sleeping alone tonight and not coming over?”

Yu You chased the messy thoughts from his mind, snapped back to reality, and nodded firmly: “Not coming over.”

He added silently in his heart.

—Not just tonight, but until the next Heat Period, he wasn’t coming over either.

Jiang Xunzhou said: “Alright.”

Yu You lay down properly: “Husband, please turn off the light and close the door for me. Good night.”

Jiang Xunzhou wasn’t annoyed at being ordered around and smiled: “Good night.”

The light switch clicked off, and the door gradually closed. The light cast from the hallway narrowed until the room was plunged into darkness.

Yu You folded his hands neatly over his abdomen, closed his eyes peacefully, and felt safe.

Before drifting off to sleep, only one thought lingered in his mind.

Tomorrow morning, he would be able to prove to Jiang Xunzhou that he could sleep alone…

The morning light fell on his face, gradually waking his consciousness.

Yu You’s long eyelashes fluttered slightly, and he slowly opened his eyes.

“Awake?”

A low, slightly hoarse male voice sounded, like an electric current across his eardrums.

Jiang Xunzhou was half-reclining on the bed, resting his chin on his arm, looking down at him with a slight curve to his lips: “Little Fish Baby, good morning.”

Yu You wasn’t very awake yet. He stared blankly for a while before he saw clearly, startled into sitting up abruptly, anxiously looking around.

—The decor here was clearly the Master Bedroom.

“How did I get here?” Yu You was dumbfounded. “I clearly, I clearly…”

Jiang Xunzhou thoughtfully finished his sentence: “Clearly you were on the bed in the Guest Bedroom before you woke up, and now you’re here, right?”

Yu You nodded eagerly.

Jiang Xunzhou said, “That means you sleepwalked again.”

Yu You was stunned: “I… sleepwalked again?”

“Yes,” Jiang Xunzhou said unhurriedly. “Otherwise, what other reason could explain why you appeared in my bed again?”

The young man sat on the bed in a daze, his hair messy, his face confused and helpless.

But sleepwalking was the excuse he had made up.

Could it be that this body really had a habit of sleepwalking before?