Que Tang never arrived late or left early, but she also never stayed a second longer than necessary. Her colleague, the sales assistant, bid her a customary goodbye before settling back into the grind of overtime.
Realizing she was nearly out of instant noodles and bread, Que Tang stopped by the supermarket on her way home, emerging with two heavy bags of supplies. As she walked, a black cat approached her, meowing plaintively as if trying to act cute.
Though she had no particular affinity for animals, Que Tang felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity with this cat. She crouched down and instinctively reached into one of her bags, pulling out a packet of dried fish snacks. She tore it open and poured a small pile onto the ground.
"Meow~" The cat let out a cry and immediately lowered its head to bolt down the snacks, as if afraid someone might snatch them away.
The cat was adorable, but Que Tang frowned. Why did it feel like the cat had just looked at her with a hint of disdain? And more importantly...
"I don't even eat dried fish. Why did I buy this?" she wondered, staring blankly at the package in her hand. Ever since those strange dreams began, she felt herself becoming increasingly neurotic.
"Meow~" Before she knew it, the cat was rubbing against her ankles, circling her legs.
"Finished already? You want more?" Que Tang translated the cat's meow with startling accuracy. She looked the cat—Little Mushroom—up and down, then shook her head. "You're too fat. You shouldn't eat so much."
"Meow-uuu~" Little Mushroom felt wounded. Even with its memory wiped and having forgotten the cat entirely, the Host could still roast it with such precision.
Despite it being a mere cat, Que Tang felt she could see expressions of sorrow and huffiness on its face. For a rare moment, she smiled.
"Little Mushroom, so this is where you were. Why do you love running off so much?"
Que Tang, still crouching, froze. That voice had appeared for the third time today. It couldn't be... such a coincidence.
"Que Tang? What a surprise."
It was indeed an unwelcome surprise. Que Tang’s thoughts raced for a moment before she stood up and brushed off her trousers. "Hello, President Qi," she greeted politely. "Is this your cat? It seems to have a fondness for dried fish. Please, take these as a small gift. It’s getting late, so I’ll be going—" Before she could finish, the cat suddenly leaped into her arms and refused to budge.
"It seems to really like you," Qi Ruolan said, unable to suppress a smile. "I’m afraid I’ll have to trouble you to carry it. I’m so sorry; I’ve raised it to be quite willful."
"Meow-uuu~" In Que Tang’s arms, Little Mushroom meowed at Qi Ruolan in protest. *You were the one who told me to get close to "Sugarless" to create a "chance encounter" for you!*
Qi Ruolan remained blissfully deaf to the cat's complaints, maintaining a pleasant smile as she looked directly at Que Tang.
"I... alright then." Que Tang held the cat in her left arm while struggling with the heavy bags in her right. In the next heartbeat, the bags were taken from her. "President..."
"My surname is Qi," Qi Ruolan said gently. "Outside of work, you can call me Ms. Qi, or simply Ruolan. As for 'President'... I’m just an employee earning a salary like anyone else. I’m hardly the 'overbearing CEO' type."
"Then... Ms. Qi, I can carry the bags myself," Que Tang said, taking a step back as she adjusted her form of address.
"It’s inconvenient while you’re holding the cat. Consider me carrying your bags as a repayment. Let’s go." With a tone that brooked no refusal, Qi Ruolan turned and walked toward their apartment building.
Watching her back, Que Tang sighed softly. She didn't understand why this woman could so easily dismantle her defenses.
The two of them walked slowly along the sidewalk like a couple out for a stroll with their pet. Qi Ruolan spoke with a light smile, seemingly unbothered by Que Tang’s lack of response. To an outsider, they looked like a pair of close sisters.
When they reached their floor, the cat obediently hopped out of Que Tang’s arms.
"Ms. Qi, there’s no need to trouble you further," Que Tang said, reaching for her bags. She didn't expect Qi Ruolan to take her hand instead, leading her toward her own apartment. "Ms... Ms. Qi?"
"I saw what you bought—instant noodles, bread, frozen food. Is this all you eat?" There was a faint, almost imperceptible note of reproach in her voice.
"That... is none of your business," Que Tang said, pulling her hand back. The woman’s words had touched a nerve. She might be bad at saying no, but she wasn't stupid. "Please return my things."
"Don't be so guarded against me." Qi Ruolan looked at her stubborn persistence, her smile turning somewhat helpless. "I only... wanted to thank you."
"It... it was nothing. You don't need to take it to heart." Seeing the other woman soften, Que Tang felt a pang of embarrassment.
"How could I not? Of all the people passing by that day, you were the only one who stepped forward to help me without hesitation. That’s why... I’ve been bothering you. I want to be your friend." Qi Ruolan’s gaze was sincere.
"Friend..." Que Tang murmured hesitantly. Then, as if remembering something, she lowered her head and took a step back. "I don't need friends."
Qi Ruolan felt a pang of heartache but didn't let it show. She nodded with patient warmth. "If not friends, could we at least have a meal together occasionally? Being alone in a new place, one always needs a little help."
"Fine... then," Que Tang reluctantly agreed.
"Then come over for dinner tonight. Consider it a housewarming celebration?" Qi Ruolan looked at her expectantly.
Que Tang hesitated. The refusal died on her lips as she saw the hope in the other woman's eyes. Thinking it would only be this once, she nodded.
Qi Ruolan beamed and opened the door, inviting her inside.
As Que Tang stepped into the apartment, the cat darted in beside her.
"Rest on the sofa for a moment. I’ll go bring the dishes out." Qi Ruolan guided her toward the sofa before turning into the kitchen.
"The layout here... looks so familiar." Que Tang frowned as she sat down. It wasn't just the decor; everything—from Qi Ruolan herself to the cat currently acting cute at her feet for more fish snacks—carried a haunting sense of familiarity.
"Meow~" Little Mushroom called out impatiently, trying to grab her attention.
"What is it? You want more fish?" Que Tang looked down as requested. Seeing the cat rolling on the floor, blinking its watery eyes, she shook her head with a soft laugh. She pulled the opened packet from the bag on the floor, poured a few pieces into her palm, and fed the cat.
"Meow-uuu~" Little Mushroom thought with teary eyes that the Host was still the best. Even though she loved to roast people and was often stubborn, she never let it go hungry. Unlike that "evil female lead" who acted all loving in front of the Host but ignored and disdained it the moment she was gone. She had even instituted a wicked weight-loss plan and wiped out its entire snack stash...
Lost in its grievances, the cat leaped into Que Tang’s lap to seek comfort.
"You... why are you such a clingy cat?" Que Tang murmured, stroking its head.
"Don't mind it. Little Mushroom is too fat, so I’ve been cutting back on its food and treats to help it lose weight. I didn't expect it to turn around and play the victim with you." Qi Ruolan emerged from the kitchen carrying dishes. When she saw the cat rolling on Que Tang’s lap, her gaze turned cold. She glared at the cat, scaring Little Mushroom into jumping down and scurrying away. Satisfied, she set the food on the table, quickly brought out the rest of the meal, and sat in the armchair beside Que Tang.
"Eat up."
Que Tang ate a little out of politeness before making an excuse to leave. Qi Ruolan didn't try to stop her, seeing her to the door and watching her return to her own apartment.
"The Host is really hard to win over. Meow-uuu," Little Mushroom said, reappearing from some unknown corner to stand by Qi Ruolan’s side.
Qi Ruolan pressed her lips together in silence.
Qi Ruolan was an expert at gauging the distance between them. Knowing Que Tang didn't want contact at the office, she never spared her a single glance there. Even back at the apartments, she didn't intrude too often, maintaining a steady rhythm of bringing over food once every three days.
Que Tang went from resistance to silent acceptance. Over time, not wanting to be indebted, Que Tang began to return the favor the following morning by leaving breakfast at Qi Ruolan’s door.
Qi Ruolan would accept it with a smile, and that evening, Que Tang would receive another "return gift." The three-day interval gradually shortened to two, and then it became every day.
"Ms. Qi..." Que Tang stood at the neighbor's door with a freshly prepared breakfast. Qi Ruolan was already there, waiting punctually.
"Yes?" She took the tray from Que Tang’s hands.
"Thank you for taking care of me lately, but... let's not make this a habit anymore," Que Tang said, looking away.
"Is my cooking not to your taste?" Qi Ruolan didn't agree, asking instead with a smile.
"No... it’s just..." While preparing breakfast earlier, Que Tang had realized she was worrying about what Qi Ruolan would like to eat. The thought of the other woman’s joyful expression upon eating her favorite dish made her happy... and then she had frozen.
She had unconsciously grown accustomed to Qi Ruolan’s presence. She even felt... happy.
Counting back their interactions, she realized they had become as close as friends. Aside from deliberately avoiding each other during work hours, they shared almost every meal. Afterward, they would sometimes walk together and talk...
Que Tang felt a surge of terror. How could she be allowed to be happy? She was supposed to live a life of pain, burdened by the regret of causing Mu Yao’s death. How could she find happiness after what had happened?
"It’s just that I’m tired of this pointless relationship," Que Tang said, her heart turning cold as she spat out hurtful words. "Ms. Qi, you’ve lived here long enough to be familiar with the area. You don't need my help anymore. So please, don't bother me again."
With that, she turned and went back inside. The moment the door clicked shut, she leaned weakly against it, silently whispering an apology to Qi Ruolan.
Her life had been frozen in time on the day of Mu Yao’s eighteenth birthday, the day she died. She had promised Mu Yao’s body that she would never befriend anyone else in this lifetime... that she would stay by her side in this way, never forgetting her.
Holding the tray, Qi Ruolan stared at the door, sensing the helpless, grieving figure on the other side. She said nothing.
"Meow~ The Host’s obsession with you is truly deep. No wonder she woke the System along with you," Little Mushroom said, rubbing against Qi Ruolan’s leg.
"Did I... do something wrong?" For the first time, Qi Ruolan looked lost as she gazed down at the cat.
"So, do you want to give up? Meow?" Little Mushroom looked up with innocent curiosity.
"No... how could I? I’ve come this far; how could I possibly let her go and watch her become that man’s wife?" Qi Ruolan’s dark pupils turned a deep purple with a flash of anger.
"Meow-uuu~ Then please hurry and win the Host over. Bring her home as your bride."
***
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Transmigrated as the Mary Sue: The Villainess's Revenge System | Chapter 80 | A Familiar Shadow | Novela.app | Novela.app
