the cat in emperor's arms

sliced fish

"Is the outfit suitable?" Pei Shenyu's eyes softened slightly.

"Meimei* likes it very much. Did you choose it? It's exactly the pattern I like..." As soon as Ming Luomeng mentioned her new dress, she was like a chirping little sparrow, so excited that she couldn't help lifting her skirt and twirling in the moonlight.

She looked just like a girl showing off her new clothes.

Pei Shenyu indulgently listened to her endlessly praise his good taste, and his heart also brightened.

"I think it looks beautiful too."

Ming Luomeng blinked, feeling inexplicably warm at her ears. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, revealing her pearl-like earlobes.

However, Pei Shenyu's gaze fell on her black hair, and he pondered for a moment.

"There's only one thing missing."

He stood up. "Meimei, wait here for a moment."

Ming Luomeng hadn't reacted yet and didn't even notice that he had unconsciously changed his form of address. She watched him with confusion as he went inside, and soon, Pei Shenyu returned.

He handed a comb and a jade hairpin to Ming Luomeng. She took them with a blank expression, cradling the items carefully in her hands, but then she heard Pei Shenyu say:

"It was my oversight not to buy you some grooming tools. This hairpin is mine, you can use it for now."

"Oh..." Ming Luomeng was a little dazed as she glanced at the comb and hairpin in her hands.

The sandalwood comb was dark purple without any patterns, and the jade hairpin was flawless, with a simple and natural beauty. Both were plain and elegant, clearly styled for men.

However, she had always been lazy. Just looking at her usual cat-like demeanor showed that she had been the kind of young lady who was always waited on. She had never handled any such mundane matters herself.

Now, holding the comb and hairpin, she was completely unfamiliar with them.

If her cat ears were still there, they would have certainly drooped softly at this point.

Hesitating, Ming Luomeng picked up the comb and tried combing her hair. But halfway through, she felt a sudden pain. She frowned slightly but said nothing. She put down the comb and picked up the jade hairpin.

Carefully, she tried twisting her hair up with the hairpin, but her arms soon started feeling tired after just a short while.

Pei Shenyu watched her intently.

He saw her looking like a confused little creature, messing up her own hair.

At first, when she began using the comb, his eyebrows had already furrowed slightly, and he had a general sense of the situation. When Ming Luomeng was about to fumble with the hairpin again, Pei Shenyu finally couldn’t help but speak:

"Let me do it."

"Hm?" The confused little cat froze.

"Give me the hairpin." Having already made up his mind, Pei Shenyu was very decisive.

Perhaps it was because his expression was too serious and firm, but Ming Luomeng, without thinking, instinctively handed the hairpin to him.

Then she heard Pei Shenyu sigh softly, seemingly with a trace of amusement: "You..."

Ming Luomeng was feeling guilty when she saw him walk up to her, raise his sleeves, and then... he started to comb her hair?

Pei Shenyu lowered his gaze, seeing the black hair in his hands, as soft as silk, but slightly messy from its owner’s earlier rough treatment, with a few strands out of place.