Addicted to you | Lee Know

Special Chapter

I was sprawled out on the couch, a book in one hand and the other absentmindedly scratching Elli behind the ears. The house was surprisingly quiet for a place inhabited by five cats and two humans. Elli was curled up on my lap, Snow was perched on the windowsill, and the three troublemakers—Soonie, Doongie, and Dori—were surprisingly nowhere in sight. 

It was peaceful. Blissful, even. 

The sound of keys jingling in the lock snapped me out of my bubble, and I looked up as Minho stepped inside, a wide grin plastered across his face. He looked far too pleased with himself, and immediately, I was suspicious. 

"What are you up to?" I asked, narrowing my eyes as he kicked off his shoes. 

"Nothing," he said, far too casually. 

I raised an eyebrow, watching as he carefully cradled something in his arms—a suspiciously small bundle wrapped in a soft blanket. 

"Minho." My tone was sharp, my suspicion growing by the second. "What's that?" 

"Just something I picked up on the way home," he said, his grin widening as he approached me. 

I leaned forward, Elli hopping off my lap in irritation at being disturbed. "Don't tell me you—" 

Minho pulled back the blanket, revealing a tiny, squirming bundle of fur. A kitten. A ridiculously tiny, wide-eyed kitten. Its fur was a mix of orange and white, and it let out a small, high-pitched meow that instantly melted my resolve. 

"Minho!" I exclaimed, my jaw dropping. "We already have five cats!" 

"I know," he said innocently, setting the kitten down on the couch next to me. "But look at him." 

The kitten stumbled a little on the cushion, its tiny legs still unsure of themselves. It mewed again, and my heart betrayed me by swelling with affection. 

"That's not the point!" I said, though my voice lacked the conviction I was aiming for. "We can't just keep collecting cats like this." 

"Why not?" Minho asked, plopping down next to me and watching the kitten with the same adoration I was trying to suppress. "The more, the merrier, right?" 

I stared at him, incredulous. "Minho, we already live in a cat kingdom. We're running out of space!" 

"Nonsense," he said, reaching out to scratch the kitten under its chin. The little guy leaned into his touch, purring softly. "There's always room for one more." 

I groaned, running a hand through my hair. "Where did you even find him?" 

"He was by himself outside the company building," Minho explained, his tone softening. "It was raining, and he looked so scared. I couldn't just leave him there." 

My heart clenched at the thought, and I sighed. Of course, he had to rescue it. Minho's love for animals was one of the things I adored about him, even if it sometimes meant our house became a zoo. 

"Fine," I said, throwing my hands up in defeat. "But you're responsible for him." 

"I already am," he said with a grin, leaning over to kiss my cheek. "You're the best." 

"I'm a people pleaser," I muttered, watching as the kitten tried to climb onto Minho's lap. 

"Have you thought of a name yet?" I asked after a moment, already knowing the answer. 

"Mango," he said immediately, his eyes lighting up. 

"Mango?" I repeated, raising an eyebrow. 

"Like a Mango!" he said, gesturing to the kitten's orange fur. "Look at him. He's perfect." 

I shook my head, unable to stop the smile tugging at my lips. "Mango it is, then." 

At that moment, the other cats decided to make their presence known. Soonie, Doongie, and Dori bounded into the room, immediately zeroing in on the new addition. Snow followed at a more cautious pace, while Elli lingered on the armrest, watching the commotion with mild interest. 

The three troublemakers sniffed at Mango curiously, their tails flicking as they circled him. Mango, to his credit, stood his ground, letting out a tiny, defiant meow. 

"He's feisty," Minho said, clearly impressed. 

"Great," I muttered. "Just what we need. Another troublemaker." 

The cats seemed to accept Mango quickly enough, though Dori swatted at him playfully, making the little guy stumble backward. Minho scooped him up protectively, shooting Dori a mock glare. 

"Be nice," he scolded, holding Mango close to his chest. 

I sighed, leaning back against the couch and watching as our cat family expanded yet again. Despite my initial protests, I couldn't deny that the sight of Minho cradling the tiny kitten warmed my heart. 

"You're impossible," I said, shaking my head. 

"And yet, you still love me," he replied, his grin as smug as ever. 

"Unfortunately," I teased, though the truth was written all over my face. 

As the chaos of introducing Mango to the rest of the cats unfolded, I couldn't help but think that, despite the madness, life with Minho was never boring. And maybe, just maybe, I didn't mind having a little more chaos in our lives.