Chapter 41: Longing…
During Su Muluo’s absence these days, although Qiansui kept the coffee shop open, business wasn’t as good as before. Calculating the earnings from this period, he found it wasn’t enough to buy more than a few cans of cat food. So, he added some money himself and sent Qiansui a WeChat red envelope.
Qiansui must have registered with the Bureau of Extraordinary Beings to live in Lin City, and he had an ID card. Since Huang Gaigai left, he had even bought himself a mobile phone, though he rarely used it.
Compared to living as a human, he still preferred being with the cats on the street. However, having a phone was necessary. This way, when Su Muluo sent him a red envelope, he could also buy his favorite cat food.
It was afternoon now, and there were few customers in the shop. Su Muluo calmly wiped the coffee cups, while Long Ling stood beside him, wearing a look of deep resentment.
Just moments ago, he had been tied up and hung outside the door, enduring half a minute of cold wind. Now, he was very unhappy and deeply yearned for Phoenix’s comforting kiss.
However, his Phoenix paid him no attention, continuing to wipe the coffee cups.
After a while, two familiar figures entered the shop. Su Muluo smiled slightly upon seeing their faces and said, “Welcome.”
The two girls were Song Nan and Yang Yueyue, the first customers at his coffee shop and the first to order his special coffee. Song Nan especially became a regular customer afterward, bringing Su Muluo quite a few clients with issues like baldness, insomnia, and cervical spondylosis.
Although Song Nan hadn’t been coming as often recently, Su Muluo still remembered them.
However, today Song Nan seemed off, and so did Yang Yueyue beside her. Once close friends who used to walk hand in hand and show affection, they now seemed distant, and even outsiders could sense the tension between them.
“Boss, long time no see.” Song Nan greeted Su Muluo wearily and ordered, “Two cups of special coffee, no sugar.”
Only after speaking did she notice the black-clad man standing next to Su Muluo. She hesitated for a moment, feeling the man exuded a cold aura that was intimidating upon first glance, yet his gaze towards the boss was surprisingly gentle, almost… like that towards a lover.
Song Nan wondered briefly but had no energy to delve deeper into it now. After hastily paying, she headed straight for a window seat without acknowledging Yang Yueyue beside her.
Yang Yueyue followed with a cold expression. They didn’t seem like they were here for coffee; it was more like a negotiation.
Su Muluo sensed something had happened between these two girls, possibly involving privacy. So after preparing the two cups of special coffee, he avoided eavesdropping on their conversation intentionally.
Song Nan chose a seat at a distance from the bar counter. Initially, neither of them spoke, but eventually, it was Song Nan who broke the silence… As their conversation progressed, their voices gradually grew louder, escalating into a heated argument.
“We’ve been friends for thirteen years! What have I done to deserve this from you?!”
“Ridiculous! Look at yourself in the mirror before saying that. Do you even deserve it?”
“Aren’t you afraid this will get out and everyone will know what kind of person you are?”
“Stop it. They’ll only laugh at you for being incapable of keeping a man!”
…
After a fierce argument, Yang Yueyue sneered and turned to leave. Song Nan immediately grabbed her arm, saying, “Don’t go! We’re not finished!”
Yang Yueyue sneered disdainfully, “I have nothing more to say to you!”
Song Nan took out her phone, saying, “I recorded it! If you dare to leave, I’ll send this recording to him right now!”
Yang Yueyue paused in her steps, turned around, and faced Song Nan.
In that moment, her expression was almost inhuman, her pupils dilated, her gaze cold and even eerie.
moment, then calmly wiped the coffee cups, while Long Ling stood beside him with a face full of lingering resentment.
He had just been tied up and left hanging outside, enduring a chilly wind for a good half-minute. Now, he was in a foul mood and deeply desired the comfort of Phoenix’s affectionate kiss.
But his Phoenix ignored him completely, continuing to wipe the coffee cups.
After a while, a few customers entered the shop. They were two familiar figures.
Upon seeing their faces, Su Muluo smiled faintly and greeted, “Welcome.”
The two girls were Song Nan and Yang Yueyue. They were the first to visit his coffee shop and the first to order his special coffee. Song Nan had become a regular customer, even bringing Su Muluo many clients suffering from issues like baldness, insomnia, and cervical spondylosis.
Although Song Nan hadn’t been coming as often recently, Su Muluo still remembered them.
However, today, Song Nan seemed off, and so did Yang Yueyue beside her. Formerly close friends who used to walk hand in hand and show affection, they now exuded a palpable tension that even strangers could perceive.
“Boss, long time no see,” Song Nan greeted with a weary expression. She ordered, “Two cups of special coffee, no sugar.”
Only after speaking did she notice the black-clad man standing next to Su Muluo. She hesitated for a moment, feeling the man emitted a cold aura that was intimidating at first sight. Yet his gaze towards the boss was surprisingly gentle, almost… like that towards a lover.
Song Nan briefly wondered, but she had no energy to delve deeper into it now. After hastily paying, she headed straight for a window seat without acknowledging Yang Yueyue beside her.
Yang Yueyue followed with a cold expression. They didn’t seem like they were here for coffee; it was more like a negotiation.
Su Muluo sensed something had happened between these two girls, possibly involving privacy. So after preparing the two cups of special coffee, he intentionally avoided eavesdropping on their conversation.
Song Nan chose a seat at a distance from the bar counter. Initially, neither of them spoke, but eventually, it was Song Nan who broke the silence… As their conversation progressed, their voices gradually grew louder, escalating into a heated argument.
“We’ve been friends for thirteen years! What have I done to deserve this from you?!”
“Ridiculous! Look at yourself in the mirror before saying that. Do you even deserve it?”
“Aren’t you afraid this will get out and everyone will know what kind of person you are?”
“Stop it. They’ll only laugh at you for being incapable of keeping a man!”
…
After a fierce argument, Yang Yueyue sneered and turned to leave. Song Nan immediately grabbed her arm, saying, “Don’t go! We’re not finished!”
Yang Yueyue sneered disdainfully, “I have nothing more to say to you!”
Song Nan took out her phone, saying, “I recorded it! If you dare to leave, I’ll send this recording to him right now!”
Yang Yueyue paused in her steps, turned around, and faced Song Nan.
In that moment, her expression was almost inhuman, her pupils dilated, her gaze cold and even eerie.
Song Nan was startled and took a step back. At that moment, Yang Yueyue seized the untouched cup of coffee and splashed it towards her.
The coffee was scalding hot. If it had splashed on her face, it would have been very embarrassing, if not disfiguring. Song Nan screamed and instinctively closed her eyes.
In that moment, she even thought she was in great danger. However, after a few seconds, the imagined burns did not appear.
“…”
Song Nan cautiously opened her eyes and realized that the coffee shop owner had somehow appeared beside her. The cup of coffee hadn’t splashed on her head but had spilled all over the floor, splattering Yang Yueyue’s red skirt.
“Sorry, this is just a coffee shop,” Su Muluo said coldly. “We don’t welcome troublemaking customers.”
He directed these words at Yang Yueyue. After listening, she glared coldly at Song Nan, neither apologizing nor saying anything further, then turned and left without looking back.
Song Nan watched her leave, then looked down at the steaming coffee on the ground and the shattered remnants of the coffee cup. Suddenly, she realized what her former close friend had done to her… Her legs weakened, and she slumped into a chair.
Su Muluo asked, “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine…” Song Nan replied weakly, “Sorry, boss, for causing you trouble… I’ll compensate you for this cup.”
“No need, it’s not much money,” Su Muluo said. “But what happened between you and your friend? Why the conflict?”
Song Nan shook her head, obviously reluctant to say more. As she tried to get up to leave, Su Muluo stopped her.
“Your friend is acting strange,” Su Muluo said bluntly. “If you just leave like this, I can’t guarantee what might happen later.”
Song Nan was startled and immediately looked at Su Muluo, hesitating. “Boss, when you say ‘acting strange,’ do you mean—”
Su Muluo interrupted, “You should know well. Has she changed her behavior drastically recently?”
In fact, when Yang Yueyue splashed the coffee earlier, he felt something was very wrong—because he sensed a demonic aura from Yang Yueyue.
Although the aura only appeared for a moment, Su Muluo was sure it emanated from Yang Yueyue. However, the aura disappeared quickly, and he couldn’t detect it anymore.
This situation was quite strange because when Su Muluo first met Yang Yueyue, she was just a normal person without any demonic aura.
If Yang Yueyue was like Lin Chengcheng, a half-demon who had not awakened her demonic powers before, it would be even less likely—because once the demonic power of a half-demon awakened, demonic aura naturally emanated from their bodies, an irreversible change.
Just like when Su Muluo met Lin Chengcheng before awakening, he didn’t realize he was a demon. After awakening, the demonic aura appeared on his body, which made Su Muluo see that he was a bird demon… But Yang Yueyue is different, Su Muluo can’t see her prototype at all.
Of course, powerful demons can hide their demonic aura, not noticed by others. Obviously, Yang Yueyue did not have this strength because there was no strong demon aura on her.
In other words, Yang Yueyue is still an ordinary person, but may be related to demons… Or, possessed by demons.
This is Su Muluo’s preliminary guess, but he did not tell Song Nan these guesses, after all, the existence of demons can not be leaked.
Song Nan listened to Su Muluo’s words was surprised, said: “Really so! Yue Yue, she recently changed her temper, I almost do not know her!”
Eyes widening, he realized this situation was not simple.
Yang Yueyue must have indeed been possessed by a demon, but how could such trouble-causing creatures reappear within the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Extraordinary Beings?
Regardless, this matter should be handed over to the Bureau of Extraordinary Beings for handling.
“So, give me her address and contact number,” Su Muluo said, “Don’t meet her in these few days. If there’s any situation, come find me.”
Song Nan exchanged contact information with him, still concerned, “Boss, are you going to help Yueyue get rid of the demon? What if something happens to her?”
Though she had just been splashed with coffee by Yang Yueyue, she knew her friend didn’t really mean harm, likely worrying about her friend’s situation after being possessed by a demon.
Su Muluo reassured, “Don’t worry, I will report to the appropriate organization to ensure her safety.”
Song Nan: “There’s an organization too!”
It must be some powerful ghost-catching organization!
Gratefully, she said, “Thank you, Boss. Please let me know if there’s any progress!”
Su Muluo nodded, watching her leave, then sent a message to Liu He.
In reality, being possessed by a demon was a very troublesome situation. If the demon fully occupied a human body, it could easily kill its host. Su Muluo didn’t yet know the extent of Yang Yueyue’s possession, so for her safety, he couldn’t intervene casually.
Therefore, he chose to contact the Bureau of Extraordinary Beings immediately. Besides, they should have more experience in dealing with such matters than he did.
After sending the message, Liu He, who usually responded instantly, didn’t reply promptly. Su Muluo guessed she must be occupied, then glanced at Long Ling, saying, “Mop the floor.”
The spilled coffee hadn’t been cleaned up yet.
Long Ling: “I won’t.”
He had just been left hanging by Phoenix on the door handle!
Outrageous!
Su Muluo met his gaze, saying nothing.
“…”
Moments later, Long Ling reluctantly took the mop and cleaned the floor.
But it wouldn’t be in vain. At 7 PM, Su Muluo returned to his long-unseen rental house… only to be pounced on the couch by his dragon.
Su Muluo: “?”
Long Ling pinned him down, tightly embracing him. With their noticeable size difference, he couldn’t break free.
So he futilely pushed Long Ling away, saying, “Let go.”
“I won’t,” Long Ling said, “Phoenix tied me up, made me hang on the door handle, and even made me mop the floor! I’m not happy!”
Su Muluo said, “That’s because you took advantage of me first!”
Long Ling retorted, “I didn’t! It’s because I like Phoenix. It’s all Phoenix’s fault for being so good-looking that I can’t control myself.” Then confidently added, “Besides, Phoenix has kissed me and even stole a kiss while I was asleep. Phoenix is the one taking advantage of me!”
Su Muluo wanted to hit him upon hearing this but couldn’t do anything while trapped in his arms… so he angrily bit Long Ling’s shoulder.
Long Ling fell silent. Phoenix’s bite was gentle, feeling like he was scratched by a soft little kitten, even causing him to lose control and lightly bite Su Muluo’s lips in return.
Su Muluo: “…”
Taking advantage again!
For the fourth time!!!
He immediately wanted to transform back and fly away. However, at that moment, a strange sensation surged from within him… Suddenly, his expression changed.
Long Ling only heard a light hum from Phoenix, seemingly in pain, curling up immediately and letting go, asking worriedly, “Phoenix, did I hurt you?”
He was somewhat flustered, concerned about what might have happened to his Phoenix… However, upon seeing Su Muluo’s current state, he froze.
A flush of crimson spread across Su Muluo’s fair face, his usually beautiful and cool ink-black eyes now shimmering with a hint of watery ripple.
His Phoenix curled up on the couch, trembling all over, eyes tinged with red, like a ripe, intoxicating fruit emitting a tantalizing allure.
Long Ling: “…Phoenix?”
“…”
Su Muluo didn’t reply.
His mind felt heavy and hazy, recalling the words spoken by the spirit of the jade pendant.
An unstable soul would bring many complications. Having Long Ling by his side could only temporarily alleviate those issues, but it wouldn’t solve them fundamentally… Someday, his condition would worsen.
Could it be… now?
Su Muluo’s eyelashes trembled slightly, his fragmented breathing becoming slightly urgent as he turned his scattered gaze towards Long Ling, soon tightly embraced by his dragon.
The mature and reassuring aura of the man enveloped him, long fingers gently rubbing against his hair. Su Muluo trembled, gripping Long Ling’s clothes tightly, whimpering.
At the same time, he heard Long Ling’s deep and concerned voice by his ear:
“Phoenix… Are you running a fever?”
Su Muluo: “…”
T/N: Hello hello! There is plenty more where that came from, so stay tuned! And stay healthy! Straighten your posture, so some stretches and drink some water before continuing hehe~
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If you like cats, check out Revenge of the Garfield
If you like dragons, check out I’m Pregnant with the Hope of the Entire Planet and The Dragon and the ‘Princess’
How about some mystery or showbiz? Check out Morbid Addiction & Perfection
What about the perfect, most non-toxic male lead ever? Laws of Love
How about MC nursing ML back to health? Forced into the Deep
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