"I think your best option now is to tell Aunt Lin," Qin Yi said leisurely. "She's your guardian and can help register your household and update your ID. Otherwise, you'll be stuck."
"But..." Lin Jin started to speak, her lips quivering slightly, but finally nodded.
"However..." Qin Yi paused, a new thought striking him. "Could this change be unstable?"
"Unstable?" Lin Jin's eyes lit up.
"Try sleeping again. You might change back."
"Great idea!" Her drooping cat ears perked up. She rushed forward, hugging Qin Yi excitedly and licking his cheek lightly. "Thank you!"
The warm, moist slide of the Kitten Girl's tongue over his skin... Qin Yi almost broke his poker face.
"Hehe," Lin Jin stuck out her tongue shyly under her childhood friend's odd stare. "Sorry, I just subconsciously wanted to lick you."
Qin Yi facepalmed, grabbed a random book from the shelf. "Sleep."
"Okay." The Kitten Girl happily lay down, tucking herself under the blanket, oblivious this was Qin Yi's room.
"Don't leave, okay?"
"Okay." She closed her eyes, obedient. After a moment, she opened them.
"You must not go, okay?"
"Okay." Eyes shut again, compliant. A while later, they opened once more.
"Don't sneak off while I sleep, okay?"
"Okay." Shutting her eyes, she stayed docile. Soon, they flickered open again.
"You—" Qin Yi covered her chattering mouth firmly. "Sleep. OK?"
OK! The Kitten Girl flashed a thumbs-up.
Qin Yi slowly released her. True to her word, Lin Jin kept her eyes closed.
Finally asleep... Qin Yi picked up his pen, resuming his math problems. The rustle of scratch paper filled the quiet room.
"Qin Yi~" A soft, haunting voice startled him mid-calculation. He turned—predictably, that troublesome little one again.
Qin Yi rubbed his temples wearily. "What now?"
"You... should still go to class," Lin Jin muttered, hesitating.
"Why?" Qin Yi sounded surprised.
"What else?" She covered her face in despair. "Like this, I'm basically ruined. I can't drag you down too—I need someone to rely on later."
This reason... Well, so Lin Jin.
