Since her brother wouldn’t let her ride with him, she decided to find her dad instead.
Ruan Fengsi’s ears perked up instantly: Trying to leave? No way!
He lowered his head, opened his mouth wide, and caught the little kitten in one gulp.
“Meow, meow, meow?” Ruan Shu squeaked.
Why did it suddenly get dark?
With some effort, she managed to poke her head out of her big brother’s mouth, her little paw pads pressed against his teeth as she peeked outside.
Hiss…
“Meow, meow, meow…”
‘Help, a big tiger is trying to eat me!’
The little kitten was so scared that her eyes brimmed with tears. And then, she was hit with a sad realization: she wasn’t even big enough to fill a gap in his teeth!
“Roar.”
A low rumbling sound accompanied by vibrations filled the air. It was her big brother’s voice.
‘Don’t move around.’
Ruan Shu: She… she wouldn’t dare to move anyway!
In the end, Ruan Shu was carefully carried by her big brother and placed onto his back.
Her little paws were soft and unsteady; she could barely stand.
‘Hold on tight; we’re going.’
Even though she couldn’t stand well, she could lie down.
Her big brother’s back was vast and wide for a tiny ragdoll kitten like her.
She nestled down and wriggled a bit, fully hiding herself in his black fur.
However, her fur color was completely different from his, so she was still visible.
Her big brother and her dad started running again. Once she regained her composure, Ruan Shu sat on her personal “Qilin Tiger” express ride, enjoying the view.
The sky was so blue, the clouds so fluffy, and the grasslands so vast. Her big brother was running so fast—maybe she should lie down. If the wind blew her off, she’d be gone.
They ran for nearly two hours. At first, Ruan Shu’s little head darted around excitedly, but eventually, it began to nod, sleepiness taking over.
And, yes, she ended up falling fast asleep on her big brother’s back.
When she woke up, she heard voices—familiar ones.
Drowsily opening her eyes, Ruan Shu reached out a little paw and hugged something, then nuzzled her head against it.
“You’re awake.”
A voice filled with amusement came, and Ruan Shu’s ears twitched as she looked up, blinking foolishly.
Huh? Who’s this really handsome big brother?
Oh, it’s her cousin!
“Meow~”
Ruan Shu let out a soft little mewl. Why was Brother Qingran here? She hadn’t seen him for a few days and missed him.
Ruan Qingran rubbed her head affectionately. “Your dad and big brother have already gone to work.”
Hearing this, Ruan Shu’s little head perked up, and she looked around. Sure enough, there was no sign of her dad or big brother. How long had she been asleep?
“Awake?”
A gentle voice came from the side—someone unfamiliar.
Her dewy blue eyes glanced over, and she saw it wasn’t someone she recognized!
The little kitten retreated tactically, hiding herself in her cousin’s embrace. She even used her paw to pull his hand up as a shield, leaving only half of her head peeking out cautiously.
Who was that?
He looked about the same age as her cousin, with short, ash-colored hair and a calm, warm demeanor in both looks and personality.
“Hello there, little cutie. I’m Shen Yu, a friend of your brother.”
His voice was soft and friendly, radiating a sense of approachability that was hard to resist.
Ruan Shu hesitated, feeling it would be rude not to say hello. She popped her head out, let out a soft “meow” as a greeting, and then quickly hid again.
Ruan Qingran chuckled and gently pinched her ear. “Go with Xiaomi and change into some fresh clothes, then come down for breakfast.”
Ruan Shu nodded obediently, hopped out of Qingran’s arms, and landed on Xiaomi the robot’s smooth, round head.
“Meow, meow, meow…”
‘Xiaomi, let’s go, let’s go! Back to my room, quick.’
Once Ruan Shu was out of sight, Ruan Qingran turned to Shen Yu. “So, what do you think?”
Shen Yu smiled. “She’s a polite little one.”
Ruan Qingran sighed. “That’s not what I was asking.”
Shen Yu laughed lightly. “Objectively speaking, I’ve never encountered something quite so unique before. She’s adorable.”
“Enough with the chatter,” Ruan Qingran cut in.
With a more serious expression, Shen Yu said, “Alright. I didn’t get to interact with her for long, but from her behavior, it’s clear that she’s a child who lacks a sense of security. I’d need to spend more time with her to understand her fully.”
Ruan Qingran nodded in agreement.
Ruan Shu came downstairs wearing the overalls she and her dad had bought together the previous day. Her snowy white hair was tied into a low little ponytail, and her neat bangs framed her delicate, youthful face, making her look even more innocent.
With her big eyes now fully visible, unobscured by bangs, they appeared even more captivating. Her curled, fluttery eyelashes looked like butterfly wings ready to take flight.
She walked over to her cousin, pursing her little lips.
“Brother.”
She called out softly in her gentle voice, then obediently sat down beside him.
“Brother Shen Yu,” she said politely, glancing at him across the table.
Shen Yu smiled and nodded in acknowledgment. He had a way of respecting boundaries, his demeanor calm and non-threatening, which made others feel at ease.
By the end of breakfast, Ruan Shu was already comfortable with her cousin’s friend visiting their home. Accompanied by her cousin, she ended up chatting quite a bit with him, guided effortlessly by Shen Yu’s gentle questions, without feeling any discomfort.
When it was time for Shen Yu to leave, Ruan Shu got ready to see him off with her cousin.
Shen Yu bent down, giving her head a gentle pat. His smile was warm and soft. “Go on to class, Shushu. I really enjoyed our talk today. Next time, I’ll bring you a gift. Let your cousin see me off.”
Still, Ruan Shu walked with him to the door. “Goodbye, Brother Shen Yu.”
“Mm, goodbye.”
Once outside with Ruan Qingran, Shen Yu’s smile faded, his eyes showing a trace of sadness for Ruan Shu.
“Ruan Shu’s past experiences left her starved for affection, which is why she now shows such dependency on the family members who care for her. It’s a sign of deep insecurity. And…”
As Shen Yu spoke, Ruan Qingran’s expression grew icy, his fists clenched tightly.
He remembered the first time he met Ruan Shu: a tiny figure, sitting quietly in a corner, crying without a sound, as if abandoned by the entire world despite her presence in it.
When he approached her, she had looked up with those pure, frightened eyes—filled with despair and the fear of abandonment.
Ruan Qingran felt a wave of regret. If only… if only he had held her that day.
“What else?”
Suppressing his emotions, Ruan Qingran asked, his voice tense.
Shen Yu hesitated before replying, “Ruan Shu has mild autism.”
“Autism…” Ruan Qingran murmured, struggling to process it. “How could that be…”
Shen Yu explained, “I’ve encountered similar cases before. Individuals with autism often resist social interaction with strangers, avoid eye contact, and struggle to form connections or express themselves verbally. If someone tries to force their way into their world, they can react with strong rejection or aggression. While Ruan Shu’s behavior isn’t entirely like that of other autism patients, there are commonalities. Rather than showing aggression, she tends to fall into states of anxiety and panic.”