The warmth of her fingertips disappeared as quickly as it came. Mio squatted beside Rebecca, catching the faint scent of her perfume. It reminded him of gardenias.
Rebecca pointed to a spot nearby. “Do you see it? That dark little shadow over there-that’s Coco.”
“Coco?”
“Yeah, my pet hamster. His name is Coco. I accidentally let him escape from the cage earlier. Coco is so disobedient,” Rebecca pouted, her lips forming a soft curve.
Mio studied the woman in front of him-her youthful, radiant face. Despite being 27 years old, she seemed more like a 20-year-old girl, still brimming with innocence.
“Is that so? Then let me help you catch Coco. How about that?” Mio’s voice softened instinctively, though even he couldn’t tell if it was out of habit or simply a reaction to Rebecca’s presence.
“Really? But Coco is a bit of a troublemaker.”
“That’s okay,” he replied, rolling up his sleeves as he knelt to search under the vines.
Startled, the little hamster darted off immediately. Rebecca called out near his ear, “He ran over there!”
“Don’t worry. I’ll catch him,” Mio said as he swiftly chased after the hamster.
It didn’t take long for him to understand what Rebecca meant by calling Coco mischievous. This wasn’t just a little trouble-this hamster was a whirlwind of chaos.
The two of them weaved back and forth through the garden. Mio had intended to show off a little in front of Rebecca, hoping to win her favor by catching the hamster.
But Coco refused to cooperate. The hamster darted from one side to the other. Every time Mio leaped forward, confident that he could grab Coco, the little creature slipped away at the last second.
Mio grew increasingly frustrated. How could something so small be so exasperating? He was determined-he wouldn’t let this hamster defeat him.
After what felt like ages, Mio finally managed to catch the tiny troublemaker. Panting heavily, he looked utterly exhausted.
Normally meticulous about his appearance, Mio couldn’t tolerate even the slightest flaw in his attire. Yet here he was, covered in dirt from head to toe. His once-pristine shirt was now stained, his hair disheveled, and his hands scratched by thorny branches. He lay flat on the ground, too tired to care about the dirt beneath him.
Lifting the hamster high above his head, he announced triumphantly, “Here, I finally caught him.”
Rebecca crouched beside him and took Coco from his hands. “Thank you.”
“No problem.” Mio wiped the sweat from his forehead. When Rebecca smiled at him with that pure, radiant expression, his mood instantly brightened.
“Coco, you’re finally back. No more running away, okay?” Rebecca kissed the hamster gently.
In that moment, Mio thought she looked like an angel, glowing amidst the flowers.
He had met countless women before, treating them as mere playthings. But seeing Rebecca like this, something in his chest stirred unexpectedly. His heartbeat became erratic.
“Ah, your hand is injured!” Rebecca exclaimed, noticing the scratches on the back of Mio’s hand, with traces of blood still visible.
“It’s nothing, just a small scratch,” Mio said dismissively. He wasn’t one to fuss over minor injuries.
“How can you say it’s nothing? You got hurt catching Coco. Come with me, and I’ll treat it,” Rebecca insisted. She held the hamster in one hand and grabbed Mio’s wrist with the other, leading him through the garden to her room.
It was a private space-her room. Mio stopped at the door, hesitating to enter.
“I’ll wait here,” he said.
“What are you afraid of? Come in,” Rebecca said, pulling him inside.
The room was a burst of pink. Pink walls, a pink princess-style bed, and shelves covered with stuffed animals. It was like stepping into a little girl’s dream.
No wonder she was so adorable. Seeing her room, Mio finally understood. He couldn’t have imagined that someone with such a high-ranking position would have such a childlike side.
“Wait here. I’ll go find some disinfectant,” Rebecca said, tossing Coco back into his cage before rummaging through her drawers and cabinets.
“Where is it? I’m sure I put it here somewhere…” she mumbled to herself as she searched.
From the chaotic state of her drawers, it was clear that Rebecca wasn’t the most organized person.
If it were anyone else, Mio might have found it messy. But with her, he found the clumsiness endearing.
“If you can’t find it, it’s fine. I don’t mind,” Mio said casually. “This kind of scratch will heal in two or three days.”
“Just wait a little longer. I’m almost there,” Rebecca replied, continuing her quest. Finally, she found the first aid kit.
She plopped down on the carpet without a second thought. “Give me your hand.”
Mio obediently extended his hand. Rebecca cleaned the wound, though her inexperience showed. Her hands were heavy, and she applied too much pressure.
“Ow…” Mio couldn’t help but gasp as the pain shot through him.
“Oh no, I’m sorry! Was that too hard? I’ve never done this before,” Rebecca said, scratching her head apologetically.
“It’s fine. It doesn’t hurt. Keep going,” Mio reassured her gently.
“Alright,” she said, carefully disinfecting the wound before covering it with a cartoon-themed bandage. She gave him a stern look, like a doctor giving orders. “No water on it for the next few days, okay?”
“Yes, ma’am,” Mio said with a smile. He found her seriousness utterly adorable.
“Ah, I’ve been gone for so long! My grandfather told me to entertain the guests.” Rebecca suddenly remembered her other responsibilities.
They had already spent quite some time in the garden. Seeing her about to rush off, Mio quickly stood up as well.
“I’ll head out now,” he said.
“I’ll walk you out,” Rebecca offered.
“Thank you. By the way, do you like animals?” Mio asked as they walked side by side, curious about her interests.
“Of course! I love animals. Why? Are you planning to give me one?” Rebecca teased, blinking playfully.
“I noticed all the cute toys in your room. I figured you might like them. A friend of mine has a cat that just had kittens. If you’d like, I can bring one over for you.”
“Really? I love kittens! When can you bring it?” Rebecca’s excitement was palpable, as if she could meet the kitten any moment.
“Tomorrow. I’ll call you when I have it,” Mio said. He was glad to have found an excuse to see her again.
“Alright, let’s exchange numbers,” Rebecca said, unguarded as she shared her contact information.
Mio saved her number and glanced at the time. It was getting late, but his goal had already been achieved. As for the young master he was supposed to meet today, Mio couldn’t care less.
“See you tomorrow, then,” Mio said.
“Bye!” Rebecca waved cheerfully.
Mio walked away with a smile, feeling unexpectedly eager for tomorrow.