Jaden Forrest, the novel's male lead, was tall with broad shoulders. His face was sharply defined with smooth lines, and he had deep-set eyes and a high-bridged nose.
In the past, Renee Jennings wouldn't have been able to look away, but today, she didn't dare to look him in the eye.
"Why didn't you answer when I called you yesterday?" he asked.
Renee Jennings felt a pang of guilt. "You called me? I-I wasn't paying attention to my phone."
"Jaden, you two know each other?" a surprised voice came from behind them.
Renee Jennings turned around and saw the two elderly women from the elevator.
The fragrance of tea filled the living room, and small snowflakes drifted past the panoramic windows.
Renee Jennings sat stiffly on the armchair, a cup of tea cupped in her hands.
'Damn that Evan Shepherd.'
'If it weren't for him, I wouldn't have run into Jaden Forrest and his grandmother.'
"So Miss Jennings was here to see Jaden," Mrs. Forrest, who had short, curly hair, said, smiling at her. But in the next second, her attention was diverted by the blue cat.
The cat leaped onto the armrest of Renee Jennings's chair and started meowing insistently.
"Human, hurry up and tell the old lady that the cat is not her Nini!"
"The cat is another family's princess! Tell her to take the cat home!"
Seeing its agitated state, Renee Jennings found it amusing and raised a hand to stroke its fur.
The blue cat sensed her unique aura and instantly became docile. Its meows softened considerably. "Please, please."
Seeing this, Mrs. Forrest said in surprise, "Nini hasn't been this well-behaved in days."
Auntie Brooks, who was always by Mrs. Forrest's side taking care of her, spoke up. "Miss Jennings just said this might not be Nini?"
At these words, three people and one cat stared intently at Renee Jennings.
"Why do you say that?" Jaden Forrest asked.
Renee Jennings blinked. "I saw a video online once where owners took their pets out and accidentally swapped them."
Mrs. Forrest and Auntie Brooks exchanged a look. "Have we taken Nini anywhere these past few days?"
Auntie Brooks frowned and shook her head. "No."
The princess blue cat cried out anxiously, "Yes, yes, yes! They took me for a bath!"
It stared at Renee Jennings with wide cat eyes. "My sweet-smelling friend, hurry and tell them!"
Renee Jennings patted its head and said unhurriedly, "What about to a pet store or somewhere like that?"
Auntie Brooks thought for a moment, her expression growing excited. "I remember now! At the beginning of the month, Hayden took Nini to the pet store for a bath!"
"Right, right! I remember too!" Mrs. Forrest nodded. "Quick, have Hayden contact the pet store and ask."
"Okay!" Auntie Brooks hurried off to make the call.
Before long, Hayden called back.
He said the pet store had confirmed it; two pets had indeed been swapped after their baths.
"That explains everything!" Mrs. Forrest exclaimed in a moment of clarity. She looked at Renee Jennings gratefully. "We must thank Miss Jennings properly. Otherwise, who knows when we would have figured this out!"
Renee Jennings smiled. "You're too kind. It was just a coincidence."
Jaden Forrest watched her, an unreadable emotion hidden in his eyes.
With the truth revealed, the princess blue cat leaped joyfully into Renee Jennings's arms, nuzzling her insistently with its fluffy head.
"Yay! I can go home!"
"When I get home, this cat will treat my sweet-smelling friend to my favorite kitty treats!"
**
[System 009: Congratulations, Miss Jennings, for completing the hidden task "Help Kitty Get Home." Reward received: Birdie Dictionary.]
In the elevator, Renee Jennings raised an eyebrow, the corners of her mouth turning up slightly.
'Another reward!'
Jaden Forrest eyed her. "How did you know I was here?"
The smile on Renee Jennings's face froze.
'He doesn't think I'm stalking him, does he?'
"I didn't," Renee Jennings said, thinking fast. "I was here to look at an apartment, but the real estate agent stood me up."
Jaden Forrest: "Is that so."
Renee Jennings feigned composure. "What else would it be?"
"You're different today," he said.
Renee Jennings's heart skipped a beat.
The air suddenly fell silent.
The elevator reached the first basement level of the parking garage.
Renee Jennings slowly forced out a few words: "Maybe it's because I'm on my period today."
Jaden Forrest: "..."
The two parted ways in the parking garage and drove off in their respective cars.
The roads were bustling with traffic. Renee Jennings received a call from Diana Jennings, who wanted to transfer the 200,000 from last night back to her.
"Sis, the money is from a lottery ticket I won. Just spend it, don't worry."
"Don't you dare send it back."
"I'm driving right now. Let's talk later."
After hanging up, Renee Jennings had just put her hands back on the steering wheel when her phone rang again.
This time, it was Michelle Fuller.
"Renee, what happened last night? You looked so upset when you left."
Renee Jennings thought of her dream, how Michelle Fuller had stood by her side from beginning to end, even when she was abandoned by everyone and crippled for life, never once complaining or having regrets.
She gripped her phone tightly, silently vowing to herself that she would absolutely protect Michelle Fuller and keep her safe.
"Michelle, where are you? Let's meet up and talk."
Half an hour later, Renee Jennings arrived at a coffee shop.
On the second floor, Michelle Fuller, with her short, curly, ear-length hair, sat by the window. She was wearing a pink Chanel-style skirt suit, her chin propped on one hand as she gazed outside.
"Michelle." Renee Jennings sat down across from her.
A smile appeared on Michelle Fuller's face when she saw her. "Renee, I ordered your favorite, Basque cheesecake."
The two chatted while eating cake.
Renee Jennings told Michelle Fuller about how she had intentionally lost Jasmine, but then, wracked with guilt, had run off to find her.
"Did you find her?" Michelle Fuller asked nervously.
Renee Jennings nodded.
Michelle Fuller breathed a sigh of relief. "Oh, that's good, that's good."
Renee Jennings hesitated for a moment before speaking slowly. "Michelle, I've decided to get along peacefully with Diana Jennings from now on."
A look of surprise appeared on Michelle Fuller's face. She opened her mouth, but in the end, only said, "I'll support whatever decision you make."
"Thank you, Michelle," Renee Jennings said gratefully.
Michelle Fuller chided her gently, "You silly girl. Don't be so formal with me."
"I won't," Renee Jennings said with a wide smile.
**
Two days later, Renee Jennings received a call from an unknown number. It turned out to be Mrs. Forrest.
To thank her for helping find Nini, Mrs. Forrest wanted to treat her to a meal.
Renee Jennings was about to refuse, but System 009 issued a mission.
[System 009: New mission triggered: Chat with Nini. Mission reward: Mousey Dictionary and one million cash. Mission failure: Electric shock.]
'Electric shock???'
The words on the tip of Renee Jennings's tongue changed abruptly. "Mrs. Forrest, where are we eating?"
Mrs. Forrest: "Come eat at my place. You can try Crowe's cooking."
At 5:30 in the evening, the horizon was tinged with a faint orange glow.
Renee Jennings took the elevator to the 19th floor. As she passed Evan Shepherd's front door, she couldn't resist giving it a kick.
After ringing the doorbell to Mrs. Forrest's apartment, she faintly heard someone cry out, "So scary!"
"Miss Jennings, you're here." Auntie Brooks opened the door and placed a pair of women's slippers at her feet.
When Renee Jennings walked into the living room, she saw the blue cat, Nini, huddled in a corner of the sofa. She looked just like the "princess" from the other day, though perhaps a little thinner.
"Renee," Mrs. Forrest said, her face full of kindness.
When she heard Renee Jennings ask about Nini, she sighed. "Nini must have stayed in a stranger's home for too long. She's become very withdrawn. The vet said we need to let her readjust slowly."
Renee Jennings was about to say something, but then she heard that same cry again: "So scary!"