Seeing his expression, Li Ming laughed and shook his head at Duan Zhi Hao. "Don’t worry, it was a normal biscuit, not a treat for the pets."

Duan Zhi Hao mechanically turned to him, his gaze turning from disgusted to doubtful. "You’re not just saying this to make sure I won’t think you’re a weirdo, are you?"

Li Ming gave a noncommittal smile at that. "I mean, if you really wanted to know, you could always check the website or ask the woman from the reception. I don’t think it’ll be a secret. If you still want to think I’m a weirdo afterward though, you’re free to do that. Anyway, I wouldn’t be able to change it."

Duan Zhi Hao gave a hum, not quite sure what to make of that. These two … somehow, he felt like they had played a joke on him. But then, he had wanted to play one on Yao Ai, so he probably couldn’t complain.

In the end, he sighed and just drank his coffee. "Well, I’ll just believe you reluctantly. Anyway, I feel like we’ve come a little too late. We’ve only seen this dog. I saw in one of the reviews that they have a tortoise. But I have no idea where it’s supposed to be."

Li Ming raised his brows and looked around, unable to see it either. "Maybe it’s on the upper floor. I’m surprised they’d have a tortoise though. I thought that pet cafes would usually go for the furry kind of animal." After all, his impression of pet cafes was that usually, their customers were people who would like to have a pet but couldn’t because of some circumstances. Thus, they would go to such a cafe and pour their love on the animals there, mostly petting and cuddling them.

A tortoise wasn’t quite what he would have imagined. But then, maybe he didn’t understand the clientele of this kind of cafe as well as he thought. That was entirely possible. Anyway, there were certainly some people as well that would love a tortoise but couldn’t keep one.

Duan Zhi Hao gave a hum, not quite sure about why they would have a tortoise out of all the possible animals either. "Well, personally, I think a tortoise is infinitely better than a naked cat. So I don’t see a problem with it. Although I guess enough people think tortoises are cute in general. I’ve seen videos online of them being fed. The people in the comments are going nuts over that! I’m not quite sure if I see the appeal."

Li Ming who had still been looking for the tortoise turned back to Duan Zhi Hao. "You seem awfully disinterested in animals. What made you choose a pet cafe of all places?" Just when he had asked the question, he couldn’t help but look at Yao Ai who was still petting the dog next to her while eating her cake. She was clearly the person who was enjoying herself the most. So most likely, Duan Zhi Hao had just wanted to be nice.

Duan Zhi Hao gave him a grin when he saw his look and shook his head, not bothering to answer. To be honest, Li Ming had hit the nail on the head. Yao Ai was a little bothersome every now and then but he still had this feeling that they should take care of her since she was younger.

Usually, they went out to eat some time over those evenings even if they did something else first so a cafe was alright. After all, he and Li Ming would get good food out of it, while Yao Ai could have the added experience of being able to pet the pets when they got there. It hadn’t seemed like that bad of a deal. But he wasn’t about to say that out loud in front of her. A man needed to keep his reputation intact.

Li Ming shook his head at him but didn’t bother to expose him. Anyway, it was good as long as Yao Ai was happy.

Just when he wanted to change the subject, the front door opened with another bell chime and a man’s voice sounded. "Darling, are you ready to close for the day?"

Yao Ai and Duan Zhi Hao immediately looked over while Li Ming froze in his seat. He was sitting with his back to the door but the voice had sounded familiar and thinking of the person he thought it should belong to, he couldn’t help but have an epiphany regarding just who the woman from the reception might be as well.

"Ah Tao! Did you come to get me? You’ll still have to wait though. There’s half an hour until closing and we still have some guests." She motioned to the back, making the man look over.

Yao Ai had absolutely no problem with strangers so when he looked over, she waved at him. Duan Zhi Hao was dying inside when he saw that but he felt that he shouldn’t leave her to embarrass herself alone so he at least inclined his head. Meanwhile, Li Ming pretended that he hadn’t noticed anything and lowered his head, continuing to eat cake.

The man smiled brightly and then walked over to their table. "Good evening! I hope I’m not bothering you. It looks like you’re the last guests today." He definitely wasn’t trying to throw them out, no, he just really wanted to take his girlfriend home and these three were the only hindrance to that. He gave Yao Ai and Duan Zhi Hao a quick glance, feeling that they should be easy to talk into leaving, before he turned to the last person. Then, he froze as well. "Ah? Li Ming?!"

Li Ming finally raised his head and give a wry smile. "Si Tao, nice to see you too." Although, to be honest, he would have loved not to encounter his ex’s ex while he was still trying to heal from both the breakup and the relationship itself.