"Do you understand and accept my terms?" Jin Liwei asked.
"Yes, Daddy! Ketchup understands and accepts everything Daddy said! Ketchup will do my super-duper best and make Daddy and Mommy very proud of me so that you'll love me even more! Meow~" The virtual white cat's dramatic tears from earlier had now stopped and were now replaced by delighted giggles instead.
Despite the touching moment between the father and virtual daughter, the mother didn't react and ignored them. Ketchup was too absorbed in her excitement that she didn't notice her mommy's disapproval, and also because she was still unable to accurately read the nuances in other people's facial expressions and body language. At least, for now.
On the other hand, Dom and the driver had already noticed the tension between their employers. They kept quiet as much as possible—yes, even the chatterbox Dom didn't open his mouth—afraid that any noise from them might irritate the couple and trigger an all-out fight between the two of them.
In the meantime, Jin Liwei tried various ways of coaxing his baby girl out of her angry state during the rest of the car ride. She was unresponsive at first, determined to ignore him, but after a few nuzzles and kisses, she finally softened and leaned closer to him. But that was all. She still didn't talk to him.
Later, the car arrived at Iris' designated workplace for today. The driver disembarked and moved to open the rear passenger door for Iris. When she was about to step out of the car, however, she found herself pulled back by Jin Liwei.
"Aren't you forgetting something?" he asked.
She pursed her lips and thought for a few seconds before giving a quick peck on his cheek. Then she pulled away but was pulled back again. This time, she scowled at him.
"I depleted a big amount of energy just to give you the special 'wake up' service this morning," he told her. "If I don't recharge my energy, I won't be able to function properly at work today and I have to finish a lot of urgent tasks in the company. I need a kiss and hug from my wife to recharge."
"You don't have a wife," Iris savagely replied before pulling away again.
"Meow? Mommy, are you mad at my daddy? Why? Don't be mad, please. Daddy loves you very much! Daddy will be sad if you're mad at him. Meow," Ketchup interrupted her parents' conversation, finally noticing that something wasn't right between them but not understanding the reason why.
The virtual white cat still didn't know that she was the main reason why her parents were arguing, or more specifically, why her mommy was angry at her daddy. All Ketchup knew was that her daddy looked quite pitiful trying to beg her mommy for a kiss and a hug. Ketchup felt sorry for her daddy and inwardly sided with him, especially because he just gave her the amazing opportunity to start her own business.
As for Jin Liwei, he was inwardly praising and mentally giving Ketchup two big thumbs up. Now he was starting to understand the term "daddy's girl" which he never felt with Ice Cream who preferred his wife, the mom, than him, the dad. It had always been like that, not only with Ice Cream but also with the affectionate Popcorn. Perhaps it was because the two cats could still remember that it was his baby girl who first picked them up from a dirty, old box by the roadside and begged to bring them home.
"Listen to our daughter. Even she knows that I love you very much and that I'll feel sad if you're mad at me. My wife, why don't you help your husband recharge his depleted energy which he used up just for you?"
Iris wanted to stay angry but her twitching mouth was already betraying her. Fortunately, she was able to stop the laughter from bursting out of her. This man was just too shameless! But what could she do about it? She also loved this shameless part of him to bits. It was still annoying, though.
"Hmph. Fine!" she said, playfully smacking him on the chest. Then she leaned over and kissed him on the lips.
"Mmmm." Jin Liwei's shameless arms wrapped around her waist, pulled her closer until she was almost sitting on his lap, and then deepened the kiss.
Recharge. Recharge! RECHARGE SOME MORE!!!
"Kya! Baby Ketchup, cover your eyes. Oh, and your ears, too!" Dom warned the virtual white cat who was staring at her parents with wide, glowing, green eyes. He covered his own eyes with his hands but still made sure to peek between the spaces of his fingers.
"Meow? Why, Uncle Dom? Is it Mommy and Daddy's sleepy time again? But they just woke up. Poor Mommy and poor Daddy! They work so hard that they're always so tired lately. Yes, they should sleep more and rest. Meow~"
"Just do it, Baby Ketchup."
"Okay, Uncle Dom! Meow~"
As for the driver, he closed the car door again and stood guard outside while scanning the surroundings to make sure that nobody saw the blush-inducing scene inside. Iris' bodyguards had also disembarked from the other vehicles and stationed themselves at a respectable distance from the car. They threw a questioning look at the driver, wondering why their mistress wasn't stepping out of the car yet.
The driver made a series of hand signs.
'Oh,' the other bodyguards' expressions seemed to say as they nodded in understanding.
It turned out that all of the subordinates had developed a special sign language exclusive to only them. The meaning of the driver's hand sign?
"It's lovey-dovey time."