(=^o^=)

[Ding—]

[Host successfully confessed]

[Evaluating—]

[Confession successful]

[Character information loading]

[Target: Ling Ning]

[Intelligence: 7]

[Charm: 8]

[Stamina: 5]

[Status: Daughter of a major advertising company in Flame Country]

[System description: Elegant, self-possessed, thoughtful, and cultured—her aura isn’t just derived from her intellect but also reflected in her graceful demeanor. Often seen with a fan obscuring her face, she embodies mystery and beauty, a flawless young woman with a perfect personality.]

"It really is a reward!"

Su Cheng felt a surge of joy.

Though he couldn’t use system items to manipulate others into confessing, innate skills didn’t count as system props.

As for the successful confession?

It was purely because she had lost consciousness and subconsciously acted on her true feelings.

This was definitely a genuine confession!

Having figured this out, Su Cheng held his breath and continued checking the rewards granted by the system.

[Ding—]

[Reward distributed]

[Animal Realm]

[One-time skill]

[Effect: Transformation, shapeshifting]

[Duration: Three days]

[System: For three days after activation, you can transform into a penguin, cat, or dog, and freely switch between forms, including reverting to human.]

Seeing this reward, Su Cheng’s face darkened momentarily, but he wasn’t entirely surprised.

Deep down, he had actually wanted this ability, so it made sense for the system to grant it.

"Senior Ling, men and women shouldn’t be too intimate—please control your desires!"

After claiming the reward, the immediate priority was dealing with Ling Ning, who had lost all rationality and restraint.

If she continued in this state, things would escalate, potentially causing her physical and emotional harm!

So, while Ling Ning was still in this frenzied state, Su Cheng swiftly formed a hand-chop and struck her neck.

But the result—

"Mmm~"

Ling Ning groaned, paused for a second, then resumed tearing at her clothes while groping for Su Cheng’s skin.

"TV dramas are full of lies!"

Su Cheng’s forehead twitched in frustration. His attempt to knock her out had failed miserably. He grabbed her wrists, but her twisting waist and thrashing legs made it impossible to restrain her.

"So hot… so uncomfortable…"

Ling Ning’s voice was sultry, her cheeks flushed a drunken pink, her eyes hazy with desire as heart-shaped pupils dilated, nearly filling her irises.

"Please…"

Her voice trembled as she tried to kiss his neck, but Su Cheng blocked her. Undeterred, she began licking instead.

"Dammit…"

Afraid of hurting her if he used too much force, Su Cheng restrained his strength. But the situation couldn’t drag on any longer.

He prepared to pin down her legs to stop her kicking—but just then, footsteps approached from a distance. Someone was coming.

Realizing the danger, Su Cheng quickly commanded the system: "System, turn me into a cat now!"

[Ding—]

[Skill activating]

Poof!

A puff of white smoke enveloped Su Cheng, and in his place stood a small, lean orange cat, landing softly on the ground.

Ling Ning, now grasping at empty air, swayed unsteadily before collapsing unconscious.

Su Cheng, now in feline form, wasted no time. He darted to a nearby tree, using his paws to stash his belongings—including the fan—into the system inventory.

In one fluid motion, he leaped onto a branch, glancing down at Ling Ning before turning his attention to the approaching figures.

His golden eyes gleamed with an intelligence far beyond that of an ordinary cat.

As an orange tabby, he was compact yet striking—a perfect blend of cuteness and regal charm, though his oddly human-like demeanor stood out.

Below, Ling Ning, now devoid of Su Cheng’s presence, lay motionless, as if her soul had fled.

Su Cheng’s cat face twisted in surprise when he recognized the newcomers: Zhao Yan and Xuan Ying!

Though puzzled by their appearance, he sighed in relief.

"Meow!"

He tested his voice—soft, high-pitched, and undeniably cute.

"I sound like a squeaky toy."

With a resigned flick of his tail, he prepared to leave.

The two girls hurriedly helped Ling Ning up as she began regaining consciousness. Seizing the opportunity, Su Cheng leaped down and slipped away unnoticed.

The world around him now seemed vast and unfamiliar, but he adapted quickly.

After all, he was a cat now.

The experience was surreal—his body moved instinctively, effortlessly dodging obstacles like low-hanging branches before his mind even registered them.

"Is this Ultra Instinct or something?"

He glanced back at the branch, then down at his tiny, fluffy orange-and-white paws. Curious, he lifted one, revealing a pink paw pad.

"Alright, as a diligent and punctual club member, I should report in now."

With that, he sprinted toward the club building on all fours.

Classes had ended, and students streamed toward their clubs. Though a stray cat on campus was unusual, most paid him little mind—except for a group of girls who stopped dead in their tracks, eyes sparkling with admiration.

"Wow, this orange cat is so handsome!"

"Right? He walks like an emperor, every step full of dignity. I just wanna hug him!"

"Literally my dream cat."

"I’m so jealous—I wish I could take him home!"

Su Cheng ignored them, strutting ahead with regal indifference, determined to leave them heartbroken with his aloofness.

But then—

"Look, his ‘bell’ is huge!"

"Wait, seriously? Why is it so big?!"

"Oh my god, is it a tumor?!"

The girls’ gasps nearly made him faceplant.

These words instantly made Su Cheng flush with shame and indignation, wishing she could vanish into the ground right then. She turned toward the shameless girls and let out a furious meow: "Screw you!"

Then, in the blink of an eye, she disappeared from their sight.

"Huh?"

"Eh!?"

"Wait…?"

All three girls froze, their faces blank with disbelief, clearly thrown off by the profanity that had just come from the cat’s mouth.

Even after Su Cheng left, the trio remained stunned. Finally, one of them muttered, "Did that cat just swear at us?"

"No way!"

"It must’ve just sounded similar to a meow."

"Yeah, that’s gotta be it."

"Screw you!"

At that moment, Su Cheng reappeared, poking her head out and repeating the phrase.

"……"

"……"

"……"

This time, all three girls heard it loud and clear. An eerie silence fell over them.

"That’s… a really weird meow."

"Hahaha, yeah, totally."

Still refusing to believe a cat could swear, they forced awkward laughter to brush off the embarrassment.

After delivering her insult, Su Cheng trotted off down another path—one leading toward the parking lot, where fewer people lingered, mostly those who hadn’t joined any clubs and were heading straight home.

But then, an unexpected encounter happened. She ran into two familiar figures.

The two petite girls spotted her at the same time.

"Th-this orange cat…"

Ailiya blinked in surprise. She hadn’t noticed it at first, but the cat was muttering resentful meows as it walked.

"Doesn’t this cat kinda look like Su Cheng?"

Cornelia gasped, her eyes widening. Hearing this, Ailiya scrutinized the cat more carefully—and the resemblance was uncanny. The longer she looked, the more it seemed like Su Cheng. But…

Books say that when you like someone, you start seeing them everywhere.

Ailiya would never admit to that.

"Why do you keep seeing Su Cheng in everything?!"

She shot Cornelia an annoyed glare. "If you miss him so much, go find him!"

"Um… I kinda wanna pet this cat."

Cornelia, however, was already entranced, her earlier words forgotten as she stared at the feline. After a long pause, she murmured, "I really wanna pet it…"

Ailiya: "……"

"Hey, stray cats can be dangerous! Let’s just go home!"

Ailiya grabbed Cornelia’s arm to pull her away, but Cornelia stubbornly reached out, undeterred. Ailiya yanked her back in alarm. "Are you crazy?!"

"I just wanna touch it…"

Cornelia pouted, shrinking back slightly, but her hand still inched toward the cat. She couldn’t bear to pass up the chance.

Meanwhile, Su Cheng was the most shocked of all. She found herself frozen in place, unable to flee as she’d intended.

"Why do I want Cornelia to pet me?!"

Panic surged through her as she realized she had an uncontrollable urge to be stroked.

It was an instinct buried deep in her bones—a craving that promised relief, as if all her pent-up emotions would melt away under a gentle touch.

Even though she’d braced herself for it, the anticipation terrified her… yet excited her even more.

Ignoring Ailiya’s protests, Cornelia stepped closer and began tenderly stroking the cat’s fur.

"Meow~"

Su Cheng’s golden eyes slid shut as she purred in delight.

"Wow, it’s so cute!"

Cornelia’s excitement grew as she continued petting, and soon she couldn’t resist scooping the cat up for a full-on cuddle session.

Ailiya, relieved the stray hadn’t lashed out, still grumbled, "It’s got fleas! Don’t hold it!"

"No!"

Cornelia hugged the cat tightly, plopping down to lavish it with affection. She nuzzled her nose against its fur. "So soft… and it even smells like Su Cheng!"

She inhaled deeply, then rubbed her cheek against the cat’s fluffy ears.

"Meow~"

Su Cheng reveled in the warm, damp sensation, mewing happily.

"Put it down! Strays are dirty—they carry diseases!"

Ailiya warned again, but Cornelia paid no attention, declaring loudly, "Since it’s a stray, I’m taking it home!"

"No way! It might seem tame now, but it could turn aggressive later or even run away!"

Ailiya objected firmly.

"Nuh-uh! It’s super well-behaved!"

Cornelia insisted, her eyes sparkling. "I’ll feed it every day, and it’ll stay sweet. Look at its ears—so soft and fun to play with!"

She grinned. "And I’m naming it… Orange Cat!"

"Tame or not isn’t up to you."

Ailiya shook her head. "If you can rub its belly without it getting mad, then you’ve truly tamed it."

Cornelia took the challenge, reaching down to stroke the cat’s belly—and to her delight, Su Cheng didn’t resist at all.

"Does this mean I’ve conquered it? It’s mine now! Hahaha—"

Cornelia laughed triumphantly, practically dancing with joy.

"Don’t celebrate too soon."

Ailiya sighed. "If you flick its bell and it doesn’t get mad, then it’s really willing to go with you."

"Bell?!"

"Yeah, the one under its belly!"

"Oh…"

Cornelia pondered this, then moved to lift the cat again, her other hand poised for the flick. But the moment she raised her finger, Su Cheng’s eyes snapped open—filled with sheer horror.

"MEOW—!!"

A bloodcurdling yowl tore through the air, making Cornelia drop her in shock. Su Cheng kicked off Cornelia’s stomach, launching into the air, and swiped a paw at Ailiya’s face—the one who’d suggested the cruel test.

SMACK!

A crisp sound rang out as Ailiya’s cheek bore the imprint of a tiny paw. Luckily, Su Cheng’s claws were sheathed, leaving no blood or wounds—just a stinging pain.

"Screw you!!"

After landing, Su Cheng spat the curse before vanishing once more, leaving the two girls utterly dumbfounded.

A cat had just flown through the air… and slapped Ailiya.

Yep. Strays were definitely not to be messed with.

"Uh… you okay?"

Cornelia finally caught her breath and cautiously asked,

"Ahhhhhhh! Damn that cat!"

Ailiya belatedly covered the red marks on her face in disbelief, furiously pointing at the now-vanished feline and shouting, "Why did it have to hit me!?"

Her composure shattered. She hadn't even gotten to pet it, yet she was the one who got scratched—this felt worse than death itself!

"Um... the marks on your face look kinda cute..."

Cornelia, at a loss for comforting words, blurted this out after a long pause.

But the remark only poured oil on the fire, making Ailiya even more furious—so much so that she wanted to chop the cat with a sword!

"Ahhhhhh—"

She let out a few more screams, trembling with rage before storming off, leaving Cornelia standing bewildered in the wind.

......

Su Cheng headed straight to a nearby restroom, locking the door securely before standing on the toilet seat and reverting to his human form.

Since the cat clothes he had bought for Orange Cat (his feline alter ego) had already been given to Gu Ruoxue, he now had to craft a pair of pants for his cat form himself.

Pulling out a white shirt, scissors, and a stapler, he began cutting and shaping a pair of pants suitable for his feline physique, all while pondering the best way to tailor them.

After all, leaving his... ahem... "bell" exposed was just too embarrassing.

"Mmm~"

As Su Cheng happily snipped away, he couldn’t help but hum a tune, completely forgetting his earlier humiliation. His mind was already picturing Gu Ruoxue’s reaction later.

After a while, the pants for his cat form were finally ready. He then conjured up a cardboard box, scribbled "Adopt Me" on the surface, transformed back into a cat, and struggled mightily to wiggle into the makeshift garment.

……………………

Club Building

On a quiet floor of the building, a nimble orange cat stepped into the territory—though its outfit looked slightly odd, with its lower half wrapped in what resembled a white diaper, giving it a rather comical appearance.

The cat stopped in front of a clubroom door, hesitated for a moment like a human would, then mustered the courage to extend a paw and knock.

Tap, tap, tap.

Three light knocks later, a cold yet slightly husky, magnetic female voice responded from inside, "Come in."

Hearing the familiar voice, the cat’s eyes flashed with mischief. It quickly hid in a blind spot of the surveillance camera, conjured up the cardboard box, and hopped inside, curling up cutely.

Finally, after about ten seconds, a slender, elegant figure emerged from the room. The girl had an icy demeanor, breathtakingly beautiful features, and an aura so detached it felt like she existed in a world of her own.

She stepped out, frowned slightly as she glanced around, and seeing no one, was about to turn back when—

"Meow~"

Su Cheng put on his best kitten voice, successfully grabbing her attention.

Sure enough, Gu Ruoxue froze mid-step, turned toward the sound, and after a few paces, spotted a chubby orange cat sitting in a cardboard box by the wall, tilting its head with an adorably clueless expression—looking utterly pitiful.

For a long moment, human and cat simply stared at each other in silence.

The standoff felt like an eternity before Gu Ruoxue finally moved. She strode forward, her long, stocking-clad legs carrying her gracefully toward the feline.

When she reached the box, her gaze lingered on the "Adopt Me" sign, confusion flickering in her eyes. She bent down, studying the fluffy creature, and gently reached out to touch it.

Su Cheng tensed up, instinctively squeezing his eyes shut in anticipation of the incoming head pats.

But the expected touch never came—Gu Ruoxue stopped just two centimeters short.

Su Cheng lifted his head, widening his big, sparkling eyes in an exaggerated plea for affection. Gu Ruoxue’s brows furrowed slightly, but after a pause, she finally relented, carefully stroking the little furball’s head.

Then, she straightened up, smoothed her skirt, and crouched again—this time scooping the orange cat into her arms and lifting it to eye level.

"Little one... who abandoned you?" she murmured softly.

"Meow~"

Su Cheng responded with nothing but innocent meows, playing his role to perfection. After all, right now, he was just a cute cat who wanted to nuzzle affectionately into his favorite person’s embrace.

Just as Gu Ruoxue spoke, a girl with long, straight black hair ascended the stairs. Her expression was calm as she glanced at the words on the cardboard box before fixing her gaze on the suspended orange cat, her eyes gleaming with something unreadable.

"Senior Gu, this cat is adorable," Li Guanqi remarked in her usual gentle tone before adding, "Was it abandoned? Oh, and... may I hold it?"

Surprisingly, Gu Ruoxue shook her head. "No."

She even adjusted her grip on the cat protectively and offered an explanation: "It hasn’t been checked by a vet yet. It might carry germs."

Li Guanqi’s delicate brows knitted slightly as she continued staring at the cat. "I see."

Meanwhile, Su Cheng, still held aloft, could only resign himself to his feline act—especially since Li Guanqi’s sudden appearance had thrown him off. The more convincing his performance, the better.

"Junior, are you free right now?" Gu Ruoxue suddenly asked.

"I am."

"Would you mind accompanying me to the hospital to get this little one examined?"

Li Guanqi thought for a moment before nodding. "Alright, let’s go."

With that, the two turned and walked away, Su Cheng nestled snugly in the cardboard box in Gu Ruoxue’s arms.

But internally, he was baffled. In his experience, Gu Ruoxue was the type who couldn’t resist cuddling cats—so why was she keeping her distance today?

Did she figure me out?

Su Cheng narrowed his eyes and peeked upward—only to find Gu Ruoxue already looking down at him. Her gaze held a barely restrained intensity, though her face remained impassive, lips pressed tightly together.

His heart skipped a beat.

She definitely knows.

That was the look of someone dying to pet him but holding back—for now.

"Senior, what kind of checkup are we doing for it?"

"Neutering."