"Huh?"
"Wait..."
Situ Wenyao watched as the previously aloof calico kitten dashed toward Gu Luo without hesitation, feeling both astonished and secretly thrilled.
The stark contrast instantly gave him a peculiar sense of satisfaction.
As for who the NPC serving as Gu Luo's foil was—it didn’t matter at all.
If he immersed himself quickly enough, he could become Situ-Luo-Wenyao.
This was the so-called 'immersion' technique.
"Meow~~~"
The calico’s tail stood straight up like a flagpole as it nuzzled against Gu Luo’s pant leg, its throat emitting soft, milky purrs that sounded irresistibly sweet.
Gu Luo’s lips curled into a smile as he gently stroked the kitten.
igsrc=
"htts:
3-readg-sign.fqnoveli
ovel-ic-r
0411e244dda6f8d084c8e3a48ec9c54a~tlv-noo.web?lk3s=0942ef47&a;x-exires=1743882379&a;x-signature=gRz0tQ%2FLtA1%2FPRtFhg8%3D
"ig-width=
"583
"ig-height=
"877
"alt=
"
"
The calico kitten felt its very soul being purified.
Meanwhile, on the translucent system panel floating in midair, points were quietly being consumed at a rate of 0.1 per second.
The [Animal Affinity Boost Card] was in full effect.
One could say that Gu Luo was now the king of animals—any creature that saw him would instinctively feel goodwill.
Take this little calico, for example. Its upright tail was a clear sign of a happy, relaxed cat.
And the effect even worked on mosquitoes, creatures universally despised.
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call this item card an essential travel companion.
Now, Mom Yue wouldn’t have to worry about him getting bitten by mosquitoes.
Best of all, since its effect was relatively niche, it didn’t consume many points.
A practical little offshoot of the [Charm Boost Card].
"Are cats these days really that shallow?"
Witnessing this scene, Huang Anlu adjusted her glasses with a finger.
The calico’s attitude toward Situ Wenyao and Gu Luo couldn’t have been more different.
Of course, another possibility was that Situ Wenyao’s face was just too unlucky—naturally repellent to small animals.
To test this theory, she slowly reached out to pet the kitten.
Yet, as if it had eyes on its back, the calico swiftly sidestepped, effortlessly dodging her hand.
Not only that, it turned its head and shot her a faintly disdainful look.
That gaze seemed to say—You, a mere two-legged creature, dare touch this royal feline?
Do you even know what "Liu Yifei of the cat world" means?
"......"
Even someone as unflappable as Huang Anlu couldn’t help but wear a complicated expression.
Then, with mild irritation, she concluded, "This kitten is definitely shallow."
"Wow, my brother’s charm is just too powerful—even little lady cats fall for him instantly." Luo Shuling clung to Gu Luo’s arm, grinning proudly.
"Looks like today’s club activity will be a breeze. More time to enjoy the breeze!"
"Stop saying weird things." Gu Luo withdrew his hand from the kitten and lightly flicked Luo Shuling’s forehead.
"Ouch... Bro, are you addicted to this?" Luo Shuling rubbed her forehead, pouting.
After a brief pause, Gu Luo nodded solemnly. "You know what? You’re not wrong."
"That’s just mean!"
Luo Shuling first put on an exaggerated pitiful face, then—like a Sichuan opera mask change—instantly giggled. "But hey, I’m addicted to you flicking me too. Isn’t that mutual devotion?"
"Cough..."
Gu Luo was momentarily speechless, unsure how to respond. It almost felt like they were flirting.
And also... kind of like... S... M... vibes?
But then again, Luo Shuling, his little sunshine, had always been carefree and scatterbrained, her mind mostly on food. So her saying something like this wasn’t entirely surprising.
Still, if being a bro-con was a disease, Luo Shuling was already terminal—and a willing patient at that.
"Meow~~~"
"Meow~~~"
Seeing Gu Luo’s attention stolen by the two-legged creature beside him, the calico grew anxious, letting out urgent, extra-high-pitched meows.
The kind that could randomly melt a girl’s heart on the spot.
"Alright, alright."
Gu Luo quickly resumed petting the kitten’s head.
"Purr."
"Purr."
The calico narrowed its eyes in bliss, tail held high, body wriggling slightly under Gu Luo’s touch—utterly content.
Meanwhile, Situ Wenyao’s inner satisfaction had peaked beyond words.
Damn you, my friend.
Seriously? Even this?
This was a whole new level of flexing.
Pioneering an entirely fresh arena—human-animal domination.
His friend’s ability to show off had reached such unparalleled heights that even petting a cat became a spectacle.
And seeing the usually stern Huang Anlu flustered only doubled the secret thrill.
He knew the vice president had a soft spot for cats in private.
"Can we get this calico neutered?"
Gu Luo’s sudden question shattered the cozy atmosphere like a devil crashing a fairy tale.
"No." Huang Anlu adjusted her glasses again, staring intently at the kitten. "The ideal time for spaying a female cat is between 6 to 8 months, when her body and reproductive organs are mostly developed, and her weight typically reaches 2.5 to 3 kilograms—better for tolerating surgery."
"This calico looks about four months old. Too early."
"Ah, what a shame." Gu Luo nodded.
"Meow~~~"
As if understanding their conversation, the kitten hunched slightly, tail lowering, as if sensing a chill down its spine.
Luo Shuling rested her chin on Gu Luo’s shoulder, watching the trio and the cat with a contented smile.
A gentle breeze carried a refreshing scent.
Life was so perfect.
Like a sweet dream.
But then—as if struck by some mysterious force—she felt an inexplicable pull and turned her head.
Only to lock eyes with another version of herself.
Their reflections stared back at each other, crystal clear.
A few seconds later, Luo Shuling withdrew her gaze and cooed at Gu Luo, "Brother, I need to use the restroom."
"Sure," Gu Luo nodded.
"Brother, come with me~~~" Luo Shuling tugged at his arm, swaying playfully.
"...Looks like someone’s asking for a knuckle sandwich."
"Hehe." Luo Shuling didn’t push further. She stood up, stamped her feet lightly, and skipped off toward the public restroom.
"Brother-con is terrifying."
Huang Anlu muttered her verdict at that moment.
"Hey, hey, what do you know?" Situ Wenyao immediately retorted, "Who said brother-con is terrifying? Brother-con is amazing!"
Huang Anlu rolled her eyes at Situ Wenyao, ignoring his remark, and walked over to a snack cart to buy a few grilled sausages.
When she returned, she broke the sausages into pieces and laid them out on a plastic bag.
The little calico cat caught the scent and immediately dug in, letting out soft "mmm" sounds of delight.
Seeing this, Huang Anlu—uncharacteristically—allowed a faint smile to cross her lips as she gently stroked the calico’s back.
The cat didn’t shy away, instead narrowing its eyes in contentment.
Meanwhile, Gu Luo, aided by the effects of the [Animal Friendliness Boost Card], successfully captured three stray cats suitable for neutering.
But then, an unexpected mishap occurred—he failed to catch the last one, a black-and-white tuxedo cat.
The tuxedo cat barely spared them a glance.
"Pspsps."
Gu Luo tried coaxing it, but to no avail.
Just as he was about to give up and switch targets, Situ Wenyao stepped forward with solemn determination.
"My friend, leave this one to me," he declared.
"Huh?"
Before Gu Luo could process it, Situ Wenyao slowly raised his middle finger at the cat.
The tuxedo cat paused, blinked, then—as if its brain had finally synced—immediately flattened its ears, arched its back, and puffed up its fur before launching itself at Situ Wenyao in a series of erratic hops.
And so, Haji Yao and the Haji Tuxedo engaged in a fierce bout of "freestyle wrestling" on the grass.
"......"
Gu Luo opened his mouth but found himself speechless.
He silently deactivated the [Animal Friendliness Boost Card].
Suddenly, he understood the true meaning of "natural talent."
Truly, the Haji clan’s brainwaves were uniquely compatible.
"Be careful, then. I’ll go feed the others."
With that, Gu Luo walked away, joining Huang Anlu in feeding the strays.
............
On a distant hillside, Luo Shuling and Luo Shuhe sat side by side on the grass, the breeze gently tousling their hair.
Their eyes never strayed from the same young man, his every movement tugging at their heartstrings.
Then, Luo Shuhe spoke up abruptly.
"Shuling, what are you really thinking?"
"What do you mean?" Luo Shuling propped her cheek on one hand, blinking her large, lively eyes with feigned innocence.
"Some things are just fantasies, after all." Luo Shuhe ignored her sister’s act, her gaze still fixed on Gu Luo in the distance, her voice calm and detached.
"Today, Brother and the others happily fed these strays with sausages. But by tomorrow, they might’ve forgotten all about it."
"To them, these cats are just passing shadows—fleeting, insignificant, leaving no ripple in their lives."
"But in the short world of a stray, this one day of kindness might be unforgettable."
"And that includes... that matter too."
"Alright, alright." Luo Shuling’s usual playfulness faded, replaced by serene composure.
She reached out and patted Luo Shuhe’s head gently.
"If they hadn’t fed them, those strays might never have tasted something so delicious in their entire lives."
"Be good now, don’t overthink it."
"Here, have a snow bun—your favorite yogurt flavor."
"I’ll buy some for Little Man before we head back."
............
............
e bizarre and supernatural had descended. The previous emperor was a thoroughgoing tyrant; no longer satisfied with human women, he had set his sights on a stunningly beautiful supernatural entity. He met his end in his bedchamber, drained of all his vital essence. As the legitimate eldest son and crown prince, Wang Hao was thus hastily enthroned, becoming the young emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty. No sooner had he awakened the "Imperial Sign-In Intelligence System" than he was assassinated by a Son of Destiny—a classic villain's opening. The Great Zhou, ravaged by the former emperor's excesses, was in national decline. The great families within its borders harbored their own treacherous schemes, martial sects began to defy the imperial court's decrees, and border armies, their pay and provisions in arrears, grumbled incessantly against the central government. Fortunately, the central capital was still held secure by the half-million Imperial Guards and fifty thousand Imperial Forest Army who obeyed the court's orders, along with the royal family's hidden reserves of power, barely managing to suppress the realm. As the Great Zhou's finances worsened and supernatural activities grew ever more frequent, the court sat atop a volcano. Ambitious plotters everywhere dreamed of overthrowing the dynasty, and even some reclusive ancient powers emerged, attempting to sway the tides of the world. At the first grand court assembly, the civil and military officials nearly came to blows, fighting tooth and nail over the allocation of fifty million taels of silver from the summer tax revenues. The spectacle opened Wang Hao's eyes—the Great Zhou's bureaucracy was not only corrupt but also martially proficient, a cabinet of all-rounders. Some officials even had the audacity to suggest the emperor release funds from the imperial privy purse to address the emergency. Wang Hao suddenly felt weary. Let it all burn.
ions, keeping it grounded and realistic】 After quitting his job, office worker Su Yang accidentally binds with the "Enjoy Life System." As the name suggests, simply by indulging in life's pleasures, he can earn random rewards from the system—no need to spend money on beautiful women or grovel before anyone. Just enjoy, and the money follows, making it all about effortless fun. The system comes with a scanning feature, allowing him to establish a favorability bond with women rated 85 points or above. Every 20-point increase in favorability unlocks additional rewards. After suffering through over twenty years of hardship, Su Yang trembles with excitement, his dull eyes suddenly gleaming with newfound hope. "Enjoy life? How hard could that be?"
he colors of other people’s emotions. Light red meant anxiety. Gray meant exhaustion. Orange meant excitement. Yellow... meant repression. At the same time, he could gain unlimited control over one of those colors. Pale cyan: relaxation. Using this ability, he started offering “two-yuan hugs,” spending an afternoon exchanging emotional-color experiences with others. Then came his final female customer of the day— a girl whose emotional color was pure black... —— A week later, Xu Chuan had become skilled at using pale cyan—Relaxation—treating it like a bottle of menthol balm whenever he needed it. That was when he discovered he had unlocked another unlimited emotional color: Purple, the color of fear. So these emotional colors refresh every week? Fine, I take it back—I’ll never call you useless again... —— Much later, after Xu Chuan had accumulated countless emotional abilities, one night, he suddenly found himself inside someone else’s dream. There, he could use the emotional colors he possessed to paint. And in her dream, he painted her a shower of pink shooting stars, spreading across the depths of the night sky...
world slacker. But a genius female disciple just had to get clingy, insisting that he take her as a disciple. Not only that, she was always making advances on him, thoroughly disrupting his peaceful slacker life...
