"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.
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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."
............
............