Lin Yu and Chi Qingchi took a taxi back home.
Before even opening the door, they could hear noisy commotion coming from inside.
"That's strange. What's Aunt Qimeng doing? That sounds like her voice," Chi Qingchi muttered suspiciously.
When Lin Yu opened the door, the sight of the utterly wrecked living room on the first floor left him stunned.
The room looked like it had been ransacked by burglars—the shoe rack by the entrance was tilted sideways, slippers were scattered everywhere, and a vase had toppled over on the wooden console, water pooling on the floor.
Before the two of them could even ask what was going on, a girl wearing thick gloves called out first:
"Xiao Yu, Xiao Chi, close the door quickly! Don’t let Budong escape!"
The girl had her hair tied up in a high ponytail, a few loose strands swaying against her fair cheeks.
She wore a white short-sleeved shirt tucked into light blue overalls, her slender, straight legs on full display, radiating youthful energy.
She had the vibe of a refreshing, lively girl.
Mao Ruirui!
The owner of a small pet shop!
Usually cheerful and outgoing, she loved sports and adored animals.
Lin Yu recalled her being… 25 years old?
At the moment, Mao Ruirui looked rather disheveled—both straps of her overalls had slipped down to her elbows.
Too preoccupied to fix them, she crouched low like a leopard stalking its prey.
Right in front of her was the so-called "Budong."
A Ragdoll cat!
Normally gentle and sweet, this Ragdoll now had its tail raised high, fur bristling, growling menacingly from its throat.
Every step it took seemed poised for a frantic dash in any direction.
Chi Qingchi obediently shut the door swiftly, cutting off Budong’s escape route.
Then, she immediately hid behind Lin Yu.
She wasn’t afraid of docile pets, but Budong was anything but docile right now.
"Xiao Yu, there are gloves by the door—remember to put them on!"
"Don’t let the cat scratch you, be careful!"
"She just got spayed and is super cranky!"
Chen Qimeng’s voice came from around the kitchen corner.
Judging by the scene, Budong hadn’t spared the kitchen either.
The fallen broom and dustpan near the corner were proof enough.
When Lin Yu saw Chen Qimeng, he was speechless.
She was holding a stainless steel pot meant for steaming buns, tiptoeing forward as if preparing to help.
Lin Yu: "…"
This is beyond ridiculous!
If it were a laundry basin, he could understand.
But a steamer pot? What the hell?
No wonder Budong was so furious.
The poor Ragdoll had just been forcibly neutered—now a eunuch in the feline world.
Facing a pet shop full of female cats, he’d never be able to hold his head high again.
And now, back home, throwing a tantrum, only to be hunted down by two women.
Who wouldn’t be pissed?
"Whoosh!"
Before Lin Yu could dwell on it further, Mao Ruirui made her move.
She lunged at Budong like a leopard pouncing on prey.
Unfortunately, though both were "felines," a cat’s speed was seven times that of a human’s.
Mao Ruirui landed with a "thud," while Budong dodged nimbly, weaving around obstacles before darting toward the staircase.
"Agh, it got away again!"
"Qi Meng-jie, it’s coming your way!"
Mao Ruirui smacked the floor in frustration.
Chi Qingchi tugged at Lin Yu’s sleeve, exclaiming:
"Whoa, this cat’s even feistier than the last one—it can jump so high!"
"How are we supposed to catch it? It’s way too fast!"
Lin Yu picked up the gloves from the console and slipped them on.
Too fast?
Graceful, sure.
But Budong’s movements seemed… average in his eyes?
Was this a side effect of the elixir he’d taken?
Either way, if he didn’t act now, Chen Qimeng would be the next one screaming.
Seeing Budong charge toward her, Chen Qimeng waved the pot around, stepping forward and back erratically…
Trusting her with that pot was like expecting the cat to return to its cage voluntarily.
Lin Yu dashed toward the staircase.
Chi Qingchi only felt a faint breeze—by the time she realized it, Lin Yu was already gone from her side.
Chen Qimeng’s antics did manage to distract Budong slightly, slowing its escape just enough for Lin Yu to close in.
Seizing the moment, Lin Yu sprinted forward.
Chen Qimeng barely registered a blur flashing past her.
Budong reacted faster, leaping onto the staircase railing, planning to circle around like a "monkey around a pole" before jumping back to shake off its pursuers.
But alas.
The agility Budong prided itself on was nothing more than a child’s clumsy hopping in Lin Yu’s eyes.
Just as it coiled to spring away—
Lin Yu’s hands shot out like lightning, firmly grasping Budong.
The little furball thrashed wildly, claws swiping at the air, growling in protest.
But to Lin Yu, it was no threat at all.
[Ding!]
[Excellent capture—the rampaging spirit beast has been subdued!]
[Congratulations, Host! Timed mission completed!]
[Rewards: 50 Sect Contribution Points, 100 Spirit Stones!]
[Ding!]
[Your nimble reflexes have caught the attention of the sect elders. This disciple possesses immortal potential—a future of limitless prospects!]
[Reward: 30 Spirit Stones]
"Ruirui-jie, got it!"
Lin Yu lifted Budong triumphantly, calling out to Mao Ruirui, who had just gotten up near the entrance.
All three women in the living room turned to stare at him.
From the moment Lin Yu moved to the capture, everything happened so fast that none of them fully processed what he’d done.
"You’re amazing, Xiao Yu! Thank goodness you were here—your reflexes are insane! Wait for me… thirty seconds!"
Mao Ruirui rushed over excitedly, then remembered something and ran back to the shoe rack.
She returned with a pet carrier, and together, they carefully placed Budong inside.
As they worked, their arms brushed unavoidably.
A translucent information panel materialized beside Mao Ruirui:
[Mao Ruirui]
[Age: 25]
[Sect Status: Beast Garden Elder]
[Host Affinity Level: 25% (Second Realm, Casual Acquaintance)]
[Number of Dao Companions (Soul/Body Cultivation): (Insufficient affinity, details locked)]
[Attributes/Skills: (Host rank too low, details locked)]
[Other Info: (Host rank too low, details locked)]
[Current Mission:]
[Beast Feeding (Daily Quest): Post-treatment spirit beasts are weak and require nourishment to replenish spiritual energy.]
Beast Garden Elder!
Now that was a lofty title.
So, in this entire apartment, he really was the only outer sect probationary disciple, huh?
Based on Lin Yu’s deduction, Ruirui-jie probably wasn’t his online crush either.
If she were, their affinity level would’ve reflected it.
With three of the nine women in the apartment ruled out, the pool was narrowing.
"Xiao Yu, thank goodness you were here. That little monster was driving me crazy."
"I’ll take it upstairs now. I’ll make it up to you later!"
Mao Ruirui hugged the carrier, gratitude written all over her face.
Lin Yu shrugged casually.
"No problem, just a small favor. That cat can really jump, huh?"
Mao Ruirui skeptically leaned closer to the cat carrier and sniffed with her nose:
"No way? Its pee doesn’t smell that strong."
"Huh? Actually, I don’t think it peed at all."
Lin Yu: "..."
Among the female roommates, Lin Yu didn’t have a strong impression of Mao Ruirui.
Hearing her reply instantly reminded him of the "hard-of-hearing sister" in the apartment!
He’d talk about how high the cat jumped, and she’d say the cat’s pee smelled bad…
The two of them were completely on different wavelengths.
A true master of mishearing, relying purely on guesswork to understand others.
Chen Qimeng set the steamer pot on the floor and hurried over.
She took off Lin Yu’s gloves and checked his palms, the backs of his hands, even his elbows—inspecting him thoroughly.
"Good, no scratches. You’re amazing, Xiao Yu! Your reflexes are so quick!"
"Before I could even react, you already caught it!"
Chen Qimeng gave a thumbs-up, praising him with gentle concern.
Chi Qingchi also came up to Lin Yu, looking at him with starry eyes:
"Xiao Lin! You just went whoosh… smack… meow!"
"And then—bam!—you caught the Ragdoll cat!"
"Woo-hoo!"
"Just like an action movie star, like Lin Cheng Long!"
"So cool!"
Chi Qingchi flailed her arms and legs excitedly, her skirt fluttering nonstop.
From the girls’ perspective, Chi Qingchi was the only one standing at the doorway with a wide-angle view.
She had seen every move Lin Yu made.
His agile figure and sharp movements sent shivers down the little homebody’s spine.
"Haha, Cheng Long is a bit of an exaggeration, isn’t it?"
Lin Yu felt a small swell of pride.
Sincere compliments were always pleasant to hear, no matter who you were.
Mao Ruirui hugged the cat carrier contentedly. "Sister Qimeng, Xiao Chi, I’ll head upstairs first. You guys chat."
Chi Qingchi nodded. "Okay, Ruirui-jie. And little kitty, be good, okay?"
Watching Mao Ruirui head upstairs, Lin Yu couldn’t help but lower his voice and whisper to Chen Qimeng:
"Ruirui-jie is still the same as ever—seems like her hearing’s pretty bad!"
No sooner had he spoken than Mao Ruirui stopped in her tracks on the stairs.
Lin Yu’s heart skipped a beat as he awkwardly glanced up.
Did she hear that?
I thought her ears weren’t good?
But then…
Mao Ruirui looked out the stairwell window. "Where’s the eagle?"
Lin Yu: "..."
Chen Qimeng: "..."
Chi Qingchi: "..."
……
After the little farce ended, Chi Qingchi hugged her gifts and Lin Yu’s figurine and went back to her room.
Lin Yu stayed in the kitchen, wanting to help Chen Qimeng with the chores.
Though the ten people in the apartment lived under the same roof,
their daily meals were usually separate. There was a small kitchen on the second floor for everyone to use.
Chen Qimeng only prepared food for herself and Lin Yu each day.
Occasionally, she’d call over anyone who hadn’t eaten, was too lazy to cook, or just didn’t feel like it.
Today, she had specifically made an extra portion for Chi Qingchi.
With her older sister Chi Qingshui away from home, the younger sister’s ability to take care of herself was… questionable.
Before leaving for her hometown, Chi Qingshui had specially asked Aunt Qimeng to look after her sister and even insisted on paying for several days’ worth of meals.
Despite their young age, the sisters had a strong sense of responsibility.
Looking at the fish, beef, and assorted vegetables laid out on the kitchen table,
Lin Yu couldn’t help but ask in confusion:
"Aunt Qimeng, even with Xiao Chi joining us, we can’t possibly finish all this, right?"
"Is this a special occasion? Or is today some kind of celebration?"
Chen Qimeng continued sorting vegetables as she replied:
"It’s not for three people—it’s for four. Ying’er upstairs is eating with us too."
lities. One day, Qi Yuan was buying groceries when he unfortunately came face-to-face with a monster. Just when he thought he was going to die on the spot, he suddenly heard the monster's thoughts... "This aura, he's definitely not an ordinary master!" "So terrifying, so terrifying." "A fight with my back against the wall, I can't take it anymore." Qi Yuan: Ah, no one told me that my awakened ability isn't telepathy, but rather the stronger my enemies imagine me to be, the stronger I truly become. PS: Zhou Hai in the first chapter is not the protagonist.
n] Top-tier player Zhou Yi died and was reborn into the body of a hopeless simp who shared his name. His first love callously dumped him for a rich heir, his childhood sweetheart saw him as an embarrassment, the ice-cold campus beauty looked down on him—every woman he ever loved treated him like a pathetic doormat. But later, his ex came crawling back in tears: "Yi, I was wrong. Please take me back." His childhood sweetheart became hopelessly devoted: "Yi, just one more glance from you is all I ask." The aloof campus belle blushed as she handed him a love letter: "Zhou Yi, I was blind before. Will you accept my feelings?" To all of them, Zhou Yi just smiled. "Sorry, too late. I’m done with love." Oh, and he also gained a system—every time he earned a woman’s affection, his looks improved and his bank account grew. Soon, he became the nation’s most eligible bachelor, with socialites and heiresses begging for his attention...
his freshman year, Su Bai accidentally bound the "Indulgence Tycoon System." 【Sleeping in? Reward: +$1,000】 【Spent $288 at a street barbecue stall? Cashback: +$2,880】 【Dropped $14,396 on in-game skins? Special reward unlocked: A brand-new Porsche Panamera!】 Luxury cars, penthouses, corporate shares, financial empires… College life was all about living freely and doing whatever he pleased! … When the adorably naive academic genius faced family medical bills and financial struggles, Su Bai waved his hand dismissively: "Your future is on me." "Wuwu~ Big Brother is so good to me! I’ll become a scientist to repay you!" When the genius girl got bullied by a shady professor? Su Bai casually dropped a billion-dollar investment, forcing the university to grovel and beg for her return. A company’s funding chain collapsing? Su Bai smirked—cash was the one thing he’d never run out of. Years later, when people traced the rise of the AI prodigy beauty, who was the man behind her success? Not just that—Su Bai also became the tsundere campus belle’s unattainable dream, the contrast senior’s daily necessity, and the beautiful counselor’s emotional anchor…
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...
