After Turning Into a Kitten, I Was Adopted by My Father-Figure Childhood Friend - Chapter 2

Meow Meow. Damn that Lu Jingchuan, He’s So Annoying.

Damn that Lu Jingchuan. Annoying Lu Jingchuan. Ever since they were kids, Lu Jingchuan had been better than him, taller than him, and more well-liked than him.

He was his absolute, all-time greatest rival!

And he actually had the nerve to stand him up.

Unforgivable!

Song Xingyou trembled with rage, his fur standing on end until he looked like a puffy, fuming ball. He puffed out his cheeks and spitefully raked his claws against the base of a wall; his silver, hook-like talons leaving heartless gouges in the surface.

He was seething. His sharp cat eyes were filled with both shrewdness and a vivid fire, and his beautiful, innocent little face looked even more charmingly flushed, like a dapple of sunset orange.

“Ah,” a soft exclamation rang out.

Submerged in his fury, Song Xingyou’s ears perked up instantly. Two small, dark-tipped triangular ears peeked around the corner, swiveling like radar as he crept forward.

Under the rare, bright sunlight, he practically had “I am eavesdropping” written across his face.

The student in charge of club recruitment was in a rush, carrying a stack of boxes that nearly blocked her view. She accidentally collided with a tall, cold figure dressed in gray, sending her belongings scattering across the ground.

The club member apologized profusely. When she looked up, she froze, breathless at the man’s handsome, deep-set features.

The man appeared to have some foreign heritage. His brow and eyes were more defined and deep-set than average. Shrouded in shades of pure gray and black, he gave her a single look with eyes that seemed weary and brooding.

Then, he reached out to straighten a non-existent wrinkle in his clothes. As his long, bony fingers adjusted his attire, the veins on the back of his hand stood out, unintentionally exuding a sense of order and sexiness that was utterly captivating.

Finally, he spoke: “Please, don’t apologize.”

“I am half responsible.” His dark eyes fell upon the student, who was immediately starstruck.

It wasn’t until he had neatly gathered all the fallen cat food and returned it to her that she snapped out of it, asking frantically, “Are you a student here? Would you like to join our Stray Cat Rescue Club?”

She hurriedly pressed several brochures featuring cat photos into Lu Jingchuan’s hands.

Lu Jingchuan merely glanced down. Seeing something specific, the corners of his frozen lips suddenly twitched upward into a slight arc. “Thank you. I’ll consider it.”

“When I’m with you, the girls only have eyes for you. I was helping too, okay?” Ignored, Chu Zhuo watched the girl leave with a grimace, mocking Lu Jingchuan in a weird voice. “‘I’ll consider it.’ Ugh. Does she know you’re about to finish your master’s degree abroad?”

Exactly!

The eavesdropping Song Xingyou nodded his head, resting a paw against his chin with a look of deep contemplation. His innocent kitten eyes, having lost their newborn blue film, were now sharp and piercing.

Damn it, I have to find a way to beat them up and then trick them into taking me home.

As a veteran member of the Cat Rescue Club, Song Xingyou knew exactly how dangerous it was for a stray cat on campus. Not only would underclassmen constantly manhandle you, but you also risked being caught by the TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) program to be neutered and have your ear tipped.

Turning into a cat was terrifying, but Song Xingyou was not the type to sit around waiting for death or wallowing in self-pity.

Leaving the facts aside for a moment, wasn’t it basically these two guys’ fault that he turned into a cat?

They had to take him back and worship him like an ancestor!

Song Xingyou narrowed his cat eyes, his tail swishing between the two men as he arrogantly weighed his options.

Should it be the easy-to-bully, never-at-home Chu Zhuo? Or his insufferable rival?

Chu Zhuo had been rambling sarcastically for a while without getting a response. Unable to help himself, he leaned over to see what Lu Jingchuan was looking at. “What are you staring at?”

Lu Jingchuan looked down in silence, his fingers tracing a group photo on the brochure.

Among the many people in the photo, one stood out like a solitary, elegant white crane, making it impossible to miss him.

It was Song Xingyou.

Chu Zhuo snorted. “You, honestly. All you see is Xing-xing.”

“It’s so strange. Weren’t you two really close back then? You go abroad and suddenly you’re not speaking. Or were you actually not that close, and you only put up with each other for my sake because I’m your mutual friend and you didn’t want to make things difficult for me?”

Chu Zhuo was almost moved by his own theory.

Lu Jingchuan: “…”

He silently folded the brochure neatly along the edges and tucked it into his pocket.

Lu Jingchuan turned to leave.

At that exact moment, he sensed a looming danger.

He looked up just as a flash of silver-gray streaked through the warm sunlight. A calico marshmallow launched itself through the air, aiming directly for his face.

Instinctively, he threw the brochure like a weapon. The Evil Calico Ball nimbly dodged the projectile, carving a chaotic arc through the air that defied the laws of physics before snapping its head up the moment it hit the ground.

“Meow!”

Failing the initial strike, the Evil Calico Ball’s ears flattened. It hissed dangerously, baring four sharp fangs like a hunting serpent, its black-tipped tail lashing high in the air.

Song the Cat charged, slamming his head into his rival’s shin. With a low growl, he used every ounce of his strength to jump up and deliver a flurry of cat-punches to the man’s leg.

Lu Jingchuan: “…”

His long fingers curled slightly in the air as if he were about to clench a fist, but he suppressed the urge with sheer willpower, smoothing his hand into a composed gesture.

He shoved his hands into his pockets, letting the calico cat kick and punch his pant leg, not even bothered by the glaring mud prints in the shape of plum blossoms.

Only when the calico cat grew tired did he lean down slightly. His dark, deep eyes clearly reflected the image of the Evil Calico.

The cat was undeniably beautiful. Despite being skin and bones, its natural eight-character facial markings shone like a jewel.

It had four white paws. A charming, sunset-orange flush climbed up one side of its face, while the other side was a cool, dark black. Its tail, which swayed unconsciously, looked as if a mischievous kitten had knocked over an ink bottle.

It was small, and its amber eyes, clear as glass, suggested it hadn’t been away from its mother for long.

Lu Jingchuan considered this, calmly assessing the cat. Then, he pulled out his phone and snapped a quick photo of the calico.

In the photo, the little calico was looking up, its face round and cute, staring with innocent amber eyes that were as vivid and captivating as a pomegranate hiding among leaves.

What an innocent, beautiful kitty.

Song the Cat: “???”

How dare you! You dare take a paparazzi photo of the Great King of Cats!

Song the Cat’s fur puffed out instantly. His cream-colored mouth hissed, revealing four sharp teeth. He lashed Lu Jingchuan with his tail and, still unsatisfied, gave him another kick.

What a temper.

Lu Jingchuan narrowed his eyes dangerously, holding his phone as he faced off with the cat.

Chu Zhuo, who had retrieved the brochure, joked, “Look at that. You stood up Xing-zai, so he sent a cat assassin to take you out.”

“It’s not,” Lu Jingchuan said suddenly.

“Not Xing-zai’s cat?” Chu Zhuo interpreted.

Lu Jingchuan looked down, hooking his hand under the cat’s chin. His gaze shifted left and right for a moment before he said deeply, “It’s not.”

His tone was entirely serious.

Chu Zhuo: “Pfft, you’re such a poser. You just got back to the country and I had to lead the way just to find Xing-zai. How would you know what cats he’s fed? What, did you memorize all the registered photos in the Cat Club?”

Exactly!

Song the Cat struggled frantically, paws flailing. His scrawny little body puffed up like a cloud as he meowed in anger.

However, he showed blatant favoritism toward Chu Zhuo. The moment Lu Jingchuan let go, Song unhesitatingly bit Lu Jingchuan’s hand. Then, with a series of soft meows and his tail held high, he arrogantly lifted his chin and condescendingly rubbed against Chu Zhuo’s pant leg.

“Meow-uuu!”

Five minutes of acting, fifteen years of luxury. Chu Zhuo, your ancestor is here!

Chu Zhuo, who was usually hated by all cats and dogs, was suddenly overwhelmed by the favor. He couldn’t even move. “Oh! It likes me!”

“Clearly, he wants to go home with you.” Lu Jingchuan looked at the assassin leisurely swishing its tail by Chu Zhuo’s feet. The little assassin’s tail was held high, slapping Chu Zhuo’s shin without a hint of politeness.

Rather than a pet, it looked more like a little master.

And it had chosen Chu Zhuo between the two of them.

A wise decision.

Lu Jingchuan put his phone in his pocket. “Let’s go.”

“You won’t even stroll through the campus since Xing-zai isn’t here. Talk about being goal-oriented.”

Chu Zhuo, who had been dragged out of bed early that morning, clicked his tongue in amazement but then added encouragingly, “That’s the spirit! Keep it up! With me around, I’ll definitely get you and Xing-xing back together!”

Lu Jingchuan gave him a look of profound trust, and Chu Zhuo was instantly filled with confidence and energy.

Song Xingyou, seeing through it all, let out a cold snort through his nose, feeling despair over the IQ of his friend, his temporary servant.

But it didn’t matter. One smart person in the family was enough.

Song the Cat proudly raised his tail, revealing his white chin, his two pointed ears reaching for the sky.

He was absolutely certain about being adopted. He had forgotten, however, that there was a reason why Chu Zhuo was hated by animals.

Chu Zhuo rubbed the cat’s ears and whispered some sweet kitty-kitty nonsense. Once he’d had his fill of petting, like a customer at a cat cafe who leaves without a second thought after the fun is over, he waved his hand and turned to go.

He patted Lu Jingchuan on the shoulder. “Let’s go, let’s go. You’re moving into your new place today. We’ll look for Xing-zai next time.”

“You,” the man’s gaze lingered on him for two seconds. After a moment’s thought, he nodded helplessly. But the moment he stood up, a warm, fuzzy ball suddenly latched onto his leg.

He looked down and met a pair of panicked, shocked amber eyes.

Song Xingyou saw them leaving and panicked. His pink paws frantically patted the man’s suit trousers, leaving frantic mud prints on the clean, disciplined fabric.

Wait! You’re just leaving me like this?

What happened to “five minutes of acting, fifteen years of luxury?” Dammit!

Chu Zhuo, you are no longer my best friend! You are catless!

Now, I command you: you MUST adopt me!

“Meow-uuu!” Song Xingyou stood on his hind legs and shrieked with false bravado. The kitten was a puffed-up, colorful, stumbling ball of yarn, clinging to Lu Jingchuan’s pant leg and refusing to let go.

If you leave me behind, I will haunt you for the rest of your life!

Lu Jingchuan was about to walk away, but when he met the cat’s eyes, which seemed to be spitting fire, he crouched down as if possessed. “You want to come with me?”

Chu Zhuo was shocked. “You’re taking it? Lu Jingchuan, I thought you didn’t like animals?”

Support After Turning Into a Kitten, I Was Adopted by My Father-Figure Childhood Friend