Cat Demon Raising Manual - Chapter 16

Wu Wei brought Hua Wangxuan home. Though her expression remained neutral along the way, her mind was racing with thoughts.

“Grandma, did you know Mary went out to play?” Wu Wei set the paper box aside, her face darkening as soon as she entered, as if someone owed her money and refused to pay it back.

Hua Wangxuan darted under the table, stealthily peeking out with her lively, beautiful eyes, ears perked up mischievously.

Wan Jinhua was cooking in the kitchen and, upon hearing Wu Wei’s question, replied nonchalantly, “In the countryside, cats are free-roaming. Restraining a kitten’s nature isn’t good either. Once Mary gets used to it, she’ll come back on her own. Our Mary is very clever, isn’t she?”

Wan Jinhua walked over, giving Hua Wangxuan a kind smile. She bent down, beckoning to her, and gently patted the fluffy little head that poked out.

Hua Wangxuan let out a coquettish meow in response. She was just a little cat yearning for freedom, and the elderly human seemed to understand her well.

“But it’s dangerous outside. Last time, we had to bring her home because she was almost killed by a stray dog. This isn’t exactly the countryside either. There are so many vehicles coming and going, even elementary school students can’t be guaranteed to travel alone safely, let alone a cat.” Wu Wei’s expression remained stern, her thick eyebrows furrowed so tightly they could crush a fly.

“So, what do you suggest we do?” Wan Jinhua placed the cooked dishes on the dining table, sitting upright as she patiently looked at Wu Wei.

Wu Wei pursed her lips, hesitating for a moment before speaking. “Mary was originally a stray cat, accustomed to outdoor activities. I could play games with her to burn off her energy, or have her spayed so she won’t roam around due to heat. We could also fit her with a GPS tracker to monitor her location in real time, so we wouldn’t have to worry about her getting lost.”

Encouraged by Wan Jinhua’s gaze, Wu Wei elaborated further, her voice growing clearer and more confident. “I could also use a cat harness and leash to take her out for walks. Grandma, you could bring her along when you go to the park. I almost forgot, Mary hasn’t been vaccinated yet. To prevent her from getting sick, she needs regular vaccinations and monthly deworming. Those grassy areas and garbage piles are the easiest places to pick up fleas and ticks.”

Wu Wei spoke eloquently, but under Wan Jinhua’s gentle teasing, she paused, a hint of embarrassment flashing in her brown eyes.

By then, Hua Wangxuan had already jumped onto a small stool, sitting with all four paws on the ground, blinking her eyes as she looked at Wu Wei in confusion.

“I think all your suggestions are feasible. Let’s take it step by step. What do you think should be the first step?” Wan Jinhua guided her patiently.

“Um, get her vaccinated first? Safety and health come first.” Wu Wei looked at Hua Wangxuan, her usually cold eyes softening slightly beneath her sharp brow bones.

“I can provide the financial support you need to implement these ideas. From now on, Mary’s health is your responsibility.” Wan Jinhua’s eyes curved into a smile, feeling somewhat relieved to see her granddaughter developing a sense of responsibility.

Having grown up without parental affection, Wu Wei was prone to emotional barriers. Wan Jinhua paid special attention to this and often guided Wu Wei in making choices, even in small matters.

“Thank you, Grandma.” Wu Wei’s eyebrows lifted slightly before she restrained herself, a faint, almost imperceptible smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

“Family doesn’t need to stand on ceremony, so when do you plan to take Mary for her vaccination? I’ve been swamped with activities lately and might not be able to accompany you.” Wan Jinhua shrugged helplessly, apologetically sliding the bowl of food that Hua Wangxuan had been eyeing right in front of her.

“Tomorrow. After her vaccination, I’ll pick her up once I finish my tutoring session,” Wu Wei replied, following Hua Wangxuan’s gaze.

“Good idea. The sooner we get it done, the less we’ll have to worry about it.” Wan Jinhua nodded in agreement.

Just like that, the two settled the matter with a few brief words.

The cat remained silent, wholly focused on devouring her meal.

Though she’d already eaten her fill earlier at Shen Qingyan’s place, she still picked out her favorite freeze-dried meat chunks from the bowl.

Wu Wei happened to glance over and noticed this. Setting her chopsticks aside, she raised an eyebrow. “How did Mary get so chubby when she’s this picky?”

Hua Wangxuan didn’t react at first, but Wu Wei’s stare was too intense to ignore. She licked her lips, still savoring the taste.

Realizing that Wu Wei was referring to her as “Mary,” Hua Wangxuan hopped off the chair and sauntered over to Wu Wei with an air of nonchalance. She turned her backside toward her, a sly smirk curling at the corner of her mouth.

Under Wu Wei’s puzzled gaze, a faint but unmistakable “pfft” sound emerged, followed by an indescribably foul odor that spread like a poison gas bomb, instantly obliterating Wu Wei’s sense of smell.

“Yuck! What are you up to, you stinky cat? You actually farted!” Wu Wei was both shocked by the cat’s vindictiveness and disgusted by the smell, gagging as she waved her hand to disperse the odor.

The culprit, Hua Wangxuan, darted behind Wan Jinhua’s legs the moment she committed the deed. Her eyes darted around mischievously as she began kneading Wan Jinhua’s shoes with her paws.

“Hahaha, our Mary is so clever, she settles scores right on the spot!” Wan Jinhua was doubled over with laughter, utterly amused by Hua Wangxuan’s antics. She didn’t mind seeing her granddaughter suffer a little and even fanned the flames, proving that even in old age, she remained a troublemaker at heart.

“Grandma, Mary is just awful! Yuck, it’s so smelly I can’t even eat anymore.” Wu Wei widened her eyes, grinding her teeth in frustration, her face a picture of utter despair.

“Mary’s farts are like chemical weapons. She looks so cute, but she’s so petty, can’t even take a little criticism.” Wu Wei couldn’t stand the stench any longer and walked to the doorway to take deep breaths of fresh air.

Hua Wangxuan let out a soft snort, her tail curling upward in delight. The Cat Queen would not tolerate even the slightest grievance.

Post-dinner entertainment time began.

Hua Wangxuan dashed around the living room in a frenzy, while Wu Wei busied herself tinkering with a worn-out cardboard box.

Despite the little prank Hua Wangxuan had pulled, Wu Wei remained true to her original intention and reinforced the box with tape.

The simple cardboard box had an opening on top. Wu Wei used a green marker to write a few words on the side: “Mary’s Exclusive.”

Humans are so strange. They can barely fit inside a box themselves, yet they’re always trying to trap cats in cardboard containers.

Hua Wangxuan pretended to be aloof, deliberately passing by the box countless times until Wu Wei finally called out to her.

“Mary, don’t you like the cardboard box?”

Hua Wangxuan couldn’t help but flatten her ears and stop in her tracks.

“If you don’t like it, then I’ll just have to destroy it and sell it for scrap.” Wu Wei glanced at Hua Wangxuan, her eyes crinkling with amusement as she watched the cat secretly eavesdropping. She coughed lightly into her fist to hide her smile.

Grrr!

No, this was the one she had her eye on, it was already her cardboard box. Hua Wangxuan immediately jumped into the cardboard box, scratching the cardboard noisily with her paws, her rear end raised high.

The texture felt good. Hua Wangxuan evaluated inwardly, giving Wu Wei an approving glance while sharpening her claws.

Wu Wei couldn’t help but smile. The little cat’s duplicitous behavior seemed somewhat familiar.

“Since Mary likes it, I won’t throw it away.”

From then on, Hua Wangxuan had one more place to nap lazily.

After running a few laps around the yard for exercise, Wu Wei broke into a light sweat and decided to take a shower.

Hua Wangxuan followed Wu Wei like a shadow, occasionally veering off course to pounce at the butterflies on the peonies. Seeing that Wu Wei seemed to have finished her run, she followed her up to the second floor.

“Why are you still following me? I’m going to take a shower,” Wu Wei said, holding her change of clothes, noticing Hua Wangxuan’s reluctance to leave and lowering her voice as a reminder.

Hua Wangxuan pretended not to hear. She was just a cat, after all, where couldn’t she stay?

“As an upright little cat, you can’t peek at humans taking a shower. That’s lecherous behavior,” Wu Wei said, ignoring her own words as she picked Hua Wangxuan up, gently tossed her out of the bathroom, and slammed the frosted sliding door shut.

Hua Wangxuan cried out anxiously outside the door, her paws scratching incessantly at the door, while Wu Wei cheerfully turned on the showerhead.

The water from the showerhead soaked her hair. Wu Wei closed her eyes and tilted her head back to let the warm water cascade over her, the sound of frantic meowing echoing in her ears.

Wu Wei treated the cat’s cries as background music, her fingers massaging her scalp. The water gathered in the deep hollows of her shoulder blades, forming two small pools, while the rest flowed down the groove of her spine and disappeared into her slender waist.

Her figure had always been excellent. Her skin tone, compared to the fair complexion of other girls, was a healthier wheat color, yet not rough at all, smooth as honey to the touch. She also had a thin layer of abdominal muscles that others envied, clinging to her stomach.

Her back was straight, her buttocks firm and perky. Her long legs and arms bore the marks of exercise, especially her hands, which were far larger than average, with slender, well-defined fingers. The veins on the back of her hands bulged after being soaked in the hot water, exuding a subtle sensuality.

Steam gradually climbed up the frosted glass, spreading throughout the bathroom, obscuring the view of the spirited girl within the mist.

She reached out to turn off the overhead shower and leaned sideways to grab the shampoo from the wall shelf. Her wet hair quickly lathered into a mass of white foam upon contact with the shampoo.

The foam slid down her neck toward her calves and private areas, leaving a winding, milky trail. Her toes unconsciously brushed against the raised parts of the anti-slip mat. A sudden gust of cold wind swept through the bathroom, sending a slight shiver down her lower back.

Wait, where did that cold wind come from?

Wu Wei snapped awake, her lion-like brown eyes sharp and alert, only to find that the source of the cold wind was the half-open frosted glass door.

The culprit, Hua Wangxuan, sat innocently not far away, her heterochromatic eyes fixed unblinkingly on Wu Wei.

A wave of inexplicable embarrassment surged within her. Instinctively covering her chest with both hands, she shouted angrily, her voice trembling slightly, “Mary, you perverted cat, get out of here!”

Being seen completely naked by a female cat, Wu Wei couldn’t help but curl her toes, her foot arch tensing into a delicate curve. The faint blue veins at her ankles grew increasingly distinct in the steam. A flush of pink crept belatedly to her ears, whether from the hot water or from sheer embarrassment, she couldn’t tell.

Hua Wangxuan, startled by Wu Wei’s sudden bashfulness, panicked and swiped a paw at Wu Wei’s calf, leaving a long scratch. Then, in a flash, she slipped out through the half-open door.

Perhaps because her paw pads were wet, she slipped and stumbled clumsily with a soft thud, letting out a brief, pitiful yelp.

Wu Wei rubbed her forehead, watching the flustered escape with a mix of amusement and disbelief.

Water dripped from her hair onto the top of her foot. Wu Wei stepped forward and firmly closed the glass door, which had been letting in a draft of cold air.

A sigh dissolved into the misty air.