Did I Succeed in Redeeming the Villain Today? - Chapter 13

Chapter 13: Spanking the Cat

Outside the window on one side of the classroom was a flowerbed planted with cherry blossom trees, preventing the sun from shining in completely. The blossoms and leaves peeled away the sunlight layer by layer, plating the kitten’s fur with a golden rim. That ink-like blackness was tanned to a fluffy softness, quietly radiating the scent of the sun from within the desk drawer. At a single glance, she looked incredibly “pet-able.”

Mu Qiuyu stared blankly at this black cat that had rolled over to reveal its belly. She never imagined that her System could not only turn into a ball but could also one day become a cat.

Lu Ning’s proactiveness caused Mu Qiuyu’s hand to press fully against her belly. The kitten’s soft stomach felt like a piece of self-warming suede cloth. Mu Qiuyu maintained her posture, gazing at Lu Ning without a word. She remained restrained and calm, but her throat bobbed imperceptibly in the shadows; her silent gaze held a sense of trying to hide something that was already obvious.

No one knew she liked fluffy things. She didn’t think Lu Ning had the ability to find out.

“Why did you become a cat?” Mu Qiuyu forced herself to remain steady, her tone cold.

“Didn’t the Host feel my mode yesterday wasn’t good? Besides, the System seems to have a bit of a glitch—I can’t switch back to general mode for the time being. So I thought, why not just become a kitten instead?”

Lu Ning blinked her large, crystal-blue eyes, reciting the excuse she had prepared long ago. “I’ve done my research. Guanghua High School is very friendly to stray cats and dogs. There are not only stray animal shelters but even a pet club organized by students. The ‘class pet’ of Class 14 next door is a calico cat that roams the school; it even sleeps on the podium during class. My current identity is just a new stray cat—I won’t sleep on the podium, I’ll just be extra clingy to you.”

As Lu Ning listed the facts about the school, she flicked her fluffy tail at Mu Qiuyu. She truly knew how cute she was; her gaze was triumphant, and she skillfully hooked Mu Qiuyu’s finger with her tail as she spoke. Since she had long since stopped being a human, the rules of human decorum could no longer bind her!

Because of this, for a moment, the roles of “attacker” and “defender” between the human and the System reversed. Lu Ning, who had been pinned under Mu Qiuyu’s hand yesterday, was now wagging her tail stroke by stroke, seducing Mu Qiuyu and making her even more unable to resist.

“Don’t cause trouble.” After a long while, Mu Qiuyu finally relented. Her voice still sounded indifferent, but her fingers had already moved a step ahead of her voice to knead Lu Ning’s belly.

“Meow~” Lu Ning responded with a gentle, soft sound, feeling delighted.

Slender fingers sank into the black fur as Mu Qiuyu stroked Lu Ning’s belly more firmly. The feel of a kitten was far better than that of a ball; Mu Qiuyu had realized this the moment Lu Ning threw herself into her arms. That body, much warmer than her own palm, wrapped around her fervently, making one feel joyful.

Mu Qiuyu thought: I still don’t trust the System. But enjoying the service it brings me like this… isn’t bad.

As human fingers repeatedly brushed over her body, Lu Ning felt herself becoming small. Her fluffy long hair wound around Mu Qiuyu’s fingers. Under this skilled stroking, she felt so comfortable it was as if her bones were spreading out one by one.

This person really does like fluffy animals; her behavior isn’t nearly as cold as it was yesterday, Lu Ning thought secretly. She tilted her head, which was in a state of blissful muddle, and peeked at Mu Qiuyu.

The girl was very vigilant; her gaze didn’t stay fixed on the hidden desk drawer. She kept her head up, her high chin and neck forming a pale, slender line. As the sunlight tanned one side of her face, Lu Ning suddenly felt the coldness about her had faded significantly. This spark of tenderness was just like the “Inner” Mu Qiuyu.

Sunlight finally penetrated her pupils, dispersing some of the gloom within. Her distinct eyelashes curled upward, revealing clean eyes. Her pert nose was like a small peak with a halo of light painted on it—exquisite and beautiful.

Lu Ning looked up, her breathing slowing down considerably. This was her first time being a cat, and she was completely captivated by the sight before her. As Mu Qiuyu rubbed a particularly comfortable spot, she couldn’t help but start purring: “Purr, purr…”

Upon hearing this, Mu Qiuyu’s hand stopped instantly. Her dark pupils pushed out the sunlight within them, leaving Lu Ning with a slightly fierce voice: “Don’t make a sound.”

Lu Ning didn’t understand; her small head tilted at Mu Qiuyu. Just as she was about to ask why, she heard a voice filled with doubt from the side: “Huh?”

The tiny sound she had just made had been caught by Li Xiang.

“What was that? Did I just hear a kitten purring?” Li Xiang was paying close attention to Mu Qiuyu’s side and was sensitive to any noise there. She peeked over as she spoke.

There were too many flaws on Mu Qiuyu’s side. For instance, Li Xiang immediately noticed that Mu Qiuyu’s arm had been resting inside the desk drawer the entire time. Curiously following the line of the arm, she asked: “Qiuyu, why is your hand always in the drawer?”

In the shadows, Li Xiang saw a pair of crystal-blue eyes. White whiskers twitched in the darkness, slowly exhaling a warm current. It was a living thing!

“!” Just as Li Xiang was about to cry out, Mu Qiuyu covered her mouth.

Lu Ning immediately realized she had caused trouble, but she only stared with her round eyes, looking innocently at the scene. After all, she was just a cute little kitten now; it was normal to be discovered by humans. At worst, if it caused a stir, she could just run away. This was a kitten’s privilege. She had to maintain her “cat-sona.”

While Lu Ning was finding excuses for herself, Mu Qiuyu’s cold voice rang out: “We are in class.”

She was reminding Li Xiang. Li Xiang understood instantly and nodded to show she wouldn’t make a scene. Seeing this, Mu Qiuyu released her hand.

For a long moment after, Li Xiang remained frozen in that posture. Her mind was a mess—on one hand, a super cute cat had appeared in Mu Qiuyu’s desk; on the other hand, her beautiful desk-mate had made physical contact with her again after their introductory handshake! And it was palm-to-lips!

Li Xiang’s little heart beat like a drum. She took a while to digest the excitement of being touched by Mu Qiuyu before suppressing her joy and whispering: “Qiuyu, why is there a cat in your desk?”

“I don’t know,” Mu Qiuyu replied flatly. Then she turned the tables and asked Li Xiang: “Haven’t you been using this desk all along?”

“Eh?” Li Xiang didn’t realize Mu Qiuyu was quietly shifting the situation onto her. Instead, she fell into deep thought. “That’s true… but I’ve never seen it before.” She leaned toward the drawer, looking at Lu Ning who was peering up at them. “Are you new?”

Lu Ning’s identity was that of a new stray, so she was glad Li Xiang had come to that conclusion herself. She poked her head out and gave a soft “Meow,” as if answering her. The kitten’s cry was soft and milky, like a paw pressing against one’s heart.

Li Xiang was completely captivated. She couldn’t help reaching out to pet Lu Ning’s head. “So cute. It’s so small; it really must be new.” She stroked from Lu Ning’s head down to her chin, scratching it while theorizing with Mu Qiuyu: “I heard some mother cats leave their kittens once they can live independently. This little guy probably just got separated from its mom.”

“Probably,” Mu Qiuyu chimed in nonchalantly from the side.

Li Xiang’s palm was warmer than Mu Qiuyu’s, and as she gently scratched Lu Ning’s chin, it felt wonderful. Lu Ning looked up at the two of them, thinking the atmosphere was much better than when Mu Qiuyu first sat down.

She squinted at the slightly impulsive girl. Li Xiang had a pleasant face, and her eyes were bright and sunny when she smiled. The System had no negative scores for her; she was an excellent candidate for a friend.

Thinking this, a spark of electricity seemed to flash through Lu Ning’s mind. She suddenly thought: If Mu Qiuyu can become friends with Li Xiang, she might be influenced by her and become more sunny and cheerful herself.

“One takes the color of one’s company,” as they say! A gloomy girl needs a cheerful “puppy” friend!

Lu Ning’s spirits rose; she was going to help her Host make Li Xiang her friend! With this in mind, she began considering how to make the two closer. The first step to making friends is having a common topic, and right now… her Host and this girl had an intersection because of her, a cute kitten. It was a perfect opportunity!

“Meow~”

Action-oriented as always, Lu Ning let out a soft cry and proactively crawled out of the desk drawer, stepping onto Li Xiang’s lap. The small black ball of fur pressed against the girl’s leg, her soft paw pads stepping out “little plum blossoms.”

Li Xiang was completely won over. She couldn’t help letting out a low-pitched scream: “Ah! You’re so cute!” She spread out the skirt of her school uniform to create a comfortable environment for Lu Ning.

Lu Ning understood and flopped down on her lap, letting her be petted. Li Xiang was skilled, scratching Lu Ning’s chin rhythmically. Lu Ning never thought that being petted by a human could be this comfortable; she tilted her small head even higher.

Being a cat is way better than being a ball.

While the kitten enjoyed the service of the “two-legged beast,” she didn’t forget her goal. She turned to look at Mu Qiuyu, wanting to invite her Host to join in. If two humans serve me at once, won’t the happiness be doubled!

But as she looked up, she saw Mu Qiuyu’s expression had returned to yesterday’s cold state. The sunlight hit her face, and her pitch-black pupils looked like unpolished raw crystals—sharp edges on all sides.

“Host, don’t you want to join Li Xiang and meo—!” Lu Ning didn’t understand what was wrong. Just as she was about to invite Mu Qiuyu, she let out a sharp “Meow!”

Li Xiang’s hand had somehow brushed against her belly. The girl’s fingers passed through layers of fur and stopped on a pink protrusion. “Little cat, do you have a pimple?”

“MEOW!” Sensing the touch, Lu Ning—the entire cat—instantly turned hot.

Sitting beside her, Mu Qiuyu gave a cold glance and reminded Li Xiang: “That is a cat’s nipple.”

“Ah?” Hearing that word, Li Xiang’s face turned visibly red, and she began to stutter. “B-b-b-but it…”

As Li Xiang babbled incoherently while holding Lu Ning, Lu Ning temporarily abandoned the idea of making friends for Mu Qiuyu. She just wanted some peace. It’s only my first day as a cat! How can you humans be like this? Where is your sense of decorum! You pervert!

Lu Ning filed a silent complaint and then scrambled out of Li Xiang’s arms, running back to her Host without looking back. Mu Qiuyu’s cold face was scary, but at least she wouldn’t “get fresh” with her.

“Knows to come back now?” Mu Qiuyu watched the cat crawl back into her arms with a laugh in her voice.

“Meow… (System is dying of embarrassment)” Lu Ning pressed her head into Mu Qiuyu’s chest, not knowing how to face what had just happened. She, a perfectly good cat, had been taken advantage of!

“Hmph.”

Lu Ning heard a short chuckle from above. Then, before she could react, a jolt of electricity shot up from her rear. Mu Qiuyu’s hand was pressed against the kitten’s butt, her pupils narrowed low.

She looked down at Lu Ning, who had only run back after being “wronged” by someone else, and felt a strange sense of possessiveness:

“Lu Ning, a disobedient kitten needs to be punished.”

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