Doctor Gu’s Orange Cat Boyfriend - Chapter 7

He spoke while observing Lin Mucí’s reaction.

“Earlier at the shop, a woman tried to strike up a conversation with me under the pretense of exchanging cat-raising tips. He reacted with obvious resistance, even showing signs of aggression. Is this normal?”

Lin Mucí’s heart skipped a beat.

Here it comes, the killer question!

【He really is still bothered by that woman!】

【How should I answer? Say it’s normal? That would admit cats get jealous!】

【Say it’s not normal? Will he think I’m a cat with psychological issues and abandon me?】

【Help! Why did I have to get jealous in front of him! I’m such a little idiot!】

Lin Mucí’s brain was about to overheat. After stammering for ages, he finally managed to blurt out: “Well… it’s normal. Cats have personalities just like people. Some cats are naturally aloof, while others are more clingy. When it first arrives in a new environment, it’s bound to be very dependent on you as its owner, seeing you as its sole source of security. That’s why it resists contact with strangers—it’s a sign of insecurity, but also a sign of trust in you.“

He improvised on the spot, cleverly reframing ‘jealousy’ as ”trust.”

【I’m such a clever little thing!】

Lin Mucí silently applauded his own wit.

“Is that so?” Gu Chaoyu’s tone held an ambiguous undertone. “So it trusts me, huh.”

“Well… it seems to really enjoy being held. Whenever I pick it up, it purrs deeply. What does that mean?” “ Gu Chaoyu pressed further.

”That’s how cats express contentment and happiness! It means it adores you, feels incredibly comfortable and secure in your arms!“ Lin Mucí practically blurted it out, only realizing afterward how overly enthusiastic he sounded.

”Oh…“ Gu Chaoyu drew out the syllable, ”Seems it really does like me.”

【Of course! I absolutely adore you, okay!】

Lin Mucí screamed inwardly, yet his face maintained a composed smile.

“All this theory might not compare to seeing it in practice.”

Just as Lin Mucí thought this heart-pounding Q&A session was finally ending, Gu Chaoyu suddenly dropped a bombshell.

He issued Lin Mucí an invitation impossible to refuse.

“Orange is at my place right now. Would you like to… come over for some hands-on guidance?”

【What?!】

【Go to his place? Hands-on guidance?!】

【Guidance my ass! I’m the ass!】

Lin Mucí froze in place. Go to Gu Chaoyu’s house to see himself?

How was he supposed to pull off astral projection—standing beside Gu Chaoyu in human form while simultaneously lying on the living room carpet as a cat, then pointing at his feline self and declaring, ” Look, this cat’s coat is so pure & obviously well-fed”?

【This isn’t like filming a TV drama where you use a body double to fool the little cuties watching at home】

【Wait! A body double! I could find an orange cat that looks like me after transforming and keep it as a pet. That way, I could appear before Dr. Gu at the same time. I’m such a genius!】

【But right now? No way in hell am I going!】

【I need a way to refuse him! A flawless, perfectly reasonable way!】

Lin Mucí’s mind was already racing through every possible refusal scenario.

Say I suddenly have plans? Too flimsy.

Say I don’t like cats? I just called myself an expert & that’d be shooting myself in the foot!

Just as his mental storm raged, threatening to drive him mad, a flash of inspiration struck. He remembered his ultimate weapon as a web novel writer—deadlines!

Yes! That’s it!

Lin Mucí cleared his throat, striving to make his expression appear both apologetic and sincere.

“Um… Dr. Gu, I really, really want to help you out, but…” He adopted that quintessential office drone ‘troubled’ and ‘agonized’ expression. “My editor just gave me an ultimatum: I have to submit 30,000 words by tonight, or he’ll come knocking with a knife. You know how it is in our line of work. Missing deadlines is an unforgivable sin…”

【I’m such an ordinary little liar genius!】

【This excuse is absolutely perfect! It shows my eagerness to help, explains why I can’t go, and fits my writer persona! Full marks!】

Lin Mucí mentally gave himself a huge thumbs-up, feeling he’d successfully defused the crisis.

However, his joy was premature.

Gu Chaoyu.

This man who appeared cool and aloof on the surface but was cunning enough to make your teeth ache & had no intention of letting him off the hook so easily.

Gu Chaoyu’s brows furrowed slightly, his face now wearing just the right amount of concern and hesitation.

“Thirty thousand words? That is indeed tight.” He first expressed understanding, causing Lin Mucí to lower his guard slightly.

Then, his tone shifted abruptly.

“But… Orange seems to be having a bit of a stress reaction. It’s been hiding in the corner and won’t drink water. I’m worried it might get sick from not adjusting to the new environment.”

Gu Chaoyu’s voice was hushed, tinged with a hint of pleading.

“It won’t take long, just five minutes. Could you come take a look and guide me on how to calm it down? After all, you’re the expert. Better than me fumbling around on my own. I’m genuinely worried about it.”

【He… he… he… he’s actually using me to blackmail me!】

【He dares say Orange is stressed! Didn’t I just happily knead his chest in his arms a moment ago?!】

【This man, how could he be so heartless?!】

Gu Chaoyu’s words had him squarely in the hot seat.

If he refused to go, wouldn’t that make him look like a cold-hearted so-called “cat expert,” turning his back on a poor little kitten in distress?

That would severely damage his image in the heart of his crush!

But if he went… he’d explode on the spot!

【What to do? What to do? What to do? My brain is about to melt!】

Lin Mucí was so flustered sweat began beading on his forehead.

Watching him nearly cry from distress, Gu Chaoyu chuckled inwardly while delivering an even more lethal blow.

“Or…” He paused thoughtfully, as if genuinely considering Lin Mucí’s plight, before proposing a “win-win” solution. “If you really can’t leave, how about… I bring Orange over to your place? It’s right next door anyway, so it’d be convenient. You could keep an eye on it while you write. Wouldn’t that work?”

【…You’re a devil, Dr. Gu!】