My Dating Sim Just Got an Update - Chapter 38

Ren Chenxi wasn’t actually a doctor, but she carried the most medicine. Moreover, because she was currently injured herself, everyone instinctively assumed that her own wounds gave her a natural expertise in knowing which medicines to use and how much to apply to others.

Ren Chenxi didn’t bother correcting Chen Gu. Back during her travels, she only knew of a few remedies for skin lacerations anyway—specifically, those traditional herbal styptics. In her mind, you just poured it directly onto the wound and you couldn’t go wrong. As for the dosage.well, she decided to head upstairs and assess the situation first.

Once Ren Chenxi nodded in agreement, Mu Ning led the girls to the second floor, while the boys headed to the third. As Zhang Tongqi grumbled about how they had the nerve to show people such a “filthy dog house,” Mu Ning pushed open the door to the second floor.

“Meow—” Before anyone could even step inside, a soft, delicate meow drifted out from the room. That sweet, tiny sound immediately melted the hearts of the girls standing at the door.

“Oh, I forgot to mention, we have a cat. Its name is…”

Before Mu Ning could finish her sentence, a furry golden streak pounced outward. Mu Ning instinctively reached out to catch it, but her hands met empty air. That golden, fluffy “blanket” had lunged straight for Ren Chenxi instead.

“Tantan?” Ren Chenxi froze as she caught the familiar little cat in her arms. When her palms brushed against that soft fur, her face filled with utter disbelief.

“Meow, meow, meow~~” The little cat in her arms cried out even more delicately, burrowing its tiny head deep into the crook of Ren Chenxi’s arm.

It really was Tantan!

Hearing the cat’s tone—a mix of acting spoiled and acting aggrieved—Ren Chenxi felt her heart ache with tenderness. Tantan was a kitten she had rescued back when she was studying at S University. In many universities, there were always irresponsible students who abandoned their pets, and Tantan was one of them. Back then, Tantan was tiny, emaciated, and covered in filth, with fur so matted it hung in clumps. When Ren Chenxi found him, he had been tossed into a trash can. The dry, shriveled kitten couldn’t even open his eyes amidst the stench of the rubbish, yet he still struggled to let out a faint cry for help.

Fortunately, Ren Chenxi had heard that tiny meow. The moment she saw him, she didn’t hesitate or care about the filth; she pulled him straight out of the trash. She took him to a pet hospital, got him treated, shaved his matted fur, and bought all sorts of supplies before raising him in her rented apartment.

Under her meticulous care, the kitten survived tenaciously and recovered quickly. Within a few months, he grew a beautiful coat of golden fur. During that time, when Ren Chenxi wasn’t busy hovering around Mu Ning, she spent all her remaining time with the cat.

The recovered kitten was lively, adorable, and incredibly clingy. Whenever Ren Chenxi returned to the apartment, he would start circling her feet, bumping her with his head. If she picked him up, he would make those “meow meow” sounds that sounded like he was both flirting and complaining.

The name “Tantan” (Blanket) came from the fact that he was a beautiful long-haired Golden British Shorthair. Once, Ren Chenxi saw him sprawled out on the floor like a flat pancake; from a distance, he looked exactly like a golden rug. So, the cat formerly known as “Meow Meow” was renamed “Tantan.”

Before her sudden whim to go traveling, the thing Ren Chenxi worried about most was Tantan. But at the time, she thought she’d only be gone for two months, so she left him with a friend. This friend was someone she got along well with at school and had a good character; plus, the friend’s girlfriend was a local who already owned cats—a total “cat slave.” The moment she saw Tantan, she screamed with joy, looking like she wanted to pet him until he went bald.

Tantan had always lived in Ren Chenxi’s apartment alone while she was at school, so when he suddenly met other cats, he wasn’t scared at all. Instead, he was curious. He didn’t even wait for a quarantine period before he was playing happily with the other cats. Seeing how much fun he was having, Ren Chenxi felt at ease leaving him there. She paid a hefty boarding fee and went off on her travels.

Afterward, Ren Chenxi lost track of time, forgot about Mu Ning, and even forgot about the cute Tantan. By the time she returned to the game, two years of the apocalypse had passed. During those days in the Y City hotel, she had considered going back to S City to look for him, but… she was just a “rookie” who had only just encountered the apocalypse. Whether she could safely reach S City—which was even further than H City—was a huge question. Moreover… what could have happened to her Tantan after the world turned upside down? Was he smart enough to hide? Could he find food on his own?

In a city as vast as S City, how was she supposed to dodge so many zombies just to find a cat?

She told herself that one day, when she was strong enough, she would definitely go back to S City to look.

And yet, before she had even become powerful or made it back to S City, how had her Tantan ended up in H City? And why was he currently purring non-stop in her arms?

While Ren Chenxi was lost in her confusion, Mu Ning’s voice rang out by her ear.

“How did you know his name is Tantan?”

“…” Oops. She had been too excited and lost her composure. However, this didn’t stump Ren Chenxi. Meeting Mu Ning’s heavy gaze, she tried to remain as natural as possible. While stroking Tantan, she answered calmly, “My brother told me. He even sent me emails specifically so I could see photos of Tantan.”

“Then why is Tantan so clingy with you? This is clearly the first time you’ve met!”

“My brother and I are twins. Isn’t it normal for Tantan to mistake me for him? I should be the one asking—this is clearly my brother’s cat, left with his friend. Why is he with you now? You even claimed you were the one raising him!”

Mu Ning had initially found it strange, knowing that cats don’t recognize people just by looks—even with twins, the scent of a man and a woman couldn’t be the same. But before she could press the issue, she was hit with a counter-interrogation. Looking at Ren Chenxi’s expression, it seemed she was being treated like a thief.

Mu Ning felt both annoyed and amused, but she explained patiently, “When the apocalypse suddenly broke out, I awakened my abilities. While I was helping students escape the zombie-infested S University, Tantan ran out on his own. He was likely looking for Ren Muhui. I had seen Tantan before and knew he belonged to Ren Muhui. Since Ren Muhui’s whereabouts were unknown at the time.  I simply took Tantan with me.”

It was true—Mu Ning had seen Tantan before.

After raising Tantan to be beautiful and cute, Ren Chenxi had thought that girls generally liked such pretty little creatures. She had planned to show Tantan to Mu Ning, hoping his acting spoiled and cute would help her gain some favor. But that day, when she went to find Mu Ning with Tantan in her arms, Mu Ning had barked at her before they could even get close.

“Stay back! I don’t like those things! Take that little monster and get lost!”

Mu Ning didn’t just dislike cute kittens; she had called Tantan a little monster! So, would Mu Ning—who hated cats—really have spent two years of the apocalypse kindly caring for her Tantan? She hadn’t been keeping him as “emergency rations,” had she?

At that thought, Ren Chenxi instinctively took a step back while clutching Tantan, her eyes growing more guarded as she looked at Mu Ning.

“…” The meaning on Ren Chenxi’s face was too obvious; this time, Mu Ning couldn’t even force a smile. “Ren Chenxi! What kind of person do you take me for? No matter how cold-blooded I am, I wouldn’t lay a hand on a cat. Tantan is Ren Muhui’s pet, and since he’s gone, I’ve been taking care of the cat for him. Instead of being grateful, you’re suspecting me? Hmm?” She just didn’t like cats; she wasn’t afraid of them, nor did she have a hobby of abusing them!

Hearing Mu Ning’s words, Ren Chenxi realized she had overreacted. Right, when she left the game, Mu Ning’s affection for her was at 100%. So, based on her feelings for… uh, Ren Muhui, it was… normal… for Mu Ning to endure her dislike and take care of Tantan… right?

But taking him in was one thing; whether she had cared for him well during the apocalypse was another. Tantan was so high-maintenance—he was even picky about the brand of canned food. Now that it was the apocalypse and food was scarce, let alone cat food, things must be hard. Ren Chenxi felt the cat in her arms, who was still so small after two years, and her voice remained full of resentment: “Tantan is way too thin…”

Understanding the subtext, Mu Ning’s already cold voice dropped a few more degrees. “Ren Chenxi! For these past two years, I have given this cat the best food and the best supplies. Even his bed is the most comfortable one available. If you had any conscience at all, you’d be saying thank you. But instead of thanks, you rake me over the coals? What? You think I mistreated him? Let me tell you, don’t be fooled by his size! Tantan is a mutated cat. If he grew to full size, he could stand toe-to-toe with a mutated leopard!”

In the apocalypse, humans awakened powers, and animals mutated as well—increasing their size, speed, and strength. Tantan’s mutation was unique; besides his attributes being significantly boosted, he could freely control his body size. For some reason, while other mutated beasts wanted to be as large as possible to intimidate enemies, Tantan preferred to stay in this tiny, cute, and “weak” form.

Previously, Mu Ning thought Tantan was just being clever, using a small form to deceive enemies. Now, seeing Tantan acting spoiled in Ren Chenxi’s arms, Mu Ning finally understood the real reason he stayed small. Watching Ren Chenxi dote on the cat, Mu Ning added sourly, “Don’t let his appearance fool you. When he gets fierce, he can hunt down a mutated wolf of the same rank all by himself!”

“Eh? Tantan is a mutated cat? And he’s that strong?” As soon as Mu Ning finished speaking, Ren Chenxi excitedly held Tantan up in front of her eyes.

She had been too emotional when she first saw him to check his stats. She had been too busy staring into his round eyes, squeezing his little black paws, and petting him incessantly. Furthermore, Ren Chenxi usually only checked the health bars and ability levels of strangers; she didn’t have that kind of guard up against the adorable cat she had raised herself. Now that she looked seriously at the health bar and level above Tantan’s head, she saw it… Tantan was indeed a Level 4 mutated cat!

Her little kitten had actually become successful! Ren Chenxi suddenly felt like an old mother wanting to shed tears of joy after seeing her child grow into a talented adult.

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