The Villainous Female Side Character Pretends to Be an Omega in the Apocalypse and Raises a Cat - Chapter 35

Meng Qinghe was lovingly admiring her new weapon, unable to put it down.

Chi Yingdong sat upright at the table, flipping through documents page by page with a focused and solemn expression.

The rustling of paper was particularly distinct in the quiet room.

The records showed that in the past month, the base had suffered thirteen sneak attacks by mutated animals, roughly one every two days.

Moreover, most of these attacks occurred during the daytime, precisely when the base’s residents were at their most relaxed during rest periods.

The situation was indeed as Chen Junyun had described.

Each incident involved different animal species, some of which were natural enemies in the wild.

Yet, even when natural enemies appeared together, they completely ignored each other.

It was as if they had reached some terrifying agreement, directing all their attacks solely at the base.

Chi Yingdong’s eyes darkened.

Even if mutated animals had undergone changes, they should still retain their innate instincts. This phenomenon was truly illogical.

Chi continued flipping through the pages. The following sections included clear photographs of the mutated creatures.

The organisms in the images had swollen to several times their pre-apocalyptic size, appearing grotesque and terrifying.

But what was even more striking was that all the mutated animals involved in the sneak attacks shared a common trait.

Their eyes exhibited an unnatural crimson red, giving off an eerie vibe even through the photographs.

Take the ant queen she was familiar with, for example.

It was also a mutated creature, but neither the queen nor its soldier ants had ever displayed such characteristics.

These mutated animals were indeed problematic.

Chi Yingdong’s fingers brushed against the corner of the page, her long eyelashes casting shadows beneath her eyes, concealing her expression.

She had initially thought this mission would be primarily investigative, a good opportunity for Meng Qinghe to gain some experience.

But now, it seemed the situation was far more dangerous than anticipated.

“Qingqing, come take a look at this.”

Her voice remained steady, yet carried an undeniable gravity.

Hearing this, Meng Qinghe immediately set down the dagger in her hand and hurried to Chi Yingdong’s side. “What’s wrong?”

“Look at these pictures.”

Meng Qinghe followed Chi’s pointing finger, her brow unconsciously furrowing as her gaze fell upon the photographs.

“Why do these mutated animals look so strange?”

She muttered under her breath, rubbing the goosebumps that had risen on her arms.

“Look at this.”

Chi Yingdong’s fingertip lightly tapped the image.

She pointed out a green bamboo viper and an eagle in the picture.

Her voice remained calm but carried a thoughtful tone. “These two species are natural enemies, yet the eagle still chose to attack the base even after spotting the snake.”

Meng Qinghe’s expression gradually grew more focused.

She suddenly recalled Chen Junyun’s speculation about “someone pulling the strings behind the scenes.”

But was that really the case?

Images of the researchers on the plane flashed through her mind, along with the ant queen in the laboratory.

Hadn’t they discovered the ant queen in a lab, after all?

Perhaps the base was hiding a mutated creature similar to the ant queen, being used as a test subject by humans. Or maybe there was something within the base that attracted the mutated animals.

Numerous thoughts raced through Meng Qinghe’s mind, and she shared them with Chi Yingdong.

Chi Yingdong was momentarily stunned.

Only then did she realize she had been limiting her thinking due to Chen Junyun’s preconceived notions.

“You’re right.”

Chi Yingdong nodded slightly, her finger tracing the crimson red eyes of the mutated animals in the photograph.

Receiving affirmation, Meng Qinghe’s eyes lit up, and she grew a bit bolder.

Tilting her head, she suddenly voiced an even more daring conjecture: “Do you think… it might be related to the gaps in the world?”

After saying it, Meng Qinghe herself froze.

It seemed she was becoming increasingly willing to express her thoughts.

In the first twenty-some years of her life, she had been like an invisible presence, wanting to change but lacking the right opportunity.

After transmigrating into a kitten, Chi Yingdong’s favoritism had given her an immense sense of security, making her more willing to reveal her thoughts.

How could she not have any other feelings for a Chi Yingdong like this?

Liking Chi Yingdong was simply natural, destined, a perfect match made in heaven!

Chi Yingdong asked, “What are you thinking about?”

“Huh?”

Meng Qinghe looked at Chi Yingdong blankly.

Chi Yingdong lightly tapped the table. “Why aren’t you responding when I’m talking to you?”

Her voice carried a hint of laziness, without any reproach, as if discussing the day’s weather.

Nevertheless, Meng Qinghe instinctively tensed up.

But soon, she noticed the slight upward curve of Chi Yingdong’s lips and the lingering affection in her eyes.

This discovery sent a warm surge through Meng Qinghe’s chest.

She relaxed and even boldly tugged at Chi Yingdong’s sleeve, pouting playfully. “Sorry, I spaced out! What did you say earlier?”

Chi Yingdong lowered her gaze.

After the little kitten returned to human form, an invisible barrier seemed to form between them.

She could no longer freely scoop the kitten into her arms and stroke its back as she used to.

And Meng Qinghe was no longer the kitten that needed her at every moment, there was now a bit more politeness between them and a little less intimacy.

Remembering how the kitten used to need her help even to wash its face, Chi Yingdong’s lips unconsciously curved into a smile.

Chi Yingdong was quite pleased with how Meng Qinghe was now, it felt like she had returned to her kitten days.

She felt needed and relied upon once again.

“You can space out while talking to me?”

Chi Yingdong teased, her voice laced with humor, though her gaze softened involuntarily.

Just as Meng Qinghe was about to defend herself, Chi Yingdong stood up and stretched.

“I said, rest well. We’ll set off tomorrow night.”

Seeing that Chi Yingdong was about to leave, Meng Qinghe, with a sudden burst of courage, reached out and grabbed her hand. “Wait.”

“What is it?”

Chi Yingdong let out a small yawn, her eyes immediately glistening with moisture.

Like this, she appeared uncharacteristically docile.

Meng Qinghe’s heart skipped a beat, she had never seen Chi Yingdong like this, as if she had let down all her defenses, incredibly soft.

Meng Qinghe bit her lower lip.

The words were on the tip of her tongue, but she didn’t know how to say them.

She regretted it.

Why had she acted on impulse?

Meng Qinghe tried several times to organize her thoughts, but when she spoke, the words came out differently.

“Nothing, I just suddenly felt like eating spicy crayfish. I wonder if the mutated lobsters are as big as small green lobsters.” Chi Yingdong, noticing her slightly flickering gaze and the way she bit her lip in frustration, immediately understood that what she had originally intended to say had nothing to do with crayfish.”

But she didn’t call her out and instead went along with Meng Qinghe’s words: “I have crayfish in my space. Want to eat some now?”

Meng Qinghe didn’t actually want crayfish.

It was just an excuse she had come up with.

“Let’s have them tomorrow. It’s time to sleep.”

Meng Qinghe pretended to be sleepy, rubbing her slightly sore eyes while inwardly scolding herself for her timidity.

Chi Yingdong suddenly remarked, “You were the cutest when you were a kitten.”

The words felt like a bucket of cold water abruptly splashed into Meng Qinghe’s heart.

Her head snapped up, pupils trembling slightly, as if an invisible hand had clenched around her heart.

What did that mean?

Did she not like who she was now?

Her mood instantly plummeted to the depths.

The young girl hadn’t yet learned to conceal her emotions well, both joy and displeasure were clearly written on her face.

Meng Qinghe glared at Chi Yingdong with puffed-up cheeks, her eyes slightly reddened as if tears were about to fall at any moment.

“If you don’t like who I am now, why did you say those things about me taking responsibility?”

She felt deeply wronged.

She thought Chi Yingdong was nothing but a heartbreaker!

Chi Yingdong was taken aback, clearly not expecting Meng Qinghe to suddenly bring up the matter of “responsibility.”

She said seriously, “I never said I don’t like who you are now.”

“Hmph!” Meng Qinghe snorted coldly, turning her face away, leaving only an indignant profile for Chi Yingdong.

In that instant, Chi Yingdong seemed to see a kitten with its fur puffed up in anger.

Chi Yingdong suddenly let out a soft laugh.

“Do you remember? There was a time I opened a can of lamb for you?”

Her voice was calm, yet it pulled Meng Qinghe back into the memories.

Of course, Meng Qinghe remembered!

Even before she had transformed into a cat, she had disliked the gamy smell of lamb. Unexpectedly, even as a cat, her taste buds still rejected that flavor.

“Back then, you kept meowing in protest when you smelled the lamb. Later, I laid out all the flavors in front of you for you to choose, and you showed me in your own way what you liked.”

Meng Qinghe didn’t quite understand why Chi Yingdong was suddenly bringing this up.

Hadn’t she made it obvious enough? Couldn’t Chi Yingdong see?

She was upset!

Why was she still reminiscing about the past?

She looked at Chi Yingdong with dissatisfaction, her eyes questioning the purpose of these recollections.

Chi Yingdong sighed helplessly.

If she spoke plainly, Meng Qinghe would feel embarrassed.

If she hinted subtly, Meng Qinghe wouldn’t understand.

Truly just like a kitten.

“What I mean is, you can express anything you want to me.”

Chi Yingdong finally stated it bluntly.

Meng Qinghe froze for a moment before asking quietly, “Then, do you prefer me as a kitten or me as I am now?”

Chi Yingdong sighed.

Had she understood, but only half of it?

“Aren’t they both you?” Chi Yingdong ruffled Meng Qinghe’s hair. “It’s just that when you were a kitten, your emotions were more openly expressed, and you were bolder.”

Images flooded Chi Yingdong’s mind.

A kitten hiding behind the curtains, trying to make her worry.

A kitten accompanying her on shopping trips, sitting in the back seat with a look of utter resignation.

A kitten desperately wanting to eat instant noodles, growing frustrated when it couldn’t.

So many memories.

Back then, although Meng Qinghe was in the form of a cat, their interactions were genuine.

They had once been inseparable, and compared to now, Chi Yingdong couldn’t help but feel a sense of disparity.

They were both lonely people. Even if they seemed indifferent on the surface, deep down, they yearned for closeness and to be needed.

Chi Yingdong wrapped her arms around Meng Qinghe, their heads pressed together. “You can trust me a little more. You don’t need to be so cautious when talking to me.”

As these words sank in, a storm of emotions surged within Meng Qinghe, leaving her unable to calm down for a long time.

Her nose tingled with emotion, and tears threatened to spill from her eyes.

Meng Qinghe cautiously sought confirmation, “You won’t find me annoying, will you? Think of me as a burden?”

Her voice was so soft it was almost inaudible, as if she were afraid of the answer.

The sounds of her parents’ arguments during their divorce seemed to echo in her ears once again.

“I don’t want the child. We can divorce, but you take the child.”

“I told you to get an abortion back then, but you insisted on keeping it. Now you want to push the child onto me?”

“Do you think I wanted to give birth?…”

Even after all these years, whenever she recalled that scene, those sharp words could still pierce her heart like daggers.

She buried her face in Chi Yingdong’s neck, tears silently streaming down.

Chi Yingdong tightened his arms, holding Meng Qinghe closer, and said firmly, “Of course not! After all, where in the world is there such a beautiful burden?”