The previously drowsy audience erupted instantly!
“Get off the stage, even the cat can’t stand it!” a student attending the summit, unafraid of offending anyone, began to stir things up. “Get off, get off! Stop showing off if you’re just faking it without real skills!”
Ji Yanxing couldn’t help but laugh, shaking his head.
His gaze had been locked onto the little troublemaker ever since it walked onto the stage from the corner. He really had no idea what was going on in that fuzzy little head of its.
“Huh?”
Xiao Yu, who had been dozing off, snapped his eyes wide open like copper bells. “Holy crap! Ancestor, why are you up there!?”
“Where did you meet this little cat?” his older brother Xiao Qiong, sitting beside him, asked with a smile.
The little kitten at the center of attention tilted its head, thinking of its hairless cat colleague. Its beautiful round eyes sincerely scrutinized the other’s bald head. “Meow.”
So you’re a hairless human!
The flustered man bent down to pick up his wig. The cat’s eyes suddenly turned fierce—thump, thump, thump! Several punches landed, incredibly loud!
Even if you’re a hairless human, this cat will still punch you!
“Ouch!” The small-time boss was both pained and embarrassed, his face alternating between green and white. Holding his head, he began cursing all members of the Mi family, ancestors and all. “I fucking hate cats the most! It’s just an animal, yet it’s treated like a goddamn ancestor nowadays. I’ll kill you!”
He was furious, swinging his arms wildly, trying to hit the cat.
The little cat dodged left and right, trying to get higher. Its little black paws slipped right off the smooth bald head, ruthlessly leaving two rows of tiny scratches.
The man shrieked in agony, even angrier now. He was about to grab the kitten’s small, weak body.
“Meeoow!?” Little Mi Su tightly shut his eyes, his airplane ears flattened against his skull.
But the expected pain didn’t come. A dry, warm hand held his cat body like a sushi roll. The kitten fearfully opened its eyes, meeting Ji Yanxing’s dark, icy gaze head-on.
When the alpha looked at the little one, his eyes immediately softened considerably, though his expression remained stern.
The small-time boss, who had privately plotted to send someone into Ji Yanxing’s bed, instantly lost all courage when faced with the man himself. His hand was twisted into an unnatural angle, yet he forced a pained, ingratiating smile. “P-President Ji…”
“What are you doing?” Sweat poured down as he awkwardly tried to justify himself. “It’s not good to spoil the harmony over an animal! L-Let me handle it!”
Before he finished speaking, the man immediately screamed even more pitifully!
He even heard the sound of flesh and bone dislocating, nearly fainting on the spot. Ji Yanxing threw him aside, and several security personnel swarmed in immediately.
“Who’s the animal is clear to everyone at a glance.” The alpha ordered coldly, “Throw him out.”
“Right away, President Ji!”
Kitten: “Meow!”
No, can’t let the bad guy get away!
Its soft, dangling four little paws started paddling frantically like a dog. Ji Yanxing deliberately teased it, shaking it gently, staring at its jiggly, jelly-like little feet. “What’s all the fuss? You little rascal, you almost got hit, you know?”
Smaller than a piece of cake on the tea break table, yet full of guts.
The little fellow was extremely anxious, with so much to say. “No, don’t! He’s a bad guy! The hairless human wanted his underling to get into bed with you for sleeping, then announce it to the world to ruin you!”
In Ji Yanxing’s eyes: “Meowmeowmeowmeow!!”
Extremely noisy, and getting louder, like a spinning musical candle on a birthday cake that flowers when lit.
Once lit, it just doesn’t stop.
The alpha strode down from the stage with his long legs. On a whim, mischievously, he slipped his fingertip into the adorable kitten’s mouth, manually muting it.
Little mouth, close up.
The little furball was stunned for a second, then continued: “Woofwoof-woof!?”
In the lounge, Xiao Yu and Xiao Qiong also entered. The omega was very reserved in front of his idol, letting his brother greet first. Xiao Qiong said they would not only deal with the bald egg from earlier but also severely punish the person responsible for the lax screening of guests.
Ji Yanxing had long known about the little schemes of the guy earlier. He had held back without taking action, simply because he didn’t want to give the other any attention.
The little tiramisu-colored puffball looked from one person to the other.
He first greeted Xiao Yu, who he was more familiar with these past few days. “Meow~”
Hi, Little Fish!
Don’t forget to pay the cat its wages.
“You scared me to death!” Xiao Yu was still shaken by the earlier scene.
Another alpha emitting a faint orangey scent leaned over. His demeanor was similar to Xiao Yu’s, but his features were more rugged and he was taller. “Do you still remember me? I heard you’re a little one with your own mind, working at my brother’s place? First time seeing a kitten take the initiative to work at a cat café. So cute.”
The cat recognized Xiao Qiong—the boss who had treated him and his feline friends to omakase the other day.
Turns out he’s Little Fish’s brother.
Xiao Qiong reached out to pet it, but the aloof man subtly picked up the little puffball. “Working?”
“You’ve all seen this cat before?” Ji Yanxing’s gaze was calm, but his very presence carried the oppressive, intimidating aura of a high-level alpha.
The Xiao brothers recounted how they met the kitten.
Ji Yanxing’s expression grew increasingly peculiar.
It was the frustration of finding out the little pitiful creature you’d been thinking about daily was actually a time-management master and a true player.
“Hah.” The alpha let out an ambiguous chuckle, raising an eyebrow as he asked the cat, “So impressive?”
“…Meeow!”
Just so-so, you know.
Facing three humans met on different occasions, the little fellow seemed a bit flustered. Its paws stepped a few times in Ji Yanxing’s palm, then anxiously wrapped its tail around itself.
Cats love excitement, play big. They’ve had omakase, worked at a cat café, but there’s only one taboo.
And that’s not letting things come to the Sea Urchin Prince’s attention!
This terminally ill human can’t bear the weight of the cat’s secret!
The little cat glared somewhat angrily at the two brothers.
Xiao Yu was cupping his face, sending heart-eyed looks at his idol, silently forgiving the incident where his idol, with his beautiful, evil fiancée, bullied him last time.
Suddenly, Ji Yanxing glanced at him. “Does this cat take on freelance work?”
“Wait, no. You’re just the kitten’s cat café boss; you probably can’t manage his daily schedule. I want this cat.” The alpha declared forcefully.
The kitten in his hand trembled, like a little caramel pudding.
Meee-ow!?
This is forcibly snatching a civilian cat!
“But… but!” Xiao Yu’s brain short-circuited. “He’s my employee!”
His brother, whose brain seemed to be reflecting light, stammered incoherently. Xiao Qiong frowned and spoke up for him. “President Ji, that’s not quite right, is it?”
“This cat is so clever, with its own planned activities and schedule. It must have an owner but is just free-range. You’ll disrupt its life this way.”
The chubby, adorable, god-like little kitten was one of a kind. First come, first served.
Ji Yanxing didn’t care about all that, but the furball in his hand suddenly began squirming vigorously, its thin little voice nearly screeching. “Yow! Mee-yow!”
The resistance was too obvious. Xiao Qiong seized the moment. “See? The cat isn’t willing.”
“How about coming with me instead? I’ll drop you off at the cat café for work tomorrow. I can even make you fresh meals. Want some, baby?”
“Would I, Ji Yanxing, let my child go hungry? Don’t be ridiculous!”
Seeing the two men inexplicably start a rivalry, Xiao Yu couldn’t take it, stamping his foot as he shouted, “I’m the kitten’s boss! I take care of him the most! The kitten and I are world’s number one best!”
“Alright.” Ji Yanxing seized the opening. “The kitten stays with me for one day, delivered back to the cat café tomorrow night.”
The round little kitty lay in his hand, utterly disoriented, soft little paws raised to its chest in surrender.
Was the Sea Urchin Prince always this domineering from the start? Meow?
Xiao Yu suddenly panicked. “Ah, Ah-Xing!”
“If you say it’s okay, it’s okay.” Ji Yanxing nodded, taking the cat and leaving directly.
Settled in the back seat of the car, the alpha took off his suit jacket. Holding the tender, fluffy kitten in both hands—a soft, fragrant little bundle—he stared intently at the little fellow, making Mi Su’s fur stand on end.
Uh-oh!
He won’t be discovered, will he? The cat doesn’t want its cover blown!
Suddenly, the kitten’s body swayed, then was pressed entirely against the man’s chest, its cheek flesh squished flat.
“…Meep?”
Ji Yanxing held the cat, silent.
He thought of the delicate, pampered little thing who resembled the kitten.
He mused inwardly, ‘The baby is fine. Still very much like you.’
A searing warmth slowly seeped through the fabric of his shirt. The thick, firm chest muscles made for a comfortable pillow, and the kitten couldn’t help but narrow its eyes and start purring.
Suddenly, its two front paws began rhythmically kneading back and forth, claws involuntarily extending.
They gently hooked onto Ji Yanxing’s flesh. The alpha lifted the paw to look—the puffball was still in a trance, kneading the air.
The man thought for a moment, then held the cat’s paw, scratching it for him. “Are your paws itchy?”
The kitten jolted awake as if from a deep dream, letting out a heavy sigh.
…So foolish.
Foolish enough to be sick and not even tell the cat.
It struggled down, gave a soft “meeow,” and continued lying on his chest. The kitten decided to go home with the Sea Urchin Prince today, returning in its true grassland overlord form, on a time-limited basis for one day.
…
“He went back to his parents’ home again?” Ji Yanxing’s tone was low, sounding a bit fierce.
The little one, hopping around playing with the cat teaser, paused, guiltily slanting its large round eyes.
Mrs. Ji paid no mind, continuing to play with the cat. “What do you mean ‘again’? Can’t Su Su go home?”
“You’ll see him tomorrow at the family dinner,” Chairman Ji chimed in, putting on his glasses specifically to see the cat more clearly. “It was the same for your mother and me before we married. Couldn’t stand not seeing each other for even a day. Young people, be patient.”
“Miss him?” The alpha with the icy expression scoffed, turning to leave. “Hardly. I just think a marriage alliance should maintain some semblance of propriety.”
The door to the neighboring study closed, not too lightly, not too heavily.
Ji Yanxing and the cat both let out silent sighs simultaneously.
The alpha thought the incident last night had indeed frightened Mi Su badly.
The kitten, on the other hand, thought the crisis was averted. Luckily, he had found a chance to send his fourth brother, Mi Fan, a message to align their stories. Clever cat!
Amidst Mrs. Ji’s constant praises, the kitten jumped higher and higher, like an elegant yet plump gymnast, jingling the little bell on the cat teaser—ding-a-ling, ding-a-ling!
“Meow-roar~”
Ji Yanxing felt out of place with the lively commotion outside.
He sat in the leather armchair, glancing down at the unsent video in his message box. It was the little kitten hugging a catnip ball and kicking it wildly. If anyone else dared touch the catnip ball, the little fellow would flatten its ears and growl to scare them off.
That look of innocent mischief was strikingly similar to a certain someone.
The alpha clicked his tongue in annoyance, deleting the message anyway to avoid seeming like a creepy, pestering older man bothering an omega.
…Besides, they weren’t that close to begin with.
When bedtime came, Ji Yanxing declined his mother’s offer to take the cat to her room, choosing to bring it back to his own instead. He placed it steadily into the cat bed prepared for the little one on the sofa. “Sleep well.”
The room was quiet and dark. A cat head popped up with a rustle.
Two large eyes like round mirrors glowed green in the dark, blinking. The cat really wanted to go back to its own room to sleep. The cat bed the human had presumptuously made wasn’t comfortable at all.
The little fellow ran to the door, propping itself up and pushing for a while before realizing Ji Yanxing had actually locked the door tonight.
It was shut tight, as if afraid someone would steal the cat.
The cat was angry. It had initially intended to scratch the Sea Urchin Prince’s leg or bring some exciting, demolition-style surprises to his room.
But when the little chubby ball hopped onto the bed, staring at the man’s handsome, fine-featured sleeping face, the cat hesitated.
Why bully a sick person, meow?
Little Mi Su felt dejected, unsure when he could gather enough money to take him to the hospital. A wave of sadness washed over him.
Propped up on his shoulders with its paws, the cat magnanimously licked Ji Yanxing’s cheek.
The little pink tongue had tiny barbs, making a faint scratch-scratch sound when licking, like a versatile little brush. In the feline world, only the superior licks the fur of the subordinate.
Human.
Always making this kitty worry about you.
Truly a silly, helpless species that can’t survive without cats.