Chapter Five

After confirming the treatment plan, the butler finally breathed a sigh of relief. He looked at the little cat, Tama, sitting obediently on the sofa, smiled, and gently patted her little head. Then he placed a plate of cat food mixed with freeze-dried treats in front of her.

“Are you hungry? Eat first.”

He then turned on the TV and found an animated show to play.

Tama’s affection for the butler soared instantly, and she raised her little face to him, meowing affectionately.

The butler stroked her fur a few more times before contacting the home design and renovation team.

The young master wanted a separate room specially arranged for the cat. After searching for cat house design examples, the butler felt that starting renovations at night wasn’t suitable and that preparations would likely begin the next day.

That night, after watching cartoons outside all evening, Sai Tianxian, urged relentlessly by the system, sluggishly dragged the little cat’s tail and entered Li Jingxing’s bedroom.

The bedroom door was half-open, as if left ajar for someone.

Tama pawed at the door crack a few times and squeezed inside.

The recessed floor lights glowed softly as she passed by, casting a gentle warm light. The little cat silently made her way to the bedside and leapt up onto the bed with a push from her hind legs.

Li Jingxing seemed to be asleep, though the phone in his hand still glowed faintly. Curious, Tama glanced at the screen—it was a female friend’s social media feed, sharing photos of cakes she and her friends had made. Among them stood a handsome young man close by; everyone appeared very happy.

Li Jingxing looked haggard, even in his sleep with his brow slightly furrowed.

System 0521 clicked its tongue: “So pitiful, feels like he’s about to break.”

System 0521: “He must have been looking all night.”

System 0521: “Maybe even zooming in on the pictures for details.”

System 0521 chuckled: “If you like the post for him now, you’ll see him go crazy tomorrow morning.”

The male lead always played it cool and indifferent in front of his white moonlight, never liking posts, only spying.

Sai Tianxian: “Really? Let me try.” She lifted a little paw, eager.

System 0521: “Stop right there! We’re here to win over and heal the male lead, not to stab him in the back!”

Sai Tianxian: “It’s fine, if he notices, he can just say he slipped while sleeping.”

Without hesitation, the little cat pressed her paw onto the like button.

Half a minute passed with no reaction.

“Li Jingxing’s white moonlight isn’t responding. In the storyline, they’re supposed to have lingering ties, right?” Tama wondered. Amid the system’s frantic protests, she unliked the post, then about a minute later liked it again.

“Maybe the distance is too far, causing a delay,” she rationalized the white moonlight’s behavior.

System 0521: “…” For an illiterate cat, she sure knows a lot.

Still no reaction. “The story says after liking, she’d start chatting with Li Jingxing. This isn’t working either.” She unliked again.

System: “Ah, stop—”

System: …

Fine, whatever.

So, over the next hour, the system watched the cat repeatedly like—unlike—like—unlike, even gently tapping the profile picture. The entire system was dumbfounded.

That night, friends who liked Zhou Mingxuan’s posts, including Zhou herself, were baffled.

Li Jingxing—is he sick?

Just as Tama was about to fall asleep, the phone dinged.

She opened her eyes and looked at the phone.

Zhou Mingxuan: “You okay??”

Zhou Mingxuan: “Smile emoji.”

Even across the screen, the chilling meaning of the white moonlight’s deadpan smile was palpable.

Tama twitched her ears.

It really worked!

Unfortunately, the sleep-deprived domineering CEO did not wake.

After a moment of thought, Tama suddenly leapt and headbutted his chest.

“Get up already!”

---

In his sleep, Li Jingxing suddenly felt a tremendous force strike his chest. He opened his eyes in an instant, thinking he’d been attacked.

Clutching his chest, he felt his heartbeat irregular.

Turning his head, he saw a snow-white little cat sleeping soundly by his pillow, so warm to the touch.

Li Jingxing: ?

Was this a nightmare hallucination?

Before he could figure it out, his phone dinged again. He picked it up but barely noticed the new message. Fixating on the screen, he saw who sent it—his heart seemed to stop.

She messaged him.

On the very day she earned her doctorate, such an important day, she messaged him.

Why? Didn’t she say they’d never contact each other again?

Li Jingxing sat up, staring at the two brief messages. His fingers typed a line, then deleted it. His thin lips tightened; his fingertips felt cold.

He warmed his hands on the cat instead.

Pretending to sleep, the cat: “…”

You #%$@!#%!!

Li Jingxing’s mind was consumed by the phone. Thinking of the rumors outside, he defended himself in his heart.

She reached out to him first; he never intended to ruin her relationship.

Though he didn’t believe she and that so-called boyfriend would last long.

Also, was that really her boyfriend?

So the CEO reopened the social feed, zooming in on the repeatedly viewed photo to scrutinize the details.

Li Jingxing: Body language doesn’t lie—they have no interaction; they’re not a couple.

Sigh of relief.jpg

Then he reopened the chat window and pondered again.

Sai Tianxian peeked one eye open to watch. After a long while, Li Jingxing sent a question mark.

Li Jingxing: “?”

Li Jingxing: “Just saw your posts; haven’t had a chance to congratulate you yet.”

Good—cold but graceful.

But just after the second message was sent, a small line appeared below:

[The recipient has enabled friend verification. You are not friends with this person. Please send a friend request and wait for approval before chatting.]

The red exclamation mark burned bright in the darkness.

Silence.

Capital silence.

The air seemed frozen solid.

System 0521: “So tragic, I can’t bear to watch.”

Tama didn’t understand but heard the system say something about a cruel knockout. She tilted her fluffy head.

What knockout? Can humans attack through screens now?

No wonder cats haven’t taken over the world yet—human technology truly is the primary productive force.

Tama pondered deeply.

Just as she planned to ask the system, a large hand scooped her up, burying her face in soft fur.

Sai Tianxian: ?!!

“You said knockout just now? Throw it in his face! I’m gonna kill him!” The cat struggled wildly, pushing his head with her paws and even swatting several times. The sound of paws hitting his head echoed.

Meanwhile, the system couldn’t care about the forcibly abducted host cat. It was happily unlocking new achievements:

[Successfully prevented the male lead from contacting his white moonlight √]

[Sabotaged the male lead’s relationship with his white moonlight once √]

This mission was completed way too fast.

The system felt slightly giddy.

---

Li Jingxing held the little cat’s head and, ignoring her protests, took a selfie with her.

Then he quickly posted to his social feed:

“Official announcement.”

Below was the picture.

The handsome man and the fluffy little white cat pressed their heads together. The cat wore a look of resistance, one paw pressed against his shoulder, as if trying hard to push away.

System: !!!

The system gasped sharply.

This happiness came way too suddenly.

Only the second day after entering the house, and the male lead already publicly announced their relationship. She asked, who else in the entire company could be faster at winning hearts? Who!!

Who said cats aren’t good? This cat is amazing!

System 0521 wished she could parade the cat around headquarters.

While the man typed, Tama finally broke free, furious, and kicked his arm with her hind leg.

Li Jingxing gritted his teeth in pain. Pulling the cat away, he saw scratches bleeding through his pajamas on his arm.

He gasped in pain but sneered coldly: “Hmph, such a little wildcat.”

“You’re boasting now that I revealed your existence, huh?”

The wildcat retaliated with a flying kick.

Li Jingxing took the chance to stroke the cat’s head again. Comments praising the cat’s looks began pouring in beneath the post. Li Jingxing scrolled absentmindedly, then paused on the page, lost in thought.

No new friend requests.

Li Jingxing: …

Tama wasn’t petted further and looked up curiously.

“Meow?”

Li Jingxing felt a furry little head snuggle into his arms, closely examining him.

“Wow.”

You smell bitter.

The little cat approached, meowing in puzzlement.

He didn’t know how to dispel the overwhelming, crashing waves of discomfort inside. Li Jingxing thought having a cat somewhat resembling Zhou Mingxuan nearby might ease his longing. But it was still different.

“Go away. You’re not her. Never think you can replace her.” The CEO pushed the cat away coldly.

Sai Tianxian: “Meow waow!”

Is he sick?

Li Jingxing turned over. It was late, and he had work tomorrow. He couldn’t let these trivial romantic feelings interfere.

System 0521: “I'm sorry, but I cannot assist with that request.