Chapter 26

Chapter 26

026

Family is a cat.

Chu Li squatted down beside Little Li Hua Cat and stretched out his hand. "Darling, are you here to pick me up?"

"Miaow—" The cat meowed at him and tiptoed to his side, rubbing its head against his fingers. It then circled around him, swishing its tail against his body—ah, indeed, there were other people's scents on this two-legged creature again. It didn't pay any attention, and the little kitten had to clean up the scents every day, which was exhausting.

However, Chu Li saw the possessive gesture as nothing more than the cat's fluffy routine of seeking affection. He chuckled and picked the little kitten up from the ground.

He had a bad habit of holding cats with their paws facing upward while in his embrace. Most cats would struggle, but Little Li Hua Cat was quite "compliant." It enjoyed being held this way and lay in his arms without resistance, allowing him to scratch its chin and rub its belly.

Chu Li's gloominess was soothed. He stroked the soft fur of the little kitten and said softly, "Come on, let's go home."

It was already late by the time they got back. Chu Li quickly drank something to replenish his energy and took out some freeze-dried meat he had bought for Little Li Hua Cat from the cabinet.

The cat food he had purchased for Little Li Hua Cat wasn't to its liking, but it reluctantly accepted the freeze-dried meat. It was too late to get proper food from the cafeteria now, so snacks would have to do.

Fortunately, Li Hua Cat didn't mind. As Chu Li sipped his drink, the little cat crouched beside him, nibbling on freeze-dried meat.

After finishing, Chu Li tidied up while Li Hua Cat watched from the side.

At night, Chu Li, as usual, settled Li Hua Cat in its downstairs cat bed and went to rest on the second floor. Just as he lay down, he heard the bedroom door creak open, followed by the sound of it closing.

Li Hua Cat, having learned to operate the door by itself, quietly leaped onto the bed. It ran over to sniff at Chu Li, confirming that he was already asleep before stretching contentedly. Just as it was about to curl up in Chu Li's embrace, the "sleeping" person suddenly reached out a hand to pull it close.

Chu Li had actually dozed off slightly but was awakened by Li Hua Cat's whiskers tickling him as he dozed.

This disobedient little cat never slept downstairs at night. After he fell asleep, it would sneakily climb into his bed and even figured out how to operate the door by itself!

Realizing that Chu Li was awake, Li Hua Cat froze, as still as a fake cat. After Chu Li rubbed it affectionately for a moment, he reluctantly pulled it into his arms.

"Since you're here, let's sleep together. No more sneaking up from now on."

After a brief moment of confusion, Li Hua Cat quickly realized that this was a "green light" from the bipedal creature. The cat became ecstatic and nestled deeper into Chu Li's embrace.

Fantastic!

Sleep tight!

The affectionate little kitten had finally found its rightful place, snuggling with its two-legged companion into a deep slumber.

---

The next day.

Chu Li opened his eyes to find it already past eight in the morning. In a flurry, he got out of bed and rushed to the bathroom, only to suddenly recall that it was Liu Wei's turn to be on duty today, and he himself had no early classes. There was no need to rush out of bed.

The energy he had mustered for his morning routine drained away, and he drooped his head, flopping back onto his own bed.

Deep under the covers, Li Hua Cat was still sleeping. Hearing the noise, it lifted its head, drowsily meowing, "Mew?"

Chu Li, feeling disheartened, stroked its forehead and said, "I woke up confused, Li Hua Cat. It seems that the life of a healthy human isn't as desirable as I thought."

Non-stop activity is so tiring, he mused. Sometimes, one just wants to slack off.

Li Hua Cat licked his finger, almost as if it were telling him to rest a while longer.

Chu Li actually did fall asleep for a while longer.

It was almost nine when he finally climbed out of bed.

It was too late to go to the cafeteria for food, so Chu Li rummaged through the kitchen and settled for two packets of instant noodles as a makeshift meal.

Little Li Hua Cat had eaten plenty of meat jerky the previous day and wasn't hungry at the moment. It sat beside Chu Li, watching him eat.

After finishing his meal and cleaning up the table, Chu Li patted the little cat before heading out.

He first went to the laboratory to wrap up the unfinished work from the previous day and then wrote a report, printing it out to place on Wen Renjian's desk. By now, it was nearly noon, and the meager breakfast he'd had earlier had long been digested.

With classes scheduled for the afternoon, Chu Li went straight to his classroom.

Arriving early, the room was still empty.

Caught up with the lab work these past few days, it seemed like ages since he'd been in class this early.

Students trickled in one by one, each casting a curious glance in Chu Li's direction.

During this period, he had already grown accustomed to the attention at school and didn't pay any heed to those gazes.

It wasn't until his deskmate sat down and the curious Beta who had spoken to him before turned his head, whispering, "Chu Li, you're actually here so early today. Is it because of the military training?"

"Huh?" Chu Li lifted his head in surprise. "What military training?"

The term sounded vaguely familiar, as if he had heard it somewhere before.

The Beta was taken aback. "You don't know?"

Chu Li knew that they liked to post about everything on the forum. However, with Chu Heyang spreading rumors about him recently, while he didn't care about those rumors, he also had no interest in seeking out criticism. Thus, he hadn't checked the forum in a long time.

The Beta explained, "It's the annual military training for the Military Academy. The results will be included in the year-end assessment."

"Oh?" Chu Li was even more confused. "So, how does it concern us?"

"Of course, it concerns us! Their military training exercises are very strict, there might be injuries. Every year, students from the Medical Department are drafted to assist. It's a rare opportunity and a valuable addition to the resumes of medical students."

In fact, it wasn't just the Military Academy and the Medical Department; the military training exercises involved the entire university, including the Mecha Department, Starship Command Department, and more. Furthermore, following the military training would be the school's anniversary celebration, where even members of the Imperial Royal Family would attend.

Chu Li suddenly recalled Professor Wen's remark from a while ago about the possibility of accompanying military zone academy students on space missions.

He pursed his lips and inquired curiously, "If I participate in the military training exercises, will there be an opportunity to go to the frontlines in the future?"

"Of course," the Beta replied, but then paused, adding a hint of surprise to his gaze as he looked at Chu Li. "You want to go to the frontlines?"

Chu Li knew what the Beta's next words would be about his gender – he had heard it all before. Before the Beta could speak, he said, "No, I'm just a bit curious. Asking out of interest."

Just as he finished speaking, the teacher entered the classroom, leaving the Beta with a look of wanting to say more but ultimately remaining silent. He turned his attention back to the lesson.

However, Chu Li had underestimated the impact that the military training would have on the school. After the news broke, the entire campus became restless. Students were no longer focused during classes, passing around notes and personal terminals to spread the word. Even the teachers' stern faces betrayed hints of smiles. Different vehicles arrived and left the school gates, carrying objects covered in white cloth into the premises.

The flowers in the flowerbeds were meticulously watered, becoming even more vibrant and alluring.

The whole school exuded a sense of anticipation, signaling the arrival of a grand event.

Unfazed by all this, Chu Li remained immersed in his academic world. Recently, Wen Renjian had introduced him to more experimental content, including how to operate laboratory equipment. As a result, Chu Li had even more to learn, and despite his dedication, he still found it challenging.

The upside was that he spent less time in class. On the rare occasions he attended, the Beta sitting in front of him mentioned that Chu Heyang had come looking for him several times. However, due to Chu Li's busy schedule, their attempts always proved fruitless.

After being blocked multiple times, Chu Li no longer took these incidents to heart.

Watching the Beta in front of him wink and gesture subtly to be cautious around Chu Heyang, Chu Li smiled at him and said, "I have some matters to attend to in the lab, so I'll be leaving first."

He packed up his books and left the classroom. Not long after exiting the academic building, he heard someone calling out to him.

"Chu Li! Stop right there!"

The voice was very familiar. After some thought, Chu Li recalled that it belonged to his unfortunate younger brother.

He turned around and, as expected, saw Chu Heyang not far away, his gaze filled with indignation. "You sure know how to hide! I've been looking for you for days, but you deliberately avoided me!"

"I wasn't hiding from you," Chu Li replied coolly. "I'm busy. If you have something to say, do it quickly."

"Y-You…" Chu Heyang was naturally displeased, but after several interactions with Chu Li, he knew that his brother was different now and would no longer tolerate his childish tantrums.

Having spent an entire week trying to intercept him, Chu Heyang finally caught sight of his target. He wouldn't waste any more time with trivialities, so he said, "Come home this weekend."

The school did have weekends, but Chu Li was too busy and had voluntarily given up his days off.

Moreover, for him, weekends were no different from regular days since he still spent them at school.

Chu Li frowned and immediately refused without hesitation, "I'm not going."

This blunt answer was not at all unexpected for Chu Heyang, yet he clenched his palms tightly as he glared at Chu Li with gritted teeth.

Not wanting to argue with him, Chu Li turned around to leave. However, Chu Heyang called out to him, "You still have your belongings at my place. If you don't come back for them, I'll throw everything away!"

Chu Li: "..."

Back when he came to school, he only brought a small suitcase with him, so indeed, there were quite a few items left at the Chu residence.

They weren't his; they belonged to the original owner.

Chu Li furrowed his brows.

If they were truly his possessions, he might not have cared that much, but for the original owner... Chu Li paused in his steps and turned to look at Chu Heyang, "I'll go back."

Having finally achieved his goal, Chu Heyang wasn't pleased at all. He watched Chu Li's swift departure with clenched teeth—since that encounter with Chu Li at the cafeteria, Shu Chenghang had become increasingly cold towards him, and these past few days, he didn't even answer his calls.

He claimed to be busy with the military district's school preparing for military training, but Chu Heyang knew it was deliberate.

All because he had rekindled his feelings after seeing Chu Li again... Despite being rejected numerous times, this Chu Li put on such an aloof facade while secretly giving Shu Chenghang some sort of hint that made him cling on persistently.

Chu Heyang didn't believe for a second that Chu Li had done nothing. With Shu Chenghang's excellent family background and outstanding qualities, if he had been firmly rejected, there was no way he would have unilaterally pursued Chu Li relentlessly.

So, Chu Li must have done something.

Dad said to call him back and take the opportunity to give him a warning.

Initially, Chu Heyang was reluctant to summon Chu Li, but now, it seemed necessary.

---

Chu Li didn't take the matter to heart at all. He went about his days as usual for the following few days.

What slightly bothered him was that Liu Wei's department had to cooperate with the upcoming military training, leaving him too occupied to attend the lab. The workload of three people fell onto Chu Li and Zhan Jiaqing, overwhelming them.

Thus, four busy days passed before it was finally the weekend.

In the interstellar era, with efficient transportation, students usually returned home unless they lived on other planets. Usually, Chu Li would spend his weekends studying in the library or bonding with Little Li Hua Cat in his dormitory. This time, as he prepared to leave school, he felt a slight sense of unease.

He prepared five days' worth of cat food and placed it in a bowl on the first floor. He ensured there was ample water and added some freeze-dried treats beside it.

Worried that the cat might not eat, he cooked some chicken and fed the kitten until it was full before leaving. The remaining meat was stored in the fridge for when he returned.

After everything was set, Chu Li finally packed up and left.

Little Li Hua Cat watched from the back of the sofa. When Chu Li reached the door, it meowed at him.

Still concerned, Chu Li walked back to the cat. "Should I leave the window open for you? That way, if anything happens, you can go outside..."

But he worried that if he left, the cat might venture out alone and face danger.

However, he knew he was overthinking. Little Li Hua Cat had managed to survive on its own before. It possessed a certain level of independence and wouldn't lose that ability just because he had taken care of it for a while.

Chu Li couldn't help but sigh. In the end, he decided to keep the windows and doors shut, confining Little Li Hua Cat indoors. After checking every detail, he finally departed.

At the school gate, Chu Deyue and Chu Heyang had been waiting for a while. Seeing Chu Li emerge, Chu Heyang complained impatiently, "Why couldn't you have packed earlier? Must we always wait for you?"

Chu Li smiled at him. "Didn't you insist on me coming back? If you're so impatient, then don't wait."

Chu Heyang was taken aback. Why did Chu Li become so annoying all of a sudden? He couldn't stand losing at all!

The scene of Chu Li entangled with the cat earlier had left a deep impression on Chu Deyue, and he didn't want to have any more confrontations with Chu Li at the school gate. Seeing that Chu Heyang and Chu Li seemed to be on the verge of an argument, he quickly intervened. "It's getting late. The harbor will close for maintenance at noon today, so let's hurry and get in the car."

Only then did Chu Heyang reluctantly get into the vehicle.

The journey back took a few hours, leaving Chu Li with a sore back and neck. Leaning against the car window, he dozed off only to wake up again to the dazzling starry sky.

Beyond the harbor, the journey neared its end.

After another half an hour, they arrived.

It was still that familiar old neighborhood. Without even landing, Chu Li spotted the colorful neon lights lining the streets and the dark alley that had once led him astray.

He wondered where the Alpha who had marked him was now.

Having gone through so much, Chu Li had given up on the idea of having a proper conversation with the other party. The more he learned about this world, the clearer it became to him that there was likely nothing constructive to discuss given their circumstances.

The mark currently has no effect on him and even helps suppress the original owner's disordered pheromones.

When he needs that Alpha during his rut in the future, he'll likely go to the hospital to have it removed.

Thinking about it, that time is almost here – there's roughly two months left.

Today, when Chu Heyang returned home, Zhu Wei had come back early and prepared a full table of dishes. The moment he pushed the door open, the aroma of the food wafted out, and Chu Heyang happily embraced Zhu Wei. The family gathered together, warm and affectionate.

Chu Li knew that none of this belonged to him. He retreated to his own room with great awareness.

Closing the door, he wasted no time and began packing his belongings.

In the past, he had nowhere to put them, but now, with a spacious dormitory, he could move all these items over.

Moreover, Professor Wenren had just paid him his monthly salary a few days ago, so he was financially comfortable and saw no reason to continue entanglements with the Chu family.

The Chu family did indeed provide material support for the original owner and raise him, which was a kindness that, in theory, should be repaid.

But from the beginning to the end, they had treated the original owner as a tool for their own gain. In choosing to enter an unknown world through an anonymous app, one could argue that the original owner was, to some extent, committing suicide.

Driving an adopted child to suicide through verbal abuse.

Chu Li refused to acknowledge them as his "parents" and was not foolish enough to repay a couple who had driven "himself" to death. However, he also had no intention of retaliating against the Chu family. After all, he had indeed been adopted, and over the years, the Chu Deyue family had spent considerable funds on him.

There are those who, backed by their parental status, can act without scruples towards their "children," believing it's their right to exploit them after taking them in, all while their conscience remains untouched. But Chu Li was not one of them. He was an obstinate man, almost to the point of stiffness. He kept things separate; he acknowledged the Chu family's kindness, but he would also never forget the wicked deeds of this pair of men and women.

He would take the original owner away cleanly, without branding him as "ungrateful," and he wouldn't allow this pair of lovers to continue oppressing him.

In gratitude for the original owner saving his life, one could say.

Should the Chu family encounter adversity in the future, he would extend a helping hand once; apart from that, all other debts and favors would be settled.

He doubted he would ever return to this Chu family again.

Chu Li was efficient; before long, he had packed everything in the room.

In truth, this was also thanks to the original owner, who had thoroughly cleaned the room and organized all belongings before leaving, sparing Chu Li much effort.

After finishing up, he activated his personal terminal, hailed a car online, and prepared to transport both himself and his belongings back to school.

Indeed, he had agreed to return home with Chu Heyang but had no intention of spending the night. As for the Chu family's intentions, he couldn't care less.

As Chu Li packed his belongings, the family outside was hatching a quiet conspiracy. Shu Chenghang had been distant towards Chu Heyang lately, and Chu Heyang knew it was because he had taken Shu Chenghang to the cafeteria to find Chu Li, thereby humiliating him. However, he dared not confess to his parents that his attempt at reconciliation had backfired. Instead, he blamed everything on Chu Li.

Naturally, Zhu Wei was furious and demanded that Chu Heyang bring Chu Li back to "teach him a lesson."

Their tactics would likely involve harsh insults and cutting off his tuition fees.

But they were unaware that these methods no longer held any power over Chu Li.

While the family continued their discussion outside about how to manipulate Chu Li, he had already finished packing. The car he called arrived, accompanied by two movers.

After answering the call, he prepared to guide them out, only to be greeted by the sight of the entire Chu family sitting together on the sofa - a scene eerily reminiscent of the day after Chu Li was permanently imprinted.

He understood. It was another round of interrogation, another accusation.

Chu Deyue's anger flared, and he shot up from his seat, exclaiming, "Chu Li, where do you think you're going?!"

Chu Li had already reached the door when he thought of how this family's antics would soon be on display for the movers to witness. In the end, he still turned back to look at them and asked, "What is it?"

His tone was indifferent, only fanning the flames further.

Chu Deyue raged, "Come here, we have something to ask you."

Confused, Chu Li replied, "Why can't you ask me now? I'm not going over there, just tell me."

"Come here!" Chu Deyue insisted.

Chu Li's patience had worn thin. "Fine, if you don't want to talk about it, then forget it."

With that, he continued towards the door.

"You!"

Chu Deyue was truly on the verge of raising his blood pressure. He clutched his chest, his face turning pale. Forgetting about getting Chu Li to come over, he directly confronted him, "What did you say to Young Master Shu? Why won't he agree to marry Yang Yang?"

"Hmm?" This caught Chu Li off guard. He turned his head, raising an eyebrow, "Their engagement is off? Congratulations then."

"What do you mean?" Chu Heyang also stood up, his voice laced with anger. "Sure enough, you interfered! You promised to keep your distance from Little Shu, so why did you go back on your word? Chu Li, no matter how much you seduce Shuchengxing, you two can never get married! You've been permanently marked..."

"There are a few issues here," Chu Li interrupted Chu Heyang's tirade, his tone calm. "Firstly, I didn't seduce Shuchengxing. I kept my promise to you. The day he came over, I showed him my mark and told him that I already have someone in my heart. I asked him not to pursue me, and he agreed. So apart from that phone call on the school day, we haven't had any contact."

"Secondly, whether or not we marry has nothing to do with me being marked. I don't like this person, and regardless of whether you're involved, I won't be with him. Don't think too highly of yourself."

"Thirdly..." Chu Li's gaze turned mischievous as he sized up Chu Heyang before suddenly smiling. "I think it might not be a bad thing if Shuchengxing rejects you. There's no need for you to be so angry."

In all honesty, Chu Li genuinely believed it was for the best if these two didn't end up together.

However, Chu Heyang clearly perceived it as a deliberate provocation. He ignored everything else Chu Li said and only heard that he wished for their breakup. His face flushed red with anger, and tears welled up in the corners of his eyes.

Chu Heyang shouted at Chu Li, "We haven't wronged you! Raising you all these years isn't enough? Why are you deliberately retaliating against me? Little Shu's family will never accept you! No matter how hard you try, it won't make a difference... Mom, what should we do? How can he be so cruel? Why is he part of our family..."

As he spoke, Chu Heyang couldn't control his emotions and clung to Zhu Wei, feeling wronged.

Zhu Wei was deeply distressed and hurriedly consoled him. After calming him down, she looked up at Chu Li with a dark expression.

Chu Li could guess what she wanted to say and quickly raised his hands in surrender. "I'm sorry, I'll leave right away. Soon, we won't be a family anymore."

Hardly had those words left his lips when a knock on the door echoed. Promptly, Chu Li rushed to answer it.

Outside, a mover dressed in an orange-yellow uniform boomed at Chu Li, "Hello, are you Mr. Chu? We're here to assist with your relocation."

Chu Deyue: "..."

Zhu Wei: "..."

Author's Note:

Beyond this point in the story (there are a few more chapters left), the transformation begins (I've actually already written it).

But in this story's premise, once transformed into a human, there are no more cat-like traits. So, there's no need to worry about that.

Perhaps there might be other felines (the genuine, four-legged kind), precisely two of them, QWQ, mirroring the big and small pair of cats I have at home right now.