Chapter 32

Chapter 32

032

This is my home.

Frustrated by Chu Li's words, Li Hua Cat turned around and presented its rear to him, ignoring all attempts at coaxing.

With no other choice, Chu Li could only smile wryly as he descended the stairs, opened the fridge, and took out the precious treat he had prepared for it - chicken breast. He placed it on the stove to cook while making himself a bowl of instant noodles.

By the time the aroma of the chicken wafted through the air, Li Hua Cat finally descended from upstairs. Unlike usual, he didn't approach Chu Li to rub against his legs but instead stood on the balustrade of the staircase, leisurely grooming his paws.

The Li Hua Cat is naturally slender and lithe, even when plump, the extra weight is not readily apparent.

Among the myriad breeds of cats, Chu Li has a particular affection for the Li Hua Cat, drawn to its slender and refined appearance.

At this moment, the small Li Hua Cat, seated gracefully on the staircase railing, exuded an unusual serenity. The second floor was dimly lit, with moonlight cascading down from above, lending a touch of melancholic beauty to its figure.

Chu Li mused that if Little Li Hua Cat could anthropomorphize, he would surely be one of those pale, slender youths who might even tug on his shirt hem coquettishly!

How adorable! With such a lovely kitten, anything it does can be forgiven!

Chu Li quickly forgot about Li Hua Cat's previous coldness. After cooking the chicken breast, he tore it into strips to cool down and then arranged them neatly on Li Hua Cat's plate. Placing the dish at the other end of the dining table, Chu Li warmly invited Li Hua Cat over.

"Meow—" The offended kitten was only half-soothing as it lightly jumped down from the staircase railing, strolling elegantly towards Chu Li with its feline grace.

It hopped beside the plate and sat down but didn't eat right away. Instead, it looked at Chu Li with a dignified gaze and meowed again.

Chu Li sighed, stepping forward to pick up a strip of chicken and offer it to Li Hua Cat. "I'm sorry, I did this for your sake, and besides, I haven't petted any other cats outside..."

—Because there were no other cats in the school.

"I'm very conscientious as a cat owner!"

—Meow, meow, meow, what on earth is this 'cat owner's virtue'? Don't just randomly compete with others!

Li Hua Cat gazed earnestly at Chu Li, who was 'confessing'. Although it didn't sense much remorse from the two-legged creature, considering that he was its human, it decided to let it slide and forgive him.

After sitting upright for a while, Li Hua Cat finally lowered its head and took the chicken strip from Chu Li's hand.

After finishing the meat, it licked its lips and started to eat on its own.

Seeing that Li Hua Cat had finally spoken, Chu Li was reassured. He had successfully soothed the cat.

He went to wash his hands and join in the meal. Once both he and the cat were sated, Chu Li carried the tabby cat upstairs. First, he placed the little Li Hua Cat on the bed before attending to his own hygiene routine.

Upon returning, he found that he had been gone too long, and his pajamas had become damp.

After rummaging through his belongings, he could only find a loose-fitting white T-shirt.

With no other choice, Chu Li put on the T-shirt. It was a bit oversized, just enough to cover his behind. Thus, he decided against wearing pants and returned to the bedroom like this.

The little Li Hua Cat, who had been resting by the pillow, lifted its body and meowed at Chu Li as he came out.

Chu Li couldn't understand the sequence of meows. He slid under the covers, but when tucking himself in, he paused for a moment.

He felt that his skin tone seemed to have become much fairer. Although his body wasn't his original one, after his soul had transferred, it seemed that this new body had undergone changes alongside the different soul within it.

Lately, when he gazed into the mirror, he sensed a subtle familiarity in his features, a reminiscence of his past life, subtle yet comforting.

It seemed he was becoming increasingly adapted to this new existence, both in spirit and flesh.

At such moments, he couldn't help but feel a twinge of nostalgia. He had truly transcended his former life; there was no turning back now.

After a brief introspection, Chu Li laid down to sleep. As soon as his head touched the pillow, Li Hua Cat approached, wriggling its way precisely into his embrace. With its paws, it began kneading on his chest, purring contentedly in the process.

Chu Li felt a slight pain from the kneading and instinctively reached out to push the cat away, only for Li Hua Cat to shift position and resume its activity.

He had never encountered a feline so fervently devoted to nursing behavior.

Exhausted, Chu Li lacked the energy to protest. Once he confirmed that the cat had ceased its kneading, he closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.

Upon Chu Li's slumber, Li Hua Cat abruptly stopped nursing and flipped over, leaping to his back to commence its nightly ritual.

Licking the scent glands of the two-legged creature.

--

While Chu Li was away, he slept soundly each night, but upon waking up the next day, he always felt an overwhelming sense of exhaustion that grew heavier over time.

However, after just one night back at home, that heavy fatigue vanished entirely.

Chu Li attributed it to being homesick for his own bed.

Having been away for two weeks, he had fallen behind in his studies. Without taking a break, he went to the laboratory the following day.

In his absence, the experiments had progressed significantly. Upon arrival, he found his team members all present.

Zhan Jiaqing greeted Chu Li with a smile, "Oh, our esteemed doctor is back. How did you find the past two weeks?"

Chu Li replied, "It was manageable. With the medical scanner's assistance, treating ordinary injuries feels rather straightforward."

At least, it was much simpler than in his previous life.

Zhan Jiaqing, however, expressed dissatisfaction, "Who asked about that? I wanted to know how you found the Alpha males from the military academy."

Then, Zhan Jiaqing added, "Ah, I forgot. You already have someone you fancy. It's only natural that those Alphas wouldn't catch your eye."

Chu Li knew she was just teasing again, so he smiled helplessly and said, "If you like it so much, why don't you go see for yourself at the military academy?"

Zhan Jiaqing was taken aback at first, then chuckled. "Oh my, little brother, you've learned how to retort after just two weeks away!"

Wen Renjian approached, seeing them laughing. He playfully tapped his forehead and said with a smile, "Now that you're back, hurry up and record the experimental data. Jiaqing, have you finished checking your thesis?"

Zhan Jiaqing stuck out her tongue and went to flip through her papers.

Chu Li followed Wen Renjian. "Professor."

Wen Renjian glanced at him and smiled. "How was your time at the military academy for the past two weeks?"

Chu Li nodded. "I learned a few things."

Although the medical curriculum was simple, it could still be quite chaotic when actually applied, and the psychological state of patients was crucial as well.

Wen Renjian nodded with a smile. "Yes, some knowledge can't just stay on paper... This is still a school, after all. When you get to places without such comprehensive facilities, you'll encounter even more problems."

Chu Li asked curiously, "Places without comprehensive facilities... Does that mean the frontlines? Teacher, what's the frontline of the Empire really like?"

He had often heard people talk about the Expeditionary Force as if they were mere explorers. But after witnessing the military training exercises at the Military Academy, he suddenly realized that this "exploration" was on a whole different level than what he had imagined.

Wen Renjian chuckled and said, "About that... you'll understand when you experience it yourself someday. The environment in outer space is entirely different from that of Blue Stripe Star."

Intrigued by Wen Renjian's words, Chu Li became even more curious.

However, that was a matter for the distant future. For now, he needed to finish his courses and complete the experiments with his research group.

Rolling up his sleeves, Chu Li asked, "Professor, is there anything I can help with?"

Wen Renjian smiled and replied, "Come over and assist me in recording the experimental data."

---

After the Military Academy's military exercise concluded, the school celebration followed promptly. Chu Li spent three days frantically catching up on missed lessons, leaving him dizzy and disoriented. Before he could recover, he received news that preparations for the school ceremony were underway.

Now, all classes were postponed, and the medical faculty members were assigned to decorate the school. As Chu Li had just returned from the Military Academy and was an Omega, it was assumed that he wouldn't be capable of physical labor, so he was not called upon. He relished the respite, spending his days secluded in the laboratory, seemingly detached from the world.

Three days later, the school festival began.

Chu Li was completely disinterested and remained hidden in the laboratory.

When there were experiments, he assisted Wen Renjian. When there weren't, he studied in his small room, poring over materials.

In the middle of this, Xu Dongfeng and the others came to invite him to join them for the school celebration, but Chu Li declined their offer.

Lately, he had been feeling increasingly overwhelmed by the amount of knowledge he needed to acquire. There was no time to waste on trivial matters.

Exiting the laboratory that night, it was already past eleven o'clock.

Chu Li rarely stayed up so late. The concentrated effort of the experiment had drained him, and now, as he walked, he felt drowsy.

Zhan Jiaqing teased him, "I didn't expect you, being so young, to be such a health-conscious person. No wonder you never responded when we invited you out for midnight snacks before."

With his heavy eyelids struggling to stay open, Chu Li managed a weak smile.

Seeing how exhausted he was, Zhan Jiaqing, who had initially planned to take him out for a late-night snack, felt guilty. He accompanied Chu Li to the entrance of the Medical Department's campus and said, "Well, then, hurry back and get some rest. See you tomorrow."

"See you tomorrow." After bidding farewell to Zhan Jiaqing and the others, Chu Li started walking in the direction of his dormitory.

Perhaps due to exhaustion, his steps felt somewhat unsteady.

As he walked, rustling sounds suddenly came from the roadside. He paused and looked towards the bushes, where, as expected, Little Li Hua Cat was crouched. Upon seeing him turn, it meowed softly.

That gentle meow dissolved all of Chu Li's weariness from the day. He squatted down on the spot and held out his hand, saying, "Mew mew mew, come here."

"Mew." With delicate feline steps, Little Li Hua Cat approached Chu Li. As usual, it circled around him, its tail tip gently brushing against Chu Li's wrist before leaping into his embrace. It then rubbed the scent glands at the base of its ears against Chu Li's wrist.

The soft fur on its ears tickled Chu Li, making him smile as he withdrew his hand slightly. Yet, he couldn't resist stroking the cat's ears again.

"Let's go, home."

With the military training exercise and school celebration now over, things should be quieter for a while. He had been busy lately, leaving him with little time to spend with Little Li Hua Cat.

He could make up for it gradually in the coming days.

Lost in thought about future plans, Chu Li arrived at the entrance of his dormitory without realizing it.

At the entrance of the familiar three-story building, there stood a few individuals whose faces were not quite recognizable.

Among them, he had seen two before: Ya Lan from the Expeditionary Force and Feng Yichen. They were accompanied by a red-haired, carefree fellow.

Upon seeing Chu Li, the red-haired youth remarked, "Is it him? Finally back, I see."

Ya Lan's expression was a mix of emotions: "It's him."

"Tsk, tsk." The red-haired youth clicked his tongue twice, darting over to a nearby flower bed where he crouched down, saying, "I'm not good at this; it's all yours."

Ya Lan appeared even more helpless.

From their brief conversation, Chu Li sensed something amiss. He had always found it peculiar that Ya Lan previously sought him out to inquire about the cat. Now, he hugged the little Li Hua Cat tightly in his arms, on high alert as he asked, "What are you doing here?"

Ya Lan sighed and said, "Don't be nervous... We won't harm you."

Her words only served to heighten Chu Li's anxiety, causing him to take a step back.

For Ya Lan, it was far from ideal to be crouching outside an Omega's dormitory late at night, causing the person to retreat in fear.

Not being skilled in communication, she could only turn to Feng Yichen for help with a pleading look.

Feiyang Chen gently adjusted his golden-rimmed glasses and stepped forward, saying, "It's not very convenient to talk here at the entrance. Could we perhaps find a different location to speak?"

Chu Li regarded the group with a skeptical gaze.

They were the ones hired by the school to lead the military training drill, and they were also from the renowned Expeditionary Force. It was unlikely that they would do anything to him.

Most importantly, their demeanor was courteous at this moment. If they truly had any intentions, it would be difficult for an ordinary Omega like him to resist. There was no need for them to feign such kindness.

After some thought, Chu Li nodded and said, "Let's head inside."

Ya Lan sighed in relief.

Chu Li ushered them inside, where the red-haired youth took a seat on the sofa, but Ya Lan abstained, choosing instead to stand by and survey the modest cottage with a discerning eye.

The interior of the cottage was sparsely furnished but filled with items for feline use: cat bowls, cat beds, scratching posts... Even though Li Hua Cat had never utilized them, Chu Li had spared no effort in purchasing them all.

Ya Lan found the situation increasingly distressing. This Omega had clearly been living with Admiral Cat for some time. Would he be able to handle the sudden revelation of the truth?

Ya Lan couldn't help but cast a reproachful glance at the unsuspecting cat.

Unlike Chu Li, who was tense, Little Li Hua Cat leaped out of his arms after entering the house, landing gracefully on the coffee table, sitting up straight. At that moment, it was licking its paws leisurely.

No matter how many times she had witnessed her boss transform into a cat, Ya Lan found it hard to associate this soft and petite creature before her with the stern and unsmiling boss.

Her gaze turned increasingly intricate.

Chu Li went to the kitchen to boil water and, upon returning with the kettle, saw the lady named Ya Lan looking at the small Li Hua Cat on the coffee table with a complicated expression. Behind her stood Feng Yidun, his face devoid of any smile.

Even the freckled redhead, who usually seemed restless, sat with impeccable posture.

This inexplicably made Chu Li feel quite uneasy, as if the words to come would be of great gravity.

A foreboding sensation welled up within Chu Li.

Pouring a glass of water for each of them, he asked, "What brings you here? Not another request to see some cats, I hope?"

Initially, he had intended to lighten the overly tense atmosphere with a lighthearted joke.

To their surprise, the lady appeared even more anxious after that.

She straightened up abruptly, resembling an Alpha military officer undergoing tests during recent military drills: "How did you know?"

Chu Li: "..."

What was going on?

Ya Lan nervously rubbed her hands together: "Can I ask... when did this cat come to live with you?"

Chu Li frowned. "A long time ago."

Were they here to steal the cat?

Could it be that cats were a rare species in this world and not available for ordinary people? Even the vice commander of the Expeditionary Force had to snatch one from someone else's home?

Seeing Chu Li's expression darken, Ya Lan hastily clarified, "Oh no, no, no, I don't want this cat. Please don't misunderstand. I just... I just..."

Come on, this Omega before them had been marked by someone and was living with the general's feline companion.

What does this imply?

It suggested that the one who marked him could very well be Admiral himself! She dared not offend him.

To prevent any adverse misunderstandings, Ya Lan hastily tried to clarify her position, but the more she spoke, the more suspicious the look in the other person's eyes became.

With no other choice, Ya Lan mustered up her courage and said, "I just wanted to say...that is, could it be possible that the cat you're taking care of...isn't actually a cat?"

Chu Li: "?"

Ya Lan: "..."

"Oh, bother! I suppose I'll have to step in." At this point, the red-haired youth beside them couldn't hold back any longer and rose to speak: "My name is Hong Feng, and you might be aware that we belong to the Expeditionary Force. About half a year ago, our Admiral Jing Baiyuanting went missing. We suspect he has transformed into a cat and is now residing in your home. Would you kindly cooperate with us and help us retrieve our Admiral?"

Chu Li: "???"

Pardon me?

Has there been an issue with his hearing?

What were they saying? That their admiral was hiding in his house as a cat?

Chu Li couldn't help but say, "If I heard correctly, your admiral isn't human but a feline?"

Hong Feng: "…."

"No!" Hong Feng also became flustered; it was too complicated to explain this matter!

Twenty minutes later, Chu Li sat on the sofa, listening to Ya Lan and Hong Feng exchange words, finally grasping the situation.

It turned out that Jing Baiyuan was indeed a person, but he had a unique bloodline. Under severe injury or crisis, he would transform into a cat, losing both his memory and human intelligence, living like an ordinary feline.

Unless stimulated by external means, he would remain in cat form for life, unable to return to being human.

"Half a year ago, the Expeditionary Force encountered some issues, and the admiral sustained serious injuries, losing part of his memory. Before we could treat him with medical equipment, he injured the guards and fled. For half a year, we've tried every means to locate him, but there's been no trace. We speculated that he transformed into a cat due to his injuries outside..."

Ya Lan looked helpless. "The admiral's disappearance is still under wraps. If it weren't a last resort, we wouldn't have taken such a risk to reveal this secret to you."

Chu Li knew Ya Lan wasn't lying, but he found it hard to accept this "shocking truth."

The little Li Hua Cat he'd been raising... was actually the Alpha who had seized him in that dark alley and marked him back then?

How could that be possible!

All the terrifying memories from that night resurfaced. The rough palm, the rock-solid arm that wouldn't release him despite his cries for help... the endless night of loss of control, despair, and scorching heat.

And then there were the subsequent embarrassing incidents.

A jumbled mess of memories flooded Chu Li's mind, causing his thoughts to freeze.

Ya Lan, after all, was Jing Baiyuan's aide and quite perceptive. Seeing Chu Li's expression, he knew the Omega must have gone through something terrible and had no idea about the General's true identity. He really had been treating the cat as just a cat.

It was tragic, truly tragic.

Ya Lan felt like a despicable person for allowing an Omega to go through such a terrible ordeal.

But they had no choice. The entire Expeditionary Force was waiting for the General to return.

Hiding it for half a year was already their limit. With the General not appearing in public for long periods, many people had started to speculate about his whereabouts, with some even saying that the General was dead.

Including the imperial family, they have sent envoys to inquire numerous times.

Originally, the royal family was already displeased with the expeditionary force's autonomy. If the emperor were to interpret the general's refusal to appear as disobedience and deliberate humiliation to the royal family... Ya Lan couldn't even bear to imagine the consequences.

Moreover, the general was a human, not capable of living forever as a cat.

The combination of these practical dilemmas compelled her to voice her concerns.

"I'm sorry, I know you've been living with this cat for a long time and have formed a deep bond with it, but... there's no other choice, this really is our general," Ya Lan said with a troubled expression, repeating herself nonetheless.

It was only at this moment that the stunned Chu Li regained his composure. He turned back to glance at the small Li Hua Cat still sitting on the coffee table. The cat, unaware of the situation, meowed at him innocently.

This was actually a person.

All this time, the one he had been petting, cuddling with at night, kissing before leaving in the morning, and massaging all over during baths... was actually a human!

Even if the person currently had no recollection of being human... this was just too... too... too absurd.

"Uh, I'm sorry... about this matter... I..." Chu Li shot up from his seat, overwhelmed by a splitting headache. He rubbed his temples and said, "I'm sorry, it's too surreal, I need some time to process it."

Ya Lan also stood up and said, "We'll be staying at the comprehensive school for three more days. After that, we'll come to find you again."

With those words, Ya Lan left.

For a long time after they had departed, Chu Li remained in a daze.

He stood by the door for a while before he mechanically shut it and numbly made his way inside.

As he approached the coffee table in the living room, Little Li Hua Cat leaped down and circled around his legs.

In the past, Chu Li would have undoubtedly bent down to give the cat a hug. However, after what Ya Lan had just said, his feelings were complicated.

He could no longer view Little Li Hua Cat as an ordinary cat.

For the first time, he didn't bend down to pick up the kitten but instead walked upstairs alone, returning to his room. He closed the bedroom door, leaving Little Li Hua Cat outside.

"Miaow—"

A faint meow came from beyond the door, as if Little Li Hua Cat was questioning him.

Why would you keep it outside?

Chu Li: "..."

This feeling was truly unpleasant.

He slightly closed his eyes, forcing himself to harden his heart and head to the bathroom for a wash.

Even when he laid down in bed, his mind was still preoccupied with this matter.

Ya Lan was Jing Baiyuan's assistant. There was no need for her to go through such trouble to fabricate a lie just to deceive him. Nine times out of ten, this was the truth... Jing Baiyuan.

So his name was Jing Baiyuan.

What an unusual name.

His cat was actually a person.

His cat was actually a person... What should he do? Should he send him back?

Yet... he couldn't just not send him back, right?

Ya Lan had mentioned that Jing Baiyuan's cat form lacked self-awareness. It would be too despicable to take advantage of the fact that Jing Baiyuan didn't remember who he was and forcibly keep him by his side as a mere cat.

Besides, the expeditionary force was almost going crazy searching for Jing Baiyuan. They wouldn't allow him to refrain from sending Jing Baiyuan back.

Three days were all he had left to spend with Little Li Hua Cat.

It was so painful.

Why did his cat have to be a human?

As Chu Li pondered over the meaning of life, the bedroom door creaked open from the outside, echoing loudly in the silent night.

Chu Li's body instantly tensed up. He had a hallucination that Jing Baiyuan had pushed open his bedroom door and entered from outside.

After a while, the bedclothes on his side sank slightly—Jing Baiyuan had sat down beside him.

What kind of gaze would he use to look at him?

Buried beneath the covers, Chu Li lifted the blanket to discover a Li Hua Cat sitting by his side, its emerald-green eyes shimmering softly in the moonlight.

It meowed and nuzzled its head against Chu Li's cheek.

Nothing had changed; it was still the same as before.

Chu Li's nose tingled, and he immediately pulled the cat into his embrace, burying his face in the soft fur on its back. He choked out, "Little Li Hua, you're going home now."

So this place wasn't your home after all.

Meow—

—But this is my home, Two-Legged Beast. Are you planning to chase me away again?

—Hmph, little kitty has grown used to it. No matter where you go, I'll find you.

Despite the surreal situation, holding Little Li Hua brought a familiar sense of comfort to Chu Li. Overwhelmed by exhaustion from his recent exertions, he eventually fell asleep.

Author's Note:

Sob sob, little Li Hua Cat, you're such a deceitful little rascal qwq, you have no heart!

Jing Baiyuan Yuanting has taken his father's surname 'Jing' and his mother's surname 'Bai,' with the given name 'Yuanting.'

Following a trend (?), actually, it's because the author, being hopeless at naming, wanted to be unconventional (not really). Anyway, don't misunderstand him as a... well-off Japanese person just because he has four characters in his name. The author does not condone such misconceptions, hence this clarification.