Today was the first day of the live-streamed variety show. To help the guests settle in, the production crew let everyone do as they pleased after dinner instead of scheduling more activities.
Li Wan pretended to nap on the cat tree, but in fact she was watching the guests downstairs pass the time playing mahjong. Once she was sure no one was paying attention to her, she quietly sneaked upstairs.
She headed straight for the room where Qiu Tian was kept. The door wasn’t locked, but that wasn’t a problem for her. One light hop and it swung open.
Inside it was pitch-black. Luckily she was a kitten now. Her night vision was far better than when she was human.
Tiptoeing in, she finally spotted Qiu Tian in the farthest corner.
The dog lay with ears drooping, head down, seemingly asleep. Li Wan hesitated, unsure whether to approach.
She was afraid that if she suddenly went over, she’d startle the dog, maybe even make it angry enough to bite her.
And now there was no doting owner to protect her.
While she wavered, the dog in the corner suddenly opened its eyes and said quietly, “What are you here for?”
Li Wan froze.
After a long moment she blinked her heterochromatic eyes, only then realizing she had just heard the dog speak.
Huh?
She was a kitten, how could she understand dog language?
But she didn’t dwell on it for long. She cautiously stuck her little head forward. “I came to see you.”
Li Wan pressed her lips together. “I’m sorry. What happened this afternoon was my fault. I accidentally stepped on your bowl, that’s why you got angry.”
The dog’s amber eyes flicked toward her, gave a disdainful snort, and quickly looked away.
Sensing its mood wasn’t too bad, Li Wan edged a bit closer. “Are you feeling unwell? I—”
“Don’t fake kindness!! Woof woof!!” Qiu Tian suddenly cut her off. “Go away!! Are you trying to show off how good your owner is to you? Let me tell you, I won’t be jealous. Only useless creatures that can’t hunt for themselves rely on humans!!”
‘Useless creature’ Li Wan: “…”
She opened her mouth, not knowing what to say.
“I…” She chose her words carefully. “I’m not trying to show off, and I’m not pretending. I want to help you.”
Qiu Tian gave a mocking look and slowly stood. It was a large dog, and as it rose it loomed in the darkness like a small mountain. “What are you talking about, little cat?”
Li Wan instinctively backed up a step. The oppressive presence made the fur on her back stand on end.
But soon Qiu Tian’s face went blank again and it lay back down. “You’re so afraid of me, how could you possibly help me?”
It gave a low, bitter laugh. “See this collar around my neck?”
A vague idea surfaced in Li Wan’s mind. She whispered, “…I see it.”
With hatred in his voice he went on, “My so-called owner put this on me. It’s electrified.
“He has a little button in his hand. With just one press, I end up like I did this afternoon—”
—Unable to live, unable to die.
Li Wan’s eyes widened; a chill ran down her spine.
So it was true. Fu Shilin really did such a thing to the dog.
That doctor had lied too. Qiu Tian wasn’t reacting out of fear or stress. Fu Shilin had shocked him to stop him from doing something irreparable.
“What can you possibly do about it.” Qiu Tian shook its head, trying to break free of the collar, but no matter how it strained it stayed tight around its neck. “I’ve already tried everything.”
“This afternoon, I purposely let him shock me. With so many humans around, I hoped someone would see through his methods and…” help me.
A flicker of disappointment and loneliness flashed in Qiu Tian’s eyes. “But no one did. That doctor even lied for my so-called owner!
“Humans—they’re all in it together.”
Its teeth ground audibly in anger.
Unconsciously, a trace of sympathy appeared in Li Wan’s gaze. Qiu Tian noticed and deliberately turned its head away. “Don’t look at me like that. It’s disgusting.”
“…”
Li Wan pretended not to hear. She whispered, “Don’t worry, I’ve already thought of a plan. When the time comes, just cooperate with me.”
Then she explained her plan in detail.
Qiu Tian eyed her skeptically. “Why are you helping me?”
Li Wan tilted her head. “Mm… maybe because I don’t like your owner?”
A small animal’s mind is simple. It was silent for a long while; just as Li Wan was wondering how to convince it, she heard the dog’s low voice. “I understand. Go. Quickly.”
Li Wan blinked.
Qiu Tian’s brow furrowed tightly; it urged in a low voice, “Hurry, he’s coming!”
Li Wan realized it must mean Fu Shilin—or perhaps the doctor—coming to check on Qiu Tian. She nodded and leapt away lightly.
From a distance she saw that it was indeed Fu Shilin approaching. She flicked her tail to give Qiu Tian a signal and quickly bounded down the stairs.
She intended to slip back to the cat tree and pretend to wake from a nap, but as soon as she reached the bottom she met the cool, indifferent gaze of her own butler.
Li Wan halted mid-step, then sat down where she was, blinking innocently at the human. “Meow.”
—”What? Little kitty hasn’t done anything at all.”
Chi Yan’s peach-blossom eyes glimmered with an unreadable light, then he lazily turned his gaze away.
Li Wan, ever so tactful, brushed lightly against his pant leg, only to be scooped up by the scruff of her neck. “Meow?”
Against all odds, Chi Yan set her on his knee. His warm palm gently tapped her chin as he drawled lazily, “Don’t run off.”
“Meow meow meow,” Li Wan replied.
—”No way, that wouldn’t do. She still had plans, meow!”
She nestled in her human’s arms for a short nap. This spot was a perfect cat bed: a personal scratcher on call and a constant source of body-heat.
The little feline was thoroughly pleased; her fluffy tail swayed in tiny, contented arcs.
When she judged the time about right, she climbed out of her exclusive ‘cat bed,’ stretched with an arched back, and kneaded his pants a couple of times.
—Come on, follow the kitty!
But she hadn’t retracted her claws. With those two kneads she snagged the fabric and pulled a thread loose.
The odd tearing sound froze Li Wan in place. The next second she met the man’s deep, peach-blossom eyes.
“…” Well, this was awkward.
What kind of quality was that, so flimsy it couldn’t withstand a kitten’s kneading!
She blinked innocently at him, then slowly tucked her paws back beneath the long fur of her belly.
(,,>﹏<,,)
Chi Yan usually couldn’t be bothered to argue, but the rare sight of the cat looking guilty was too tempting; he couldn’t resist flicking her on the forehead.
Li Wan yowled in mock pain, bared her tiny teeth for show, and then quickly switched tactics: doglegging it by licking the back of his hand.
“Meow-oo.”
—”Come on! Don’t keep Qiu Tian waiting!“
She hopped to the floor. When her dim-witted two-legger butler still didn’t move, she wrinkled her little brow and pawed at Chi Yan’s knee. “Meow-oo!”
—Let’s go, let’s go!
【Oh, poor Wanwan!!】
【Hahahahahaha, the kitty’s so anxious she’s about to speak human!】
【Go with her, Brother Chi, what are you doing?!】
【Chi Yan: unmoved.jpg】
【These two are the funniest pair of guests, can’t stop laughing, guys】
【What’s Wanwan up to? Everyone else is down here】
Chi Yan finally reacted and stood up.
Seeing the little cat hurrying to lead him upstairs, a flicker of dark amusement passed through the smile in his peach-blossom eyes.
If he remembered right, Fu Shilin and his dog were up there too.
The cameraman hesitated, then asked, “Where is Wanwan going?”
Chi Yan’s expression stayed mild. “No idea.”
Since he was already heading upstairs, the cameraman naturally shouldered the camera and followed quickly.
【Let’s see what’s going on!】
【By the way, has anyone noticed that A’Lin hasn’t appeared on camera for a while?】
Li Wan stood in the hallway, ears pricked, listening. Once she was sure, she scampered to the room where Qiu Tian was shut in. “Meow meow!”
Then she leapt up and neatly pushed the door open.
【Guys, I have a bad feeling about this】
【Seriously, every time Wanwan opens a door I think she should come work at my office】
Chi Yan’s eyes darkened slightly. He deliberately stepped aside to give the camera a clear view.
Just as he expected—
the next instant the livestream caught a dog convulsing in electric shock, using the last of its strength to lunge forward!
“A beast is just a beast!!”
Immediately, Fu Shilin gave the dog a heavy kick in the belly. Qiu Tian collapsed to the floor, gasping, and Fu Shilin looked ready to kick again!
The cameraman jumped, blurting out, “Teacher Fu!! What’s wrong with Qiu Tian?!”
Fu Shilin froze, clearly not expecting anyone to appear. He turned, the lingering ferocity on his face caught squarely on camera.
Li Wan was so startled she let out a sharp “Meow!” and sprang straight into her human’s arms.
The air fell into sudden silence.
But the livestream chat, after a brief stunned pause, quickly exploded:
【……】
【……Holy crap】
【Who on earth is still a fan of Fu Shilin? I genuinely don’t get it!!】
【This is straight-up domestic-abuser energy!!】
【What are his fans even trying to defend? That kick would floor a grown man!!】
【I’m freaked out, won’t be able to sleep tonight】
【What ‘natural furry magnet’? He’s abusing the dog, people!】
【You’ve got no proof he’s abusing anything! That dog was clearly sick, an aggressive sick dog is dangerous!】
【Didn’t the production team say he was fine? How could this happen?】
【The production team owes us emotional-damage compensation for A’Lin!!】
【Proof? He literally did it on camera!!】
【@ProductionTeam Care to explain why someone like this is on a cute-pet variety show?】
rokumi’s note : honestly, I thought Fu Shilin’s fans might be hired.