This chapter is brought to you by Lilyj, thanks for the ko-fi! (ﾉ´ヮ`)ﾉ*: ･
President 8
The plush balls happened to be displayed on the shelf in front of them. He Wang picked a white one and stuffed it into Tang Xi’s arms.
Tang Xi instinctively hugged the fluffy ball tightly before he even realized what was happening. His attention was immediately diverted, and the fur that had been slightly puffed up instantly smoothed down.
He Wang curled his lips into a faint smile, recalling what the veterinarian had told him.
—“Cats are very sensitive creatures, and you have to be careful when interacting with them…“
In his mind, he added another label to Tang Xi—easy to coax.
Tang Xi clutched the plush ball and refused to let go. It looked exactly like the one he had back home on Earth.
Instinctively, he rubbed his face against the ball, trying to transfer his scent onto it, marking it as his own.
Seeing how much Tang Xi liked it, He Wang nodded toward a nearby store clerk.
“Hello, sir! How can I assist you?” The clerk approached quickly, maintaining a professional smile.
“Wrap up one of each of these toys and have them delivered to this address,” He Wang said, handing over a business card with an address on it.
“Understood, sir!” The clerk’s voice instantly lifted a few octaves, thrilled at receiving such a large order out of nowhere.
Tang Xi was completely stunned. He stretched out a paw and tugged at He Wang. “Meow meow meow!” I don’t need that many!
He had just sneaked a peek at the price tag on the white plush ball—it was shockingly expensive. For a moment, he felt like he wasn’t holding a simple toy but a luxury decoration disguised as a pet plaything.
Tang Xi suddenly felt guilty for thinking it looked just like the ones back home, which only cost two yuan each.
Hearing the little kitten meowing in his arms, He Wang clearly misunderstood. He casually pointed at a few more shelves.
“Wrap those up too and send them over.”
Tang Xi was utterly dazed. For a brief moment, he felt like he was being pampered by a wealthy benefactor.
Before he could stop it, the store clerk had already started packing everything at lightning speed.
Someone even handed He Wang a VIP card.
After that, He Wang carried him around and bought all sorts of cat beds and climbing frames. Tang Xi went from initial shock to complete numbness.
So this is the simple and unpretentious joy of the rich.
Cat collapsing in defeat.jpg
The store staff kindly brought over some freshly made cat treats, all crafted into adorable shapes.
Tang Xi, still clutching his plush ball, instantly lit up. His eyes sparkled as he eagerly waved his tiny paws, trying to hook the treats toward him.
He Wang’s expression softened slightly. He took the treats but didn’t hand them over right away. Instead, he held them in his palm and fed Tang Xi one by one.
“Is it good?”
“Meow.” Delicious.
With both paws still busy hugging his plush ball, Tang Xi naturally accepted He Wang’s hand-feeding.
Meanwhile, 1551 silently watched its host getting gradually worn down by the villain’s sugar-coated tactics and let out a deep sigh.
What a foolish cat.
. . . . .
The next day, He Wang left for work at the same time as usual. However, this time, Tang Xi was much less enthusiastic—he simply meowed a few times at the door, casually wishing him a safe trip.
He Wang gave him a deep look, his gaze darkening slightly.
Sensing that the villain’s mood was off, Tang Xi immediately got up and made a show of rubbing against his pant leg.
Humans are so hard to please.
After rubbing against him, Tang Xi flopped back down, staring up with wide eyes as if to ask, Why are you still here?
He Wang crouched down and patted the little kitten. “Stay in your room today and don’t run around.”
“Meow.” Tang Xi put on an innocent I’m just a little kitty, I don’t understand expression.
He Wang eventually left, but before going, he specifically instructed the butler to take the cat back to his room.
Tang Xi was more than happy to oblige. The moment he was back in his room, he shifted into human form and completely ignored He Wang’s words—heading straight to school.
Since he was in a hurry, he walked out from a corner of campus with his head down, focused only on moving forward.
Just as he was about to enter the academic building, a familiar and irritating voice called out to him.
“It’s you again. I forgot to ask last time—what class are you in?”
Tang Xi didn’t want to acknowledge him. He clenched his fists in his mind, reminding himself that everything was for the mission, before finally stopping in his tracks.
“Class is about to start. Why are you heading toward the school gate?”
If Shen Chensi kept skipping class, it would be hard for him to interact with Ye Qian. Begrudgingly, Tang Xi asked, albeit reluctantly.
Shen Chensi grinned: “Hey, little classmate, wasn’t I the one asking you a question just now?”
Tang Xi blinked: “If I answer your question, will you go to class like a good student?”
Shen Chensi’s smile widened, his gaze on Tang Xi filled with amusement, as if he had just found something particularly entertaining. He deliberately teased, “Why are you so eager for me to go to class? Don’t tell me you have a crush on me?”
He considered himself a straight guy—he only said that because Tang Xi was too fun to mess with.
But instead of the shy reaction he expected, Tang Xi simply gave him a look as if he were staring at a narcissist, completely ignoring the ridiculous question. Instead, he answered the previous one, “I’m in the same class as Ye Qian.” He threw in Ye Qian’s name on purpose, a small trick of his.
The change in Shen Chensi’s expression was instantly noticeable. His face darkened as he scowled. “You close with him?”
Tang Xi was startled by his sudden hostility and instinctively replied, “Not bad.”
“Hah, that guy’s just a fake and a hypocrite.” Shen Chensi sneered, openly badmouthing Ye Qian right in front of him.
Tang Xi looked at him in disbelief, frantically poking at his system in his mind.
[1551, are you sure these two are actually a couple?]
1551 replied calmly, [Don’t be so dramatic. Shen Chensi is just immature at this stage. He’s one of the school’s most popular guys, always being compared to Ye Qian, so of course, he holds a grudge. Just get them to spend more time together, and soon enough, he won’t be able to help falling for him.]
Maybe Tang Xi’s reaction amused Shen Chensi, because the next moment, he reached out and ruffled Tang Xi’s soft little curls, his hand lingering as if enjoying the texture. “Your name’s Tang Xi, right? Do you even know who I am?”
Of course, he already knew. He had looked up Tang Xi’s name, class, and even the fact that he was a transfer student. He was only asking to tease him—like playing with a small animal.
Tang Xi deliberately put on a fierce expression. “Nope. And I don’t want to know.”
To Shen Chensi, Tang Xi’s attempt at looking fierce was no different from a little milk kitten fluffing up in anger—utterly harmless and only making him want to tease him more.
Blocking his way, Shen Chensi casually stretched out an arm to stop him. “I’m Shen Chensi.”
“Oh.” Tang Xi responded dryly.
“Say my name.”
Tang Xi: ??? Is this guy okay in the head?
“Shen, Chen, Si.” Seeing that the other person had no intention of moving aside, Tang Xi reluctantly gritted his teeth and said it.
He sounded as if he was chewing the name up and swallowing it whole.
Shen Chensi let out a small chuckle and finally stepped aside. “Go on, little classmate. You’re about to be late.” He deliberately dragged out the last sentence.
The effect was immediate—Tang Xi jumped in fright and hurriedly sprinted toward the building. Unfortunately, it was too late. The school bell rang from the speakers, slow and inescapable.
Marking the second day in a row that he was late.
Tang Xi cursed Shen Chensi in his heart while stealthily sneaking toward the back door of the classroom.
Luckily, though the room was already full of students, the teacher had yet to arrive.
He tiptoed to his seat and let out a huge sigh of relief, as if he had just completed some high-level espionage mission.
Ye Qian, his deskmate, had watched the entire performance unfold with amusement. With a hint of a smile, he asked, “Overslept?”
Tang Xi’s head still had a tuft of messy hair sticking up—courtesy of Shen Chensi’s earlier ruffling. He looked soft and rumpled, like a little dumpling freshly dug out of bed.
“I would’ve made it on time if Shen Chensi hadn’t stopped me,” Tang Xi complained to Ye Qian, unable to hold back his frustration.
Can’t you control your CP? Stop letting him bully innocent classmates.
As he thought this, his cheeks puffed up in irritation.
Ye Qian’s originally amused expression instantly disappeared. “He bullied you?”
He had always ignored Shen Chensi, treating him as nonexistent. He knew Shen Chensi didn’t like him and had never bothered entertaining his childish provocations.
But if he was picking on his new deskmate…
Ye Qian’s face darkened at the thought.
Tang Xi didn’t even need his instincts—just looking at Ye Qian’s expression, he could tell his deskmate was not in a good mood.
Wanting to salvage Shen Chensi’s image in Ye Qian’s mind, he reluctantly defended him. “He didn’t bully me. He just thought I looked unfamiliar and wanted to get to know me.”
Realizing he had lost his composure in front of Tang Xi, Ye Qian took a deep breath and calmed himself. “What did he say to you?”
“He just asked for my name and told me his.”
Well, technically, he forced me to say his name. Tang Xi added in his heart.
Ye Qian frowned and casually pulled something out of his bag.
Tang Xi didn’t pay attention to what he was doing, too busy venting to his system. [Why do both of them keep badmouthing each other to me? What kind of CP is this?!]
His unreliable system, 1551, replied with full confidence, [That’s called chemistry. Haven’t you heard of ‘enemies to lovers’? It’s a classic.]
[…That actually makes some sense.]
Tang Xi’s conversation with his system was suddenly interrupted—because Ye Qian had unexpectedly taken out a small, delicate package from his bag and handed it to him.
“What’s this?” Curious, Tang Xi poked at the neatly wrapped white box.
Ye Qian answered casually, “I passed by a bakery on the way here and picked up breakfast for you. You probably didn’t eat since you woke up so late, right?” Though he spoke lightly, the tips of his ears quietly turned red.
Who could refuse such kindness? Tang Xi was moved. “Classmate Ye, you’re such a good person!”
“I don’t know if you’ll like it, so hurry and try it. You won’t have time once the teacher arrives.” Ye Qian had thought Tang Xi might have a sweet tooth the moment he saw him, which was why he had specifically chosen cake.
“Mm!”
Even though he had already had breakfast at home with He Wang, Tang Xi happily unwrapped the package.
Inside was a small triangular slice of cream cake.
Tang Xi didn’t actually like cake. Back when he was still a cat, he had once tried a tiny bite—barely any flavor, nothing special. Meat or dried fish was way better.
But this wasn’t just a piece of cake. It was a token of friendship between classmates. So, he carefully scooped up a small bite and put it in his mouth.
The moment it touched his tongue, the sweetness exploded across his taste buds. The soft, airy cream melted as the rich flavor spread.
Tang Xi completely froze.
Ye Qian hesitated. “What’s wrong? You don’t like it?”
“It’s too delicious!” Tang Xi snapped out of it, staring at him with wide, sparkling eyes.
Ye Qian’s face turned slightly red under Tang Xi’s gaze. He lightly coughed into his fist and said, “As long as you like it.”
Tang Xi took another big spoonful, his eyes narrowing in pure bliss.
[Wuwuwu, 1551, I just realized there’s something in this world tastier than meat and dried fish! Why didn’t I like sweets back when I was a cat?]
[Silly cat, that’s because cats can’t taste sweetness. That’s why cake feels different to you in human form compared to when you were a cat.] 1551 wished it could shake its head in exasperation but quickly remembered—it had no head.
Tang Xi wasn’t paying attention anymore, fully engrossed in savoring his little cream cake.
The cake wasn’t big. When he finished it, he sat there, holding his fork in his mouth, silently reliving the taste. He didn’t forget to thank Ye Qian, though.
“Thank you, Classmate Ye! I’ve never had such a delicious cake before.” He spoke with great sincerity—if only he had noticed the bit of cream stuck to the corner of his mouth.
Ye Qian’s heart softened at the sight of his deskmate clutching an empty cake box like a pitiful little thing. “Did you not eat cake often before?”
“Mhm, this is only my second time.” Tang Xi held up two fingers in a ‘V’ sign.
Looking at his bright, sweet smile, Ye Qian suddenly felt a dull ache in his chest.
“I’ll bring you more next time.” The words slipped out before he even had time to think.
Tang Xi beamed, his eyes curving into crescents. “No need, Classmate Ye! That’d be too much trouble for you. I’m already super happy I got to eat such a delicious cake today.”
So well-behaved it made people’s hearts ache.
“You can call me Qian.” Ye Qian awkwardly shifted the topic, avoiding Tang Xi’s bright smile.
Being addressed as “Classmate Ye” felt too distant.
Tang Xi tilted his head slightly. “Qian.”
“Mm.”
Just then, the class monitor, who had come over to collect homework, happened to overhear the last part of their conversation. Remembering a post she had seen on the school forum yesterday, she couldn’t help but break into a knowing smile.
That thread about the school heartthrob and the new transfer student had already become the hottest topic of the month.
This morning, someone even checked in under the post, eagerly awaiting more “sweet moments.”
It was now officially more popular than the post about the principal’s wig being blown away by the wind.
Author’s note:
When President He finds out that the kitten sneaked away, do you think the kitten will get a spanking?
Protagonist gong is kinda annoying 😭
Lmao the last sentence 🤣