The cat skillfully lifted the lid of the washing machine, tossed the clothes he had carried into it, and easily hopped onto the top of the machine. He selected the appropriate wash program based on the fabric type, adjusted the water level and temperature.
Then, he fetched the laundry detergent from the shelf, tilted it with precision, pouring just the right amount into the detergent compartment. Finally, he used his paw to press the start button.
The washing machine slowly began to spin, producing a steady mechanical hum. The cat sat crouched in front of it, lying on the floor, quietly staring at the machine. He listened to its roar as though he were appreciating a beautiful symphony.
“President Shang, it’s time for the meeting.”
Shang Xuci was silent for two seconds, then closed his laptop and stood up. “Let’s go.”
Seeing that the wash cycle still had a long way to go, Jian Xun decided to head to the supermarket to buy groceries first, then hang the clothes to dry afterward.
When he walked into the living room, the section of floor that had been wet earlier was now dry and gleaming clean.
Jian Xun couldn’t help but give himself a mental thumbs-up.
He went back to the cardboard box to get some money, slung a basket over his arm, transformed into his larger form, and set off!
The first time he had gone out like this, Jian Xun was a little worried. Nowadays, dogs buying groceries wasn’t news anymore, but cats doing it—especially one like him who walked upright—could easily scare a random child in the real world.
Fortunately, hypnosis worked wonders, and nobody thought much of a cat out shopping for groceries.
Today, he wasn’t buying fish—only vegetables and potatoes.
Still, Jian Xun deliberately took a detour to check on the fish he had seen last time.
They were the same type of fish, though whether it was the exact same one, he couldn’t tell.
A lot could happen in just one day.
The big white cat stared at the fish with longing, watching them for quite a while before swallowing hard and leaving.
At the same pavilion as before, Jian Xun put his basket down on the ground and ran over to the pond to catch a fish.
This time it took longer than before. He squatted by the bushes for a long time, but luckily, he managed to catch one.
Heh heh.
The cat strutted back to the pavilion with the fish in his mouth, but the moment he stepped inside, he discovered something utterly shocking—
His grocery basket was gone!
For a split second, Jian Xun’s mind went completely blank, and the fish in his mouth dropped to the ground.
The black fish flopped on the ground, struggling violently.
The cat looked around in search of his groceries.
He circled the pavilion, but there was no sign of his basket anywhere—and within his field of vision, there wasn’t a single person!
Ahhhhhhhhhh—!
Jian Xun clutched his cat ears in utter despair.
In an instant, the cat’s heart shattered into pieces. He plopped down on the ground, wailing to the heavens—
Damn it! Who stole the little kitty’s groceries?!
Those vegetables cost him twenty-four whole yuan!
2:30 p.m.
In a corner of the residential complex, the mournful cries of a cat echoed—drawn-out and sorrowful.
It was exactly the kind of meowing you’d hear from a cat abandoned by its owner and left unfed for days, starting sharp and piercing before dragging into a pitiful, lingering whimper…
If this had been at night, it would have been straight out of a horror movie.
Jian Xun cried in the pavilion for half an hour, then sat there sulking for another half hour before finally standing up to head home.
Looked like tonight, he could only make egg dishes for the boss.
The cat patted his butt, shook the dust off his fur, and trudged home empty-handed and dejected.
Just before reaching home, he suddenly remembered the fish.
Jian Xun dashed back, grabbed the half-dead fish in his mouth, and sprinted home.
This was the only fresh ingredient for dinner now.
Back home, he put the fish into a water basin. The lion cat collapsed onto the floor like a withered leaf drained of all life.
My groceries…!
His grievance had no one to hear it.
After lying there in defeat for a few seconds, Jian Xun wiped his paws with wet tissues. Once they were clean, he went to the balcony.
The washing machine had already stopped. He lifted the lid, and a wave of fresh laundry fragrance wafted out.
The little white cat perked up again—time to hang the clothes!
Throughout the process, Jian Xun’s movements were smooth and confident, like a seasoned laundry worker. His ears twitched with each action, and finally, he hung everything up, a little crooked but done nonetheless.
When he finished, his two short arms were sore and tingly. He flopped onto the floor with his belly up, lying in a starfish position right where the sunlight reached.
4:00 p.m.
Jian Xun returned to the kitchen to start cooking.
From observing the boss last time, he had noticed that the man didn’t seem to like overly oily or salty food. So, he planned to make porridge, steamed eggs, and a steamed fish.
After watching a video tutorial, he tied on an apron, grabbed a spatula, and got to work!
6:00 p.m.
Shang Xuci arrived home right on time.
As always, the dining table was already set: steamed fish, steamed egg custard, and vegetable soup.
Sui Sui was perched on the high stool, meowing at him as usual, his tail swishing back and forth.
“Meow—”
Shang Xuci was certain he hadn’t asked the chef to cook, which meant there was only one possibility—
“You made this?”
Though the idea was absurd and ridiculous, Shang Xuci still asked the cat directly.
Jian Xun lifted his little head, his voice soft and milky: “Meow-wo~”
That’s right.
Without hesitation, Shang Xuci pulled up the surveillance footage. From the clattering in the kitchen to plating the dishes, everything had been done by a large, snow-white cat.
Though the size didn’t match, Shang Xuci recognized that the cat was indeed Sui Sui.
Out of the corner of his eye, he glanced toward the balcony. The clothesline was filled with laundry—clearly the very clothes the cat had washed earlier that afternoon.
For the first time, Shang Xuci was at a loss.
His cat was… unusual.
Washing clothes could still be brushed off somehow, but cooking…
Had his cat become a spirit?
After a long moment, Shang Xuci’s gaze grew complicated. His tightly pressed lips parted slightly: “Can you talk?”
Jian Xun, who understood him, froze. Meow??
What was that supposed to mean? He could understand human speech, sure, but he really was just a little cat who couldn’t speak human language!
Jian Xun wanted to reason with him, but as he stepped forward, his paw slipped, and he tumbled onto his back.
Shang Xuci didn’t even have time to catch him. He watched as the cat, who had landed on his butt, immediately hopped back up with a “I’m fine, I’m fine” kind of expression. The corner of his lips twitched upward despite himself.
Jian Xun was both embarrassed and angry.
I cooked for you, and you’re laughing?!
The next moment, the cat was scooped into those beautifully defined arms. Shang Xuci turned him this way and that, as if trying to find what set him apart from an ordinary cat.
The cat was noticeably heavier than before. Thinking of yesterday’s dinner, Shang Xuci asked again, “Was the meal the chef prepared for me yesterday eaten by you?”
The little white cat tilted his head, acting cute: “Meow?”
What are you talking about? A cat can’t understand you.
Jian Xun seized the opportunity to nuzzle up to the man, rubbing against his legs, his hands, and even his chest.
Shang Xuci didn’t hold him for long. He steadily set the cat down on the floor, his gaze shifting to the dishes on the table—steaming white porridge with two neatly placed chopsticks resting on top, and an empty plate beside it holding a silver spoon.
Everything looked ordinary, yet the small details revealed a touch of deliberate care.
Across the table, the cat’s paws were resting on the edge, his fluffy head peeking up halfway, ears flattened slightly, and his round eyes quietly watching him.
Shang Xuci picked up the spoon and, under the cat’s expectant gaze, calmly took a sip of the porridge.
It had a gentle sweetness from the rice, soft and glutinous, with no other ingredients added. Knowing it had been made by the cat somehow made it taste far better than usual. As it slid down his throat into his stomach, a warm feeling spread inside him.
It was… a strange and wonderful experience.
Jian Xun kept his eyes fixed on the man’s expression. When he saw him take the first bite of porridge, his paws tensed together in nervous anticipation.
After the second bite was swallowed, Jian Xun immediately hopped down from his little stool, ran to Shang Xuci’s side, and eagerly reached a paw toward the plate of steamed egg custard.
“Meow!”
Don’t just eat the porridge—try my steamed egg!
Shang Xuci scooped up a spoonful and took a light taste. The custard melted in his mouth, silky smooth, and the unexpectedly pleasant flavor made his brows lift. He told the cat, “It’s very good.”
Jian Xun instantly started meowing excitedly in place, so thrilled that it looked like he might start speaking human words at any moment. His joy was plain to see.
For a chef, this was the highest praise. The little white cat immediately ran to the other side of the table, stretched up his paw again, and accurately tapped the plate of fish.
“Meow!”—an insistent mewl.
This is my specialty dish!
Hurry, taste it!
Shang Xuci picked up a piece of fish and tasted it slowly. Even without talking about the flavor, the sight of the little cat standing upright to push a dish toward him was already worth praise.
Jian Xun, flattered to the point of floating, couldn’t help but lean closer to him, wanting to be near, wanting to be petted.
“Where did you get the money to make all this?” Shang Xuci asked. He knew very well there had been no groceries in the fridge, and he hadn’t given the cat any money.
Jian Xun didn’t bring out the red envelope. If he didn’t want to answer, he simply played dumb.
And how could a little cat possibly understand anyway?
All the way through dinner, the boss didn’t show the slightest shock at the cat’s household skills. His acceptance level was surprisingly high.
After they finished eating, Shang Xuci didn’t rush to clear the table. Instead, he watched the cat’s every move with interest.
Jian Xun carried the bowls and chopsticks to the kitchen himself, then loaded them into the dishwasher.
With one paw pressing down on the start button, he carefully checked to make sure the machine was running correctly.
Once everything was cleaned up, he left the kitchen and trotted over to his own food bowl to eat.
From the sofa, Shang Xuci’s gaze never left him. Watching Sui Sui bustling around, as busy as a little bee, the corners of his mouth lifted slightly.
After finishing his kibble, the cat began grooming himself.
His ears stayed tuned to Shang Xuci’s movements—once the man went back to his room, he could sneak off and get some cat treats for a snack.
He licked every spot he could reach twice over, but Shang Xuci still hadn’t moved. Glancing hopefully toward the sofa, he saw the boss looking at his phone.
Shang Xuci was on a popular social media platform, searching for stories about cats that could do housework.
He typed out a brief description:
[Living alone, coming home from work to find dinner already set on the table, your cat sitting beside it waiting for you—then discovering your cat can also do laundry, mop the floor, wash dishes, and even…]
His fingers paused. His gaze drifted downward to see the cat seriously kneading his lap like a massage.
[…even give massages.]
[Jealous. Is the OP just showing off?]
[I can’t even imagine. If my cat could do even one chore, I’d be over the moon.]
[Hey OP, are you for real?]
[My cat says there’s no way in the world such a capable cat exists.]
[All my cat does is eat and sleep. If I try to pet her, I get scratched. Ugh, how can there be such a huge gap between cats?]
[Damn it, I have three cats, and each one eats more than the last. Not a single one does any chores… What breed is your cat, OP?]
[Got any pictures? I want to see!]
…
The newly posted thread didn’t get many replies. After reading through it, Shang Xuci simply chalked it up to his own cat being a bit special.
Over the next few days, the cat continued to cook for him as usual, and Shang Xuci had completely accepted the fact that his cat could make meals.
A week later, Shang Xuci began the process of moving.
Completely unaware of what was going on, Jian Xun saw the scene and was instantly on edge. He darted into his cardboard box, peeking out at the strangers entering the house—
A group of burly men wearing blue uniforms and black baseball caps.
They walked through every corner of the home, carrying away many items—including the cat’s toys.
Although Jian Xun wanted to rush out and stop them, it was a case of too many humans and too few cats. He chickened out, curling up tightly and staying still, his sapphire-blue eyes peering through the holes in the box.
He overheard the boss talking to the men in the bedroom, and then—his cardboard box was lifted up by someone. Jian Xun froze on the spot.
What was more important—his life, or his possessions?
He chose life, bolting straight toward Shang Xuci.
A minute later, in a different location, Jian Xun obediently stayed inside the cat carrier, keeping a wary eye on everything.
He had no idea what was happening. It had all come so suddenly—he’d just woken up from a nap, and his head was still foggy.
Damn it!
There was no way a cat could win against them!
Fortunately, Shang Xuci drove him to a new house. There, the men returned his beloved cardboard box, his food bowl, and his toys.
Only then did Jian Xun realize—they had moved.
But his favorite sofa, his favorite washing machine to step on, the dishwasher he had just learned to use, and the boss’s soft, comfy bed—were all gone!!
The territories he had patrolled and marked so diligently every day… had disappeared from his world, just like that.
The thought alone made him sad.
Jian Xun buried his head in frustration, sulking, while the boss seemed in a good mood, strolling leisurely around the room.
The cat stayed on guard, carefully observing his new surroundings. This two-story detached villa was larger than the previous apartment, with yards in both the front and back, filled with flowers and plants, giving it a lively, homely atmosphere.
The new home carried a faint, complex mix of scents, and for the time being, he didn’t dare run around freely.
…
Two days later.
Jian Xun had fully familiarized himself with his surroundings. The cat had spent two whole nights—sacrificing his bedtime cuddles with the boss—to finally mark every corner of the big house.
Safe!
From now on, this was Sui Sui’s territory!
In the daytime, the little white cat strutted proudly through the house on patrol. After finishing his rounds of the two floors, his gaze shifted toward the yard.
Not bad at all—really not bad!
This place was so much better than the old apartment—he couldn’t even compare the two!
So, going to work every day does pay off!
Had his boss finally gone from “struggling” to “middle class”?
He made up his mind—he would take good care of his boss and be his most beloved little kitty!
No—his precious darling meow~
Jian Xun deftly pushed the door open, stretched lazily, and for the first time took a proper look at the yard. Suddenly, his ears twitched, his eyes locked dead ahead, and his expression turned wary.
“Aw-woo~”
From the edge of the bushes came a faint rustling—and a suspicious cry.