A Aloof Beauty Becomes a Tiny Kitten / Transmigrated as the Disabled Tycoon’s Tiny Kitten - Chapter 14

Lin Xingmo hung up the phone, his eyes lowered in thought.

Xu Yi’s mother’s surname was Du…

He was certain that his former self didn’t know this information. He barely even remembered what Xu Yi looked like, let alone his mother. He had obtained this information within the “dream.”

Lin Xingmo tilted his head, feeling a sense of bewilderment at the conclusion he was reaching. So, it really wasn’t a dream, but… he had returned to Xu Yi’s childhood and become his cat?

It sounded utterly absurd and defied all logic, but the vivid experience of being a cat told him it couldn’t have been a mere dream.

Lin Xingmo fell into deep thought, while Assistant Xiao, sitting across from him, was visibly pleased. It was the first time he had seen Mr. Lin with such an appetite; seeing him eat seriously, Xiao didn’t disturb him and instead went to tidy the art studio.

Mr. Lin’s efficiency was high. In one day, he had completed a commercial commission and two free creations, all with high levels of completion. Xiao hung the commission up to dry and looked at the other two. One had a strange perspective, as if looking up at the sky from inside a cardboard box.

Yet, he had to admit Mr. Lin’s foundation was excellent. Even such a seemingly meaningless painting was lifelike, as if captured by a camera. Looking at the light and shadow, the azure sky, and the dark branches, it felt unexpectedly peaceful, warm, and tinged with a sense of childhood wonder.

As for the last one…

Assistant Xiao picked up the painting to examine it. It was that little boy again. He glanced at the painting already on the wall and then at the one in his hand; it was clearly the same person. This time, the boy was squatting on the ground holding a porcelain bowl, with an old-fashioned coffee table and gray, dim walls behind him. In contrast, the slight smile on his face and his bright eyes felt increasingly warm.

Xiao clearly sensed that Mr. Lin’s style was undergoing a slight change. Although it was still hyper-realistic, there was more warmth than usual. He was no longer a real but cold recorder; there was a bit more of the artist’s subjective feeling mixed in.

Of course, Xiao knew he lacked artistic talent, so this might just be his imagination. Regardless, every time he watched Mr. Lin paint, it felt like magic, leaving him in awe.

When Xiao emerged, Lin Xingmo had finished eating and was curled up on the sofa, clutching a cushion and staring at his phone. Xiao tidied up the dishes and prepared to leave.

Lin Xingmo, meanwhile, was curled into a ball, his phone placed far away on the coffee table. He stared at the device, looking strangely “depressed.” Assistant Xiao froze; he had never seen Mr. Lin like this. Though his expression remained calm, his body language screamed helplessness.

“Mr. Lin?” he asked cautiously.

Lin Xingmo glanced at him, his thin lips pursed. “It’s nothing.”

Xiao scratched his head. “Then I’m heading out? Is there anything else?”

“No, you can go.”

After Xiao left, Lin Xingmo reached out and picked up the phone again. The screen lit up with an article titled: “Precautions for Raising Cats.” The text in the center of the screen read:

Cats reach sexual maturity after 6 months of age and should be neutered.

The article was detailed, even including a video of the procedure. Seeing the cat anesthetized with its tongue hanging out, Lin Xingmo tossed the phone away again and hugged his cushion tightly.

But… it said they only do it at six months. And… Lin Xingmo checked the cost of neutering a male cat. At least 300 yuan.

He suddenly relaxed. His tensed back slumped. Excellent. Even if he could go back, this wouldn’t happen anytime soon.

That night, Lin Xingmo fell asleep on the sofa as it began to snow outside. He felt a rare urgency to fall asleep quickly. His wish was granted.

When he opened his eyes again, he felt warm all over. The air he exhaled circled around him, and he was covered by something soft and furry. It was dark. Then, he felt a heat source beside him—soft, carrying a familiar fresh, clean scent.

Lin Xingmo realized what was happening. He crawled away from the heat source, and soon his furry head poked out from under the quilt. The air hitting his face was chilly and damp. Moonlight filtered through the window; with his feline night vision, he recognized Xiao Yi’s room.

He looked at the sleeping figure. The familiar scent belonged to the young Xu Yi. The kitten tilted its head in confusion. This “dream” hadn’t picked up where it left off. Not only was it nighttime, but he had been brought into the bed to sleep with the child—something he definitely wouldn’t have done himself.

Just then, his ears twitched toward the door. There was movement in the living room. Lin Xingmo jumped down from the bed—landing in the cardboard box on the old clothes. He shook his head to clear the dizziness, hopped out, and squeezed through the door.

The living room lights flickered on. Du Hanrong walked in with tired steps, tossed her bag on a chair, and collapsed onto the sofa. Her eyes were closed, exuding an aura of utter exhaustion. She had just returned from overtime.

The clock read 10:40 PM. Lin Xingmo wondered how many days had passed. He walked into the living room.

Du Hanrong felt something and opened her eyes. She saw a glowing white kitten sitting on the opposite chair, watching her with round eyes. She froze. The clean, fluffy kitten was so beautiful it didn’t look like it belonged in this world. She realized for the first time that “beautiful” could be used to describe a cat.

Lin Xingmo tilted his head. She seemed very surprised. He sat still as Mother Du stood up, bent down cautiously, and gently stroked his head. He saw the dim, weary light in her eyes begin to brighten.

“You’re so beautiful…” she murmured. “Did Xiao Yi give you a bath?”

Suddenly, she looked at her own disheveled state and let out a soft cry. She rushed to collect her laundry and hurried into the bathroom.

Watching her retreat, Lin Xingmo realized not much time had passed. He relaxed and looked at his clean fur. A sense of pleasure spread through him. Unable to resist, he stuck out his tongue and licked his paw, then used the damp paw to rub his face.

It was an action that should have made him feel awkward, but once he started, he couldn’t stop. It was the happiness that radiates from within when a feline instinct is satisfied.

Du Hanrong emerged from a hot bath feeling refreshed. Seeing the kitten licking its paws on the chair, her heart was touched. Perhaps, as her son said, having a “little elf” waiting for her at home truly was a source of happiness.

Lin Xingmo stopped grooming as she went to the kitchen, returning shortly with a bowl of egg noodles. To his surprise, she gave him the egg yolk, her eyes full of smiles. After her snack and laundry, she picked the kitten up. The soft, fluffy ball felt wonderful in her arms.

She carried it to her son’s door and set it down reluctantly. As the kitten looked back at her, she whispered, “How about you come sleep in my room?”

The only response was the sight of the white kitten’s back as it padded into the bedroom.

“Uh…” Du Hanrong stood up with a sigh of regret, closed her son’s door, and went to bed.

The next morning, Xu Yi woke up at 7:30 AM. He checked under the quilt and, not finding the cat, looked down at the box. Seeing the white fluff, he breathed a sigh of relief.

“Do you really dislike sleeping with me that much? You ran down in the middle of the night again.” The boy poked the kitten’s head with a finger and went to wash up.

Lin Xingmo yawned, hopped out of the box, and wandered out. The rice cooker was warming goat milk and buns. The thick, rich scent of fresh milk filled the air. He finally got to drink a bowl of it. For some reason, it tasted better than anything Assistant Xiao bought him.

At noon, Xu Yi returned from school a bit late. He had just finished cooking when he heard his mother return. He carried the dishes out, only to hear Du Hanrong say: “Little cutie, come give Mommy a hug.”

Though it felt a bit cringeworthy, Xu Yi figured he could cooperate for the sake of his hardworking mother. He set the plate down and turned to greet her, only to see…

His mother walked right past him, scooped up the kitten from the stool, and nuzzled it with her cheek.

Xu Yi: “???”

Lin Xingmo: “…”