A Aloof Beauty Becomes a Tiny Kitten / Transmigrated as the Disabled Tycoon’s Tiny Kitten - Chapter 6

Lin Xingmo turned to open the door.

The moment he cracked it open, a sweet fragrance wafted in from outside. He looked down and indeed saw a boy of about ten standing there, cradling a porcelain bowl. The boy looked up at him with a grin. “Brother Lin, you’re back.”

Lin Xingmo nodded. “Xiao Feng.”

Spruce Villa was designed with two units per floor. This was his neighbor’s child, someone he encountered occasionally. The boy held out the bowl; inside were several plump, white tangyuan (sweet rice balls) floating in a milky, translucent soup, emitting a warm, sugary scent.

“Tomorrow is the Winter Solstice, so my family cooked tangyuan,” the boy said crisply. “My grandma rolled them herself. She told me to bring a bowl over to you.”

Lin Xingmo looked at the bowl. After a brief hesitation, he reached out and took it. “Thank you.”

“Hehe, I’m going back now! Happy Tangyuan Festival!”

The child waved and skipped back home. Through the open door opposite, the gentle, kind voice of an elderly woman could be heard briefly before the door clicked shut, sealing the silence once more.

Lin Xingmo stood at the doorway for a while until the bowl was no longer hot to the touch, then turned back into the room.

Click—

He turned on all the lights, flooding the room with brightness. The heater hummed to life, managing to drive out some of the desolate chill.

Lin Xingmo carefully placed the bowl on the dining table, unwound the scarf from his neck, took off his coat, and tossed them both onto the sofa. He pulled out a chair and began to eat the tangyuan slowly. Despite his usual dislike for sweets, he ended up eating every single one, leaving not even a drop of the sweet soup behind.

With a bowl of warm soup in his stomach, warmth spread from his core to his limbs. He went into the kitchen, washed the bowl thoroughly, and placed it in the sterilization cabinet, intending to return it the next day.

It was only after he had showered and curled up on the sofa that he had time to check his phone.

Senior Wu Liangyu: [Xingmo, are you home? I was very happy you could come today… Can I invite you out again when you’re free?]

He scrolled down further—

Brother: [Xiao Mo, tomorrow is the Winter Solstice. Are you coming home, or… staying with Xu Yi?]

He hadn’t told anyone yet that Xu Yi intended to divorce him, not even his brother.

The bright screen was somewhat piercing in the dark room. Lin Xingmo replied to both messages briefly, tossed the phone aside, and lay on his side on the sofa, hugging a cushion.

Faint moonlight shone in. Even without the lights, he could make out the shapes in the room. He gazed blankly at the coat and scarf on the opposite sofa. Specifically, the scarf. Seeing it half-slid onto the floor, he pursed his lips, eventually reached over to pick it up, folded it neatly, and tucked it into the inner side of the sofa before lying back down.

Slowly, he couldn’t hold out any longer and closed his eyes. His slender frame curled up; though the sofa was narrow and cramped for a man of his size, he fell asleep peacefully as if he were perfectly used to it.

However, Lin Xingmo did not sleep soundly that night.

Morning light fell upon his eyelids. He woke up from the cold.

His dull senses began to revive. Lin Xingmo smelled the earthy scent of soil mixed with the icy sting of dew.

“A-choo!”

He let out a tiny sneeze. With a sense of foreboding, Lin Xingmo opened his eyes and saw a world completely different from the one he had fallen asleep in.

He calmly propped himself up on all fours, causing the dried leaves covering his body to tumble off. He looked at his furry paws, then at the dark branches and yellowed leaves around him. Outside the bushes, the street was gradually becoming busy. Everything was so familiar.

His dream… had picked up exactly where it left off.

His heart thumped. An indescribable emotion spread through his chest. Lin Xingmo felt that this should be “joy.” Inside this tiny kitten’s body, he seemed able to perceive certain emotions—he wasn’t sure if they were his own or the kitten’s. Perhaps this was all just an absurd dream, but Lin Xingmo had to admit he was somewhat addicted to the experience.

Even if it was a dream, he couldn’t let this kitten die. He felt a powerful survival instinct—one that was far stronger than his own instinct in reality.

He looked around. This was the shrubbery where he had hidden that night. Perhaps because a kitten’s life force is tenacious, it hadn’t frozen or starved to death in such harsh conditions.

Grumble—

Just as he thought of hunger, his empty stomach issued a protest. Lin Xingmo crawled out of the bushes and cautiously poked his head out to observe the road. It was early morning, not yet the peak rush hour. There were many people heading to the market, but it was much better than the chaotic traffic of the night.

He looked at the flowerbed, which wasn’t low for a kitten, and for a moment couldn’t remember how he had jumped up and down before. Feeling the weakness in his limbs, he didn’t rush. Instead, he slowly turned around, poked out his hind legs, and struggled to find the ground.

Just as he finally touched the pavement and was about to let go of the edge with his front paws, a shadow loomed over him. Lin Xingmo froze and looked to the side.

The boy with the schoolbag had appeared beside him at some point. He was looking down, his dark eyes sparkling with delight in the morning sun.

Plop—

His front paws slipped, and the kitten fell onto the ground.

“Are you okay?”

Seeing this, Xu Yi hurriedly squatted down. He reached out toward the cat, but stopped halfway. He hadn’t forgotten how much this kitten had resisted him yesterday. Although he loved cats, he never seemed to be popular with them.

As he hesitated, the kitten scrambled back to its feet. It gave him a wary look with its round eyes but didn’t run away immediately. This discovery made Xu Yi’s spirits soar.

“Do you remember me?”

His hand remained in mid-air; he wanted to pet it but didn’t dare. Finally, he withdrew his hand and pulled his breakfast from his bag. Amidst a rustling sound, a clear plastic bag was opened, revealing two warm white buns. A fragrance immediately wafted through the air.

Grumble—

Smelling the scent, Lin Xingmo realized for the first time that a plain white bun could be so mouth-watering. However, he wasn’t a real cat. Even though he stared fixedly at the food, he didn’t move or meow for treats.

Xu Yi didn’t find this strange. As long as the cat didn’t run away at the sight of him, he was thrilled. He tore open the bun, pulled out the meat filling, and placed it inside the plastic bag. He did the same for the second bun, then rolled the bag down and placed it on the ground.

“Here, eat up.”

The boy spoke and took two steps back, nibbling on the bun’s skin while watching the kitten.

Lin Xingmo looked at him, then at the meat filling on the plastic bag. Finally, he couldn’t resist and walked toward it. The enticing smell was too much for a kitten who hadn’t eaten in nearly twenty-four hours.

He looked at the food and instinctively reached out a paw, only to withdraw it in disgust when he saw how dirty it was. After a moment’s hesitation, Lin Xingmo simply bent his head.

A tiny pink tongue poked out, licking the warm meat with agility. It was a bit hot, perfectly seasoned, and incredibly fragrant. Lin Xingmo was certain this was the best food he had ever tasted in his memory.

Because it was hot, he patiently licked it slowly. The barbs on a cat’s tongue hooked tiny bits of meat with every lick, which he then swallowed to fill his empty stomach. Though it was a small amount, being able to eat clean, fresh food brought him immense satisfaction.

As for eating by licking—it was awkward at first, but he adapted quickly.

Xu Yi watched the eating kitten and couldn’t help but grin, a cute smile appearing on his handsome face. He could tell the kitten was hungry, but the way it ate was slow and methodical—serious and elegant. It was so cute it was melting his heart.

The boy finished the bun skins in a few bites. Looking at the palm-sized kitten focused on its food, he couldn’t help himself. He quietly reached out his empty hand and touched the white kitten’s head with a single finger.

The fluffy, soft texture made his eyes widen in wonder. The next moment, the kitten looked up at him. Xu Yi froze instantly. Just as he was about to withdraw his hand guiltily, the kitten lowered its head again and resumed its meal.

The boy’s eyes brightened. He grew bolder, using his finger to gently stroke the kitten’s head. The warmth and softness struck his heart, making him tremble with joy.

He finally got to pet a cat!

Since he was little, Xu Yi had loved cats, but no cats liked him. Even Niuniu from Grandpa Zhao’s general store would run away the moment she saw him. The boy gently stroked the kitten, a flush of excitement coloring his cheeks.

“Little treasure, will you come home with me?”

The thought resurfaced, and he began to coax it in a soft whisper. “Look, we’ve met twice in less than a day. It proves we have yuanfen. Even Heaven wants you to come home with me.”

Seeing the cat ignore him, Xu Yi persisted. “You’re so thin; you must not have eaten in a long time. Being hungry is miserable.”

“Even though I’m still being raised by my mom, I can share half of my things with you. Once I get my scholarship, I can buy you lots of delicious food.”

He was still in elementary school; scholarships weren’t much—only for the top three in the grade. First place got 100 yuan, second got 50, and third got 10. But to a child like him, it was a fortune. One yuan could buy four buns, after all.

The meat filling wasn’t much, but for a month-old kitten, it was just enough. Lin Xingmo cherished every bit, licking the juice off the plastic bag before looking up at the child.

He really looked like Xu Yi. But seeing that bright, radiant smile and those clear eyes sparkling in the sun—along with that non-stop chattering—he wasn’t like Xu Yi at all.

“So? Come home with me. I’ll treat you well!”

The boy squatted nearby, his eyes full of pleading. His youthful voice was soft and sweet. The kitten’s ears twitched.

Is he acting spoiled? Lin Xingmo wondered.

“Meow…”

He wanted to say “okay,” but the moment he opened his mouth, it was just a tiny kitten’s cry. Lin Xingmo closed his mouth, somewhat displeased. He didn’t know that to Xu Yi, that sound was like heavenly music.

“You agreed, right?!”

The boy carefully reached out. This time, the kitten didn’t dodge. He not only successfully stroked its head but also scooped the tiny thing into his arms. Xu Yi grinned, stroking the kitten with pure affection. He felt more excited than if he had gotten a perfect score on an exam.

Cradled in his arms, Lin Xingmo squinted his eyes slightly. The boy’s scent was clean, and his small body blocked the cold morning wind. It was warm, making the full kitten feel a bit sleepy. He didn’t mind the boy stroking his fur; the boy was gentle, using just the right amount of pressure.

Perhaps it was a feline instinct, but he found it very comfortable. When Xu Yi stood up with him, he didn’t struggle. Instead, feeling the chill, he shrunk further into the boy’s embrace.

“Don’t be afraid. I’m taking you home.”

Xu Yi whispered tenderly and began walking back. He stopped at the general store to peer inside. Lin Xingmo smelled another cat—it was the big orange cat that had chased him. Sure enough, the orange cat was perched on the counter, watching them warily.

Lin Xingmo stared back with a cold gaze. But soon, the boy’s warm palm moved to block his eyes, cutting off his view. His tensed back relaxed. Lin Xingmo closed his eyes, making a mental note to “level up” his strength before dealing with that cat later.

“Grandpa Zhao, good morning! Do you have any spare cardboard boxes?” the boy asked. His voice was now clear and polite, different from the sweet tone he used for the cat.

“Oh, it’s Xiao Yi,” the old man said kindly. “A box? How big? Is this one okay?”

“Yes, thank you, Grandpa Zhao!”

Having secured a box, Xu Yi squatted down again and gently placed the kitten inside. Leaving the boy’s warm embrace made Lin Xingmo feel a bit cold, but the box blocked the wind. He curled up in a corner and looked up. The sky was a rectangle framed by the box.

“Little treasure, stay in here for now. Don’t be afraid. We’ll be home soon.”

The box was closed. The dark, narrow environment unexpectedly gave Lin Xingmo a sense of security. He wasn’t a real kitten, so he didn’t struggle or cry out. The box became bumpy as the boy started running. Lin Xingmo adapted well, even finding a small hole in the side of the box to peer out of.

On the way back, they encountered Xu Yi’s classmates. Lin Xingmo heard their greetings—two of the voices sounded familiar. The boy didn’t linger or explain; he simply ran home.

Lin Xingmo waited quietly until the box was set on the ground and opened. The boy’s face was flushed from running, his eyes sparkling with youthful energy. “Little treasure, we’re home! Stay here for now; I’ll come back to see you at noon.”

He walked away, but soon returned with two small dipping bowls—one with water, the other with chopped ham sausage.

“I sneaked the ham from the cupboard. Eat it quickly before my mom sees.”

The boy then brought an old garment and stuffed it into the bottom of the box. He ruffled the kitten’s head and closed the box again, leaving only a small crack. A pitter-patter of running footsteps followed, then the thud of the security door closing. The house fell into total silence.

Lin Xingmo waited. Hearing no other movement, he realized the boy’s parents likely weren’t home. He stood up, shook his fur, and approached the water bowl.

The water was cool and had a hint of sweetness, which made him sigh in relief. He was truly thirsty. He hadn’t had a drop of water since waking up under the car. He began to lick the water rapidly.

Splash—splash—

Water droplets sprayed against the side of the box, making it damp. Lin Xingmo stopped, his features scrunched in a “frown.” Having to use a tongue to eat and drink was incredibly inconvenient.

He took a moment to compose himself and began to study how to use his cat tongue flexibly—to eat and drink without making a mess. He wasn’t a real kitten, and he didn’t want to waste food. Having experienced the bitterness of hunger, he cherished every scrap.

Finally, after a few attempts, he learned how to drink without splashing: he just had to curl the tip of his tongue after touching the water and then pull it back. A cat’s agile tongue allowed him to do this perfectly.

He could finally drink with elegance.

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Mo-zai: [Proud cat chest puff.jpg]