C16 The Musthave for a Macho Man(1)

If male and female cats looked the same, there really wouldn't be any difference between them.

Originally, Shen Xiang hadn't set out to adopt a female cat. In fact, he was in the market for a male cat, since neutering a male was significantly cheaper than spaying a female. But all that changed when he walked into the pet store and found himself captivated by Ruila's blue eyes. He ended up paying extra to take her home.

However, if a male and female cat were to transform into human forms, the differences would be stark!

One would be a charming little girl, and the other, a pesky little rascal.

Apologies, but that's just the blunt reality of Shen Xiang's peculiar tastes.

"Phew, phew~"

Shen Xiang, with a laser pen in his left hand, waved it back and forth, creating a dance of red dots on the living room floor. A child, adorable yet undeniably mischievous, followed the dots with boundless excitement, emitting sounds of sheer delight.

He leaped left, then right, repeating the sequence nine times before springing upward.

"Hu~"

Ann, the cat child, launched into the air with a grin of thrill on his face. Even though he missed, he landed with joy and eagerly resumed his pursuit of the elusive red dot.

Shen Xiang's eyelids were drooping, the rhythmic calls of the other acting as a lullaby, signaling it was time for sleep—or more accurately, he was already asleep. By his biological clock, daytime was his time to rest, and his continued hand movements were purely reflexive, the result of his automatic cat-entertainment mode.

With the previous Ruila, playtime would have quickly lost its appeal, as she was a clever cat who would soon catch on to the game and realize her owner was just humoring her. She'd then wake Shen Xiang up. But Ann, seemingly less astute, was thoroughly enjoying himself.

Yet, even the most entertained of troublemakers eventually face other dilemmas, like hunger, for instance.

Ann ceased his pursuit of the red dot and sat down in front of Shen Xiang, cocking his head to one side as he looked at him and said, "Shen."

His voice was androgynous, reminiscent of a young boy who hadn't yet gone through puberty. You couldn't tell whether he was male or female just by listening.

"Shen, I'm starving."

Despite Ann's somewhat foolish appearance, he was perfectly capable of human speech and actions. He squatted before Shen Xiang, insisting, "I'm really hungry."

Shen Xiang, however, ignored him, continuing to swing the infrared device in his hand in a steady rhythm.

Confused by Shen Xiang's lack of response, Ann reached out to touch him. But just as his hand neared Shen Xiang's thigh, Shen, eyes still closed, subtly shifted his position.

"Huh?!" Ann, either out of disbelief or amusement, brightened up and tried once more to touch Shen Xiang's face. This time, Shen Xiang evaded with a quick bend.

"Ha!" Ann chuckled with delight, bided his time, and then leaped at Shen Xiang. But Shen Xiang, as if he had seen it coming all along, rolled away to the floorboard in a swift move.

Thinking it was all a game, the mischievous Ann dove down after him. Shen Xiang, as if he had activated some sort of cheat code, rolled away twice, back facing Ann, and avoided the onslaught.

Ann, now on all fours and buzzing with excitement, cautiously stretched out his paw. But just as he was about to make contact, Shen Xiang zipped away, rolling across the floor in a swift circle.

And thus, a bizarre spectacle unfolded.

Ann, with his eyes closed, rolled Shen Xiang around the living room as if he were a human-sized rolling pin...

"Thump—Ow."

Shen Xiang, just roused from sleep, felt a bit off. As he opened his eyes, he nearly let out a cry of alarm. There, in a dramatic spread-eagle pose, was the cat-eared man who insisted he was male, his limbs pressed against the walls and floor, trapping himself in the corner. His face bore a wild, excited grin as he declared, "I'm starving!"

"Damn it!"

"Wuwuwuwuwuwuwu."

Shen Xiang couldn't help but feel speechless as he watched Ann, tears welling in his eyes from a gentle tap on the head, crouched in the corner crying. Despite the situation, Shen couldn't deny Ann's irresistible cuteness. He repeatedly reminded himself, "He's male, he's male, he's male," in an attempt to quell the guilt bubbling up inside him.

He set the stir-fried noodles on the coffee table and announced, "Dinner's ready."

"Yay!"

Ann's excited cry filled the room as he scrambled onto the sofa. A stern look from Shen, however, prompted him to settle down and sit properly. Holding the bowl in one hand and wielding chopsticks in the other, Ann began to eat with gusto.

The aroma was tantalizing. Could a simple dish of noodles really smell that good?

"What do you usually eat?" Shen inquired, charmed by the sight of Ann's cheeks puffing out as he ate. The cuteness was almost too much, and Shen felt an itch to reach out and touch him, but he had to remind himself—Ann was male.

"I eat whatever Rui makes, but she's scared of cooking with fire, so she uses the microwave. It's never as tasty as your cooking, Shen," Ann replied contentedly, slurping up the noodles. His chopstick skills were clearly lacking, noodles frequently slipping from his grasp, betraying his eagerness to eat more.

Shen was torn. Could he allow himself a touch? Why did it matter that Ann wasn't female?

He wrestled with his conscience until a realization struck him. Not touching Ann because he was male suggested he harbored ulterior motives towards female cats. If he approached with a calm, affectionate demeanor, there should be no distinction between male and female.

It was like with children; you'd pat the head of a boy or a girl without hesitation. Was it repulsive only if it was a boy?

The true disgust, Shen realized, lay not in the act but in his own heart. It was his own misguided thoughts that were the issue. Besides, petting a female cat might get him in trouble, but a male cat? No such concerns.

With his mental hurdle overcome, Shen gently placed his hand on Ann's head. Far from being upset, Ann seemed to relish the attention, eagerly nuzzling Shen's hand and letting out a happy chuckle.

Ah, the feeling of accidentally brushing against those fluffy ears was simply divine! Shen Xiang felt his heart melt.

Who cares if it's a male or female, a he or a she!

Cuteness reigns supreme! Real men can't resist a good petting session!

"So, wait, you called me Shen? Do you know my actual name?"

Shen Xiang realized he had never formally introduced himself.

"Yep. Slurp." Ann seemed to gulp down his food without chewing. A noodle entered his mouth one way and probably reached his stomach unchanged. He stated confidently, "Rui had me tail you before. That's how I know."

I've been followed before!

Of course! That cat woman harbors some vengeful feelings towards me. She's up to no good.

Shen Xiang's heart thumped twice, pondering: If I act clueless about her identity now, she's less likely to bring up those embarrassing incidents. I can't afford to provoke her wrath.

"Take your time eating. If you need more, just let me know."

"Mmm-hmm. Then I'll have another bowl, please."