Purrfect Romance

Grass. Grass grass grass. Damn it, why?!

Fenix sat on the carpet on the first floor, feeling like he couldn't breathe.

Stupid Awakening! Stupid Awakening!! Stupid!!! Big Stupid!!! Fenix was so angry he started jumping around.

He was a sports specialist in middle school, part of the school basketball team in high school, and known as the prince of basketball in college. With excellent athletic ability and coordination, when had something like this ever happened to him?!

This was black history! Black history that must be deleted!

Fenix hastily shut down all the gibberish windows he had created and scurried under the sofa, hoping to find a time machine.

The virtual window disappeared, and Lion came back to his senses, wanting to laugh but held it in.

He was also an Awakener, and he understood that Awakeners and their Awakened forms influenced each other.

Except for the few with exceptionally strong wills.

He was talking about the rabbit next door who always competed with him for the top spot.

A lop-eared rabbit that was neither timid nor gentle, didn't eat grass, and had carved out a territory among carnivorous animals, ranking as the second force within the interstellar pirate group.

Oh, right now Lionheart was temporarily gone.

So the rabbit was the first.

But that rabbit was an exception. Most Awakeners, including Lion himself, were influenced by their Awakened forms.

For example: strong territorial instincts, extreme xenophobia, excessive fondness for meat, and a tendency to ambush opponents.

Lion had been somewhat influenced by these habits, but he didn't think there was anything wrong with them.

Especially when compared to Fenix.

Lion looked down at the brush in his hand and felt a sudden urge to know what breed Fenix was.

To be this foolish was indeed rare.

He had never seen such a silly cat.

Although Fenix might not be a cat.

But so far, he looked the most like one, and his habits and growth patterns were not different from those of a cat.

Oh, wait.

Lion suddenly realized he hadn't interacted much with cats.

He certainly couldn't keep pets, and none of the captains around him were cats.

His knowledge of cats was basically limited to his classmates back in the Awakening school days.

But the ones who were feline like him, one was a Ragdoll cat, and the other was a leopard.

The former was incredibly docile, while the latter would sit in trees every day waiting to attack someone, completely different from Fenix.

They were worlds apart.

Thinking this, Lion walked downstairs and looked around the living room, noticing the cat had vanished again.

Lion: "… Come out."

Fenix hid under the sofa, naturally not finding any time machine.

He heard Lion's voice, pressed his ears against his face with his paws, pretending not to hear.

Lion clicked his tongue, circled the large living room on the first floor, and spotted a white tail poking out from under the sofa.

The tail remained motionless, looking listless.

The gap under the sofa was only half a hand's height, enough for Fenix to squeeze in.

Lion walked over, patted the sofa, and called, "Come out."

Fenix didn't come out. His tail acted like a periscope, twitching left and right, seemingly trying to detect where Lion was.

Felines find such wiggling irresistible.

Unfortunately, lions are also felines.

Lion tried to hold back but couldn't. He leaned forward, reached out, and pressed down on the tip of the tail.

Fenix was startled, instantly retracting his tail, turning around under the sofa, and seeing Lion's slippers.

Tail gone, Lion patted the sofa again, "Come out."

Fenix reluctantly poked his head out from under the sofa.

As soon as his head appeared, a pair of hands grabbed him by the scruff of his neck.

Lion placed him on his lap, "Why were you hiding?"

Fenix feebly "meowed": 'I wasn't hiding, I was just looking for a time machine.'

"A time machine?"

Fenix typed like a defeated cat: 'To use the time machine and return to before Fenix committed a social faux pas.'

Fenix? Lion repeated the nickname in his mind, remembering it, and said casually, "The only one who saw you roll down the stairs was…"

『AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!』

Shut up! Be a decent person!

Just hearing the words "roll down the stairs," Fenix felt like he was about to have an allergic reaction.

He was just a hair's breadth away from dying right then and there!

Just that little bit!!!

Lion saw Fenix avoiding reality and decided to skip this topic.

He picked up the brush and held down the cat who was trying to escape again.

As soon as the brush touched his head, Fenix felt something important slip away from him.

He struggled and turned his head: 'Boss, don't throw away the brushed-off fur!!'

Lion paused.

Fenix urgently typed: 'I'll collect it!'

Lion frowned slightly, "You'll collect it?"

He had previously noticed that Fenix was too obsessed with the fur he shed, and now it seemed ridiculous.

But Fenix didn't think it was ridiculous. He recalled those sewing tutorials and typed: 'If I twist the fur into ropes, I can make socks, gloves, and hats.'

Lion fell silent for a moment, subtly wondering if Fenix hoped he wouldn't shed fur or shed more.

To make socks, gloves, and hats, this little fellow would have to be shaved bald at least twice.

But Lion didn't point it out. He nodded and agreed to Fenix's request.

Fenix hopped down from his lap, found a small bucket, and pushed it clattering over.

"Meow."

Use this!

Lion had no objections.

Fenix sat on Lion's lap, took a deep breath, and with the courage of a martyr, typed: 'Boss, I'm ready!'

And then he turned into a puddle under the power of the brush.

Damn! Feels so good! It's this good?!

Fenix instantly forgot his previous aversion and was so comfortable his tail curled up.

Oh my God.

Brushing was like sleeping in a cardboard box, super comfy. Lion's movements were gentle, his technique excellent, and he even stroked his chin.

The boss is great, I love the boss so much.

Lion looked at the ecstatic little cat and waved his hand in front of its head, "Didn't you say you didn't want to be brushed?"

Fenix seriously typed: 'Who? Who said that?! How could there be a kitty who doesn't like brushing?'

Lion raised an eyebrow.

Fenix shamelessly typed: 'Brushing is super comfortable, I love brushing!'

After typing this, he added: 'Don't stop, boss.'

Lion: …

Lion had never met someone so audacious.

He looked at Fenix, who had quickly re-formed into a pancake on his lap, hesitated, and continued brushing.

Lion realized he had broken many rules for this kid.

But whatever.

Lion thought, if it could keep him thinking clearly, paying such a small price was worth it.

Fenix was so comfortable he didn't care about the pile of fur accumulating in the bucket.

He wagged his tail, feeling unparalleled happiness.

Since brushing was so enjoyable, Fenix needed to find a way to continue enjoying it.

Fenix took out his terminal and began searching for pet care robots.

He couldn't rely on Lion to brush him forever.

Friends and family were even less likely to help.

Fenix hadn't considered letting them know he had Awakened.

Otherwise, his parents would spread the news far and wide.

Awakeners had to register, and Fenix didn't want to.

Although registration would bring generous benefits, it would also bring trouble.

Like retired soldiers remaining on reserve duty, Awakeners could be forcibly drafted during special times.

Forced drafting inevitably involved Athena.

Because Athena always appeared on the draft list.

After all, fantasy species were particularly useful.

The only solution to avoid drafting was to become an interstellar pirate.

But Fenix would never become an interstellar pirate.

So to avoid all these troubles, he would cut off all possibilities from the source.

As long as no one knew he was an Awakener, all would be well!

Fenix happily wagged his tail, searching for various robots, but as he saw the prices, his tail gradually stiffened.

A cat care robot that could scoop litter, brush fur, feed cat food, trim nails, clean tools, and perform health checks cost a whopping twenty-five thousand!

Fenix was stunned.

What kind of people raise cats? Do they get their money from the wind? Fenix scrolled down, finding the cheapest option was eighteen thousand.

Fenix: … Okay.

Fenix understood.

Eleven-thousand-in-debt Fenix had no right to consume such things.

Fenix's happiness gradually faded.

He stared at the cheapest option for a long time, then coldly closed the window.

Lion glanced over casually, "You're buying a robot?"

Fenix: 'No money. I was thinking of getting a brushing robot, can't always rely on you, boss, you're so busy.'

Lion slowly threw the fur from the brush into the bucket, "When did you see me busy?"

Fenix: ? Fenix had never met someone who so openly admitted to slacking off every day.

But boss.

Slacking off is something you should keep to yourself.

Saying it out loud isn't good.

Lion wasn't fazed, "I can definitely brush you."

Fenix was moved to tears.

Oh my God.

Who was Lion?!

Someone who could make millions in minutes?!

He was willing to spare time to brush Fenix?!

Good! As expected of my boss!

Fenix was deeply touched and then refused Lion: 'Thanks, boss, but no need. I'd feel bad. I owe you so much already.'

Lion nonchalantly read Fenix's message and said indifferently, "What's there to feel bad about? You can repay me slowly. We have plenty of time."

After all, unless something unexpected happened, Fenix would never leave him.

Lion had no intention of letting him go free.

So their time together was long.

Fenix was unaware of this.

He just felt even worse.

Because he planned to pay off his debt quickly and then pack up and leave.

But seeing the boss's tolerant attitude, the amiable gentleness, the generous salary, the brushing strength and skill.

Fenix felt like a heartless jerk who turned his back immediately after getting help.

Fenix hesitated: 'Well… thanks, boss.'

"Hmm." Lion responded.

Fenix turned to look at Lion, brushing him carefully, and felt even guiltier.

Damn.

Why couldn't Athena get a HE with Lion?

Not getting a HE was fine, but ending up with so many death flags?

Lion was such a gentle person!

Something must be wrong with Athena's approach!

Lion noticed Fenix staring at him and casually said, "Brushing is necessary. You can search for more information."

Fenix obediently opened the search engine.

At the top of the recommendations was a post sharing cat-raising experiences.

Fenix clicked in and immediately saw pictures of the owner's two male tabby kittens.

The post was detailed.

Starting from picking them up and vaccinating and deworming them, it mentioned skin issues like ringworm and ear mites common in kittens.

It also included the hairball syndrome Lion mentioned earlier.

Regarding molting and teething, it was also explained clearly.

Fenix scrolled down and unexpectedly saw a row of text.

—Da Hua went into heat, peeing everywhere and mounting his brother. Today, we sent the two brothers to the vet!

Accompanied by a picture of the two tabbies wearing Elizabethan collars.

Fenix shuddered, drawing a sharp breath.

He nervously typed to Lion: 'Boss, during the Awakening phase, Awakeners experience the growth process of their Awakened forms rapidly, right?'

Lion nodded, "Since the average Awakening age is adolescence, the unstable Awakening phase ends when the body reaches a semi-mature state."

Fenix, hearing this, typed haltingly: 'B-but I Awakened at an older age, I'm an adult! I'm twenty-two!'

Lion paused, realizing this unusual case might differ from typical Awakenings.

Without getting a clear answer from Lion, Fenix nearly cried on the spot.

His typing paws trembled wildly: 'W-w-will I go into heat, boss?'

Lion showed a hint of hesitation.

???

Boss, why hesitate?!

Why aren't you speaking?!

Seeing Fenix about to faint, Lion straightforwardly said, "Theoretically, it's very likely."

Fenix kicked his feet in despair.

What kind of heavenly torment was this stupid Awakening?!

What had Fenix done to deserve this?!

Fenix was exhausted.

Fenix wanted to go back to heaven, never descending again!!!

This mortal world wasn't worthy of noble me!

Fenix closed his eyes and lay straight on Lion's lap, thinking of the uncertainty of going into heat, feeling overwhelmed with sadness.

Damn it!

Fenix didn't want to live anymore!!!!!