"Mimi, come here~"

Su Qing and Lin Ning were teasing the stray kitten they’d found with dried fish treats.

It had been home for over a week now. From its initial scrawny, tiny frame, it had slowly plumped into a little round ball. Gradually, it even learned to walk on three legs.

They’d named it Mimi—a joint decision by Lin Ning and Su Qing.

Su Shui couldn’t fathom why a kitten needed such a sweet, milky-sounding name.

Over the week, he’d also realized women had zero resistance to these adorable little creatures.

Su Qing rushed straight home after school just to play with the kitten longer.

Even Lin Ning started cutting back on overtime, carving out time to cuddle with it.

"Su Shui!" His wife finally summoned him after ignoring him for ages.

"Coming~ What’s up?"

"Quick, change Mimi’s litter box!"

*Tut-tut.* Su Shui clicked his tongue in annoyance, reluctantly lifting the cat’s litter tray.

Mimi, who’d been listless moments before, shot up with a *whoosh* and clung to Su Shui like cured meat hanging off him.

"Get down! Mimi, off now!" No matter how Su Shui scolded, it clung stubbornly to his shirt hem.

Helpless, he set the tray down and cradled it in his arms.

"Why won’t it let me hold it?" Lin Ning pouted, watching Mimi snuggle into Su Shui’s chest. She reached out to grab it.

The kitten, which had been half-asleep and nuzzling Su Shui, instantly stiffened. Its fur puffed up as it bared tiny claws.

"Tsk!" Su Shui tapped its head lightly. "No growling at Mom!"

It burrowed back into Su Shui’s embrace, looking utterly pitiful. Lin Ning’s heart melted at the sight.

"Hey! What are you doing?" Lin Ning glared at Su Shui with big, accusing eyes. "Why hit it for no reason?"

"I was just helping you—"

"Shoo! Put Mimi down and go change that litter~"

"Ugh…" Su Shui grumbled under his breath as he set the kitten on the floor.

Mimi stared at him, then slowly rolled over to expose its tiny belly.

Su Shui just bent down, tray in hand, and walked out.

Left hanging, Mimi awkwardly flipped back and flopped onto the floor.

"Mimi~" Lin Ning tried coaxing it, but it only cracked an eyelid to glance at her.

"I’m here!" Su Qing arrived with a cat teaser wand. Mimi instantly perked up.

Its little eyes locked onto the wand’s tip. With a *whoosh*, it pounced.

"Let me try too~" Lin Ning sidled up to Su Qing, envious.

"Nope~" Su Qing refused firmly, happily playing with Mimi.

Lin Ning crouched nearby, watching longingly.

…………

……

"Ugh, cats are such a hassle~"

Su Shui was cooking in the kitchen when Mimi insisted on circling his feet. It kept batting at his pants with tiny paws, meowing softly.

"Go on, scram!" Su Shui shooed it away impatiently. He had to dodge the little pest while moving around.

Finally peaceful, he hummed while chopping veggies. Then—*shhh-shhh*—a scraping sound on the floor.

"What now?" He looked down.

Mimi had nudged its food bowl to his feet with its head. A bit of milk and kibble remained inside.

It gazed up at him, hopeful and eager.

"You little troublemaker…" Su Shui scooped it up and tucked it into his pocket.

Mimi finally quieted down, curling into a ball and dozing off in his pocket.

"So sleepy~" Su Shui slumped onto the sofa, drifting into a nap.

…………

……

He woke to pitch-black skies outside.

"Crap! Dinner’s not done yet—" He bolted upright from the sofa.

Rushing to the dining room, he found the table laden with steaming dishes.

"Did… did Xiao Qing make this?"

Su Shui sat down and sipped the soup first.

"Mmm! Tastes great~ But what kind of meat is this?" He chewed the chunks laboriously, unable to place the flavor.

"Where’d those two go?" He wondered between bites. Footsteps approached.

A pair of large hands covered his eyes.

"Hehe, stop messing around!" Su Shui didn’t struggle, sitting calmly.

He gently pried the hands away and turned his head.

"Holy crap! Who are you?!" Su Shui shrank back in his chair, trembling.

"Don’t you know?" The muscular man whispered softly. "I’m Mimi~"

"Mimi?!" Su Shui rubbed his eyes hard.

"Yep! You saved me, so I’m repaying your kindness~"

"Couldn’t you turn into a busty cutie instead?! Why this form?!"

"Uh, Master, I’m a tomcat—how can I be a girl?!"

"Fine, fine. So you’re done repaying me now?"

"Of course not! I’ve got principles. I’ll spend my whole life thanking you~"

Su Shui stared at the hulking man, speechless.

"Oh, how’s the soup, Master?"

"The soup? It’s actually pretty good~"

"Glad to hear it! I hunted far and wide for such a plump, juicy rat…"

Before he finished, Su Shui clutched his stomach and dashed to the bathroom.

*Ugh~ Ughhhhhh!*

He vomited for over two minutes, feeling like his stomach would turn inside out.

Mimi supported Su Shui, whose face had gone ghostly pale, and guided him to the bedroom.

"Rest now~" It tucked him into bed.

Just as Su Shui closed his eyes, he heard rustling clothes.

He opened them to see a naked muscular man standing by his bed.

"W-what are you doing?!" Su Shui scrambled back, hugging the blanket tightly.

"Mom said to give everything to our savior, so…"

Muscle-Mimi gently pinned Su Shui down. He struggled desperately but couldn’t break free…

"Help!!"

Su Shui jolted upright on the sofa, drenched in sweat. He patted his pocket—Mimi was still there.

"Phew… just a dream!"

The nightmare’s memory sent chills down his spine.

He yanked Mimi out, flipping it over to inspect carefully.

"Good thing you’re a girl~ Or I’d take you straight for neutering!" Su Shui wiped his brow, glaring fiercely.

Mimi stared at him, suddenly feeling a cold draft below.