After staying in the hospital room a bit longer, Chen Mo had originally planned to confirm whether the doctor would come to handle anything else.

Then he realized: simulating a life would take at least eight hours. So he stopped overthinking it.

He asked the System, "System, what happens to my body here after I simulate a life?"

[Enters sleep mode. Host is sleeping.]

Given his current state, needing long sleep was understandable. Nothing seemed off.

So Chen Mo calmly simulated Little Ash’s cat life.

He opened his eyes to a unique perspective. Being on all fours felt uncomfortable at first, but he adapted quickly.

As soon as Chen Mo arrived, Little Ash in his mind let out a series of wary, hostile meows. After Chen Mo meowed back twice to show goodwill, it quieted down slightly.

Little Ash’s affection had reached "friendly." Unless Chen Mo did something reckless, no major issues would arise.

Looking around, Chen Mo found himself locked in a large cage. Surrounding him were more cages, holding cats, dogs, and birds, neatly sorted.

Price tags hung outside each cage.

This was a pet store!

Chen Mo instantly concluded: Yun Song must have brought Little Ash here for treatment after rescuing it. Now, with Yun Song’s affection reset to 50—back to "stranger"—she clearly had forgotten Little Ash.

She’d dropped it off and never returned.

Checking his body, he felt fine. Little Ash had only been hungry and beaten, with minor injuries. Thanks to the system’s rewards, healing fast made sense.

So the next goal was...

Just as Chen Mo started planning, he felt his face licked.

Glancing sideways, a snow-white kitten stretched out its tongue, ready to lick again.

Chen Mo didn’t react in time and got licked once more.

His thick gray fur muffled the rough texture. It felt merely wet and sticky, nothing special.

The next second, Little White leaned in to rub against him.

He raised a tiny paw to block her face.

Rejected with a grimace.

Little White meowed in confusion. Little Ash in his mind also protested.

As a cat now, Chen Mo understood Little Ash: it wanted Little White to cuddle and urged him to reciprocate.

Why would one cat crave cuddles with another?

You’re not even siblings by fur color!

Chen Mo lifted his right hind leg and glanced.

No bits there—female.

When Little White rubbed against him, he lifted her hind leg too. Same thing—also female.

Damn it!

Two female cats cuddling like this?

But it did feel surprisingly comfortable.

Just as Chen Mo thought this, a kid’s voice rang out, "Dad, look! That kitten just checked its little brother! I want to buy those two cats!"

Chen Mo frowned, looking down to see an elementary school kid with a runny nose.

You noticed such a subtle move? This kid’s sharp!

The clerk hadn’t noticed. Seeing the kid pointing at the cage, she beamed and rushed over. "Great choice, kid! These two Ragdoll cats were raised here since kittens. Their mom passed last month, and we decided to find them good homes."

"They’re princesses among cats. The white one’s a true Ragdoll princess. So cute! Perfect pets. Buy both, and we’ll give a 10% discount." She pointed to the price tag.

The dad saw the five-digit price and stiffened.

But the kid clapped happily, insisting on buying them.

The dad coughed. "Cats are hard to raise. Let’s look elsewhere."

Clearly, the price was too steep.

"I want them!" the kid refused to listen.

Father and son argued.

Chen Mo actually wanted the kid to buy him. From the clerk’s words, something was off.

Weren’t he and Little White brought here by Yun Song just days ago? How could they be "raised here since kittens"? Sold openly at marked prices, eager to sell?

This pet store was suspicious.

The tiny chance they were really store cats? Impossible.

Anyone who knows Ragdolls knows they’re the most beautiful cats. Well-groomed, a single one costs over 5,000. Would a store cat run away, starve for days, and get beaten by a kid?

Little Ash had been anxious days ago, now confused. The system task said "find a place to settle."

The only explanation: this pet store was problematic.

If the kid bought them, Chen Mo could escape and find Yun Song.

Since she brought Little Ash here, her home must be nearby.

Sadly, after a short argument, the clerk kicked the pair out. The sale fell through.

No other customers came to the pet store.

Chen Mo pushed away the overly affectionate Little White and looked outside.

A bumpy cement road. Houses without tiles. The store itself had no tiles. Few passersby. This place was remote.

Definitely not in the city.

Annoying. Trapped in a cage, he could do nothing.

Chen Mo sighed, walked to the back of the cage, and meowed for Little White to follow.

Little White meowed questioningly but followed him to the corner. Chen Mo meowed twice and nudged her belly with his head.

The meaning: lie down right here.

"Meow meow?"

"Meow!"

Why lie here?

Don’t ask. Just lie down.

Little White blinked her big eyes, then curled up obediently after another nudge.

Even Little Ash in his mind didn’t know Chen Mo’s plan.

Then they understood. Chen Mo smoothed the fur on Little White’s belly and leaned against her comfortably.

Soft fur, warm touch. The store had groomed them well for sale, with a faint, pleasant scent.

This was the true meaning of a cat pillow!

Yes, Chen Mo used Little White as a pillow.

Little Ash immediately meowed in protest in Chen Mo’s mind, condemning this un-cat-like behavior.

But as the comfort washed over him, Little Ash fell silent. On the system panel, its affection increased by 5.