Quickly putting distance between themselves and the pet shop, Chen Mo and Little White walked down the deserted street. His mind still replayed the scene from moments ago.

They had escaped effortlessly. Not even the vet clinic staff tried to stop them. Coupled with earlier oddities, Chen Mo guessed A-Shan must have deliberately let him go. Even in this simulated life, it felt overwhelmingly real. A minor character whose name he didn’t know had left a deep impression.

But this was just a simulation. He didn’t know if they’d ever meet again. If given the chance, Chen Mo would repay the favor. It was dramatic, yet a close call with no real danger. Had A-Shan been someone else, Chen Mo couldn’t have escaped no matter his power.

Shaking his head, Chen Mo glanced at Little White. The cat followed silently under threads of moonlight. No matter where he went, Little White never showed a trace of complaint, sticking close behind.

“Meow~” Chen Mo let out a soft call, asking if it wanted to rest. They hadn’t stopped running since escaping. Little White licked its front paw, shook its head, and meowed. That human-like gesture didn’t seem catlike at all. Chen Mo nuzzled its face, pondering their next move.

The street was empty. He’d found no clues about Yun Song lately. The system—simulating roles, checking status, tracking affection—wasn’t much practical use. Like a game, Chen Mo was stuck.

“Little Ash, remember where I got injured days ago when I first arrived?” Chen Mo asked in cat language.

Little White tilted its head, confused. To it, Chen Mo was already Little Ash—who was he asking? This familiar sister-cat felt different somehow. Having only recently gained intelligence, it couldn’t grasp such complexity.

But Little Ash was different. After the system update, it gained part of Chen Mo’s talents. Its intelligence had skyrocketed.

“I recall vaguely,” Little Ash responded in his mind. “I know this area well. And I remember where those humans who chased me live. How dare they? I must seek revenge!”

“Uh, how?” Chen Mo asked.

“Scratch their faces up!”

“Huh???” Chen Mo realized something was off. “Has your language ability evolved again?”

“Is there?” Little Ash’s confused meow echoed, but Chen Mo understood perfectly. “My thoughts feel clearer now, meow. Nothing else, meow.”

Chen Mo was certain. Before, he and Little Ash shared only mutual understanding—not direct words. Now, its intelligence had jumped levels. Checking the system panel, he saw Little Ash’s affection level hit 75. A new stage had begun.

Well, this was good. “Point the way,” Chen Mo said. “Let’s teach those brats a lesson.”

“Meow meow!”

A lead beat aimless wandering. Last time he met Yun Song was in that alley—could her home be nearby? Following Little Ash’s guidance, Chen Mo and Little White searched purposefully. His animal talents made scaling walls effortless. That lightness was unimaginable as a human.

“By the way, Little Ash, why were those humans chasing you?” Chen Mo asked slowly, bored.

“I did nothing, meow! Just passing with Little White for food when they threw stones. We ran.”

“If you ran, how’d they catch up?”

“A stone hit Little White. I couldn’t stand it—I took Little White and beat up their cat.”

Chen Mo: “...”

Your personality’s terrible. Is this animal grudge-holding or swift justice? You almost got yourself killed. Fate’s harsh.

They chatted sporadically. Chen Mo meant to care for Little White but found its movements far more agile. When he tired, Little White didn’t even pant. So the weak, burdensome cat was him?

After an hour of wandering, Chen Mo found the brat’s house—a two-story building with a small yard. Sensing their arrival, the chained dog barked furiously.

“I remember it was my feline kin before,” Little Ash mused in his mind. “How’d it become such an ugly yellow dog?”

“Even kin wouldn’t be chained at the door,” Chen Mo noted the spot and turned to leave.

He took a step. Little Ash cried out, “Hey! Why so fast? Let’s tease that dog!”

“Want to die again? No lesson learned last time?” Chen Mo retorted, ignoring it.

But Little Ash insisted on teasing the dog. Helpless, Chen Mo harassed it briefly. The dog’s enraged, humiliated barks woke sleeping neighbors. Shouts and curses erupted nearby.

Chen Mo fled with Little White, following Little Ash’s memory to the pitch-black alley. The overturned trash can and garbage pile remained untouched. Everything felt familiar.

“So next...” Chen Mo and Little White rested in a corner as he pondered.

“What exactly are you seeking, meow?” Little Ash asked.

“Our benefactor. Remember the human who saved us?”

“Of course. Humans are no good, but that one caught this cat’s eye. Problem, meow?”

Chen Mo’s lips twitched. He’d gotten caught in the crossfire. “As cat nobility, we repay kindness. I must find her.”

“That makes sense, meow.” Little Ash affirmed. Then Chen Mo felt a paw on his head.

Little White’s paw.

Chen Mo looked at it, confused. “Meow?” What’s wrong?

Little White: “Meow meow?” Sister, you’ve been talking to yourself. Gone crazy?