After much discussion, Lin Jin’s little paws were sore from pressing buttons.

Well, "discussion" was generous—Qin Yi did most of the thinking. For some reason, Lin Jin felt her brain had shrunk along with her cat body. Complex thoughts exhausted her instantly, so she gave up and left everything to her childhood friend.

She stretched lazily and dozed off.

Qin Yi said nothing. With morning self-study ahead, he simply reminded her he’d return at 5:40 a.m. to check if she’d changed back, then turned off the light and left.

At 5:40 a.m., dawn barely lightening the sky, a shadow slipped into Lin Jin’s room.

Same curled-up pose. Same adorable feline form.

Same flashlight beam. Same gentle cheek pinch.

The little tabby cat shook its head, yawned—then vanished like a flickering old TV screen.

A full-grown human now lay tangled in the sheets.

Lin Jin rubbed his eyes groggily, rolled over, and kept sleeping. Light sleeper or not, six hours of rest was non-negotiable.

*Still sleeping? I’ll yank these covers off.*

Comrade Qin Yi swept his arm—the blanket disappeared, leaving Lin Jin in just a T-shirt.

"Up."

Lin Jin sat up drowsily and changed clothes while Qin Yi stepped out to wash up.

They walked down the silent street together. The crisp dawn breeze at 5 a.m. sharpened their senses.

"Qin Yi?"

"Hmm?"

"Did you… see it?"

"See what?"

"Me turning from a cat into a human!"

"Saw it." Qin Yi’s tone was as flat as announcing extra math worksheets.

"Aren’t you shocked?" Lin Jin couldn’t fathom his friend’s lightning-fast calm. It was almost inhuman.

"Shocked." Qin Yi yanked him backward—a scooter whizzed past. "Watch where you walk."

"You—" Lin Jin was speechless. "I mean, that creepy supernatural stuff! Aren’t you scared?"

"Scared of what? Why?"

"Of the unknown! Of powers beyond science!" Lin Jin draped an arm over his shoulder, gesturing wildly. "What if Gortan aliens were in my room, zapping me into a cat with some ray gun?"

"They must’ve been bored to alter your gender too while at it." Qin Yi glanced at the arm on his shoulder, frowning slightly but not shaking it off.

"…" Lin Jin’s eye twitched. "Don’t bring *that* up! I’m back to normal now."