"Hmm..."

Someone’s pinching my cheek…

"Hmm～"

Such icy hands…

"Hmph!"

Ouch…

"Qin Yi, if you dare pinch me again, meow—"

Lin Jin’s eyes snapped open. She shot up, fury blazing, ready to hunt down the culprit—only to instantly deflate like a punctured balloon.

Staring at that familiar, dangerous smile, she forced a dry chuckle. "H-ha… Mother. What brings you here, meow?"

Lin Hanzhang wore a simple baseball cap, a white tee, and sleek black joggers. Her shoulder-length hair was pulled into a neat ponytail. Radiant, sharp, and effortlessly elegant, she looked nothing like a woman in her thirties.

She leaned down, her emerald eyes locking onto her son’s—no, daughter’s.

Their noses nearly touched.

"You didn’t call me. Were you planning to hide this forever?"

*Oh no. Mom’s furious.*

*Qin Yi! Qin Yi, emergency alert! Save me! Help! You useless lump! Where are you even looking? Didn’t you lure the enemy here? Damn it!*

Lin Jin shot desperate glances at Qin Yi sitting nearby, her eyelids twitching from the strain.

Qin Yi remained motionless as a statue, eyes fixed ahead, the picture of serene detachment.

*Friendly fire? Not my problem.*

*Are you kidding? Aunt Lin’s 1130 CIWS is live-firing right now. Anyone who steps up dies. I just got chewed out for delaying the report. Lin Jin, you’re on your own.*

"I was wrong, Mom!"

"Ah! That hurts, meow—"

"Ah! Not there!"

"Ah!"

Her cries echoed nonstop.

Qin Yi shuddered inwardly, memories of his grandfather’s "lessons" flooding back.

"Do you think turning into a girl means I won’t spank you?"

After a long moment, Lin Hanzhang released her daughter and tossed aside the cane she’d grabbed. "Will you hide things from me again?"

"N-no, meow…"

The Kitten Girl’s voice trembled with tears.

*My butt’s splitting in half…*

*Mom’s so cruel. Am I even her real kid?*

Watching her wail, Lin Hanzhang softened—but this couldn’t slide. Hiding something this big? What would she do in college? The girl needed discipline.

The Kitten Girl rubbed her sore bottom, leaning against the bedpost (no questions asked about sitting). "Mom… where’d you get that cane?"

"I asked Qin Yi to find it. Got a problem with him?"

"Wouldn’t dare," Lin Jin muttered, pouting. "Qin Yi’s clearly your real son, meow."

*Qin Yi, you traitor…*

*You sold out your teammate…*

*Just wait till Mom leaves. I’ll get you…*

She glared at Qin Yi, silent threats burning in her mind.

Qin Yi, meanwhile, scrolled through UB News on his phone like a sage above worldly strife, whistling a lazy tune.