Unlocking the door, Gu Chuan’s heartbeat quickened.

He wondered: the moment he opened it, would adorable Xuechun be waiting there, tail wagging?

After all, before discovering her catgirl identity—back when he first brought her home—she’d always done exactly that.

A clingy little kitten, softly meowing, snow-white fur gleaming.

But now? Would she drop the act, since her master already knew, and greet him as a catgirl?

Maybe even in something temptingly sheer, like morning dew.

Standing at the door, snow-white tender skin exposed, pink lips slightly parted, wearing an expression that seemed to yearn for something.

—“Master… bath first? Dinner? Or… eat… me?”

Seriously, what *are* teenage boys these days thinking?

Wait—I’m that teenage boy? Oh. Never mind.

Outwardly, Gu Chuan always seemed calm. Handsome? “Cool.” Less so? “Expressionless.”

But inside, his emotions ran deep.

Harmless fantasy aside—he remembered: current Xuechun couldn’t speak human. Only “meow meow meow.”

The last flicker of hope for that fantasy shattered.

The door opened. Unexpectedly—

No adorable white kitten meowing in the entryway.

No adorable catgirl either.

Instead, a low, distressed mewling drifted from the living room!

His rented apartment was tiny: one bedroom, one living room, one bathroom—no balcony. Every sound echoed clearly.

"Mew… whimper-mew… mew…"

Gu Chuan instantly forgot all fantasies. For the first time, genuine worry twisted his ever-composed face.

No time to change shoes. He dropped his bag, slammed the door shut, and sprinted toward the sound.

"Xuechun!"

Voice thick with concern.

In the living room, he found her—a tiny catgirl huddled behind a sofa pillow, trembling.

Xuechun’s ice-blue pupils quivered, clouded with discomfort.

Her soft mews sounded like sobs. Tears glistened as she shrank deeper behind the sofa.

Seeing her master, little Xuechun’s cries rose sharply.

"Meow meow! Meow meow meow!"

"Xuechun, what’s wrong?" Gu Chuan rushed over, heart aching.

Fighting through discomfort, she shoved the once-comforting pillow away—it now felt like an obstacle.

Revealing her bare, breathtakingly lovely form. She still hadn’t learned to wear human clothes.

That morning’s apron? She’d only mimicked Gu Chuan cooking.

Even as a catgirl, she moved like a cat: leaping down, crawling on all fours, white tail swaying nervously as she approached.

A deeply wronged "mew." She lifted her "little paws"—human hands, now reddened and chilled from the cold floor.

Why did her paws, once landing safely from heights, now feel so painful and cold?

"Meow meow meow!"

Noticing her master awkwardly looking away, her frustration swelled.

*Master… I’m suffering… Look at me!*

She pounced, rubbing her head insistently against his palm—just like when she was a kitten.

Back then, when he’d stare at that glowing rectangle ("Charge!" echoing faintly), she’d leap onto his keyboard, meowing for attention.

She remembered his flustered cry: "Xuechun! Later—don’t bother me, I’m in-game!"

"How’d you cancel my Flash?! Ah, my Teleport!"

*You have been slain.*

*HeyZed (the Master of Shadows): Enemy has vanished.*

Gu Chuan would sigh, scoop her up as the screen went black and white, enduring friends’ teasing while petting her.

But this time was different. Xuechun’s state…

Frankly, this wasn’t about *if* he’d face consequences.

It was about *how long*.

…Though, were catgirls even covered by law? Gu Chuan had a bold thought—

No. You don’t.

He shrugged off his school uniform jacket and wrapped it gently around Xuechun—the little catgirl still unfamiliar with human ways.

She let out a soft "Mew~"

*Master’s scent… I love it~*

(Later, Gu Chuan would learn: Xuechun hated clothes… except his. Then, pure bliss.)

Tucked snugly in the jacket, he carried her to the sofa.

She sniffled like a chilled child, nose tip pink.

The jacket covered most of her, leaving only her slender neck and delicate collarbone faintly visible.

Below, tiny feet peeked out—pink-tinged from cold or shyness, skin smooth as porcelain, eyebrows elegantly arched.

Silver-white hair swayed gently in his arms.

A cute silver fang peeked out. She began forgetting her distress.

Pink tongue, softly barbed, stretched toward his lips.

Wait—*why the lips?!*

Caught off guard, he let her succeed.

A strong cat food scent flooded his nose. He coughed.

"Xuechun… did you eat cat food?"

His eyes landed on the porcelain dish nearby. Scattered brownish kibble surrounded it.

"…"

"Mew? Meow meow!"

*Yes!* Indignant.

"Since becoming a catgirl, cat food tastes awful? And… stomachache?"

When did he reach "Level 10 Cat Language Proficiency"?

Like any devoted owner, he’d learned to read her moods from tone and gesture.

"Meow meow meow!"—accompanied by vigorous nodding.

Gu Chuan sighed, rubbing his forehead.

"Well. Mystery solved."