Gu Chuan got an order soon enough.

In Region One, boosting from Diamond to Master usually started at a thousand.

Gu Chuan charged five hundred. If he failed within the agreed time, he'd refund the deposit.

HeyZed logged onto a smurf. Two gods from the King tier were about to start a massacre in Diamond.

And the Diamond-to-Master players of Region One knew nothing about it.

...

Five hours later, at two in the morning.

The major game chat groups in Region One were filled with wails from high-rank boosters and streamers.

Onlooker: So this Zed plus Sett combo you guys keep talking about... are they really that strong?

Qing Wo De Gang Men Hui Shang Ying: It's not just a matter of strong or not. Her Zed is the kind that... walks through flashing blades, kills amid the mortal dust.

Qing Wo De Gang Men Hui Shang Ying: In one brief lapse, a shuriken mark popped over my Fizz's head. Blood was pouring out. Then came the explosion, my screen went gray, and she got godlike.

Shenwei_Fanfou: I spectated one of her games with my own eyes. On her, I saw the shadow of that female assassin from North America who once slew a god!

Strange Midlaner: The godslayer assassin, Assa? Back then, her Triple Lotus Crown ended a dynasty and killed that "god." But it also became his final glory.

Shenwei_Fanfou: Yeah. That's why people said she borrowed those three seconds from the heavens... and had to spend the rest of her career paying them back...

...

Gu Chuan took off his headset. His hair had already been pressed down by it.

He let out a long breath, only for it to turn into a yawn.

The moon was gone from the window. After five straight hours of gaming, the fun had started to fade. For a pro, it was slowly turning into tedium.

But thankfully... Gu Chuan had her with him.

Gu Chuan: "I should get some sleep. Thanks a lot for tonight."

HeyZed: "Awoo! It's about time I went hunting for food too."

Her tone was full of that shut-in girl kind of cuteness.

Gu Chuan: "Pfft. Then... good night."

HeyZed: "Shouldn't it be good afternoon instead?"

HeyZed: "But... good night."

After saying goodbye to her, Gu Chuan shut down the computer.

He packed up his homework and put it into his backpack, then hung it on the gaming chair. That way he'd see it the moment he got up tomorrow. He wasn't careless enough to forget his bag, but being extra careful didn't hurt.

After washing up, Gu Chuan returned to his room. His eyes happened to meet Xuechun's just as she was waking, still bleary with sleep.

The moment she saw Gu Chuan, she perked right up.

Cats didn't sleep deeply or for long. Their sleep was light and short. The slightest disturbance could wake them at any time.

But what did that matter?

Cute little kitties didn't need to go to work or school.

So instead of worrying whether they got enough sleep, you might as well pity yourself.

Xuechun obediently began licking her paw. The white fluff on it gleamed after being licked, though it had already been as bright as silver, as pure as moonlight.

"Meow~"

It sounded like she was saying good morning. At least, that was Gu Chuan's guess.

He had to find a way to raise his heartbeat points. Only when they reached two hundred could he buy the Skill Book: Language Learning from the heartbeat shop, something important to both him and Xuechun.

He silently recited the words "heartbeat points" in his mind.

Sure enough, a three-digit number appeared in the upper right of his vision.

But this time, the result made Gu Chuan's gaze tremble.

Heartbeat Points: 110

When had it... gone up by ten?

Other than HeyZed keeping him company while gaming, he hadn't done anything extra just now.

Could it have something to do with her?

But the computer was already off, and he still had school tomorrow.

He couldn't exactly trouble her to keep him company a little longer...

So Gu Chuan could only take that confusion with him as he undressed and got into bed.

After turning into a kitten, Xuechun was incredibly nimble. Gu Chuan didn't need to worry. The moment he lay down, she had already slipped into the crook of his arm, curling up with a soft purring sound, ready to sleep another round with her master.

That night passed without dreams. Gu Chuan slept deeply.

After all, he only had four hours to sleep. He had to treasure them.

And what was the fastest way to wake someone up in the morning?

A blast of cold wind in the face, a splash of cold water, or a hearty breakfast?

No. None of those.

Gu Chuan could tell you from personal experience.

The fastest way to wake up in the morning was to see a pure, beautiful girl sleeping right beside you, so lovely she felt like a dream.

Without the slightest guard up, her small naked yet warm body clung tightly to you, as if she saw you as the treasure she protected, the whole world she cherished.

She was so close you could even catch the scent on her, like spring orchids dampened by dew.

Her silver-white hair was a little messy, yet that didn't diminish her beauty in the slightest.

If anything, it only made her seem more like an immortal maiden untouched by dust.

But when she opened her eyes, you would realize that all the splendor of the mortal world was playing out within those lively pale-blue pupils, enough to make you forget heaven itself.

She let out the soft little giggle that only came from being happy to the extreme.

Her instinctive move was to lick the tip of your nose with her pink little tongue.

When she leaned closer, the golden bell tied at her jade-white neck gave a clear jingle.

Gu Chuan failed to dodge. A strange feeling burst forth in his heart.

Maybe because she was afraid of the cold, Xuechun urged Gu Chuan to pull the blanket over them. Her small hand rested on his firm chest because of it.

She wanted to stay like this a little longer, curled in her master's arms, not asking about spring or summer, not caring for morning or dusk.

And how could Gu Chuan not want the same?

Unfortunately, a hard deadline in his heart was urging him to get dressed and get up.

Otherwise... he'd be late.

He wrapped Xuechun up into a little bundle so she could keep enjoying the warmth under the covers.

The cute and pitiful catgirl was left with only a tiny head exposed, cat ears twitching faintly. Her face was full of confusion, as if she couldn't understand why her master was rejecting her clinginess.

But no matter how pitifully she meowed, Gu Chuan couldn't answer her expectations.

At most, he could soothe her by stroking her soft hair.

"Alright, I'll go make you breakfast. Your clothes, gloves, and knee pads are here. Remember to put them on at home."

"You can only take them off when you turn into a cat. But even then, stay somewhere warm in the house. It's easy to catch a cold this season."

He started rambling, like a dog-type boyfriend raising a cat-type girlfriend.

Yesterday, Gu Chuan had boosted someone up to Master and received a five-hundred-yuan Alipay transfer.

In fact, because he had been so absurdly efficient, the client had even sent him an extra fifty-yuan red packet as a tip, along with endless praise.

That made five hundred and fifty in total. Adding in Gu Chuan's own savings, he now had a little over eight hundred yuan.

If he lived alone, that would be enough for a month if he was frugal. But with Xuechun added in, that might shrink to twenty days.

Even so, he still said with a bright, reassuring smile,

"Xuechun, wait for me to come back tonight."

"Let's go shopping and buy clothes."