Tina

"Phew, looks like I wasn't wrong after all. As expected, the things bought and those exchanged through the system are different. Looks like I shouldn't have bought them..." Chu Lian took out several outfits from the box, unpacked them one by one, and laid them on the bed.

She compared a few pieces with the "Tokiwadai School Uniform" she had previously exchanged from the system, and immediately let out a regretful wail upon realizing the quality wasn't even in the same league.

Who wouldn't regret it? The clothes she bought had cost her over ten thousand Huaxia yuan, while exchanging in the system only required tens of thousands of Integrity Points. For someone like her who was never short on Integrity, it was such a waste.

Of course, this was just her making excuses to cover the fact that she had forgotten these items could be purchased with Integrity Points through the system. Though the exchange cost was high, the quality was excellent. Hmph, she would never admit she forgot—she was just curious to compare the bought ones with the system ones.

Still, even if she wanted to cover it up, someone just had to expose her thoughts: "Oh my, only now remembering these things can be exchanged in the system? Could it be someone's been so busy they forgot? I don't believe that. Could it be... you're a natural airhead?"

Chu Lian knew that was Ayase, in full-on sharp-tongued mode. Just as she was about to retort, a soft meow came from beside her. Turning her head, she saw the pure white spirit cat lying on her bed, staring at her with pitiful eyes, clearly craving a cuddle.

After all, the moment she got the phone call, she had completely forgotten about the cat and hadn't paid it any attention since returning. By now, the intelligent creature couldn't help but voice its grievance.

"Ah, how could I forget you..." Chu Lian melted under its soul-piercing gaze. She quickly walked over and scooped it into her arms, rubbing its little head against her flat chest. Unseen by her, the cat wore an extremely content expression. She forgot again—this little rascal loved snuggling against her chest.

Small as it was, she still had curves, and her chest was far comfier than her stomach. "This master really is a dummy," the cat thought, meow...

"Pfft... giggle... hahaha..." Suddenly, Ayase's laughter echoed in her mind nonstop. Chu Lian was puzzled and asked, "Ayase, what are you laughing at?"

"No no no, I just saw something funny online, couldn't help but laugh. Go do what you were planning to do, don't mind me. I'm going to nap a little more." After this bit of interaction, Ayase seemed in much better spirits than when she first returned—not so listless anymore.

Even so, she hid what she had just heard from the cat's thoughts. She was curious to see just how much joy this clever little creature would bring her, and how this dummy Chu Lian would handle it.

"Ah, it's nothing? Good then. I won't bother you. Get some rest..." Chu Lian, taking Ayase at her word, immediately forgot her earlier doubts. Hugging the spirit cat, she walked over to the table by her bed, picked up the still-warm milk, and offered it to the cat.

I'm not a baby! I don't want milk, I want food! Real food!

The cat turned its face away from the offered cup in disdain, rubbing its cheek against her chest, then looking up at her with big, watery eyes.

Unfortunately, this was Chu Lian's first time raising a pet. She had no idea how to communicate with such a creature. The necessary ability was only available through the skills tab in the system, and without it, communication between them was purely guesswork. This would continue until she could use mental communication. Once that happened, everything would become much clearer.

This spirit cat probably also knew about this situation, which was why it felt no need to hold back while secretly mocking her in its heart. Its young appearance didn't mean it had a low IQ. In fact, its mental age was at least equal to Chu Lian's—possibly even more mature than Chu Lian, who was influenced by the Loli Heart.

Fortunately, Chu Lian didn't have the ability for mental communication yet. If she ever found out that her beloved little spirit cat was silently ridiculing her flat chest, she would probably go ballistic.

"Eh? You don't want to drink? But I don't have anything else for you. If you don't want milk, there's nothing I can do." After trying several times, and seeing the cat still stubbornly turn its head away with a clear look of refusal, even Chu Lian—clueless as she was—finally got the message.

Putting the cup down, she gently lifted the cat from her chest, held it up to eye level, and sighed at its proud yet pitiful expression: "Alright, I'll take you to find Mom. Maybe she has something tasty for you." With that, she ignored the pile of cosplay outfits on her bed and carried the spirit cat downstairs.

In its current state, the cat looked no different from an ordinary white feline. But its aura of elegance, pride, and cuteness couldn't be hidden—it shone through its gaze and movements.

So, the moment Chu Lian appeared with the cat in front of her mother, her mom immediately stepped forward and snatched the cat, rubbing her face against it lovingly.

As soon as the cat was in her mother's arms, a strange sense of dread welled up in its heart. It began to struggle desperately. But in this form, it didn't have much strength, and her mom easily subdued it, pressing it firmly against her chest.

The spirit cat turned its head and cast a sorrowful look at Chu Lian, who was spacing out. But Chu Lian wasn't moved—seeing how much her mother liked the cat, she relaxed.

She had been worried her mom would ask where the cat came from or object to keeping it. But since there was no issue, letting the cat keep her mom company didn't sound so bad. Just like that, the new family member had found its place.

Her mom seemed completely unaware of the cat's frantic struggles. She kept stroking and inspecting it, checking here and there, until she finally turned to Chu Lian and asked, "Lian'er, this white kitty is so cute. Let's keep it, okay? Oh, and what's its name? If it doesn't have one, can I name it?"

"Mm, I was just about to tell you. This cat was sent over by a friend, along with some clothes. I only saw it when I opened the package. Must've been shipped along with everything else by the courier company. Maybe they didn't know, or they wouldn't have delivered it to me." Chu Lian quickly made up a story. No one knew the cat's true origin anyway—she could spin whatever tale she wanted, as long as there weren't any glaring holes.

"So what's its name? Does it have one? If not, I'll name it. How about Snowy? Or Fluffy? Whitey? Kitty? Cuddles? Mewmew? Hmm, what should I name it? So hard to choose..." Even though Chu Lian dodged the topic, her mother didn't let it go. She was set on giving the cat a name.

The cat, realizing its master wasn't coming to the rescue, gave up struggling. But the moment it heard those ridiculous names, it freaked out. Its tiny body thrashed wildly in her mom's full chest, and its large eyes grew watery with fear. It was clearly terrified.

If I really end up with one of those names, I might as well die. I'd never live it down. Stupid master, flat-chested master, loli master—save me! I don't want those names! I really don't!

At this point, the cat's inner world was collapsing. Thankfully, Chu Lian saw its reaction and realized that this clever little thing clearly understood human speech and was strongly rejecting her mom's name suggestions. If she didn't step in, the cat might hold a grudge forever.

Just as her mother was about to suggest the thirty-seventh name, Chu Lian finally spoke: "Mom, it already has a name. Its nickname is Tina, and its full name is Chu Ling. The nickname was given by its previous owner, and I came up with the full name after meeting it and bonding with it."

Her mom's enthusiasm suddenly deflated: "Oh, I see. Tina sounds nice. Chu Ling is pretty too. Such a pity... I was thinking of calling it Bell or Lingling..."

Taking advantage of her mom's distraction, Tina bolted from her arms like a flash, scampered behind Chu Lian, and quickly climbed onto her shoulder. She stared at her mom with wide, alert eyes, as if bracing for the greatest threat she'd ever known.

But she didn't realize—the real danger often comes from within. Chu Lian casually scooped the unsuspecting Tina off her shoulder and handed her back to her smiling mom: "Tina seems hungry. Mom, can you get her something to eat? I need to go do some work."

"Go on, go on. Just remember to come down for dinner. Oh, your dad just left for the office—he'll be back tonight." Her mom waved her off.

"Got it... Oh, and Tina doesn't seem to like milk. Maybe give her some meat instead. Should be fine..."

"Understood. I'll take good care of this little one..." Her mother gave a gentle smile. It had been a long time since she found such an adorable little plaything. Little one, don't run away again, okay?

Tina, who had just been silently crying inside about how her flat-chested master had sold her out, fell quiet when she saw her mom's smile.

So scary... so scary... If I try to run again, I might really die... I swear I'll die...

"Now then, dear Tina, what would you like to eat?" Just before closing her door, Chu Lian faintly heard her mom call from downstairs.

Suddenly, she wondered if she had been too cruel to Tina...

Still, thinking about her mother's temperament—if she went downstairs now and asked for the cat back, her mom would definitely start crying, whether real or fake. Better to pretend she didn't hear anything...