Purrfect Romance

Lion had finished watching the playback. He sat quietly in his office chair, silent for a long time, then turned to the shopping page that was still open.

He swiftly bought a bunch of bug toys. They would surely be fun to play with cats. Lion thought mischievously.

Fenix was frantically washing his paws in the fountain and sneezed suddenly. Damn it, he thought, did I catch a cold? This is too miserable!

What kind of life was Fenix living?!

He whimpered softly, looked down at his drenched fur, and jumped onto the edge of the fountain, shaking himself off. He found a dry spot to squat down and started grooming himself.

Seeing Fenix's several attempts to lick his paws but stopping short each time, Lion remotely instructed the robot butler.

At the fountain, Fenix was wrapped up by the robot butler with a water-absorbing towel, gently drying him off.

Fenix stayed motionless where he was. With his head lowered, he felt like he had died once already as he was being rubbed by the robot.

When Fenix awakened, he had imagined countless possibilities. Even when he transformed into an awakened form halfway through renting a place, he had thought about becoming a stray wild animal, scavenging through garbage.

He believed he could overcome all difficulties. But he never imagined that from a cat's perspective, the bugs he used to squish with one slipper would be so terrifying!

Damn! What good is this awakening? Delicate and fragile, weak and feeble! Short legs, tiny head, not even bigger than a bug! And it costs money too!

Thinking about it, apart from being cute, he couldn't find any other advantages of his awakening!

After the robot butler dried Fenix's fur, he lifted his paws, which had been given special attention, and examined them left and right. Thinking about the dead bugs, everything seemed to lose its flavor.

Fenix wasn't happy. He dejectedly hopped down from the edge of the fountain, avoiding the grass like it was a snake, and walked obediently down the middle of the garden path.

Why read books or watch TV when you can frolic outside?

Look what happened?

Fenix sniffled, dragging his tail, and slunk back into the house. He decided to regain his lost joy through learning!

With a wave of his paw, Fenix opened the dorm group chat: "@Derek, bro, could you recommend some basic psychology books?"

Do your job and love it!

Since he was going to be a psychological counselor, he needed to build up some knowledge first.

Derek studied mental health and should be able to give him some suggestions. Fenix felt like a new-era youth with ideals and ambition.

But his bro didn't respond to his question. Instead, his friends sent him a long video.

Fenix was taken aback and saw that Athena's concert had just started. He clicked on the video and saw Athena sitting on a rock in the middle of calm water, her orange-red fishtail elegant and beautiful.

To be fair, Athena really was very beautiful, sang well, was professional, and had no scandals—she truly deserved her title as the number one idol in the universe.

Fenix curled up with his tail, ready to listen to music. But before Athena could start singing, Fenix was startled by Lancelot's crowing.

Oh my God! Scared me to death!

If Lancelot were to awaken, he'd definitely be a rooster—a crowing one every day!

Still shaken, Fenix stroked the fluffed-up fur on his tail, trying to smooth it down.

He stroked it for a while, then heard a beeping sound and looked up to see a video call window from Lancelot.

Most likely, he wanted to live stream the concert.

Fenix hung up the call ruthlessly.

No listening.

Who wants to hear Lancelot crow?

Not listening, not listening.

Since he didn't get help from his friends, Fenix simply copied the list of mental health textbooks from the school website and bought the whole set of e-books, settling down to study.

Lion glanced at what Fenix was reading and chuckled.

The kid was quite dedicated.

But the diligent kid fell asleep after reading just three pages, snoring softly on his back.

It's common knowledge that cats sleep around 10 to 15 hours a day, and domestic cats can sleep up to 20 hours. Only about 4 to 5 hours of that is deep sleep, the rest is dozing.

But this didn't stop Fenix from sleeping on his back, snoring softly.

This kid lived quite a cozy life alone.

Lion thought as he signed the documents handed back by his bodyguard.

The bodyguard looked at his boss and felt that today Lion's mood was exceptionally good, almost as if they had won a great victory over their rivals.

"Boss is really happy today," the bodyguard said.

"Is that so?" Lion asked as he signed his name.

"Yes," the bodyguard nodded firmly.

He glanced at the white ball of fur sleeping soundly.

Clearly, what made Lion so happy today was the little kitten he had picked up.

But this kitten was an awakened being.

An awakened being, no matter how high and mighty, wouldn't always be controllable.

"Does Boss like cats?"

"No," Lion denied without hesitation.

The bodyguard fell silent.

He knew Lion's problem well.

The reason why the Lionheart pirate group officially disbanded, splitting into eight smaller pirate groups, was also due to Lion's problem.

They all wanted to solve Lion's issue, and in the vast universe, there must be a way.

But the Lionheart pirate group was too big a target, and whatever they tried to do was always thwarted by various forces.

So Lion got impatient.

He patted his pants and said he was temporarily disbanding the group, letting the captains of those eight fleets figure out solutions while he went off to develop clean energy to pass the time.

Once his problem was solved, Lion would return to space.

Solving Lion's problem wasn't too difficult.

As long as he could maintain a happy and relaxed mood, like he did now.

But Lion, the leader of the Lionheart pirate group, was known for his unpredictable temperament.

Now that there were signs of improvement, the bodyguard was already thinking about buying cats.

Lion sensed something from the bodyguard's expression.

He tapped lightly on the desk and looked at the projection.

The white fur ball had changed positions, curling up with its tail, forming a perfect sphere.

This little guy only looked like a cat but wasn't a real one.

Among felines, snow leopards have a body-to-tail ratio close to 1:1, the longest proportionally.

But this little guy's tail was fluffy and soft, and visually appeared to be almost twice the length of its body.

Awakened beings don't experience genetic mutations, disabilities, or evolution unless their human forms are impaired.

His AI had searched the universal biological database but found no corresponding species.

Two possibilities:

One, Fenix's awakened form is an undiscovered species.

Two, he is a mythical creature.

The abilities of mythical creatures are unpredictable, anything could happen.

But Fenix looked too much like a cat, unlike Athena, who was obviously a mermaid.

However, Fenix had kept Lion happy and relaxed for an entire afternoon, which was a fact.

Lion pondered for a while, then turned off the projection and cut off the gadget installed in Fenix's terminal.

"Boss?"

"Let's conduct an experiment," Lion said.

For a week, no watching, no listening, no contact. Let's see how it goes...

...

The next afternoon, Fenix was perched atop the robot butler, watching happily as the delivery robot handed over goods to the maintenance robot.

His cat litter and litter box had arrived.

So did a box of compound nutritional supplements.

The brand and specification designated by the awakened school.

5800 per bottle, enough for a week!

Fenix didn't expect Lion to act so quickly, buying an entire case!

Unless he was particularly unlucky, twenty boxes should last him through the entire awakening period.

Fenix was overwhelmed with gratitude and sent Lion a long string of thank-yous.

But Lion didn't reply.

Fenix didn't mind Lion's lack of response.

Lion was such an important person; it was normal for him not to have time for a small fry like Fenix.

Anyway...

The nutritional supplements Lion bought had arrived!

Fenix perched on the cardboard box, pushed by the robot, and opened the chat window, looking at Lion, whom he had labeled "Golden Daddy," before opening the group chat.

Affectionate Room 302 (4)

Fenix: "Men look the best when they pay!"

Derek: "?"

Fenix: "Hey, Lion is really handsome."

Derek: "Brother, you're gay too fast."

Fenix: "Though I'm not gay, I think you're discriminating against homosexuals."

After typing this, Fenix looked down at the cardboard box he was sitting on.

5800 per box.

Twenty boxes in a case.

This package was worth 116,000.

116,000!

Buying a case gave a discount of 1,000.

A whole thousand!

Do I care about this thousand?

I care about the hundred and fifteen thousand!

My god!

A package worth 116,000!

Fenix felt like he was sitting on a mountain of gold!

He couldn't help but type sincerely again: "Oh my swan! Lion is so handsome!"

Derek: "Should I buy you a cage? A three-bedroom two-bathroom one with a mezzanine."

Fenix: "Fenix suggests you buy it for Lancelot Bro."

After typing this, Fenix sighed deeply.

Ignorant people.

You don't understand how good Lion is!

Fenix changed the subject: "Where are Lancelot Bro and Alfred?"

Derek looked at his wailing roommates, feeling a headache coming on: "Going crazy."

Fenix: "?"

Derek: "There's a rumor that someone who might be pursuing Athena appeared at the concert yesterday and went straight backstage."

Fenix was jolted!

Here it comes!

Finally!

Even career-oriented Athena couldn't escape the essence of otome games!

And what's the essence of otome games?

Romance!

Opportunities must be seized!

If there's no opportunity, the developers will create one!

Derek: "Coincidentally, there's insider news saying the person was Lion."

Fenix: !!!

No wonder he didn't reply to my messages.

He must be dating!

Ah.

Fenix sighed, thinking that he might soon be able to scratch Lion's head.

After all, there were plenty of legends about players achieving harem endings.

Pity.

Poor Lion.

Fenix decided he needed to seriously read the mental health textbook.

In case the boss gets heartbroken, he could be a comforting presence.

As for Athena?

Fenix pondered for a moment and prayed she wouldn't end up with a death route.

Fenix slowly opened the textbook he had read three pages of.

The chat window beeped.

Lancelot, who was on the brink of death, suddenly perked up, noticing something significant: "If we join Lion Corp., and if Athena and Lion become a couple, wouldn't Athena be our boss lady?"

Lancelot suddenly enlightened, extremely excited: "Wouldn't we get to see Athena often then!!!"

Fenix looked at Lancelot's message and slapped his paw.

Right!

Lion's unstable condition plus the tumultuous situation around Athena would multiply the danger geometrically!

Seems like Lion Corp. isn't a place to stay long.

Fenix slowly closed the textbook he had read three pages of, raising his paw to stroke his conscience.

Sorry, boss.

Once Fenix pays off his debt, he'll set sail for a land of wisdom and happiness.

You'll have to enjoy beauty with the boss lady alone!

Congratulations.