After Turning into a Cat, I Climbed My Rival’s Cat Tree 32

Chapter 32

Wei Yuan slept soundly until morning, waking to find Lu Dingyun already up and having breakfast in the outer room.

The kitten stretched lazily on the bed before jumping down and padding out of the bedroom.

Initially, Lu Dingyun had stayed in a standard hotel room like everyone else.

But after the stalker incident, the production crew had upgraded him to a small suite with a separate living room and bedroom.

Lu Dingyun was currently in the living room, having breakfast with Dou Dou, Xiao Zheng, and a makeup artist, the group chatting and laughing.

He was sitting facing the bedroom, so he could see the kitten immediately when it emerged.

Seeing the kitten appear, he put down his chopsticks and reached out. “Xiao Yuan.”

The other three turned, greeting Wei Yuan.

Wei Yuan trotted past them, letting each of them pet it briefly before jumping onto Lu Dingyun’s lap.

Lu Dingyun stroked its fur, then opened a container on the table, taking out a fragrant dried fish and offering it to the kitten.

The familiar scent made Wei Yuan’s eyes light up, and it took a large bite, closing its eyes and chewing contentedly.

The flavor told it instantly that this was Lu’s father’s handiwork.

Lu’s parents had been determined to nourish Wei Yuan and had been experimenting with various cat food recipes, even making dried fish following online tutorials.

As a human, Wei Yuan hadn’t been fond of fish, finding it too much trouble to eat and slightly fishy.

So, when Lu’s father had made the dried fish, Wei Yuan had only taken a bite out of politeness.

That one bite had opened up a whole new world.

Whether it was Lu’s father’s exceptional cooking skills or Wei Yuan’s cat instincts, it had instantly become addicted to dried fish.

Big Orange and the others were also obsessed, the Lu family dried fish receiving unanimous praise from the kittens.

Wei Yuan hadn’t had any dried fish last night since it hadn’t gone home, and it hadn’t expected to have some this morning.

“Xiao Yuan really loves dried fish, haha,” Xiao Zheng said, pleased. “It was worth the detour to pick some up from home this morning.”

Wei Yuan, pausing its meal, looked up at Xiao Zheng and meowed.

Thanks.

Having spent so much time with Wei Yuan, Xiao Zheng could now understand most of its meows. He smiled and petted its head. “You’re welcome~”

Lu Dingyun smiled, giving the kitten some water.

The kitten’s appetite had been increasing, and it was growing rapidly. Wei Yuan felt stronger and more energetic when it ran, probably having gained quite a bit of weight. It estimated that in a month or two, it would be almost as big as the calico and tabby.

“By the way, Brother Yun,” Dou Dou said, “I just discussed it with Director Li. If filming goes smoothly today, we’ll finish all your remaining scenes and wrap up tonight.”

Lu Dingyun had two more scenes scheduled for tomorrow, but finishing today would be ideal.

And he was starting the variety show in a few days, so an extra day of rest would be welcome.

So, this morning, he had asked Dou Dou to discuss it with Director Li.

Director Li, always eager to stay on schedule, readily agreed.

Lu Dingyun’s desire to wrap up filming today wasn’t solely due to wanting more rest and time to care for the animals. There was another reason: Jiang Su.

Jiang Su’s appearance had made him inexplicably uneasy.

Especially the kitten’s affection for Jiang Su and his strange request to keep the kitten overnight.

So, he decided to avoid any further contact with Jiang Su if possible.

Besides, with Jiang Su’s family background and social status, many people were eager to curry favor with him, and Lu Dingyun wasn’t interested in joining the fray.

“Baby, are you going out to play again later?” Lu Dingyun asked Wei Yuan.

Wei Yuan nodded.

It had to find its brother.

Lu Dingyun guessed it was going to find Jiang Su, or if not him, then Fan Tian, as the kitten had shown more interest in Fan Tian before.

Viewers of the kitten’s livestream had analyzed its interactions, recording everyone who appeared and calculating their screen time.

They had concluded that although the kitten often acted aggressively towards Fan Tian, the fourth-tier actor, it clearly spent the most time with him.

And thanks to his interactions with the kitten, his boisterous personality, and his inadvertently revealed wealthy background, Fan Tian had gained a significant number of followers.

“Then remember to come back for lunch,” Lu Dingyun dressed the kitten and attached the camera to its collar.

Wei Yuan cooperated, meowing sweetly.

Xiao Zheng asked, “Brother Yun, should I start the livestream now?”

“Yes.”

Xiao Zheng tapped a few buttons on his phone, and the livestream started.

Since the camera was on the kitten’s collar, the first thing viewers saw was Movie Emperor Lu’s handsome face, up close.

[We’re here, we’re here! The livestream is starting early today.]

[Wow, what a visual attack! Teacher Lu, isn’t it a bit much to be this handsome so early in the morning, wuwuwu?]

[Let me see what our Xiao Yuan is wearing today. When are we getting a little suit? It would look so cool.]

“Xiao Yuan, everyone wants to see what you’re wearing today,” Xiao Zheng read the comments.

This was a regular segment of Wei Yuan’s livestreams. Either Lu Dingyun would show its outfit before attaching the camera, or it would show off in front of the mirror.

Since the camera was already on, it turned to face the mirror.

The kitten, holding its chin high, proudly showed off its Jiangshi costume, lifting its legs, turning sideways, and spinning around.

It looked like a miniature ancient prince, the small, round hat on its head with two openings for its ears, making it look like a cartoon character.

The comments were filled with “Ahhh” and “Meow, meow, meow.”

Wei Yuan was also pleased with its appearance.

Whether from a cat’s or a human’s perspective, the slightly grown and chubbier kitten looked incredibly beautiful.

“Meow~” it meowed at the mirror, then turned to Lu Dingyun. “Meow~”

Owner, I’m going out to play.

It jumped off the table.

But before it could land, a pair of hands caught it, placing it back on Lu Dingyun’s lap.

“Meow?” The kitten looked up at him, puzzled.

Lu Dingyun looked down at the kitten, a feeling of unease creeping into his heart.

Could the kitten have become even closer to Jiang Su in just one morning?

As a devoted cat owner, Lu Dingyun couldn’t bear the thought.

So, he lifted the kitten slightly, holding its front paws.

Wei Yuan expertly stood on its hind legs, blinking its round eyes at Lu Dingyun.

What was this about?

“Tell me, are we best friends?” Lu Dingyun asked seriously.

Wei Yuan: “…”

It instantly understood.

Movie Emperor Lu was still dwelling on this.

It found it amusing, but since Lu Dingyun was rarely this childish, it, as a mature and composed kitten, could indulge him.

So, it lowered its head, nuzzling his hand and meowing softly.

Lu Dingyun was satisfied. He held out his pinky finger. “Pinky promise.”

“Meow~” Pinky promise.

Lu Dingyun finally released the kitten, but the comments exploded.

After so many years, this was the first time they had seen Lu Dingyun act like this, and it instantly captivated countless fans.

So, their mature, composed, and aloof Teacher Lu also had a childish side.

Insisting on a pinky promise from a kitten, needing its reassurance of their close bond, it was hilarious.

Leaky Cotton Jacket was overcome with joy and, in her excitement, drew a short comic.

As a seasoned shipper, after adding the tags “shipping in peace” and “pure self-indulgence, please be gentle,” she posted the comic on her Weibo page.

Because the content was slightly controversial, she didn’t dare post it in the shipping super topic.

But she had many followers, who immediately saw the comic, and a long silence followed.

The comic depicted Lu Dingyun and the kitten making a pinky promise, but the kitten was labeled “Xiao Yuan,” as in Wei Yuan.

She had based it on the theory that after Wei Yuan’s accident, his soul had transmigrated into the kitten.

She knew it was a far-fetched theory, but she couldn’t shake the feeling.

After posting it, however, the more she looked at it, the more she felt she had been disrespectful towards Wei Yuan, the kitten, and Lu Dingyun.

So, less than three minutes later, she deleted the post, then posted a long apology, vowing to continue her vegetarian diet for another month and to visit a mountain temple to pray for Wei Yuan’s recovery.

This time, she would also pray for Lu Dingyun and the kitten, for peace of mind.

The fans of both Wei Yuan and Lu Dingyun, who had been ready to argue with her, as well as the more rational shippers: “…”

As expected of someone who walked the fine line between the three fandoms, truly a unique and formidable individual!

They abandoned their arguments and returned to the kitten’s livestream.

After the brief interlude, their curiosity was piqued again.

Lu Dingyun’s sudden childishness must have a reason, as if he was worried about his Xiao Yuan becoming closer to someone else.

Who could it be?

Xiao Zheng and Dou Dou were also close to the kitten, but Lu Dingyun had never been jealous of them, his position as the primary caregiver secure.

And when the kitten had been “flirting” with everyone at the film studio, Lu Dingyun hadn’t seemed bothered.

He hadn’t shown any signs of insecurity even before ending the livestream yesterday.

So, what had happened last night?

Their curiosity was fully aroused. Since they knew Lu Dingyun and the kitten had stayed at the film studio last night, they assumed the person or animal who had threatened his position was also at the film studio.

[Sisters, keep your eyes peeled! Let’s see who has caught the kitten’s attention!]

Everyone was alert, watching intently.

Wei Yuan went straight to Fan Tian’s film set, encountering several familiar actors and crew members along the way.

It interacted with them as usual, showing no particular preference, so the viewers couldn’t identify the “suspect.”

Until the kitten reached the Republican era set.

[Could it be Fan Tian?]

Everyone agreed it was likely him, as the kitten seemed to enjoy playing with him.

The kitten, with its livestream audience, wandered around the set, clearly looking for someone.

It had heard that if Lu Dingyun wrapped up filming today, they wouldn’t be returning to the film studio, and it didn’t know when it would see its brother again.

So, today, it had to tell its brother everything.

Seeing the kitten searching, the viewers thought their guess was probably correct.

Wei Yuan moved nimbly through the set, avoiding the busy crew members, careful not to cause any trouble.

The crew had grown accustomed to the kitten’s occasional visits, smiling whenever they saw it.

Who could dislike a cute and well-behaved kitten that never caused any trouble?

After about ten minutes of searching, Wei Yuan finally found the person it was looking for.

The handsome man was sitting in a quiet corner of the set, dressed in a sweater and casual pants, his legs crossed, watching the filming, his posture relaxed and carefree.

The faint anxiety he had been carrying seemed to have vanished, suggesting he was in a good mood today.

“Meow!” Brother!

Wei Yuan meowed excitedly, running towards him.

Jiang Su, hearing the kitten’s meow, immediately looked over and stood up.

[Oh my god, those long legs! No, that handsome face! No, wait, who is this handsome man?!]

[God! Is he a new actor? With those looks, he’s destined for stardom!]

[Holy shit, holy shit, holy shit, he looks so familiar, like my boss!]

[Ahhh, help, it’s our CEO Jiang! Was his business trip actually to the film studio? Is he taking over the entertainment industry too?]

While the casual viewers were still marveling at Jiang Su’s looks and physique, the Jiang Group employees, slacking off at work, recognized their boss.

The company’s group chat exploded.

In the livestream, the kitten had reached Jiang Su, who, unlike his aloof demeanor last night, crouched down and reached out to it.

The kitten jumped into his hand, caught securely.

Jiang Su felt the soft, fluffy creature in his palm, its eyes shining with joy, and his suspicion was confirmed.

“Xiao Yuan, it’s you,” he said, his voice certain.

Wei Yuan, having run over excitedly, froze, hearing those unexpected words.

Its brother poked its forehead gently, and it finally snapped out of its daze.

“Meow?” it tilted its head hesitantly.

Jiang Su clicked his tongue. “You seem even more clueless now.”

That familiar tone, those familiar words. For the first time, being called “clueless” didn’t make Wei Yuan angry. Instead, tears welled up in its eyes, and it started crying.

But kittens cried differently. No matter how hard it cried, it made no sound, only soft hiccups, tears streaming down its face.

Wei Yuan had always considered itself an adult, mature and responsible.

Even after turning into a cat and becoming a stray, it hadn’t cried, forcing itself to stay strong.

But now, with its brother before it, having recognized it, all its pent-up emotions came pouring out.

Jiang Su’s expression remained unchanged, but he gently wiped the kitten’s tears.

He had investigated. The email had been sent from the film studio, and that night, both Lu Dingyun and the kitten had been there, and the stalker incident had occurred.

And last night, following the IP address, he had found their hotel.

Coupled with the kitten’s affectionate behavior towards him, the familiar gaze and feeling, it couldn’t all be a coincidence.

And he had also discovered that Lu Dingyun had adopted the kitten a week after his brother’s accident.

His sources had told him that Lu Dingyun had found the kitten on Ping’an Street.

So, this morning, he had gone to Ping’an Street himself and asked the breakfast stall owners, who had been there for years.

He had discovered that the kitten, “Gui Yuan,” had appeared quite suddenly and had immediately started fighting other cats, even communicating with humans, seemingly understanding their words.

He had considered the possibility that Lu Dingyun was manipulating him, using the kitten to establish a connection, but after watching hours of the kitten’s livestreams, he was certain the kitten’s actions were its own, and Lu Dingyun was often the one being led.

So, after a sleepless night, he had eliminated all other possibilities.

After a night of contemplation, having smoked an entire pack of cigarettes, he had finally accepted the most improbable explanation:

His brother, after the car accident, had somehow become a cat.

Connecting this to Master Renhui’s cryptic message and Daoist Master Yu Sui’s words about “twin destinies,” he was almost certain.

And now, seeing the kitten’s reaction, his suspicions were confirmed.

This kitten was indeed his pampered younger brother.

Having experienced such a drastic change and then becoming a stray, he couldn’t imagine what the kitten had gone through. It had been a young master, sheltered and adored its entire life.

Jiang Su knew the kitten was still livestreaming, so as a precaution, he pretended nothing was amiss, his hand, which was wiping the kitten’s tears, appearing to be petting its head to the viewers.

And the kitten’s soft whimpers and the shaky camera, after Jiang Su’s comment about it “hiccuping,” were easily explained.

[Haha, Baby is hiccuping, so cute, it must have been running too fast.]

[Running towards a handsome man so quickly, is Teacher Lu’s handsomeness not enough for you, little kitten? (dog head emoji)]

[I finally understand why Teacher Lu was jealous, haha, a truly formidable “rival in love.”]

Wei Yuan cried for about five minutes before calming down, clinging to its brother’s wrist and whimpering pitifully.

It had grown accustomed to acting cute and spoiled with Lu Dingyun, its usual arrogant young master persona gone, completing its transformation from a spoiled top star to a soft and adorable kitten.

Others readily accepted the kitten’s cuteness, but Jiang Su’s feelings were complex.

The adorable kitten’s coquettish behavior was heartwarming, but knowing it was actually his troublesome younger brother, who usually acted so tough and defiant, made him feel strangely awkward.

To avoid pushing the kitten away, he decided to change the subject.

But with the livestream camera on, it was difficult.

So, he simply removed the camera from the kitten’s collar, looked at the camera, and said, “I’m going to have a private chat with Xiao Yuan,” before ending the livestream.

The viewers: “Huh?”

Jiang Su had chosen a quiet corner of the set where no one would pass by, so they could talk freely.

He knew Lu Dingyun would come looking for the kitten as soon as the livestream ended, so he had to be quick.

“I’m taking you home,” he said directly.

Wei Yuan froze, then shook its head vigorously, wanting to say that Lu Dingyun would be worried if he couldn’t find it, but it could only meow.

Jiang Su took out his phone, opened a notepad app, and handed it to the kitten.

The kitten, having practiced its paw-typing skills while browsing videos, although slow, could now communicate with Jiang Su.

“You don’t want to leave him?” Jiang Su asked bluntly.

Wei Yuan’s heart skipped a beat, thinking his words were ambiguous, but it couldn’t leave now.

Lu Dingyun didn’t know it was Wei Yuan, and it had just promised him they were best friends. Leaving with Jiang Su now would be too cruel.

Jiang Su knew the whole “turning into a cat” thing was too absurd and couldn’t be revealed to others.

So, it had to be kept secret, but he also thought that the “time” the master had mentioned might be now. If he brought the kitten to Wei Yuan’s body, perhaps its soul could return.

That’s how it always happened in dramas, right?

But the kitten’s concern was valid. Lu Dingyun clearly cared about the kitten, and he seemed intelligent. Taking the kitten away abruptly would definitely arouse his suspicion.

“Easy,” Jiang Su said. “We’ll take Lu Dingyun with you.”

Wei Yuan instantly imagined its brother kidnapping Lu Dingyun and was horrified, worried he would become a criminal.

Jiang Su, seeing the kitten’s expression, understood its thoughts and said, exasperated, “What are you thinking? I’m going to invite him as a guest. Stop watching those ridiculous dramas.”

Wei Yuan: “…Meow.”

They didn’t have time for a long conversation, and the kitten’s paws couldn’t type fast enough, so it would have to explain everything that had happened since it became a cat later.

But it finally learned what it cared about most.

Jiang Su told it about their family’s situation, but he sugarcoated everything, not mentioning their mother’s drastic weight loss from worry, afraid of upsetting his brother, only saying she missed it terribly and hadn’t been eating well.

Wei Yuan wanted to cry again, but knowing everyone was healthy, it felt relieved.

And with its brother’s support, it felt a sense of security and comfort.

Its brother’s plan was probably the right one. Once it returned home, it might be able to return to its body.

It didn’t have to worry about anything anymore. Its brother would take care of everything.

Having said enough, Jiang Su reattached the camera to the kitten’s collar and turned on the livestream.

The viewers, who had been waiting anxiously in the livestream room, speculating wildly, were relieved to see the man and cat still in the same spot.

They had promised to help Lu Dingyun look after the kitten, and some of them were from Lu Dingyun’s studio and had immediately contacted Xiao Zheng when the livestream went offline.

Lu Dingyun had just finished filming a scene and was about to take a break when Xiao Zheng informed him.

He immediately rushed over.

So, less than a minute after the livestream resumed, Lu Dingyun arrived.

Jiang Su, who had been carrying the kitten around the set, considerately handed it back to Lu Dingyun.

The kitten meowed at Lu Dingyun sweetly, rubbing its head against his neck.

Lu Dingyun, who had been in a foul mood and ready to confront Jiang Su, was disarmed by their combined cuteness, unsure what to say.

Wei Yuan had instinctively nuzzled Lu Dingyun, partly to appease him.

But after the affectionate display, remembering it was in front of its brother, it felt embarrassed, avoiding his gaze.

Jiang Su had known for a while that his brother was interested in Lu Dingyun.

Now, seeing the kitten’s affectionate behavior towards Lu Dingyun, he suddenly remembered the master’s other cryptic message: “a match made in heaven.”

Could it be…

Jiang Su’s lips twitched.

He had initially thought Lu Dingyun was a decent person, grateful for him saving his brother, and had intended to thank him properly.

But now, having guessed something, his feelings towards Lu Dingyun were complex.

Lu Dingyun also didn’t know what to say.

Jiang Su hadn’t done anything wrong to the kitten. They might have just been having a private chat. Saying anything now would make him seem overly sensitive.

And the kitten clearly liked Jiang Su. If he antagonized Jiang Su, the kitten might be caught in the middle.

The awkward silence lasted for about thirty seconds before Jiang Su suddenly smiled gently, addressing Lu Dingyun politely. “Teacher Lu, you must have heard. My brother has been in a coma since his accident. The doctors said we should talk to him more, to stimulate his brain activity.”

Lu Dingyun paused, an image of Young Master Wei’s vibrant face flashing through his mind.

Wei Yuan knew its brother was trying to find a way to invite Lu Dingyun home, but hearing his words, it had a bad feeling.

As expected, Jiang Su continued, “You might not know this, but my brother was a big fan of yours before his accident. I was thinking, if you could talk to him, perhaps he might react.”

Lu Dingyun: “???”

Wei Yuan: “!!!”

Brother, what the hell are you talking about?!

Jiang Su, his smile unwavering, continued, “So, I have a small request. Could you find some time to visit Wei Yuan? Our entire family would be very grateful.”

The viewers in the livestream: “…”

[Wait, who? Who is his brother?]

[Wei Yuan? The Wei Yuan?!]

[Wei Yuan likes Lu Dingyun?! What kind of crazy news is this?!]

Everyone was stunned by Jiang Su’s words.

[It must be someone with the same name. Perhaps this handsome man’s brother just happens to be called Wei Yuan and just happens to be in a coma… Ahhh, but what are the odds of such a coincidence?!]

The kitten in Lu Dingyun’s arms almost fainted.