After Turning into a Cat, I Climbed My Rival’s Cat Tree 33

Chapter 33

The bustling film set was filled with noise and activity, but the three men and one cat were trapped in an awkward silence.

Wei Yuan buried its face in Lu Dingyun’s chest, nudging him slightly.

Oh, the embarrassment!

It wanted to die, right there on the movie emperor’s pecs.

Lu Dingyun, startled by the nudge, snapped out of his daze, a rare look of confusion on his usually aloof face, and looked at Jiang Su.

Had he heard correctly? Jiang Su said Wei Yuan liked him?

Was that even possible?

Jiang Su, seeing his hesitation, continued, “Is there something inconvenient? I can take care of everything.”

His words were polite and considerate, but they effectively blocked Lu Dingyun’s escape routes. Unless Lu Dingyun flatly refused, giving him no face, Jiang Su could indeed “take care of everything.”

With Lu Dingyun’s current status and wealth, he didn’t have to worry about the Jiang family’s influence. He could simply refuse.

But the matter involved the comatose Wei Yuan, and Lu Dingyun hesitated.

The image of the young man’s beautiful face from the video compilation he had watched repeatedly the night before flashed through his mind.

His refusal wasn’t as firm as he intended. “I’m starting a variety show in a few days.”

“It’s not a problem,” Jiang Su took out his phone. “I can have my assistant book the tickets now. The three of us can fly back to Jing City tonight.”

As expected of the decisive Jiang heir, his efficiency was impeccable.

And the “three of us” clearly included Xiao Gui Yuan, very thoughtful.

Lu Dingyun, caught off guard, quickly said, “Wait, I still have scenes to film today. I might not make the flight.”

Jiang Su paused, frowning. “How about taking the high-speed train tomorrow morning?”

The train ride from Qing City to Jing City was only a little over two hours, and the earliest flight wasn’t until after 11 am. Taking the train would get them to Jing City by mid-morning.

“Meow~” Wei Yuan meowed softly.

Both Jiang Su and Lu Dingyun looked at it.

Wei Yuan raised its paw and meowed again.

It was a kitten. Both flying and taking the train required being transported in a carrier, which was troublesome.

Jiang Su, also inexperienced in traveling with a cat, finally realized this and said to Lu Dingyun, “Since we’re taking Xiao Yuan with us, it’s better to drive back. It’s more convenient.”

“Meow!” That’s right.

The kitten nodded.

Its face was still warm from its brother claiming it liked Lu Dingyun.

But it was just a kitten now, so it wasn’t too embarrassing.

As for the embarrassment “Wei Yuan” had suffered, it would deal with that later, after returning to its human body.

Lu Dingyun hadn’t expected Jiang Su to invite him to the Jiang residence, let alone so insistently.

He had a feeling Jiang Su was planning something and felt wary.

“I still…” He decided to observe further, but before he could refuse, the kitten in his arms started meowing and squirming.

He looked down. The kitten was standing on its hind legs, its front paws gripping his neck.

“Meow~” Let’s go, let’s go!

The kitten nuzzled his jawline, its hind paws pushing against Lu Dingyun’s hand.

Lu Dingyun couldn’t resist the kitten’s coquettish behavior, and his refusal died on his lips.

Jiang Su, watching the kitten’s antics, felt his eye twitch.

He looked away, continuing his gentle persuasion. “Look, the kitten also wants to go. And you don’t have any work these next few days. Just think of it as a trip to Jing City. We’ll be sure to treat you well.”

Lu Dingyun looked at him, his eyes narrowing slightly.

So, Jiang Su had checked his schedule, knowing he was free for the next few days. This invitation was clearly premeditated.

Jiang Su’s smile remained unchanged as he met Lu Dingyun’s gaze.

He had deliberately revealed that he had checked Lu Dingyun’s schedule, implying that the invitation couldn’t be refused.

Although it was inappropriate to pressure Lu Dingyun like this, Jiang Su was desperate. He had to take the kitten back and try his theory.

After all, who knew if Wei Yuan’s prolonged coma would cause further complications.

As for Lu Dingyun, their family’s savior, the Jiang family would treat him as an honored guest. As long as his requests were reasonable and legal, they would fulfill them without hesitation.

Lu Dingyun understood the underlying threat.

Compared to the Jiang family’s influence, his own power was insignificant. He couldn’t afford to offend them unless absolutely necessary.

Wei Yuan didn’t understand the nuances of their conversation, but knowing both Lu Dingyun and its brother, it sensed the subtle hostility between them.

This wouldn’t do!

It was anxious, unsure what to do, then, on impulse, it licked Lu Dingyun’s face.

Its barbed tongue brushed against his skin, sending a slight tingling sensation.

Cats licked their owners’ hands or faces as a sign of affection.

Lu Dingyun, licked by the kitten for the first time, was momentarily stunned.

What schemes, what plots? In a cat lover’s world, what could be more important than “the kitten licked my face”?

He hugged the kitten, nuzzling its head against his cheek, then looked at Jiang Su. “Then tomorrow. I’ll contact you after I’ve packed.”

Whatever Jiang Su’s motives were, he would find out when they got there.

The livestream was still on, and everyone knew Lu Dingyun was going to the Jiang residence, so the Jiang family wouldn’t dare to harm him under such public scrutiny.

And he couldn’t think of any reason to have offended the Jiang family.

…Except for the fact that he and Wei Yuan were rivals.

But they had been rivals for a while now. There was no reason for Jiang Su to suddenly target him.

So, perhaps he was overthinking. Jiang Su might genuinely just want him to visit Wei Yuan, hoping to stimulate his brother, since they had some connection.

As for Jiang Su’s claim that Wei Yuan liked him, Lu Dingyun didn’t believe it.

At most, Wei Yuan had probably paid more attention to him because they were rivals, and Jiang Su had simply used it as an excuse to invite him.

And this suggested that the Jiang family was desperate, having exhausted all other options, otherwise, they wouldn’t have approached him, a seemingly unrelated celebrity.

The matter of Lu Dingyun visiting the Jiang residence with the kitten was thus settled.

Jiang Su immediately arranged for a car and driver to come from Jing City, ready to drive back tomorrow.

Wei Yuan, completely reassured, nestled contentedly in Lu Dingyun’s arms.

But as it looked up, it met its brother’s complex gaze.

The warmth that had just subsided rushed back to its face.

Help!

Acting spoiled with Lu Dingyun in front of its brother was so embarrassing!

No, wait, acting spoiled with Lu Dingyun was embarrassing even without its brother present, wasn’t it?!

Wei Yuan’s fluffy body trembled, its eyes widening.

Right!

When had it become so comfortable acting spoiled with Lu Dingyun?

A hand gently rubbed its head, and Wei Yuan looked up, meeting Lu Dingyun’s gaze, realizing it was being carried away.

Lu Dingyun, seeing the kitten’s dazed expression, flicked its ear playfully. “You little ingrate.”

After only two meetings with Jiang Su, it was already eager to go to his house, even using its “licking” ultimate move to persuade him.

He wondered what kind of spell Jiang Su had cast on the kitten during those ten minutes when the livestream was off.

The kitten’s ears were sensitive, and the flick sent a jolt through Wei Yuan, from its ear to its chest.

Lu Dingyun, after flicking its ear, gently rubbed it, as if afraid he had hurt it.

The gentle touch was incredibly soothing.

Wei Yuan closed its eyes contentedly, purring softly.

The livestream’s image was slightly shaky, as the kitten was being carried facing outwards, the camera capturing the bustling film set and the familiar faces passing by.

But the viewers were too engrossed in the shocking gossip about “Wei Yuan liking Lu Dingyun” to pay attention to anything else.

The news quickly trended on all platforms.

Most of Wei Yuan’s fans were sulking, refusing to watch the kitten’s livestream, since it was Lu Dingyun’s cat.

But seeing the trending topic “Wei Yuan likes Lu Dingyun,” they were stunned.

Although they had been prepared for a “sister-in-law,” they hadn’t expected it to be related to Lu Dingyun!

A wave of Wei Yuan’s fans rushed to Weibo, finding that various marketing accounts were already capitalizing on the news.

And it wasn’t just a rumor. There was livestream footage.

[Wait, who is this handsome guy? Why is he saying our Young Master likes Movie Emperor Lu?! Isn’t this slander?!]

[It’s Jiang Su! A prominent figure in the finance world!]

[But what’s his relationship with Young Master? Why is he calling him his brother?]

[Fun fact: Wei Yuan took his mother’s surname, so everyone only knows him as the Wei family’s young master, but he’s actually Jiang Su’s biological younger brother.]

This was indeed a little-known fact, known only to a select few.

Everyone had assumed Wei Yuan’s arrogance stemmed from his connection to the Wei family, but it turned out he was also a Jiang family young master.

With that background, no wonder he could be so outspoken and still thrive in the entertainment industry.

[But that’s not the point! The point is that Young Master’s own brother just revealed that he likes Movie Emperor Lu! This has to be 100% true!]

[CEO Jiang, really? Young Master’s sexual orientation has always been a mystery, and you just outed him like that?]

[So, all this rivalry, Young Master has had a crush on him all along?!]

[Ahhh, I should have known! With our Young Master’s tsundere personality, he would never express his feelings directly. Just like boys who tease the girls they like, his rivalry with Movie Emperor Lu might just be a sign of affection!]

Wei Yuan’s fans’ reaction was unusual. Having feuded with Lu Dingyun’s fans for so long, they shouldn’t have accepted him so readily.

But with Wei Yuan in a coma, they just wanted him to wake up.

So, they would accept anyone, even a mannequin, if it meant their Young Master would recover.

So, the already somewhat delusional fans became even more so.

They bombarded Lu Dingyun’s fans with questions: “Will our Young Master wake up if he likes Movie Emperor Lu? Did Movie Emperor Lu agree to visit Young Master because he also has feelings for him? Does our Young Master need a kiss from Movie Emperor Lu to wake up?”

Lu Dingyun’s fans: “…What the hell?!”

The happiest of all were the shippers, who had been cautiously enjoying their crumbs of “sugar,” and were now suddenly presented with a mountain of it.

But they were still a small group, led by Leaky Cotton Jacket.

And Leaky Cotton Jacket was currently climbing a mountain to pray for them, having missed the big reveal.

[Wuwuwu, Madam, come back quickly, we don’t even know where to start celebrating!]

[This is such a huge piece of candy, I don’t even dare to enjoy it, afraid of doing it wrong, Madam, come back quickly, wuwuwu.]

Leaky Cotton Jacket, having finally reached the mountaintop, stood before the temple gates.

She exhaled, then sneezed repeatedly.

She rubbed her nose, thinking she should probably pray for herself too, as she seemed to be catching a cold.

Meanwhile, back at the film studio, Lu Dingyun removed the camera from the kitten’s collar, and the kitten waved goodbye.

Ignoring the millions of viewers’ protests, Lu Dingyun ended the livestream.

Wei Yuan decided not to go out this afternoon. It was too excited.

By tomorrow afternoon at the latest, it would see its family again! It might even return to its body. The thought made it ecstatic.

But it was also worried. What if it couldn’t go back?

Although its brother had assured it that it would eventually return, even if it couldn’t do it on its own, Master Renhui would help it once he came out of seclusion. But until it returned to its body, it wouldn’t be at peace.

“Action!” Director Li shouted, and Lu Dingyun’s last few scenes began filming.

Wei Yuan sat on Dou Dou’s lap, watching from afar.

Lu Dingyun’s scenes today were all from his Grandmaster days. He was dressed in a light blue robe, his hair tied up high, his expression benevolent and gentle, his aura ethereal, walking and wielding his sword gracefully while suspended on wires, like a true immortal.

So handsome.

Such a handsome man, usually cold and aloof towards others, but completely different around the kitten.

Wei Yuan was lost in thought.

It suddenly realized that it remembered everything clearly since being rescued by Lu Dingyun.

From the moment it had been picked up by his warm hands, to its initial fear and wariness, to their eventual closeness, even to the point of it climbing on his head and acting spoiled.

It had never imagined such a development, yet it had happened.

And during their time together, Wei Yuan’s prejudice against Lu Dingyun had vanished, replaced by appreciation and affection.

He was gentle, kind, polite, and had a great physique.

And it had also seen Lu Dingyun’s private side.

Aloof and distant towards humans during the day, but at night, he would cuddle the kitten, kiss its head, and say goodnight.

He would cook delicious meals for it, watch cartoons with it, pamper it like a treasure, and chat with it like a friend.

Lu Dingyun was also disciplined and organized.

He was mature and wise, always composed, but sometimes also childish, even sulking with the kitten.

Of course, he also had a mischievous side.

Although he took excellent care of the kitten, he would sometimes tease it on purpose, enjoying its angry reactions, then soothing it gently when he went too far.

He also had clear preferences.

He liked meat, not vegetables; fried eggs, not boiled eggs; sweet drinks, not coffee or tea; the kitten’s scent, rose-scented bath bombs; animals, not humans.

He also liked watching “Wei Yuan’s” sexy stage performances repeatedly late at night, even liking his videos…

Wei Yuan blinked, lying down on Dou Dou’s lap, tucking its paws beneath it.

In just three months, it had come to know a completely different Lu Dingyun.

The real Lu Dingyun had shattered all its preconceived notions, and its initial rivalry and animosity had turned into appreciation and affection.

Wei Yuan suddenly felt that if it couldn’t return to its human body, living as Lu Dingyun’s Xiao Yuan wasn’t so bad.

But it also missed its family, and cats’ lifespans were much shorter than humans’. It didn’t want to say goodbye to those it cared about so soon.

So, returning to its human body was still the better option.

But it was also afraid that Lu Dingyun would ignore it once it was human again.

It seemed there was no perfect solution.

The kitten, in its little Jiangshi costume, pondered its cat life, its paws tucked beneath it, its eyes half-closed.

Finally, unable to reach a conclusion, it gave up, yawning lazily.

Sleepy, time to nap.

Lu Dingyun was incredibly efficient when focused.

By 10 pm, he had finished all his scenes for “Beast Tamer,” officially wrapping up filming.

It was too late for a wrap party, so he simply treated everyone to a late-night snack before driving home with the kitten.

The three underlings greeted them excitedly at the door.

The other animals were either sleeping or playing in the other rooms, Lu’s parents having given them extra food.

—Like A’Wang.

The little sycophant was very good at acting cute and had completely charmed Lu’s parents.

These animals would be returned to Ping’an Street after their vaccinations, and by then, the renovations on Lu Dingyun’s purchased houses would be complete, providing them with a proper shelter.

Lu’s parents, nearing retirement age, had decided to work with Lu Dingyun, caring for the animals.

And they could also be with their son and the kitten, a complete family.

But that was for later. For now, they were busy caring for the animals at the apartment.

Lu Dingyun told his parents he was taking the kitten to Jing City tomorrow to visit a friend in the hospital and would be back in two days at most, then staying home for a couple of days before leaving for the variety show.

His parents felt sorry for him, not wanting him to work so hard, but knowing they couldn’t dissuade him, they didn’t say anything.

But the thought of him making friends or finding a partner on the variety show made them hopeful.

The next morning, Jiang Su arrived early, driving his brand new, still-unregistered car.

Lu Dingyun came downstairs, carrying the kitten and pulling a suitcase.

Seeing the brand new, multi-million dollar luxury car, the slightly cash-strapped movie emperor was momentarily speechless.

Jiang Su rolled down the window. “Get in.”

The driver, who had flown in from Jing City last night, got out of the car, politely offering to help with the luggage.

Lu Dingyun said, “I can manage.”

“It’s okay, let me,” the driver smiled, grabbing the suitcase handle and lifting.

“…”

It didn’t budge.

Since Lu Dingyun also had a home in Jing City, he hadn’t brought much luggage. The suitcase was filled with the kitten’s things, and it had already been streamlined. Otherwise, there would have been two suitcases.

But it was still packed so full that it was incredibly heavy.

The driver continued to smile awkwardly, and Lu Dingyun, lifting the suitcase with one hand, effortlessly placed it in the trunk.

The driver swallowed, quietly returning to his seat.

Wei Yuan couldn’t help but chuckle.

Lu Dingyun playfully poked its nose.

Jiang Su, watching their affectionate interaction, managed to maintain his composure.

Neither Jiang Su nor Lu Dingyun were talkative, and they sat in silence, one on each side of the back seat, not interacting.

Wei Yuan, however, was restless, browsing the tablet with Lu Dingyun, then going over to pester Jiang Su, only calming down for a few minutes after being held by the scruff of its neck by its brother, then resuming its exploration of the car.

It couldn’t help it. It was too excited, needing to move around to release its energy.

This must be what they called “pre-trip jitters.”

Several hours later, the scenery outside became increasingly familiar, and soon, the familiar Jiang family courtyard came into view.

Lu Dingyun held the kitten up so it could see, and its eyes widened, its tail nervously thumping against Lu Dingyun’s wrist.