After Turning into a Cat, I Climbed My Rival’s Cat Tree 49

Chapter 49

Wei Yuan eyed the snacks, then reached out through the slightly open door. “Leave the food, you can go now.”

“Okay,” Lu Dingyun replied, then squeezed through the doorway.

“Hey?!” Wei Yuan, caught off guard, couldn’t stop him.

He watched as Lu Dingyun carried the snacks, wine, and glasses to the small table by the hot spring, as if he owned the place.

Wei Yuan chuckled dryly.

Sometimes, speechlessness manifested as laughter.

Then he saw Lu Dingyun walk back, glance at him briefly, then quickly look away, heading towards the bathroom.

“You can go soak first, I’ll be there soon,” Lu Dingyun said, entering the bathroom and closing the door.

Wei Yuan: “…”

He hesitated, then, with a sigh, entered the hot spring.

The warm water enveloped his body, and he couldn’t help but sigh contentedly.

He leaned back against the edge of the pool, his head resting on a soft pillow, looking up at the sky.

It was an overcast night, no stars or moon visible, but the gently falling snow, illuminated by the warm, yellow lights, created a magical atmosphere.

The rooms on his right were standard rooms without private courtyards or hot springs, and the room on his left was Lu Dingyun’s.

So, he didn’t have to worry about being overheard or disturbing anyone.

He turned on the stereo, playing soft, soothing music.

The playlist consisted of his own songs, both released and unreleased, even some of his own improvisations.

It wasn’t narcissism, but a way to find inspiration for new compositions.

By revisiting his older work, he could identify and improve upon any flaws, creating even better music.

As a song neared its end, Wei Yuan heard the sliding glass door leading to the courtyard open.

He tensed up, trying to maintain his composure, and slowly turned to look.

His composure instantly shattered, his face flushing, his ears burning.

Movie Emperor Lu, freshly showered, emerged wearing only a towel around his waist.

His well-defined muscles and toned physique exuded an aura of raw masculinity.

Wei Yuan suddenly remembered he wasn’t wearing any swim trunks, having only used a towel to cover himself before entering the water.

He hadn’t been thinking about anything inappropriate before, but now, he was starting to panic.

A hot spring, outdoors, two men…

This was clearly a recipe for something to happen!

He tightened the towel around his waist, making sure everything was covered.

The water beside him rippled, and Wei Yuan froze.

The pool was so large, did Lu Dingyun have to sit right next to him?

Lu Dingyun, ignoring his internal panic, sat down beside him, then reached for the small table, pouring two glasses of wine and handing one to Wei Yuan.

Wei Yuan wanted to refuse, but alcohol was liquid courage, so he took the glass and, without waiting for Lu Dingyun to speak, drained it in one gulp.

The wine wasn’t strong, and Wei Yuan had a high tolerance for alcohol, so he wasn’t worried about getting drunk.

Lu Dingyun looked at him, a smile in his voice. “Want another one?”

“Yes,” Wei Yuan handed him the empty glass, glancing at the glass in Lu Dingyun’s hand.

Lu Dingyun, understanding, also finished his wine.

They silently drank three glasses, and Wei Yuan felt his face flush, his courage growing.

“Okay,” Lu Dingyun, afraid he would get drunk, took the glasses away, then offered him a slice of orange.

Wei Yuan accepted it readily.

Lu Dingyun chuckled, amused.

“What’s so funny?” Wei Yuan glared at him.

Lu Dingyun’s gaze lingered on him for a moment before he suddenly leaned closer.

Wei Yuan quickly covered his mouth with his hand, pushing against Lu Dingyun’s chest with the other.

His palm touched the movie emperor’s firm pecs, and he almost lost his resolve, but he held on.

His clear rejection made Lu Dingyun stop, his deep eyes meeting Wei Yuan’s, like a burning flame igniting something within him.

“I have a question for you,” Wei Yuan said, his hand still covering his mouth.

Lu Dingyun leaned back slightly, nodding. “Ask away.”

Wei Yuan lowered his hand.

Perhaps it was the alcohol, but the question he had been unable to ask before now came out easily.

“Do you like me?” Wei Yuan asked, holding his head high.

Lu Dingyun didn’t hesitate. “Yes.”

His expression was serious and focused, his answer so direct that it stunned Wei Yuan.

“What about you? Do you like me?” Lu Dingyun turned the question back on him.

Wei Yuan’s face burned, and his head felt slightly dizzy, but after a moment of hesitation, he regained his composure. “I asked you a question, you just answer it.”

Lu Dingyun, not discouraged by his lack of response, remained silent.

“Why were you acting so hot and cold towards me before, when we were back home?” Wei Yuan asked, his voice slightly aggrieved.

He hated having his emotions manipulated by Lu Dingyun but couldn’t help overthinking.

Was it his fault?

Of course not!

It was Lu Dingyun’s fault for not giving him a sense of security.

Lu Dingyun remained silent, and Wei Yuan, assuming he was deliberately stringing him along, angrily kicked his leg.

Lu Dingyun caught his ankle, then moved closer, his body between Wei Yuan’s legs, his figure looming over him.

Young Master Wei, slightly tipsy, was slow to react, realizing their compromising position only after a moment, his entire body flushing.

“I missed you so much,” Lu Dingyun leaned closer, his eyes meeting Wei Yuan’s.

Movie Emperor Lu whispered, “I kept thinking about the way you looked when I kissed you, your flushed face, your dazed expression. I imagined how I would enter you, how you would moan, how you would open yourself to me, completely, body and soul.”

His eyes burned with a fiery intensity, sending shivers down Wei Yuan’s spine.

“I didn’t dare contact you,” Lu Dingyun continued, “I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to control myself, I would go to you, hold you, kiss you, even… take you, right there in front of your family.”

Lu Dingyun, as if a dam had burst, confessed his deepest, darkest desires, his words a torrent of raw emotion.

He didn’t know when he had fallen for Wei Yuan.

Perhaps it was when he had first seen him perform, radiant and charismatic, perhaps it was when Wei Yuan had first spoken to him, slightly shy and awkward, perhaps it was when they became rivals, their names constantly mentioned together.

Or perhaps it was simply lust, the nights he had spent pleasuring himself to Wei Yuan’s videos, finding his interviews endearing.

Seeing him lying unconscious in bed, he had wanted to kiss him, barely managing to restrain himself.

Then he had lost his kitten, the overwhelming grief and loneliness trapping him in his solitary world, and then Wei Yuan had arrived.

His increasing resemblance to the kitten, his personality, everything about him, had intrigued Lu Dingyun, drawing him closer.

And now, he realized he wanted to keep Wei Yuan by his side, to be intimate with him, to care for him, to protect his carefree spirit.

Regardless of whether he was his kitten or not.

Lu Dingyun’s confession was passionate and sincere, and Wei Yuan felt dizzy, unsure whether it was the alcohol or the man himself that was intoxicating him.

His heart pounded as he listened to Lu Dingyun’s deep, husky voice, filled with desire.

His vivid imagination conjured up the scenes Lu Dingyun described, the fire within him spreading rapidly.

The hot spring water steamed and bubbled.

Wine spilled from the bottle, then was caught and poured back in.

Snowflakes fell, the plum blossoms trembling slightly, their delicate fragrance filling the air.

Passion subsided, the bedroom lights came on, revealing everything.

A tear trickled down Wei Yuan’s cheek, caught by the man behind him, who gently kissed it away, beginning a new round of lovemaking.

==

Wei Yuan, exhausted but unable to sleep, was startled by a knock on the door.

They had agreed to watch the sunrise, and the production crew was waking everyone up.

Wei Yuan: “…”

He checked the time. 4 am.

Oh god, Lu Dingyun was an animal!

But his pride wouldn’t allow him to stay in bed and skip the sunrise viewing.

And he had moaned quite loudly last night, afraid someone might have heard, so if he didn’t appear, everyone would speculate.

So, Wei Yuan, his legs trembling slightly, slowly got out of bed.

Thankfully, he was a dancer, otherwise, after Lu Dingyun’s… thorough ministrations, he wouldn’t be able to walk today.

As he stood up, taking a few tentative steps, the bathroom door opened.

Lu Dingyun, seeing him out of bed, rushed over and, without a word, carried him back to the bed.

Wei Yuan, who had just managed to get up: “…”

Was he doing this on purpose?

“What do you need? I’ll get it for you,” Lu Dingyun’s voice and expression were incredibly gentle.

For a moment, Wei Yuan felt like he was a kitten again, as Lu Dingyun had only ever shown this kind of tenderness towards the kitten.

Even before last night, he had only been slightly more attentive towards Wei Yuan, not this… doting.

Was this the treatment of a boyfriend?

Wei Yuan recalled the embarrassing nicknames and suggestive words from last night…

Lu Dingyun, seeing him lost in thought, his ears red, instantly knew what he was thinking about, and a mischievous glint appeared in his eyes. He leaned closer.

Wei Yuan’s embarrassment turned into panic. “Wait, wait, not again!”

“Are you in pain?” Lu Dingyun frowned, his hand moving downwards.

Wei Yuan trembled, his face burning.

“No, it’s just… everyone is going to watch the sunrise, we should go too.”

He wasn’t in pain, just a little… sore.

Lu Dingyun, the ever-prepared doctor, had been well-equipped, and Wei Yuan hadn’t experienced any discomfort, everything surprisingly smooth and incredibly pleasurable.

Lu Dingyun was relieved but also worried about him climbing the mountain in his current state.

Wei Yuan, however, was confident. “It’s fine, I can do it.”

An hour later, Wei Yuan stood halfway up the mountain, his legs trembling, on the verge of collapse.

The cameraman beside him, however, looked perfectly fine, effortlessly carrying his equipment.

The viewers in the livestream felt sorry for Wei Yuan.

[Wuwuwu, Young Master, please stop climbing, we’re worried about you.]

[Young Master clearly hasn’t fully recovered yet. He shouldn’t be doing this, what if he collapses?]

Fan Tian was also concerned. “You’re not fully recovered yet. Why don’t you rest and go back down? I’ll go with you.”

“It’s fine, you go ahead,” Wei Yuan patted his shoulder.

Then he turned to Lu Dingyun. “I want to see the sunrise.”

His voice was slightly hoarse, and his tone, when speaking to Lu Dingyun, was unconsciously tinged with a hint of… petulance, almost like he was acting spoiled.

Or perhaps he was acting spoiled.

After all, he had grown accustomed to it.

Lu Dingyun had been wanting to carry him up the mountain, but Wei Yuan had insisted on climbing himself.

Now, seeing his change in attitude, Lu Dingyun immediately crouched down before him.

Wei Yuan, dropping his act, climbed onto his back, letting the movie emperor carry him.

Lu Dingyun, physically fit and used to strenuous exercise, effortlessly carried the slender young man, his long legs taking two steps at a time, quickly catching up to the others.

Fan Tian, who had initially been following them, even offering to carry Wei Yuan if Lu Dingyun got tired, was soon left behind.

The cameraman also couldn’t keep up, so he gave them a GoPro, letting them livestream themselves.

Wei Yuan held the camera, filming the scenery, then turned it towards himself and Lu Dingyun.

He clung to Lu Dingyun’s neck, chatting and laughing with the viewers.

Lu Dingyun’s expression was gentle, his lips curving into a smile as he listened to Wei Yuan’s chatter.

Wei Yuan, worried he might be tired, occasionally turned to look at him, their faces drawing closer.

Their intimacy and the romantic atmosphere made the viewers swoon.

They finally reached the mountaintop, the sky gradually lightening, the sun about to rise.

Lu Dingyun gently put Wei Yuan down.

Wei Yuan’s legs wobbled, and Lu Dingyun caught him, his arm around his waist, until he regained his balance.

If Wei Yuan could see the comments, he would have seen the fans’ teasing.

[Ooooh, Young Master is such a flirt, look how smitten Teacher Lu is.]

[Haha, sisters, our Young Master is a little bit of a tease, who could resist him?]

[Lao Lu, control yourself! Look at your whipped expression! Aiyaya!]

[Tsk, tsk, I never imagined Teacher Lu would be so doting, is this the charm of an older man? I understand now!]

Wei Yuan, regaining his balance, smiled at Lu Dingyun, patting his shoulder. “Thanks, bro, you worked hard.”

Bro?

Lu Dingyun chuckled, then pointed at his cheek. “A kiss.”

Wei Yuan: “?!” He quickly glanced at the camera.

Although the GoPro might not have captured it, there were other crew members and cameras on the mountaintop, their small lights indicating they were filming.

Although it wasn’t live, the footage would be edited and broadcast later, all the highlights included.

Wei Yuan had a feeling he and Lu Dingyun would contribute many such moments.

And this scene would definitely trend online, the hashtag already forming in his mind: #MovieEmperorLuDemandsKissFromWeiYuan

Seeing Wei Yuan’s hesitation, Lu Dingyun asked, puzzled, “What’s wrong?”

Wei Yuan, speechless, turned the camera towards the mountains, then quickly pecked Lu Dingyun’s cheek.

He tried to pull away, but Lu Dingyun caught him, kissing him deeply.

You kiss-obsessed maniac!

Wei Yuan’s lips were already swollen from this morning, and Lu Dingyun wasn’t satisfied.

And there were so many people around!

Wei Yuan struggled, the GoPro shaking, the camera flipping to capture their faces just as they separated.

Lu Dingyun licked his lips, his expression satisfied, while Wei Yuan, his face burning, covered his mouth with his hand.

The crew members around them, gritting their teeth, remained silent, but they would undoubtedly share this news with their friends later, and soon, half the entertainment industry would know.

Wei Yuan glared at Lu Dingyun, seeing his gaze linger on his lips, and quickly took a few steps back.

They finally calmed down.

The other cast members also arrived, and the sky gradually brightened, the sun breaking through the clouds, bathing the mountains in a golden glow.

The snow-capped peaks reflected the sunlight, creating a breathtakingly beautiful scene.

Wei Yuan, mesmerized, felt his hand being held, and he instinctively intertwined his fingers with Lu Dingyun’s.

He looked at Lu Dingyun, a smile in his eyes.

Lu Dingyun leaned closer, stealing a quick kiss before turning back to watch the sunrise.

Wei Yuan didn’t dare look at the others or imagine the viewers’ reactions.

He simply immersed himself in the beautiful sunrise and his budding romance.

As they descended the mountain, it started snowing again.

After breakfast, the snow intensified.

The production crew checked the weather forecast, which predicted continuous snowfall, and the resort owner warned them that the mountain might be closed soon.

They wouldn’t be able to leave.

So, they decided to leave and continue filming elsewhere.

The nearest alternative location was a large “Ice and Snow Kingdom” near Qing City, with various ice and snow sculptures and activities.

Everyone agreed, and they decided to go to Qing City.

Wei Yuan was thrilled.

Qing City! He could finally visit his underlings and the newborn kittens!

They boarded the bus, and Wei Yuan, no longer sulking, sat with Lu Dingyun.

Exhausted after a sleepless night, he immediately fell asleep, cuddling Lu Dingyun’s arm.

He was oblivious to the fact that while he was sleeping, Lu Dingyun had contacted his parents, asking them to prepare dinner and offering to host the cast and crew at his apartment.

Lu’s parents were delighted that their son was bringing friends home, especially since he had never had any friends before, let alone bringing them home.

And they were especially happy that Wei Yuan was among them!

They had been watching the livestream and knew there was something between their son and Wei Yuan, and Lu Dingyun had been constantly chatting and smiling on his phone these past few days, clearly in love.

So, he wasn’t just bringing friends home, but his boyfriend!

The two elders, full of enthusiasm, went grocery shopping and cleaned the apartment.

It had also been snowing in Qing City for the past two days, and the renovations on Ping’an Street had begun, so the animals, with no shelter, had been brought back to the apartment.

So, the tabby, Big Orange, and calico were currently on the giant cat tree in the living room, watching their grandparents bustling around, curious.

“Big Brother, is someone coming over?” Big Orange asked the tabby.

With their boss gone, the tabby was now the Big Brother, the calico the Second Brother, and Big Orange the Little Brother.

Big Orange sometimes teased the calico, calling him “Second Sister,” then getting swatted.

The tabby yawned lazily. “I don’t know, it sounds like Master is bringing someone home.”

The calico suddenly perked up. “Could it be Boss?”

“Isn’t Boss out conquering new territories?” Big Orange asked, confused.

Lu Dingyun had told them that Xiao Yuan had other important matters to attend to and would be back later.

The three cats only partially understood human language, but they had assumed their boss was expanding its territory.

The tabby nodded. “Grandpa and Grandma are preparing human food, so it’s probably not Boss.”

“By the way,” Big Orange suddenly said, “could it be that beautiful human?”

They had seen him in the video call before and had even greeted him.

The calico’s eyes lit up. “Maybe! Master seems to like him a lot. I like him too! He’s super handsome!”

The tabby considered this. “It’s very likely. Humans need partners. Perhaps that beautiful and gentle human will also become our master in the future. We have to behave and not make things difficult for Master.”

“Okay!” the two cats nodded vigorously.

The tabby, not wanting to take any chances, jumped down from the cat tree. “Let’s tell the other animals. We can’t embarrass Master.”

The two cats followed.

Their boss had told them to acknowledge Lu Dingyun as their master, and since he was a good person, and their boss liked him, they also liked him.

With their boss away, they had to take care of their master.

Wei Yuan woke up to find it was already dark, and they were in the city.

He recognized the familiar streets. They were in Qing City!

They would probably check into a hotel. He didn’t know what the schedule was for tomorrow.

But he had decided to visit Ping’an Street and check on his friends as soon as he had the chance.

As they drove, the buildings became increasingly familiar.

Weren’t they heading towards Lu Dingyun’s apartment?

He looked at Lu Dingyun questioningly.

Lu Dingyun explained, “My parents are preparing dinner at home. We’ll eat there first.”

The cast members, crew, and cameramen were also going, and thankfully, Lu Dingyun’s apartment was large enough to accommodate everyone.

The other staff members had to go to the hotel to set up cameras and coordinate other tasks, so they couldn’t check in yet, and the production crew had asked Lu Dingyun if he could provide a temporary space for the cast members.

Lu Dingyun had simply invited them to his home.

The director owed him a favor now.

Wei Yuan, having slept through the entire journey, was both nervous and excited to be going to Lu Dingyun’s apartment.

“By the way, are the kittens still at your place?” he asked tentatively.

Lu Dingyun nodded. “They’re all there, along with the other stray animals. You can play with them if you want.”

“What are you talking about? What animals?” a female cast member in the front row turned around curiously.

Wei Yuan smiled. “He has many pets at home, they’re all very well-behaved.”

He instinctively spoke highly of the animals, wanting everyone to like them, not even realizing it himself.

The other cast members, all animal lovers, started chatting excitedly.

Wei Yuan happily joined the conversation, his familiarity with the animals evident, although he didn’t realize it himself.

Those were all Lu Dingyun’s pets, how could Wei Yuan know so much about them?

Had he been to Lu Dingyun’s apartment before? Multiple times?

Young Master Wei, chattering away, didn’t notice Lu Dingyun’s knowing gaze.