After Turning into a Cat, I Climbed My Rival’s Cat Tree 50

Chapter 50

Around 7 pm, the production crew arrived at Lu Dingyun’s apartment building.

Lu Dingyun pressed the elevator button.

The passenger elevator wasn’t large enough, so they had to split into two groups.

Lu Dingyun entered the first elevator with a few others, then, as the second elevator arrived, he turned to Wei Yuan. “Yuan Yuan, you can take the other one.”

Wei Yuan’s face flushed, hearing the nickname “Yuan Yuan,” which reminded him of their encounter in the hot spring.

No, he couldn’t think about that!

He turned and entered the second elevator with the remaining cast members, pressing the button for Lu Dingyun’s floor without hesitation.

The others in the elevator exchanged knowing glances.

This confirmed it, Wei Yuan had definitely been here before.

But Wei Yuan, lost in his nervousness and embarrassment, chanting “inner peace” in his mind, didn’t notice anything amiss.

In the other elevator, Fan Tian asked, “Teacher Lu, does Yuan Er even know which floor you live on?”

“He does,” Lu Dingyun replied calmly.

Fan Tian remembered Wei Yuan claiming he had never been to Qing City before, let alone Lu Dingyun’s apartment.

But perhaps Lu Dingyun had told him before, so Fan Tian didn’t dwell on it.

In the livestream, however, the viewers were going wild.

Due to limited space in Lu Dingyun’s apartment, not all the cameramen could be present, so the individual livestreams had been turned off, and three shared livestreams were running to prevent network congestion.

Two of the three cameramen were in Wei Yuan’s elevator, capturing his every move.

[Wow, wow, wow, who can still claim Young Master hasn’t been here before? He’s way too familiar with the place.]

[And Teacher Lu didn’t even tell him which floor, but Young Master didn’t ask, clearly knowing. This couple is too sweet, wuwu.]

The footage of Wei Yuan and Lu Dingyun’s kiss during the sunrise hadn’t been clear, so although the shippers were convinced, the solo stans still insisted it was just a misunderstanding, perhaps a close-up conversation, a trick of the camera angle.

Now, the shippers felt vindicated. The solo stans, however, argued that Lu Dingyun might have told Wei Yuan his floor number before, so it wasn’t proof he had been there.

As they debated, the elevators reached their floor, opening almost simultaneously.

Lu’s parents, who had been waiting by the door, greeted them enthusiastically.

The guests felt awkward arriving empty-handed, but it was too late to buy anything.

Thankfully, Lu Dingyun and his parents weren’t concerned about such formalities.

The aroma of food filled the air, making everyone’s mouths water.

Lu’s parents welcomed them, inviting them to sit in the living room.

The sofa had been removed to make space for the kitten, replaced by beanbag chairs.

So, they had brought in several floor chairs, placing them on the carpet.

The guests, upon entering, were awestruck by the giant cat tree, then, seeing the numerous plushies and cat toys scattered around, they realized the extent of Lu Dingyun’s cat obsession.

And they couldn’t help but think of the missing Xiao Yuan.

Lu Dingyun had prepared all this for the kitten, but now…

They felt a pang of sadness but didn’t mention it.

“Ah, kittens!” The female guests, seeing the three fat cats on the cat tree, their eyes lit up, and after receiving permission from Lu’s parents, they rushed over to pet them.

The three cats, unafraid of humans and not at all shy, acted cute and affectionate, charming the guests and the viewers in the livestream.

Lu Dingyun’s fans recognized the three cats, Xiao Yuan’s underlings, now also under his care.

The other guests also entered one after another.

Finally, only Wei Yuan and Lu Dingyun remained.

Wei Yuan, feeling completely at ease, as if he were home, hadn’t noticed anything amiss.

Lu Dingyun gently placed his hand on Wei Yuan’s back. “Come in.”

Wei Yuan entered, and Lu’s parents, slightly nervous, smiled warmly at him.

Wei Yuan smiled back, hugging them both. “Uncle, Auntie, long time no see.”

As a kitten, he had often been held and fed by them, so he felt no awkwardness.

Lu’s parents, startled by his enthusiasm, then beamed, not questioning the “long time no see.” “Good, good, good boy.”

As Wei Yuan was chatting with them, he felt a weight on his leg.

He looked down and met Big Orange’s round eyes.

“Xiao Ju!” He immediately crouched down, picking up the cat and nuzzling its fur.

“Meow~” Beautiful human!

Big Orange sniffed Wei Yuan’s neck, then looked at him in shock, its head tilted back.

Holy shit, this human smelled just like Boss!

Wei Yuan was also surprised.

He realized he could understand the cat’s thoughts again!

He had been disappointed when he couldn’t understand his underlings during the video call with Lu Dingyun, but now, he could hear them again.

He looked for the tabby and calico, seeing them playing on the higher levels of the cat tree, entertaining the guests.

They had no special talents, just pure cuteness, trying to impress their master.

Wei Yuan, wanting to test his ability, carried Big Orange to the cat tree.

As they approached, Big Orange jumped onto the tree, climbing towards its friends, eager to share its discovery.

This human smelled just like Boss, how strange!

Big Orange nimbly reached the higher level, closer to the other two cats.

Wei Yuan, looking up at his three underlings, suddenly felt a sense of déjà vu.

On impulse, he grabbed a pole, placed his foot on a rung, and pulled himself up, landing gracefully on the higher level.

The platform was sturdy, but narrow, uncomfortable for an adult man to sit or kneel on.

A sharp pain shot through his knees, and the chatter in the living room abruptly stopped.

Wei Yuan’s heart skipped a beat, realizing what he had just done, and he slowly turned his head to look at the living room.

All the guests and crew members, whether eating fruit, drinking water, chatting with Lu’s parents, or heading to the restroom, were frozen in place, staring at him.

Wei Yuan: “…”

This had to be a dream!

Lu Dingyun, after a moment of stunned silence, chuckled softly, his eyes filled with a mixture of amusement and affection.

Ignoring everyone’s shock, he walked over to Wei Yuan and reached out his hand.

Just then, the three kittens jumped onto the platform beside Wei Yuan, sniffing him.

“It’s true! It’s Boss’s scent!” the calico exclaimed, patting Wei Yuan’s hand with its paw, and Wei Yuan understood.

The tabby looked at Wei Yuan with teary eyes.

Being the smartest of the three, it instantly recognized that this human was their boss!

Although it didn’t understand how its boss had become a human, it was overjoyed.

“Meow~” it cried, its voice full of emotion.

It hadn’t touched Wei Yuan, but he understood its unspoken words: “Boss, you’re finally back!”

Wei Yuan’s heart softened, and he hugged all three kittens tightly.

Then, thinking quickly, he explained to the others, “I just wanted to hug the kittens,” implying that was why he had climbed up.

Everyone chuckled, relieved.

The living room became lively again, Lu’s parents inviting everyone to dinner and directing them to the restrooms.

With so many rooms, there were also plenty of bathrooms.

Wei Yuan sighed in relief.

Then he looked up and met Lu Dingyun’s amused gaze.

Wei Yuan felt embarrassed and guilty, but Lu Dingyun simply smiled, lifting him down, along with the three kittens.

The three kittens were quite chubby, and Wei Yuan struggled to hold all of them, so they jumped down, but still clung to him affectionately.

When he went to the restroom, they stood guard outside. When he went to eat, they squeezed onto his chair, purring and nuzzling him.

Qi Lesheng, a devoted animal lover, felt a pang of jealousy. “Brother Yuan, do you know what you look like right now?”

“What?” Wei Yuan asked curiously.

“Like a little princess from a fairy tale,” Qi Lesheng replied.

Everyone laughed, and Wei Yuan smirked. “Have you heard the story about sour grapes?”

Qi Lesheng: “…Don’t roast me, bro.”

The dinner was lively, and Lu’s parents’ cooking was indeed exceptional. Lao Qian couldn’t help but comment, “No wonder Xiao Lu is such a good cook, it’s a family trait.”

“Come visit us often if you enjoy the food,” Lu’s mother said, smiling. “We have many more specialties to share.”

They were eager for their son to make more friends.

But their main target was Wei Yuan.

After the others expressed their willingness to visit, Lu’s mother turned to Wei Yuan. “Yuan Yuan, you too, come visit us anytime. Tell Dingyun if you have any cravings, and we’ll cook for you.”

“Okay, Auntie, I won’t be polite,” Wei Yuan readily agreed.

He was naturally outgoing and charming, especially with elders, and Lu’s parents had taken an instant liking to him.

But Lu’s mother, glancing at her aloof son, couldn’t help but worry.

Yuan Yuan was handsome, kind, and successful, he must have many admirers.

And his family background was prominent. Would they even approve of her son?

She thought of her new friend, Wei Qingyao.

She was also from Jing City and seemed like a wealthy socialite. Perhaps she could inquire about the Wei family’s opinion.

If they didn’t approve of her son, she had to let him know, so he could improve his behavior, be less aloof, and treat Wei Yuan even better.

Regardless of the outcome, she had to show the Wei family their sincerity.

Lu’s mother’s thoughts were unknown to the others, and the dinner ended on a pleasant note.

After dinner, Lu’s parents insisted on cleaning the kitchen, shooing everyone else away.

Wei Yuan wanted to help, but Lu Dingyun told him to go entertain the guests, saying he would help his parents.

Wei Yuan agreed and went to the living room.

The other staff members were still setting up cameras at the hotel, which was also experiencing traffic congestion, so the guests had to stay at Lu Dingyun’s apartment for a while longer.

Fan Tian, sitting in the living room, not seeing Lu Dingyun or his parents, but seeing Wei Yuan, asked instinctively, “Yuan Er, do you know where the remote is? Let’s watch some TV.”

“Oh, I’ll get it for you,” Wei Yuan walked straight to the TV cabinet, opening one of the many drawers and retrieving the remote control.

He turned on the TV and handed the remote to Fan Tian.

You really do know where everything is.

Fan Tian was surprised, but with the cameras rolling, he didn’t ask any personal questions, remaining silent.

“Brother Yuan,” Qi Lesheng said, “Didn’t Teacher Lu say he has many pets? Where are they?”

“In those rooms over there,” Wei Yuan pointed. “I was just about to go see them, do you want to come?”

Everyone eagerly followed him.

He opened four rooms, each containing three to five animals, the rooms clean and cozy, with no unpleasant smells.

The cats and dogs, no longer looking like strays, were energetic and well-groomed, wearing cute outfits, greeting the humans affectionately.

Wei Yuan hugged his familiar friends, realizing he could understand their thoughts again, his eyes welling up.

Finally, they went to see the newborn kittens.

The kittens could now crawl, their eyes still slightly closed, their cuteness overwhelming.

Just then, Lu Dingyun arrived.

The others, sensing a potential moment between the two, discreetly left, giving them some privacy. The three cameramen also went to film other guests, leaving only Lu Dingyun and Wei Yuan in the “nursery.”

“Can I touch them?” Wei Yuan asked Lu Dingyun.

“Yes.”

Wei Yuan gently touched each kitten with his index finger, then stared intently at two of them.

“What’s wrong?” Lu Dingyun asked.

Wei Yuan’s voice was filled with emotion. “Number three keeps stealing all the milk, and number five hasn’t had any, it’s still hungry.”

“Really?” Lu Dingyun was surprised. The kittens all looked similar in size. He wouldn’t have known if he hadn’t been watching closely.

Wei Yuan nodded. “Number five has been complaining, but number three is ignoring it, saying it’s also hungry and needs to eat more to grow stronger.”

Lu Dingyun chuckled, moving number three aside, so number five could finally nurse.

Then he looked at Wei Yuan, his words laced with meaning. “It’s a good thing you understand, otherwise, number five would have starved.”

“Of course,” Wei Yuan said smugly.

Lu Dingyun seemed to chuckle, but his expression remained unchanged.

After playing with the kittens for a while, they left the room, heading towards the living room.

After a few steps, Wei Yuan suddenly needed to use the restroom.

“I’ll be right back,” he said, then quickly entered the master bedroom.

Lu Dingyun followed slowly, pausing outside the closed bedroom door.

His eyes were dark, but a glint of amusement shone in their depths.

Wei Yuan, after washing his hands, noticed his hair was messy, so he decided to wash his face.

While washing his face, his hair got wet, so he decided to wash his hair as well.

In the end, he simply took off his clothes and took a shower.

The exhaustion from his sleepless night finally caught up with him.

Whether it was because he was truly tired or because he was in a familiar environment, his guard was completely down.

His mind wasn’t functioning properly, his only thought being to get some sleep.

So, after quickly drying his hair, he collapsed onto the soft bed.

The familiar scent and the soft blankets enveloped him, and he instantly drifted off to sleep.

After an unknown amount of time, he was awakened by the sound of running water from the bathroom.

He opened his eyes blearily, a dim nightlight illuminating the room.

His sluggish mind finally started working, and the memories of the day, especially since entering Lu Dingyun’s apartment, flooded back.

Oh god!

Wei Yuan clutched his head in horror.

What had he done?!

He had climbed Lu Dingyun’s cat tree, seemingly understanding the animals’ thoughts, acted overly familiar with Lu Dingyun’s home and parents, practically like he owned the place.

And he had even entered Lu Dingyun’s bedroom!

Not only showering, but also sleeping in his bed!

But that wasn’t the most terrifying part. The most terrifying part was Lu Dingyun’s reaction.

He hadn’t shown any surprise or suspicion at Wei Yuan’s blatant slips!

As if he had known all along!

Wei Yuan sat up abruptly, clutching the blanket, his heart pounding.

Earlier memories resurfaced, and the more he thought about it, the more alarmed he became.

Help, had Lu Dingyun realized he was the kitten all along?!

It was possible. Lu Dingyun was intelligent, and he himself had been careless, revealing his true nature repeatedly…

But could Lu Dingyun possibly have guessed such an absurd thing?

The sound of running water from the bathroom stopped.

The bathroom door opened, and a tall, slender figure emerged.

Wei Yuan flinched, looking at him.

Their eyes met.

Lu Dingyun raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing on his lips. “Finally figured it out?”