Chapter 21: The Cat Finally Shows Its Tail

A communication came in, and Li Ye withdrew his gaze.

The light brain projected a silver-blue screen. In the video, Yulian took off his protective goggles and faced the camera. “Good evening, Your Highness. I hope I didn’t disturb your sweet dreams.”

Li Ye: “What is it?”

“Good news.” Yulian flipped the camera on his end to show a massive container tank in the center of the laboratory. “She’s amazing. She survived.”

He added, “It wasn’t us who saved her. It was her own strong will to live.”

Yulian sighed in admiration. “This is practically a miracle.”

Li Ye watched Li Yiwan in the video when he suddenly heard a “clang” from afar. He looked up and saw the ragdoll cat in the drying box with its entire face pressed tightly against the glass partition, its round eyes staring intently at him.

Yulian continued his report from the other end of the video call.

“You know, she didn’t just endure the damage from your toxin. She also had to fight her own mutated body after the infection.” Yulian walked up to the giant container and looked up at the woman. “We only did our best to keep her vital signs stable. After so many days with no other options, we could only wait quietly. We never expected her to actually pull through.”

“Your Highness, Li Yiwan is the first case in the empire of someone infected by an abyss pollutant who mutated but managed to suppress and control their mutated body.” Yulian continued, “Lately, there have been frequent cases of abyss pollutants controlling human wills and lurking in human society. There might have been others before, but so far, she’s the only one who’s suppressed the mutation.”

Li Ye withdrew his gaze from the cat. “How is she now?”

“She’s past the critical stage. We’re working hard to restore her bodily functions.” Yulian smiled helplessly here. “To be honest, Your Highness, you didn’t hold back. She suffered quite a bit.”

“Take good care of her.”

“Oh, of course. That’s my duty.”

The call ended, and Li Ye dialed Peisengke. It connected quickly on the other end.

“Good evening, Your Highness. How’s it going with the little cutie?” Peisengke’s voice was as frivolous as ever.

Li Ye had no mood to chat about the cat with him and got straight to the point. “How’s the investigation?”

The other side paused, then chuckled. “Ongoing. I’ve got some data already. I’ll send it over for you to see.”

Li Ye opened the two handwritten data images Peisengke sent. His gaze fell on the photo in the corner.

It was an overhead shot.

In a bustling street, a boy in a yellow cloak led a little girl with black hair by the hand. The boy wore a hat with the brim shading his face, showing only the lower half. But Li Ye still recognized the boy as Li You at a glance.

“The photo is from street surveillance footage over ten years ago. The girl is Li Yiwan. As for the boy, I think you can tell.” Peisengke said, “That’s Your Highness Youyou.”

Li You in the drying box froze upon hearing this and stared blankly at Li Ye’s light brain.

“Over ten years ago, Li Yiwan sneaked onto Kara Planet as a refugee. The investigation data and photo prove that Your Highness Youyou took her to get her identity ID and helped solve her immediate food and shelter issues.”

“Later, Li Yiwan used the ID to find work locally. She earned money, did charity, and took in stray animals. Until nine years ago—one year after Your Highness Youyou left—she disappeared for a year. When she came back, she stayed in Sunrise Village and became the owner of that pet shop.”

“Your Highness, it’s been nine years from when Li Yiwan disappeared and returned until now. During this time, Kara Planet, like other planets, occasionally suffered outbreaks of mutant species pandemics, but the area around Memorial Garden within a mile radius was never threatened.” Peisengke said, “Of course, you visited there often, so nothing happened under your watch. But there were times you weren’t there, and still, nothing occurred. I think it’s very likely because of her.”

“Everything Li Yiwan did was for Your Highness Youyou.”

Li Ye fell silent, then heard a few rustling sounds. He looked up and saw the cat in the drying box had turned its back to him, leaving a fluffy backside that nearly filled the entire box.

“My subordinates are investigating where she went during that year she disappeared. No leads yet. I’ll deliver these firsthand materials to you tomorrow.” Peisengke paused suddenly, stayed quiet for a few seconds, then chuckled softly. “Your Highness, I just received another photo. Should I send it to you now?”

“No need. Bring it to the Imperial Military tomorrow.” Li Ye hung up, stood, went to the drying box, squatted down, and picked up the cat.

Li You dangled from his brother’s arm like a water bag, his fluffy body stretching long. He twisted his head to look at Li Ye and let out a disgruntled “meow.”

Li Ye placed the warm cat on the booth seat and had just straightened up when his light brain received a message.

It was from Peisengke.

-Just got this photo. Take a look.

-Image.JPG

Li Ye’s gaze fell on the photo and froze instantly, his lips pressing into a tight line.

He opened the photo, and as the image enlarged, the figure in it became clear.

This wasn’t an overhead shot but a level one, also from surveillance footage. Kara Planet over ten years ago wasn’t as prosperous as now, but it was lively enough. The preserved surveillance captured the vibrant people forever in that moment.

Li You, in a white short-sleeved shirt and black pants, squatted in front of the young Li Yiwan. He still wore a goose-yellow cloak like an outer coat, the hood up, probably to hide his identity.

This level shot perfectly captured his face.

Outside the identity ID office, Li You squatted with a large basket of food in his arms. He held a piece of bread in his right hand, offering it to Li Yiwan’s mouth, smiling gently.

The boy’s eyes curved in a smile. Squatting there like a little yellow mushroom, he pursed his lips in a warm grin. Just that one act of offering food gave a sense of warmth and security.

Li Ye’s gaze lingered on the photo for a long time. Finally, he turned off the screen, let his hand drop, and turned to leave the booth.

Li You’s gaze followed his brother. Seeing him about to leave, he felt inexplicably panicked and quickly jumped down from the booth to chase after him.

Just then, Yulian’s call came in again.

“Your Highness! Li Yiwan woke up! She seems to have something to say!”

Li Ye frowned and looked down at the ragdoll cat that had run to his feet. He reminded Yulian, “Record it. I’m on my way.”

He hung up, nudged his foot.

The ragdoll cat sat on his shoe, unmoving like a mountain.

“…”

After staring at the cat for a few seconds, Li Ye bent down, picked it up, and turned to head out.

Kairien, who had been in the front hall, saw the man and cat emerge together and hurried over. “Good evening, Your Highness. You’re…?”

Li Ye gave him a sidelong glance. “I’ll deal with you later about letting the cat in.”

Kairien kept smiling. “…Understood.”

“Did you buy a cat carrier?” Li Ye asked. “Handheld one.”

“Oh, of course.” Kairien quickly fetched the handheld cat carrier, opened it, squatted down, and made kissy noises at the cat in Li Ye’s arms. “Kissy-kissy-kissy.”

Li You: “…”

【Please don’t use “kissy-kissy” on a cat, okay?】

He twisted his butt and looked up at Li Ye.

His brother was watching him.

Li Ye looked down at Kairien. “Do you kiss dogs?”

Kairien reacted slowly for a few seconds, then got it. He switched to a friendly tone. “Meow-meow-meow, come here, kitty.”

“…” Li You narrowed his eyes at Li Ye.

So weird.

How did it seem like Li Ye knew what he was thinking?

No time to dwell, Li You jumped down from Li Ye’s arms, stepped into the cat carrier, awkwardly turned around inside, and poked his cat face out the side where he could see outside.

Ready, Li Ye grabbed the cat carrier and quickly left the palace.

The shuttle sped along and soon arrived at the Central Laboratory.

The researchers pulling an all-nighter looked exhausted. Yulian’s dark circles were heavy, but he still brimmed with enthusiasm and excitement for the research.

Just like always.

Li You in the cat carrier gazed at this old friend he hadn’t seen in so long and sighed inwardly.

Ten years had passed, and everyone had changed a lot.

No longer the boys of before, they had all grown into mature adults.

Yulian noticed Li Ye had brought the cat, and his eyes lit up. He bent down to greet the cat in the carrier. “Good evening, little cutie. I know you—you’re the treasure from Kara Planet. General Peisengke told me about you.”

Li You: “Meow.”

“Your…” Yulian rubbed his chin, studying it with narrowed eyes. “Your eyes look just like an old friend of mine.”

Li You paused, then meowed softly again.

“Business first.” Li Ye interrupted the interaction between Yulian and the cat. “What’s her situation now?”

“She’s unconscious again.” Yulian led Li Ye to the office. “Good thing you reminded me to record.”

He placed the mini recording device on the desk and activated it, projecting a screen.

In the footage, Li Yiwan, moved from the green container and laid flat on the lab table, still had her eyes closed. Her consciousness was very fuzzy as she made intermittent sounds.

“Kailenoa… Kai… lenoa… don’t go… no…”

“Save…”

“Save… save me… save…”

“Kala…”

“Ka…”

“That’s all the clear words. The rest is just murmurs and breaths.” Yulian replayed the video.

“Kailenoa?” Li Ye frowned. “Kara?”

“Kara Planet? Don’t go to Kara Planet?” Yulian looked at Li Ye. “What if it’s not Kara? Is there a place called Kailenoa? Or someone named Kalei? And it sounds like she’s asking for help?”

Too few clues to extract useful info. Li Ye immediately ordered his subordinates to search for regions and names containing “Kailenoa.” He pocketed his light brain and glanced at Li Yiwan in the video again.

At that moment, Li You, who had been spacing out at the cat carrier entrance, suddenly remembered something out of nowhere. He jolted inwardly and let out a stunned, low “meow.”

【…Kailenoa?】

【Isn’t that a forbidden zone?】

Li You had once used his precognition to learn about the “Kailenoa” area while investigating his brother’s identity.

For a time, he had gone out behind Li Ye’s back just to find that place. But the pollution levels there were too high to approach. His accompanying senior had dissuaded him repeatedly, so he gave up.

Now that the empire’s widespread pollution sources had been cleared, he wondered what Kailenoa was like these days.

How did Little Wan Sis know about that place? Had she been there?

Li You stared dazedly at Li Yiwan murmuring in the video, his mood growing heavy.

【That place is too dangerous.】

【I wonder if Senior Jason suffered any aftereffects.】

“…” Li Ye’s gaze fell on the cat’s eyes. After a moment, he took out his light brain and messaged Peisengke.

-I need data on Kailenoa.

The reply came quickly.

-Received.

Li Ye pocketed his light brain, scooped up the cat with one arm. “Watch over her. Keep recording.”

“You’ve got a lead?” Yulian smiled as he spoke. “Makes sense. You guys are always efficient.”

Li Ye casually grabbed Yulian’s mini camera device and strode toward the external docking platform.

In the shuttle, he didn’t start the starship. He quietly watched the ragdoll cat climb out of the carrier. After a long silence, he reached out, picked up the cat, placed it on his lap, and gazed down at those bright blue eyes.

In a brief moment, his furrowed brows slowly relaxed. His fingertip gently rubbed the cat’s chin, his voice low. “Li You, just how much have you been doing behind my back?”

Li You froze. “Meow?”

Li Ye closed his eyes, pinched his brow, opened them, pulled out that bottle of medicine, and fed himself three pills.

Li You was shocked and uncertainly eyed the label on the bottle.

“Once daily, one pill each time.”

He panicked and pounced forward, trying to pry open his brother’s mouth to dig out the pills.

Li Ye’s throat bobbed as he dry-swallowed them.

Li You:！！！

His two paws frantically pawed at Li Ye’s lips, patting and pressing.

【Spit them out!】

【Who takes medicine like that!!】

Li You anxiously watched his brother and noticed Li Ye staring fixedly at him, the area around his eyes gradually reddening.

He paused, then everything spun.

Li Ye buried his face into the cat’s belly fur, staying silent, utterly quiet, though his breathing was hot and unsteady.

“Li You…”

“…” Li You blinked, his two paws gently cradling his brother’s head.

“You shouldn’t have left me alone.” Li Ye’s breathing grew completely erratic, his voice trembling. “I’d rather you had killed me.”

Instead of leaving me alone in this world without you, slowly going mad.