“Coming straight toward us is—the Empire Magnolia Kindergarten contingent.”
The instant Li Ao dragged Xun out the door, countless flashes lit up, turning the little cat into a literal lightbulb.
A little cat glowing in the physical sense.
Li Ao froze in place, his fur all fluffed up, blue cat eyes blinded by the lights, unable to open. His ears flattened against his head, tail tucked tightly, trying to process what was happening.
The crowd’s roars surged like a tidal wave:
“Li Ao!!”
“His Highness Leo, look over here!”
“Little Highness Kitty, I love you so much—!!”
Countless excited shouts rose one after another, blending together, the scene as hot as a superstar’s planet tour.
The little cat was dazed, blasted in the face by the wind from the blowers, ears twitching nonstop. He clung tightly to the little dog beside him. Xun stayed perfectly calm, his scarlet beast eyes glaring viciously at the flashing lights, looking ready to breathe fire any second.
Only when the staff rushed up to restore order and control the photography did the little cat’s vision finally return to normal.
“Please head that way.”
The staff member crouched down, reaching out to point the direction for the little cat.
Li Ao nodded and toddled forward on his short legs.
Because of his low chassis, he always liked to stand on his hind legs to walk, but halfway through, he got tired. With a paw swipe to the ground, plop, he switched to all fours, snatching the balloon in his mouth and da-da-da-ing toward the stage.
His pumpkin pants were already plump, stretched tight over his stubby cat legs, wrapping his little butt and fluffy big tail in a bulging pouch that swayed side to side with every step.
The live broadcast equipment captured this perfectly, the ultra-HD lens tracking the whole way, even the tiny stretched patterns on the pumpkin pants crystal clear.
【Cat butt! Ying! Round and rolly kitty butt!】
【I can’t take it, I’m dying of moe. Why aren’t I there?! I’m going to 92 Star for vacation to see cats RIGHT NOW (screaming)】
【Is this the empire’s future monarch? Wuwuwu, I submit to the little cat butt!】
【Little kitty’s almost on stage! Oh no, there are steps!】
This was a flight of about twenty steps— for humans, just a few strides away.
But for a short-legged cat…
Li Ao could only place his front paws on the step, hind legs pushing up with all his might, climbing one by one.
The little coal ball followed suit, the two tiny ones hopping along, turning this short distance into a full mountaineering challenge.
Some staff wanted to help, but they could only think about it. This was the empire’s future monarch—who dared lay hands on him to pick him up?!
【This segment… difficulty on par with military academy fitness tests! (wrong)】
【Why do Delphi people get such a cute little cat in the interstellar era? Not fair! Demand breeding of primitive cats asap!】
【If Little Prince grows up and sees these videos, will he faint from his own cuteness?】
【I’m already hallucinating… when the kitty grows up into someone like his dad (cool)(handsome), and someone holds up his childhood photos—ahahahaha】
【What to do, that scene just makes me wanna laugh】
The little cat, still oblivious to the embarrassing future awaiting him, finally reached the top of the steps. He pinned the balloon under his paw, panting, tempted to just sit right there.
But seeing everyone else on stage waiting, he stood up again, one paw on the balloon string, the other holding Xun, wobbling into the center.
Only the top ten contestants were on stage, first place dead center, second and third flanking, positions descending outward.
Li Ao should’ve been in fifth, but first and third were both Delphi natives. Seeing their Highness arrive, how could they stay put? In front of hundreds of thousands below, they immediately knelt to the cat.
“His Highness Leo!” PJ’s face lit up with uncontainable excitement as he reached out for the Delphi kiss-hand rite.
But on the same level, even kneeling on one knee, the height difference made reaching the cat’s paw a stretch.
PJ’s own height fell short, but Li Ao had his little dog! The little Highness Kitty, accustomed to Delphi greeting customs, climbed onto Xun’s head, stood on tiptoe, and extended his paw. “Hello.”
PJ was so blissful he nearly fainted on the spot. He didn’t dare grip it, just let the little cat’s paw rest in his palm, lowering himself to boop it gently.
【First-place bro, your face is redder than my house’s whistling kettle.】
【Lol what kind of metaphor is that upstairs hahaha】
【First-place bro’s always so fair-skinned, blushing like this is so unfamiliar hahaha】
Down below, Brenna clutched her handkerchief, mentally kicking her little brother from head to toe. “Lucky brat.” She hadn’t even gotten a chance for her own kiss-hand rite with His Highness!
The third-place girl with the high ponytail was visibly thrilled too. The two Delphi folks yielded the center spot, letting Li Ao lead his little dog to C-position.
It broke protocol, but who dared object?
【OMG, little kitty in the middle makes the whole stage cute.】
【C-position is rightful!! Who dares complain?!】
【He’s here to claim the Interstellar Cutest Fluffy Cat Award—what’s wrong with C-spot?】
【Good baby, short legs but stands steady.】
The bullet comments had just praised him when the little cat couldn’t hold it anymore. Without much hesitation, plop, down he sat.
He even found himself a backrest, leaning against Xun, front paws stretched straight out on the ground, one paw loosely holding the balloon string—pure slacker vibe.
【Smart kitty, knows to lean on little dog to save energy—good kitty!】
【Kitty tired but didn’t forget to hold the school sign—good kitty!】
【Little dog lets kitty lean—good doggo!】
【Wait, what? You’re all just accepting that black coal ball as a dog? What dog looks like that?!】
【Don’t worry about it—if kitty says it’s his little dog, it’s a dog.】
The dutiful little dog Xun not only provided a lean but also took over the balloon from the kitty’s paw.
The holographic big screen had begun playing highlights from the competition. The somewhat wilted little cat snuggled next to his doggo, ears drooping. But when he spotted a familiar figure on screen, his ears perked up instantly, eyes sparkling.
“Xun, that’s you!”
It was footage of Xun slaying a Xenoid Variant on the snow mountain.
Though that kill hadn’t counted toward Li Ao’s personal score, the organizers clearly valued the feat, clipping it into the highlights.
The little cat watched raptly, blue eyes glued to the big screen. But all viewers could see his little paw sneak into his pumpkin pants pocket, fumbling for something.
【Baby doing what?】
【Scratching an itch?】
【Kids gonna be kids, probably lost patience already.】
Until Li Ao rummaged twice and pulled out his chocolate.
He deftly unwrapped one, popped it in his mouth, then unwrapped another and naturally fed it to Xun.
The little dog happily accepted the feed from the kitty, obediently holding the candy in his mouth.
His little paws dangled, and the little cat contentedly resumed watching the screen, tail tip flicking happily.
【Help, how is he so good wuwuwu—even folds the candy wrapper neatly back in his pocket.】
Down below, Silver Wing multitasked. Watching the stage while linked to Star Network. Hearing folks say that, it couldn’t help a cold scoff. Good? Why else would that short-legged cat save the candy wrappers? Obviously to stick those garish, tasteless papers all over the mecha.
【I wanna report—a contestant eating snacks munch munch at the award ceremony! I can hear the Thud lip smacks!】
【Report invalid! Reporter sentenced to face-wall reflection—no cat viewing!】
【Lord Judge, pleeease let me be that chocolate.】
The martial test segment ended on the big screen, cutting to the cultural exam.
Unlike the intense battles, this flashed quickly through the top ten’s answer sheets, showing scores briefly without lingering.
But just as viewers thought culture wouldn’t take much time, the screen froze—switching to the little cat’s exam scene.
Qin Mian was questioning, the little cat sat primly on the ground, blue eyes fixed intently on the examiner, paws balled into fists in front, looking deadly serious and full of confidence.
But the moment he opened his mouth…
His ass-backwards answer shocked the whole field!
【Lmao hahaha, you ask your question, options 1 2 or 3—but kitty’s got his own verdict!】
Qin Mian hadn’t judged right or wrong then, so Li Ao spoke righteously, even a bit proudly.
【Empire’s most noble Little Highness Kitty would never cheat—this is pure fabrication!】
【Bad examiner, kid answered so earnestly—give some pity points at least, not a big fat zero!】
Not just Star Network, not just below stage—even onstage contestants shook with laughter.
Li Ao was baffled, not getting the joke but instinctively embarrassed. He didn’t sit anymore, scrambling to all fours and squatting rigidly.
【Wuwuwu Little Highness is shy! How can it be this funny AND this cute aaaaaah!】
PJ and the high ponytail girl flanked the little cat from left and right. The fair and clean boy kept a straight face as he said, “Our Highness isn’t even six yet. Even if he scored zero on the cultural studies, his overall score still ranks fifth.”
The people on stage were all new humans with Spiritual Power exceeding 30, their hearing naturally sharp. The contestants who had just been holding back their laughter suddenly froze up.
Everyone’s gazes unanimously landed on the big red balloon swaying above the little cat’s head.
The words printed on it were especially striking, in huge letters: Empire Magnolia Kindergarten.
—
Empire wasn’t the issue, and Magnolia sounded fine too, but… kindergarten…
The entire stage instantly plunged into a bizarre silence.
They couldn’t laugh anymore. Really.
They had lost to a cub who scored zero on the cultural exam—and this cub hadn’t even started school yet!
They finally realized: this wasn’t an award ceremony at all. It was a public execution for these foolish college students.
So embarrassing. Way too embarrassing. Could they leave? They really couldn’t stay any longer.
【First time seeing that “life is meaningless” look on people’s faces hahaha】
【Keep laughing! Why’d you stop hahaha】
The contestants on stage moved like human machines, silently accepting their awards with zero joy on their faces.
In complete contrast was little Li cat. His blue eyes were watery, his round furry face brimming with anticipation as he stared at the little red flower and grand certificate in the presenter’s hand.
“This is for Li Ao, right?”
Qin Mian had no connections or background—she was the Federation’s famed Iron Lady. She had devoted her entire life to the Federation, never married, and had no children.
At this moment, gazing at this chubby little cat, she felt her heart soften in a way that didn’t feel like her at all.
“Yes, this is the award you won.”
The medal representing fifth place in the Dawn League was hung around the little cat’s chest. The specially adjusted length kept it from dragging on the ground, but it was still a bit long, dangling and swaying against his soft, fluffy belly.
Li Ao took the little red flower from Qin Mian’s hand and pinned it right on Xun’s forehead. Then, holding his certificate high with both little paws, he proudly showed it off to the cameras: Interstellar Cutest Fluffy Cat Award.
As for that Dawn League fifth place—who would even remember it?
