I Marked My Arch-Nemesis Omega - Chapter 20

Sheng Yu had blocked Song Qing, feeling a bit awkward about the whole thing.

Why did that person have to thank her so earnestly? It wasn’t even anything important, yet it made her feel completely unsettled.

Originally, Sheng Yu had planned to head straight home, but as she passed by the fluffy pet shop, her steps faltered. Before she could even think it through, she found herself already standing inside.

It was Friday, and the shop wasn’t very crowded. The spot she had sat in last time was still empty.

Since she was holding food, the moment she sat down, a bunch of fluffballs immediately swarmed over. Probably because they were used to human interaction, they weren’t afraid at all—each one eager to jump onto her lap.

She spotted quite a few breeds she hadn’t gotten to pet last time. To be precise, most of the ones now climbing onto her were unfamiliar faces.

Sheng Yu glanced around and found the few she had interacted with before, raising an eyebrow.

Those fluffballs approached her but then quickly retreated.

Clearly, they still remembered what happened last time.

Seriously, after all this time, they still held a grudge? That was way too petty.

Sheng Yu mentally complained as she distributed the food, then casually scooped one up and placed it on her lap.

And just like last time, several fluffballs crouched nearby, glaring at her with unfriendly eyes.

Sheng Yu smirked in satisfaction.

“Ah, if I treated you all too nicely at once, you’d forget about me,” she murmured softly. “Next time I come, you’ll still remember me, right?”

The fluffball in her hands tried to swipe at her, but Sheng Yu caught its paw.

“Be good, be good,” she cooed gently, setting it down on the floor before picking up another one. Just as she was about to stroke its head, she noticed a palm-sized fluffball struggling to squeeze out from under a door.

The door was labeled “Growing Cubs,” decorated with tiny paw prints of various fluffy breeds.

The fluffball on her lap, having waited too long for her attention, tilted its head up at her in confusion, then lightly tapped her face with its tail as a reminder.

Sheng Yu glanced down at it before setting it aside and walking over to the door, crouching to watch.

The tiny creature looked up at her and let out a couple of small, fierce-sounding yips—though they carried no real threat.

Sheng Yu chuckled.

The little thing finally managed to wriggle free but was too exhausted from the effort to stand. It just lifted its head and yipped at her again.

Its eyes were blue, like highly polished gemstones—stunningly beautiful. Its fur was pure white, except for a faint yellow tinge at the tip of its tail.

“Oh dear, it’s escaped again,” a shop employee sighed as they walked over, sounding exasperated.

“What breed is this?” Sheng Yu asked, poking the fluffball’s head.

“Just a common local variant of cat. Are you looking to buy a pet, miss? Most young ladies these days prefer Star Foxes. I can show you some if you’d like,” the employee offered with a smile.

“How much for this one?” Sheng Yu asked.

“Are you sure you don’t want to see the Star Foxes? Their cubs are even cuter—pure snow-white, no mixed colors. Plus, their temperaments are much better, far more docile.”

“I just like that little bit of yellow on its tail.” Sheng Yu smiled. “Since you said it’s a mixed color, this cat shouldn’t be too expensive, right?”

The shop assistant glanced at Sheng Yu—pretty face, but no taste at all.

In the end, Sheng Yu bought the cat for two thousand yuan.

The cat crouched in Sheng Yu’s arms, restless, constantly trying to paw at her hair. Sheng Yu held down the cat’s paws and looked it up on her neural device. This breed was called a Min Cat—simple and straightforward, named after the planet Min where it originated.

Though called a variant, the Min Cat hadn’t changed much over the years. After generations of natural evolution and human intervention, it had simply become more disease-resistant and didn’t require vaccinations, making it very low-maintenance.

Min Cats were lively, intelligent, and could understand some human speech, but they weren’t particularly affectionate. Not many people kept them, and even among those who did, most preferred solid-colored ones. Mixed-color Min Cats like this one were practically unwanted.

Sheng Yu narrowed her eyes and looked at the cat in her arms, feeling like she might have overpaid. She lowered her voice and said, “If you hurt me, I’ll chop your paws off.”

The next second, the cat patted Sheng Yu’s face.

Sheng Yu stared at it. “Tsk. Don’t let it happen again.”

Back home, Sheng Yu ordered a beginner’s cat care package online based on the breed—it had great reviews and would arrive in an hour.

She set the cat down on the sofa. The little thing wasn’t shy at all, sniffing around everywhere. Sheng Yu lifted its paw to check—it was a female. The cat, displeased by this intrusion, swatted her again.

Sheng Yu flicked its head lightly.

The care package arrived quickly. She set everything up in an empty room—all the cat supplies were adorable, especially the cat bed, which matched the kitten’s fur so well that if not for the yellow on its tail, the cat would’ve been nearly invisible inside it.

The cat seemed to love the bed too, rolling around in it a couple of times.

After arranging the litter box, scratching post, and other essentials, Sheng Yu placed the cat next to the litter box. “This is where you do your business, got it? If you make a mess outside, I’ll smack you,” she said, squatting beside it.

The cat kicked Sheng Yu, then walked into the box, dug a little hole, and squatted inside, staring at her. Somehow, Sheng Yu could swear she saw a hint of smugness in those blue eyes.

“Not completely stupid, then. And don’t get poop on your fur either. I won’t have the patience to clean you—I’ll just shave all the fur off your butt,” Sheng Yu grinned. “Then post pictures online.”

Cat: ???

The cat climbed out of the litter box and kicked her again.

“Too weak. Didn’t feel a thing.” Sheng Yu stood back, watching as the cat stomped off to its bed in a huff. She took out the kitten food included in the care package—all age-appropriate.

The cat immediately scurried back out.

Sheng Yu chuckled. “No backbone.”

The cat ignored her, burying its face in the food.

Sheng Yu didn’t bother naming the cat. She couldn’t think of anything, nor did she care to.

For dinner, Sheng Yu ate something simple. Afterward, she checked on the kitten—it was sleeping peacefully in its bed.

Leaning against the doorframe, she rubbed her chin, wondering whether to buy a housekeeping robot to take care of the cat or just find a way to come home every day.

Sheng Yu rubbed her neck, closed the door, and returned to her room.

After all, she still had two more days at home, so she decided to figure things out tomorrow.

The next day, Sheng Yu slept straight until noon. Thankfully, she had set out food before going to bed last night, so the kitten wasn’t starving.

The kitten lay curled up in its bed, watching its human servant, Sheng Yu, with wide eyes.

“Come here, let me pet you,” Sheng Yu beckoned to the kitten.

The kitten didn’t move, staring at Sheng Yu as if she were an idiot. Narrowing her eyes, Sheng Yu smirked.

“If you don’t come over, no dinner for you tonight.”

Reluctantly, the kitten stood up and shuffled toward Sheng Yu. She gave it a couple of strokes before scooping it up and tucking it into the large pocket of her clothes.

The kitten clung to the edge of the pocket, peering out at the world outside.

The pocket was spacious enough to hold the kitten comfortably.

Sheng Yu studied the kitten thoughtfully, rubbing her chin.

She was considering the possibility of taking it to school with her.

Noticing Sheng Yu’s prolonged stare, the kitten let out a couple of warning meows.

“If I take you to school, can you promise not to make noise?” Sheng Yu asked. “There’s a really scary person at our school. If you’re discovered, they’ll throw you out.”

The kitten meowed once.

“I could leave you at home, but I won’t be back until Friday night. Ah, if you run out of food, well… too bad.” Sheng Yu sighed.

She had already ordered a cleaning robot, but she still wanted to tease the kitten a little.

The kitten fell silent, seemingly deep in thought, before finally burrowing entirely into the pocket—its way of promising to stay quiet.

Sheng Yu chuckled.

That evening, she took a couple of photos of the kitten and posted them in her social space.

Liao Keke: You actually got a pet??

Zhang Yunsu: So cute! Is it a Min cat?

…

Song Qing also saw the photos—and noticed the reflection in the glass: Sheng Yu crouching down to take the picture.