When the Tsundere Rival Turns Into a Cat - Chapter 11

Li Xingcan played a few rounds of games and noticed the kitten had fallen asleep curled up in her arms, its tiny belly rising and falling gently. She lightly touched its pink nose, smiling as it snuggled closer. Something this adorable just warmed her heart.

No longer in the mood for gaming, she turned off the lights, put down her phone, and drifted off to sleep with the kitten in her arms.

When Jiang Qingyue opened her eyes the next morning to see Li Xingcan’s face, her brain momentarily short-circuited. She couldn’t believe she’d been careless enough to sleep so soundly in Li Xingcan’s embrace. Quickly checking herself, she was relieved to find she was still in kitten form.

Gently pushing Li Xingcan’s arm aside, she jumped off the bed. After one last glance at the peacefully sleeping girl, she leaped onto the door handle to let herself out. Practice makes perfect—by now, opening doors in Li Xingcan’s house had become second nature.

Downstairs, she spotted the housekeeper busy in the kitchen. The woman brought out a prepared bowl of cat food, which Jiang Qingyue promptly devoured.

“Meow~”

After finishing her meal, she bid the housekeeper farewell with a soft meow and headed outside under the woman’s watchful gaze. This way, even if Li Xingcan woke up to find her missing, she wouldn’t worry too much.

“Don’t stay out too long. Come back early for dinner,” the housekeeper called after her.

“Meow.”

Jiang Qingyue acknowledged the reminder before slipping through the garden fence and nimbly climbing back into her own room through the window.

Now came the waiting game. The transformation back to human form would happen within twenty-four hours, and with over half that time already passed, it shouldn’t be long.

Sure enough, she soon regained her human form. After another meal, she returned to her room to organize her desk. She needed to make the most of her limited time as a human—especially to work on Li Xingcan’s building blocks and her own homework.

Just as she was concentrating on her tasks, a knock interrupted her. Opening the door, she was surprised to find Li Xingcan standing there.

Li Xingcan still felt somewhat awkward around Jiang Qingyue. Clearing her throat, she handed over some papers. “These are blank copies of the holiday assignment worksheets. You don’t need to assemble my building blocks anymore—consider us even.”

Jiang Qingyue took the papers. They were indeed replacements for the ones Li Xingcan had burned, but completely blank. “Where did you get these?”

“Picked them up from school on the way. That’s it. Also, there’s a computer in the second-floor study you can use. No password.” Without waiting for a response, Li Xingcan turned and left.

Watching her retreating figure, Jiang Qingyue recalled Li Xingcan’s visit to school that day. Had she gotten them then? Back when they’d been at each other’s throats? Why would she…?

Meanwhile, Li Xingcan finally breathed a sigh of relief. She’d felt guilty about the incident, but now it truly felt balanced—Jiang Qingyue had destroyed her painstakingly assembled blocks, and she’d replaced the burned worksheets with blank ones, effectively nullifying both their efforts. Only now did things feel truly even.

Over the next few days, the two gradually found a harmonious rhythm in their coexistence. When Jiang Qingyue transformed into a cat, she would stay quietly by Li Xingcan’s side. In human form, she’d go out briefly to make her presence known before returning to her room to continue building with blocks. This way, whenever Li Xingcan occasionally noticed either the cat or the person missing, she wouldn’t get too anxious.

Since Li Xingcan had little interaction with Jiang Qingyue to begin with, she completely failed to notice that Jiang Qingyue and the kitten had never appeared simultaneously.

The week-long holiday passed neither too quickly nor too slowly. Apart from going out for a competition, Li Xingcan spent most of her time at home—playing games and feeding the cat—living a leisurely life.

The approaching school term didn’t affect her much. She still slept until noon and didn’t even know where she’d tossed her schoolbag.

“Has the kitten gone out to play again?” Li Xingcan asked casually as she came downstairs yawning.

“Yes, she ran out a while ago,” the housekeeper replied. “Miss, you should rest early tonight. School starts tomorrow, and you’ll need to wake up early.”

“Mmm,” Li Xingcan agreed absentmindedly as she sat at the dining table, clearly not taking the advice to heart.

While eating, Jiang Qingyue emerged. Li Xingcan glanced up, their eyes meeting briefly before she looked away first. “I’m done eating. Auntie, pack my breakfast for tomorrow—I’ll eat it on the way. Don’t wake me up too early.”

The housekeeper acknowledged, and Li Xingcan got up to leave without exchanging a single word with Jiang Qingyue.

Although their relationship seemed to have improved somewhat, Li Xingcan actually felt more awkward now than when they were quarreling.

Climbing the stairs noisily, Li Xingcan paused before entering her room and glanced back. Jiang Qingyue was sitting at the dining table and seemed to sense something, looking up just as Li Xingcan slipped into her room.

Jiang Qingyue averted her gaze and instead looked at the watch on her wrist.

Just a few days ago, she had been determined to move out of Li Xingcan’s home, yet she’d ended up staying much longer and causing Li Xingcan quite a bit of trouble. But soon, that wouldn’t be necessary anymore.

A new message popped up on her watch—a friend request.

The first time she’d transformed into a cat, Jiang Qingyue had sent a message to her mother. Her mother’s response was that a trustworthy person would come to deliver something to her, though it would take a few days. Now that person had arrived.

That morning, she’d received a call from someone named Zheng Wenbai, who introduced herself as a friend of Jiang Qingyue’s mother and an English teacher about to start working at Fuhua High School. The item Xuan Yu intended to give Jiang Qingyue would be handed over when they officially met after the school term began.

Additionally, Zheng Wenbai had asked where Jiang Qingyue was currently staying and whether the Li family knew about her true identity. Jiang Qingyue hadn’t told anyone about it yet, so naturally, no one in the Li household knew. Upon learning this, Zheng Wenbai suggested that Jiang Qingyue move out sooner rather than later—if she didn’t want to reveal the truth, it was best to avoid exposure, as ordinary people weren’t likely to readily accept such things.

This aligned with Jiang Qingyue’s own thoughts. Zheng Wenbai also mentioned that after starting her job, she would have access to a private teacher’s apartment where family members could stay. Jiang Qingyue could live with her then, making it easier for Zheng Wenbai to cover for her if any situations arose at school.

She didn’t rashly agree, but neither did she refuse. This was someone her mother trusted deeply, so Jiang Qingyue naturally had faith too. However, since she hadn’t met the person yet, the thought of living with a stranger still made her somewhat uneasy.

Zheng Wenbai didn’t press the matter, simply adding her as a friend first to discuss details after meeting when the semester began.

Jiang Qingyue accepted the friend request, knowing she’d likely be moving out soon—sparing Li Xingcan the discomfort of seeing her.

Li Xingcan wasn’t a bad person; they just might not be compatible.

Upstairs, Li Xingcan played a few rounds of games, but after a whole vacation of gaming, it all felt rather dull now. She turned off the computer. As it was getting late, she lay in bed watching the sun set bit by bit until the last glimmer of light vanished from the horizon, plunging the room into darkness.

Not bothering to turn on the lights, she adjusted her bed to a semi-reclined position and picked up her phone to start the projector, the curtains automatically closing with a soft whir.

“Click.”

Just as Li Xingcan was tossing and turning, unable to find a show to watch, her door opened. Looking up, she saw the little cat swishing its tail as it sauntered into her room, even turning to close the door behind it.

“You’re back early today?” Li Xingcan patted the edge of the bed, watching as the cat effortlessly leaped up and settled into her lap. She scratched under its chin.

Jiang Qingyue gazed up at Li Xingcan. If she moved out, it would mean the cat wouldn’t return either. Would Li Xingcan be heartbroken?

As a small compensation for the cat’s impending disappearance, Jiang Qingyue nuzzled against Li Xingcan’s palm of her own accord.

Li Xingcan let the cat curl up on her, stroking its fur as she murmured, “It’s still early. Keep me company and watch a movie. What do you want to see?”

Jiang Qingyue’s gaze shifted to the projection screen, listening as Li Xingcan mused to herself before selecting an animated film from a few years back.

Finally deciding, Li Xingcan hit play and pulled the blanket over herself and the cat. The quiet room was filled only with the sounds of the movie, creating a wonderfully cozy atmosphere.

Jiang Qingyue relaxed completely under Li Xingcan’s gentle strokes, her attention gradually captured by the film’s plot.

Both girl and cat watched intently. Li Xingcan’s hand trailed down the cat’s back to its tail, giving it a light squeeze. Jiang Qingyue, engrossed in the movie, couldn’t be bothered to react.

As the film neared its end, the protagonist’s narrow escape and happy conclusion lifted their spirits.

“How nice,” Li Xingcan sighed, looking down at the cat in her arms before planting a kiss on its head. She’d spend many, many more years with this little one.

The cheerful end credits continued to play. Jiang Qingyue swayed her head slightly along with the music, feeling equally content. This serene, relaxed sensation was almost like when she silently recited those incantations—even her mind felt clearer.

Lost in thought, Jiang Qingyue suddenly realized something: this feeling didn’t seem to come from the movie, but rather…

Li Xingcan, comfortably cuddling the cat, was about to pick another movie when she felt the weight in her arms shift abruptly. The soft, furry sensation in her palms transformed into something smooth and delicate.

Slowly looking down in confusion, there was no adorable kitten in her arms anymore—only a girl with cat ears on her head, staring back at her in panic. And the more she looked, the more familiar this girl seemed.

It was Jiang Qingyue…

This revelation clearly exceeded Li Xingcan’s comprehension. She blinked blankly at the person in her arms, momentarily frozen in shock.

Jiang Qingyue hadn’t expected that a moment of relaxation would lead to such a disaster—transforming into a human right in Li Xingcan’s embrace!

Seeing Li Xingcan’s stunned expression, she wished she could vanish into the ground. But she couldn’t move recklessly—after all, she hadn’t been wearing any clothes as a cat!

Mortified beyond words, Jiang Qingyue’s fair skin flushed crimson in an instant. Feeling Li Xingcan’s hand still resting on her waist, she hastily grabbed the blanket and wrapped herself tightly.

Only when her arms were empty and the cold air hit her did Li Xingcan finally snap out of her daze. Staring at Jiang Qingyue, who was now cocooned in the blanket with a scarlet face and refusing to meet her eyes, she finally managed to speak, “Jiang… Jiang Qingyue?”

Hearing her name, Jiang Qingyue burrowed deeper into the blanket. Could she just pretend this wasn’t happening?

Obviously not.

Li Xingcan watched as the cat ears on Jiang Qingyue’s head slowly vanished. Her heart was pounding so hard it felt like it might leap out of her throat, but she forced herself to stay composed. “Don’t you think you owe me an explanation for… this?”

Jiang Qingyue was certain she had never been more embarrassed in her life, but she couldn’t stay like this forever. Steeling herself, she muttered, “It’s exactly what you see. So… could you get me some clothes first?”

“Cl… clothes?” Li Xingcan’s mind was still lagging. Only then did she glance down at her hand, realizing where that smooth, delicate sensation had come from earlier. Her face burned red as she scrambled off the bed in a fluster. “Clothes—right! I’ll go find some for you!”