Chapter Forty-Six: Woman or Cat

So dazzlingly handsome, it’s almost unbearable! I can hardly bring myself to look! My face has been pressed under the covers all this time, my whole body trembling instinctively. It’s all because Wang Chuan has just finished his bath, wearing nothing but a white cloth—whatever it is—draped around his hips, while his upper body is still steaming with heat.

And I, just like his upper body, am burning up as well! My whole face feels aflame! Not just the blush of embarrassment, but actual heat—like I’m really on fire! Terrified, I keep patting my cheeks, but the fire won’t go out no matter how long I try.

Wang Chuan lets out a mocking laugh and walks over, tapping my face. Instantly, the flames sputter and die. I look at him, but it still feels like my face is burning.

“When will I ever be rid of this fire…” I pout, staring at Wang Chuan, feeling utterly aggrieved. “Whose fault is it you’re lazy and don’t study properly?” He squints at me, lazily settling onto the bed.

I swallow hard, unable to say a word, left with nothing but defeat. Thanks to the red pearl Wang Chuan gave me, I’ve managed to use it occasionally these past few days, but whenever my emotions slip out of control, I catch fire. If it’s not me burning, it’s someone else—there’s never any peace.

I sigh, but at least now I seem immune to flames. No matter how much I burn, I’m neither scorched nor hurt. So let it burn…

But then the quilt on me shifts. Wang Chuan silently reaches out, lifting the corner of the covers I’ve wrapped myself in, little by little, pulling them away.

“No, no…” I reach to grab them back, but under Wang Chuan’s frightening gaze, I withdraw my hands, watching helplessly as he teasingly pulls the covers from me, piece by piece.

Pouting in distress, I throw my hands in front of myself at the last moment. This feels far too dangerous, too frightening—I wish the earth would swallow me up and cool me down!

But Wang Chuan’s eyes, as if they can see every pore on my body, with a playful and triumphant glint, make me want to disappear entirely. What am I supposed to do? Who can tell me what to do?

Wang Chuan sits on the bed and, as usual, nudges me with his foot. I shift my knees aside, but, embarrassingly, some spell keeps my collar fastened, preventing me from moving. So I only manage to move my knees, then shift back, feeling awkward.

He chuckles, while I cover my chest with one hand and my face with the other, feeling like crying.

“What are you covering up for?” His voice is full of endless mischief.

“I—I—I…” I stammer, unable to form a coherent sentence, turning the last bit of my reply into a jumble.

Although I’ve grown much bigger than when I was a cat, I’m still not even a meter tall. Not the stubby kind of short, but simply a smaller version of myself—the same as before, just shrunken to a little over a meter.

Wang Chuan’s feet beside mine seem almost twice the size of mine.

“Come here.” I glance at him but remain kneeling in place.

“Tsk.” He clicks his tongue, a hint of impatience showing, and with a single motion, pulls me toward him.

“What’s wrong? Now that you’re back in human form, you won’t obey me?” he asks.

“I…” I look into Wang Chuan’s eyes for a moment, then drop my gaze. “No, I haven’t.”

“Look up at me,” Wang Chuan commands, his tone allowing no refusal.

I have no choice but to raise my head, though I feel blinded by his presence.

“Say ‘Master.’”

His eyes are full of mockery, making me feel like a pitiful creature—a poor thing being bullied without a shred of dignity! But what choice do I have? Right now, I must obey him unconditionally, without any alternatives.

So I bite my lip and softly murmur, “Master.”

Wang Chuan doesn’t criticize me, instead smiling with delight.

“Do you think you now look any different to me than before?” he asks.

I take a deep breath, unsure of his meaning.

“Come,” he says, reaching out to pull my hands behind my back.

I instantly blush and lower my head, unable to utter a sound. My arms are held behind me, trapped between his long legs, and Wang Chuan’s gaze seems to pierce every inch of my skin. Then he delivers his verdict:

“Your figure’s not bad,” he laughs.

I bow my head, desperately trying to control myself, feeling as if I’m about to burst into flames again!

But Wang Chuan leisurely adds, kicking my ankle gently.

“Still, compared to Rebecca, you’re far behind.”

The mention of her makes my hair stand on end with rage—I glare furiously at Wang Chuan! Who can compare to her? She’s practically not human! Not only is she mixed-race, but she looks like a porcelain doll! Large eyes, double eyelids, delicate skin, slender waist, long legs—she’s got it all!

Her mother must have given birth to something so beautiful it hardly seems real.

I remain trapped between his legs until his hand grabs mine and presses it against a place that should radiate heat.

Yet there’s no response there at all.

I frown, unable to understand Wang Chuan’s intentions, but I know he’s saying he has no interest in me.

It’s humiliating; I quickly pull my hand away, refusing to look at him.

If the man teasing me right now showed any reaction, I’d think he was a pervert—but he doesn’t. Instead, I feel like an absolute fool!

A fool, naked between his legs, yet utterly insignificant!

I’m furious, even on the verge of tears, but Wang Chuan grips my chin and won’t let go.

“Listen, you are my cat. Don’t think that becoming human makes you a person. From the day you wore the collar, I told you—from then on, you are only a cat. Obeying orders is all you should do.”

I nod, my nose tingling with sadness. “Yes, Master.”

Just as in the beginning, I remain respectful toward Wang Chuan.

Perhaps he’s telling me this to say that, in his eyes, every little cat is the same.

He stands before me after bathing, wrapped in a towel, making me blush because I see him as a man. He can change clothes, bathe, and look at me unclothed—even hold me in such a humiliating pose—without any reaction, simply because he doesn’t see me as a woman.

Who would react to an ordinary cat? Even if that cat is in human form, so what?

Ha… I laugh inwardly, though it’s a bitter laugh.

“Come,” Wang Chuan says, pulling me onto the bed.

Now I look like an undersized elementary student, unsure what to do, sitting there in a daze.

My mouth and heart are both bitter; I can’t see through Wang Chuan, can’t fathom him.

But thinking about it, with thousands of cats under his care, if each could see through him, how could he manage? So I’m certainly not the first, and the one thing I can control is my own feelings.

Since I’ve followed the same path as all the other cats—falling for and admiring my master—the only thing I can do is keep my emotions in check.

I mustn’t go mad with jealousy like Ning Ning.

And that’s what Wang Chuan meant just now, isn’t it? He’s warning me that, in his eyes, I’m still just a cat, as he’s always said: I must respect him, obey, and never be unruly.

I understand.

So now I stay obedient and motionless, finally grasping the truth.

With or without fur, it’s all the same.

In his eyes, it’s probably just a matter of size—there’s no difference.

But what’s with him now pulling me under the covers!?

“Hey, hey!”

He’s getting closer, the quilt filled with that wild masculine scent, and my back pressed against firm muscle.

I’m a little scared, especially when I feel his hand slip around my waist, holding my stomach, and my breathing becomes rapid.

I still can’t see him as just a master and not a man. But he is a man—every inch of him!

I panic, wanting to move but afraid, uncertain how long this dangerous game will last.

All I know is my breathing is in chaos, my emotions tumultuous.

Just as when I was a cat, he scratches my belly with his fingertips, tickling me.

Just like before, I can hardly resist, arching my back, wanting to snuggle closer!

Damn! What does this mean? Isn’t he done playing yet?!

“Purr, purr—” I start making that satisfied cat sound, instinctively covering my mouth!

I can still make the sounds I made as a cat—maybe my throat hasn’t changed at all?

Whatever the case, I should be grateful I haven’t turned into some half-cat, half-human monstrosity.

Just like this, the warmth from Wang Chuan helps me adjust to the lack of fur’s chill.

With his hand stroking my belly, I still lean toward him, curling my hands in, happily purring.

Wang Chuan acts completely normal, as if the creature in his bed is truly a cat, not a woman.

I sigh, knowing full well my face must be showing utter enjoyment—almost shamelessly so.

I don’t want to be like this, but I know this tickling is something I absolutely can’t resist!

“Why are you sighing? Are you uncomfortable?” Wang Chuan asks, eyes closed.

I nervously open my eyes, looking at him. “I… I’m just nervous… Ow!”

“Do you remember how you were punished last time for being dishonest? What did I ask you?” Wang Chuan still has his eyes closed.

Earlier, somehow, my tail got pinched! And it’s still in Wang Chuan’s hand—if I’m not careful, it might get pinched again!

“Master, I… I…” I blush furiously, finally covering my face and shouting, “I’m comfortable, alright!”