A Pretty Cat Turns Human, Then Flirts While Playing It Straight

Coming soon: I, an NPC, Have Three Powerful Big Brothers Who Can't Get Enough of Me. Please add it to your list.

Having just gone from cat to human, Leng Xi realized that his new coworker didn't seem to be human either.

His new coworker kept staring at fish and spitefully pushing things off the desk. He even went after the wind chimes hanging by the door.

As one of their kind, Leng Xi decided to teach him the rules for cats living in human society:

"You can't eat only meat, and especially don't keep staring at the goldfish. You'll give yourself away."

"Don't push the pen cap off the edge of the desk next time."

"And no jumping up to chase the wind chimes!"

Chi Xingyi was about to push a pen cap off the desk. Looking at the other's puffed-up cheeks and round, light-brown eyes, he smiled slowly. "Okay."

So cute. I want to eat him up.

*

Some time later, Leng Xi sadly realized that his new coworker wasn't one of his kind after all. He was human.

And this guy was especially fond of acting spoiled, even clingier than him, a little cat.

Meeting that handsome, innocent, and pitiful face, he helplessly gave up the sofa where he had curled up.

But how come this guy named Chi Xingyi wasn't satisfied with getting the sofa? He even climbed into Leng Xi's bed and snuggled up against him?!

*

Chi Xingyi realized his new coworker was ridiculously cute. When he got mad, he would stare at him with round eyes. When he got ruffled, a little pat on the head was enough to soothe him. So soft and adorable, just like a... cat?

The only problem was that the other guy was a little slow on the uptake. Chi Xingyi treated him like his wife, but he wanted to be Chi Xingyi's buddy?

With no other choice, Chi Xingyi pulled out all the stops. Though born into a wealthy family, he pretended to be poor and mooched meals and a place to stay, putting the rule of "the one closest to the water gets the moon first" into practice as he pursued his crush.

When the other guy looked at him with concern, he took the little fellow's hand and pressed it to his forehead, saying pitifully, "I'm so cold. Can I sleep with you tonight?"

Bonus Scene:

Later, on the day Leng Xi agreed to get together with Chi Xingyi, Chi Xingyi happily announced to the whole world: [We're together.]

Childhood Friend A: [Wait, haven't you two been living together for ages? You're only saying you're together now?]

Childhood Friend B: [If there's no news, you don't have to broadcast it. Take him away. Next.]

Chi Xingyi: Blocked them, changed his ringtone to "I've Got a Wife," and put it on the big screen that he had a wife.

Flirtatious but clueless, catlike straight guy bottom * self-deluding, wolf-in-sheep's-clothing big-dog top

Reading Guide:

1. Both are virgins, 1v1. The bottom flirts without realizing it. Early on, they keep talking past each other; later, it's all about winning his wife over. The bottom stays in human form throughout.

2. Equal parts romance and plot, with the plot serving the romance.

3. A sweet little story, just for fun. (Please add it to your list, thank you, everyone! (^ _ ^).)

Coming soon: I, an NPC, Have Three Powerful Big Brothers Who Can't Get Enough of Me. Please add it to your list. Blurb:

Ling Zhishui had felt like time was passing especially slowly lately. Then a basketball hit him on the head. He passed out, and when he woke up, he finally realized:

He was a background NPC in a melodramatic danmei novel, and the main characters were currently going through an important plot point!

The ridiculous author was determined to cram in every trending trope. The book had showbiz, enemies-to-lovers, turning a straight man gay, a gay man cross-dressing...

And the popular trope attached to him was being an adopted son of a wealthy family.

As an NPC who had read countless books and knew his place, Ling Zhishui wanted to escape his tragic fate.

He clung to his family members and wailed, "Dad, Mom, Bro, if I don't leave you, how am I supposed to become self-reliant?!"

He got a top-floor apartment in the city center, with the deed registered under his own name.

Ling Zhishui: Sob, this is so great. Clinging to powerful connections really pays off.

Full of tall tales, Ling Zhishui set his sights on his three good-for-nothing NPC roommates as the first step in his career.

Roommate A: Loves cross-dressing, glass-hearted

Ling Zhishui's version: A rising cosplay star, beautiful enough to blur the lines between masculine and feminine, with an exceptionally perceptive heart

Roommate B: An obscure online novelist, recently gifted a hate-reader's essay

Ling Zhishui's version: A trailblazer in avant-garde literature, indifferent to fame and fortune, with readers who would follow him through life and death

Roommate C: A dark-skinned student athlete, taciturn and awkward, hopeless with the opposite sex

Ling Zhishui's version: Overflowing with sex appeal, true to his word, and never involved in messy relationships

Roommates A, B, and C: ??? You can spin it like that?

At first, the internet said: [Great Sage Sun, come collect this bunch of demons.]

Later, Roommates A, B, and C became huge stars, Ling Zhishui went viral, and Dorm 168 trended.

Internet users: [Ling Zhishui, the matchmaking world will never let you set foot in it.]

[Zhishui, I'm a shut-in who loves anime. Write me a bio for tomorrow's interview.]

A sharp-tongued commenter said: Ling Zhishui makes up rumors with his mouth, gets every detail wrong, but somehow lands on the right answer.

The second and third brothers, whose careers had soared thanks to Ling Zhishui's help, said: Zhishui, give us some more people.

Ling Zhishui: Ah, wait. Let me make something up first.

The eldest brother (Have you all forgotten about me?): Stop making things up. Come to me instead

Ling Zhishui (obediently): Sure!

Eldest Brother: Warm my bed.

Ling Zhishui: Retracting my last message.

#So this is where the taboo-sibling trope was waiting for me#

#Seriously, how does this author manage not to miss a single trending trope?#

Theme: Pursue love and career at the same time, and win at life