The Cat's Plan to Save the Villain

Synopsis:

The System tells the little orange cat that Jiang Zhou is the true young master and main villain in a story about a real and fake young master. After turning evil, he'll push the fake young master, the protagonist, down the stairs and kill him, causing the world to collapse.

The cat's mission is simple: change the villain for the better.

Shi Lu raises a paw. “How do I do that? With my claws?”

System: “...Cat, just follow my instructions when the time comes.”

How can you get a poor guy to take in an adorable, beautiful, big-eating (crossed out) little cat of his own accord?

System: “Just go for it. Act cute.”

The kitten takes a few shaky steps and buries his head against the human's leg.

Rip!

The kitten fastens his torn pants, then innocently licks his paw. “Meow meow meow?” (Can you take me in now, please?)

Jiang Zhou turns and walks away, his face cold.

The kitten's face falls. “...”

The mission proceeds with a few close calls, and Shi Lu secretly helps Jiang Zhou overcome one difficulty after another.

Good news: The plot has changed, and the kitten has successfully adopted the villain.

Bad news: Jiang Zhou's home is desperately poor. The cat gets leftovers, has no pretty cat bed, and has to sleep with an ice cube.

The big ice cube, Jiang Zhou, also keeps pushing him away and telling him not to act cute.

Shi Lu is so absorbed in making biscuits that he accidentally reveals his human form. He lies in Jiang Zhou's arms, a slender, fair-skinned boy with fuzzy ears swaying in his black hair. His cat tail curls around the stunned human's hand, and his catlike eyes sparkle with life. Shi Lu grins slyly.

“Jiang Zhou, I want a cat treat!”

He makes the demand without a trace of embarrassment, his voice crisp and clear.

Everyone who knows Jiang Zhou says he's a miser and a workaholic. Who works three or four jobs a day?

Recently, the miser has found himself dealing with a demanding, troublesome little orange cat.

The cat clasps his paws together. “Can you buy me a pretty toy, please?”

Jiang Zhou coolly picks up the kitten and carries him away from the stall, unmoved as the cat sadly kneads his pillow.

What a troublesome little thing.

The kitten gets tired of kneading, then comes over meowing and clinging to him, playing with the sheets. He looks so pitiful.

Jiang Zhou steps out with a sour look on his face and comes back with a pretty cat wand.

What an expensive little kitten.

*

After the Chen family takes Jiang Zhou back, he neither makes a fuss nor argues with the fake young master. His only request is to live in the alleyway, leaving the Chen family completely baffled.

They send someone to investigate and discover that he's been hiding a cat-eyed boy at home. The boy has bright, round eyes and runs up to jump on their young master's back. Jiang Zhou still wears a cool expression, but he carries the boy home at an unhurried pace.

*

When Jiang Zhou accidentally discovers why the little cat approached him, he sits silently to one side.

The System shrieks: “Aaaaah, he's turned evil! Cat, what do we do?”

Shi Lu naturally snuggles up to Jiang Zhou, pressing his cat ears against the man's face and brushing him with his tail. “Human, the cat won't leave. The cat will keep you, too.”

Jiang Zhou scoffs. “How are you going to keep me?”

Shi Lu wags his cat ears, looking very proud. “In Meow Meow Heaven, your household registration is under the cat's name.”

Jiang Zhou looks at the little cat babbling nonsense and helplessly rubs his head. “Remember, I love you.”

Only later does he learn that the cat wasn't lying. Their meeting was never a coincidence.

“Human, if it rains when you go outside, don't be sad. The little cat forgot to chase the clouds away for you. You have to forgive the cat. I hope you're happy every day.”

From Cat No. 16 of the Meow Meow Heaven System

[Jiang Zhou × Shi Lu]

[A tightfisted, bad-tempered cat lover × a noisy, demanding, warmhearted little orange cat (Don't call him fat. He'll bare his teeth at you.)]

[Everyday sweet moments, happy ending, alternate world, some original worldbuilding]

Theme: On rainy days, the cat just forgot to push the clouds aside