Changing information was a bit of a hassle. Nuobai was still thinking about her training, her tail absentmindedly brushing against Bai Luxin’s neck.
“Nuobai, it seems you’ve already found your next home.”
“What are you doing here?”
“I’m here to clean up your mess, of course.”
Bai Luxin looked up. Nuobai was glaring at someone, and she recognized the person as Nuobai’s former Beast Master.
Long Qianwu had her hair pinned up, exuding an elegance that carried a hint of coldness. She sat down across from them without any haste.
“After all, you committed Rebellion. If I don’t show up, you’ll be in for a lot of trouble.”
Qin Nian had reached an agreement with her: she would help Nuobai smoothly change her information, and in exchange, Qin Nian wouldn’t cause her any trouble.
She had originally intended to just sign the papers and leave. A pet she had discarded wasn’t worth wasting time on.
However, humans were strange creatures. Seeing how close Nuobai was to this girl, she couldn’t resist walking over.
‘She seems to have grown a bit. Has she finished her Cub Stage?’
“Nuobai, even after committing Rebellion, there’s someone willing to form a contract with you. You really do have a talent for being likable.”
“Why didn’t you just accept my arrangements?”
“You bastard!”
Nuobai’s fur bristled instantly, but Bai Luxin shielded her.
“Long Qianwu, you just wait. I’ll get my revenge. I’ll make you regret this!”
Seeing her like this, Long Qianwu felt a sense of satisfaction.
“Then you might not have the chance. 1 year from now, I’ll be participating in the Candlelight Selection.”
“By then, we won’t even have the opportunity to see each other again.”
Seeing Nuobai being held protectively in the girl’s arms, a surge of jealousy rose in Long Qianwu. She had never even held Nuobai like that!
Every time, Nuobai had intentionally avoided her. ‘Nuobai, why didn’t you just die?’
She was clearly her property, yet she lay comfortably in someone else’s arms. Even if she was something Long Qianwu no longer wanted, she should have been completely destroyed.
“Little sister, Nuobai’s temperament isn’t very good. You’ll have to keep a closer eye on her in the future.”
“After all, she’s unsociable, stubborn, paranoid, and she even committed Rebellion.”
“Once someone commits Rebellion, there’s always a second time.”
Threatening intent flashed in Long Qianwu’s eyes. She stared at Nuobai and reached out, intending to pat her head.
If Nuobai had been more obedient, she wouldn’t have planned to discard her.
Snow Joy Cats were rare and had very appealing appearances, which could have brought her quite a bit of extra profit.
Unfortunately, if she had known Nuobai would rebel, she would have been better off selling her. That person had offered a substantial price.
Forced by the fact that she might need Long Qianwu’s help to modify the information, Nuobai didn’t dodge. She thought of it as being bitten by a dog.
“What right do you have to talk about her?”
Bai Luxin grabbed Long Qianwu’s wrist. “She is my cat now!”
‘She is my cat now.’ Hearing those words, Nuobai turned her head and gazed blankly at Bai Luxin.
“You’re clearly the one who failed her, yet you turn around and slander her.”
“How did Nuobai ever wrong you?”
“The Candlelight Selection? 1 year from now, I will take Nuobai with me and defeat you.”
“Now, get out!”
“You aren’t welcome here.”
‘Defeat me? With a piece of trash like Nuobai?’
“Fine, little sister. I’ll be waiting for you.”
Long Qianwu spoke, but her gaze was fixed on Nuobai. Bai Luxin wasn’t worthy of her attention.
‘Nuobai, have you still not accepted your fate?’
‘Dragging a hotheaded greenhorn along… fine. For the time I have left here, give me some more entertainment.’
‘Don’t disappoint me again.’ Long Qianwu turned and left.
“Your cat jumped onto the table. Your cat is looking at you.”
Nuobai sat on the table, her tone a bit sarcastic. She admitted she had almost been moved to tears when Bai Luxin stood up for her.
But that phrase, ‘my cat,’ was like a critical hit.
She was a cat, but she would never admit it!
“Nuobai, we can beat Long Qianwu, right?”
“Of course. A tiny Long Qianwu is an easy win.”
20 minutes later, Bai Luxin buried her face against Nuobai.
Like hell they could. The Candlelight Selection was for picking the city’s future stars, and she didn’t even have the entry qualifications yet.
What on earth could she do to defeat her in 1 year?
“What’s wrong?”
Qin Nian saw Bai Luxin’s dejected look and placed the registration change on the table.
“The Master wants to go see the place where I was born.”
Nuobai hadn’t expected Bai Luxin to be so depressed after checking Long Qianwu’s detailed information.
“Sure thing. Let’s go.”
Acting as a human transport once again, Bai Luxin followed behind Qin Nian.
She was just an ordinary person. Would she hold Nuobai back?
She believed in Nuobai, but she didn’t believe in herself. She kept doubting if she had made a mistake or if she had the strength to protect her.
“Wake up.”
Qin Nian called out to the dazed Bai Luxin.
Snapping back to reality, Bai Luxin realized she was in an unfamiliar place.
“Where’s Nuobai?”
“She went out to play.”
“Oh.”
“Are you having a headache over that 1-year promise with Long Qianwu?”
“Don’t look so surprised. Nuobai told me everything while you were spacing out.”
“Are you afraid of losing?”
“Sister Qin, can I win?”
Qin Nian pointed outside the glass. “Nuobai has been different since she was little.”
“Because of her different-colored eyes and her tendency to be alone…”
“Over time, the other Snow Joy Cats started to isolate her. But she didn’t care at all. Day after day, she would talk in her sleep.”
‘I want to become the Beast King!’
Following where Qin Nian pointed, Bai Luxin saw Nuobai sitting in the distance. The surrounding Snow Joy Cats looked at her with curiosity, but none of them approached her.
“She was a real headache back then. She’d run off the moment you took your eyes off her.”
“But she was also special. At such a young age, she could endure the loneliness and practice hard day and night.”
“Bai Luxin, winning or losing isn’t actually that important. You can take her to experience things, to enjoy life.”
“When you’re tired, just come back here.”
“I remember you’re in the Department of Nutrition. You can help me prepare their food in the future.”
Qin Nian adjusted her glasses. Feeling afraid of the future and lost was perfectly normal. She just wanted the girl to hurry up and become a Researcher here. Housing and meals were included, and she could pet cats every day.
She couldn’t kidnap that little brat Nuobai back, but Bai Luxin seemed promising. If the Beast Master stayed, the cat wouldn’t wander far.
“Sister Qin, how do I raise a Snow Joy Cat?”
Bai Luxin’s eyes reflected Nuobai’s figure. Qin Nian felt as if she were seeing herself from years ago—she had also been bewitched into letting Nuobai run off like that.
‘There’s no saving her. The poison called Nuobai has already reached her bone marrow.’
“First, you have to understand that a Snow Joy Cat isn’t part of the Beast Class. It’s the Spirit Class.”
Bai Luxin looked surprised. “How is that possible? Aren’t cats part of the Beast Class?”
Qin Nian pulled up the data. “The infant form of a Snow Joy Cat is Ice Crystal Amber. They only become Snow Joy Cats after hatching.”
Then, a projection of an adult Snow Joy Cat appeared. Its size hadn’t increased much, but fine snowflakes danced around it, mixed with a mysterious and noble ice-blue cold current.
“Is this an adult Snow Joy Cat?”
“No.”
“??”
Bai Luxin was full of questions.
“This is a simulation of what an adult form looks like. Currently, there are no adult Snow Joy Cats.”
“The Spirit Class is a long-lived race, and it hasn’t been long since Snow Joy Cats were rediscovered.”
“So, every single Snow Joy Cat is very important!”
“I see.”
Bai Luxin sat up straight and nodded in agreement.
Qin Nian felt exhausted. ‘Then why won’t you give Nuobai back?’
After the lesson ended, Bai Luxin looked at Nuobai again, feeling as if she were looking at a money-swallowing beast.
It was true that Snow Joy Cats could survive on snow, but eating snow didn’t help them grow.
To reach adulthood, all sorts of natural treasures, spiritual flowers, and exotic fruits were essential.
That required a lot of money. The 1,000,000 award from before wouldn’t even be enough to make a sound.
That night in bed, Bai Luxin stared at the ceiling with a heavy heart, not even in the mood to play with Nuobai’s tail.
“Master, what’s wrong?”
Nuobai felt that Bai Luxin had performed well today. She moved closer and nudged her with her head, showing concern for her Beast Master.
‘What’s wrong? I’m broke.’
Was that something she could tell Nuobai? It was her responsibility.
It was so frustrating…
Lost in thought, Bai Luxin took off her pajamas, tied up her hair, and walked toward the bathroom.
“!!”
Nuobai buried her head under the covers. ‘What is she doing? Going to take a bath all of a sudden without saying a word.’
Her small ears twitched randomly, gradually turning a bit red.
“Nuobai, isn’t it time for you to take a bath too?”
A voice came from behind her, and Nuobai was picked up.
Meow!
She wasn’t washing!!