Want to Go Out and Play

The emergence of these new abilities prompted the authorities to pay even more attention to Bai.

Both Gao Xin and Wei the Cat, the only two contractors, deeply valued this skill that held the potential to restore their original forms.

Unfortunately, after several days of practice, their progress remained less than noticeable.

This was entirely understandable.

Humans who completely lacked information control, even if they glimpsed a sliver of skill through the contract, could only manage minor alterations like changing hair color.

Transforming their size or appearance remained entirely beyond their capabilities.

Moreover, even just changing hair color exhausted Wei the Cat with each practice session, and only yielded a tiny alteration.

Hair color changes were genuine transformations, not illusions, so the mental energy expenditure for interfering with reality was naturally immense.

The two cat-girls found new tasks: practicing their skills for research center experiments, undergoing daily physical examinations, and more.

Bai, on the other hand, ate and slept, played after waking, and when bored, stared blankly at random objects.

Occasionally, she would vanish from the surveillance for a few hours, only to return on her own.

The first time she disappeared, everyone panicked briefly.

But as the occurrences grew frequent, they all grew accustomed to it.

What else could they do? They couldn’t stop her.

Attempts to attach trackers proved futile; the moment Bai teleported, the tracker would simply fall off.

‘Time to rewind to the moment of her first disappearance.’

Gao Xin had rarely played with her lately, always looking listless from practicing her skills every day.

The Cat worried about her companion’s health.

The only truly interesting anomalous objects were locked away so tightly she couldn’t get in.

Bai began to feel bored once more.

‘Last time, after getting so many delicious things, I just came back. Should I go out again this time and see what’s out there?’

The Cat was a creature of swift action.

She immediately drew upon her previous escape experience, activating her Reincarnation ability.

Following the threads of causality, Bai’s figure gradually vanished from the containment room.

The commercial street at night was even more bustling than during the day.

Perhaps it was because more people were free, or the summer night’s temperature was perfect, or simply that the neon lights created a more vibrant atmosphere.

The kaleidoscope of colors dazzled human eyes, and cat eyes alike.

In Bai’s memory, summer nights were a time of tranquility, a time for the chirping of insects, a time when people sat on small stools, fanning themselves with palm-leaf fans, exchanging news.

This noisy, neon-lit summer night transcended Bai’s understanding.

It brought her immense shock and excitement.

Perched on a beverage vending machine, Bai’s eyes widened, and her tail twitched excitedly at the tip.

Just then, two young men, tired from shopping, approached the vending machine, muttering to each other.

“What are you drinking?”

“Cola, I guess.”

Watching the two pull out two bottles of the same black liquid that had once bitten a cat, and pour it down their throats, emitting pleasant emotions, Bai was utterly bewildered.

She tilted her head and leaped off the machine.

‘Humans, their tastes are truly strange.’

Hearing a thud beside them, the two young men, in the midst of chugging their cola, looked over in confusion.

A large, long-haired white cat with its tail erect was about to leave.

“Whoa, what a huge cat!”

“How did a cat get here?”

Curiosity is an inherent instinct.

The two young men pulled out their phones and chased after her, hoping to snap a few pictures.

Bai sensed the two people following her like shadows, but paid them no mind.

Bai was a cat who had seen the world (meaning she had extensive experience wandering streets and being gawked at).

As long as they harbored no ill will and didn’t obstruct her movements, Bai wouldn’t bother with such “stalkers.”

However, Bai completely failed to realize the difference between strolling through a sparsely populated, remote town and wandering a densely populated city commercial street.

Especially since Bai was a strikingly beautiful, large, long-haired white cat, her unique qualities made her exceptionally prone to attention.

Soon, Bai had to stop, annoyed.

A human wall had formed around her, and the sounds of cameras clicking and discussions buzzed incessantly.

Most were young people and parents with children.

“What a beautiful kitty!”

“No one’s holding her. Is she a stray?”

“She’s so clean and not afraid of people. She must have run out on her own, right?”

“Mommy, I want to pet the kitty!”

The clamor of voices grew louder as the crowd pressed closer.

The Cat took two steps forward, and the people in front tried to make way for her.

However, those on the outer ring, not understanding the situation, merely pushed inward out of curiosity, making it impossible to clear a path.

Bai flattened her ears in distress.

‘What is wrong with these humans?’

As she fretted, a young girl squeezed through, gesturing to the surrounding crowd to back away.

“Don’t get too close. Be careful not to get scratched. Too many people will stress the cat.”

“This cat is quite big; I don’t know if she has an owner. If you get hurt, no one will compensate you.”

Although some didn’t understand what ‘stress’ meant, hearing about potential injury made them step back.

Bai looked curiously at the girl before her.

She had dispersed the surrounding people with just a few words.

‘Quite impressive.’

The girl seemed a little nervous, tentatively extending her hand motionlessly towards Bai.

Bai lowered her head to sniff, detecting many other cat scents, and also the smell of delicious food.

Seeing that Bai didn’t resist, the girl sighed in relief and reached out to touch Bai’s nose.

Bai pulled her head back slightly, her eyes brightening.

‘This is the long-lost cat greeting! It’s been so long since anyone (or any cat) greeted Bai like this.’

The girl then placed her hand on Bai’s head.

Bai nuzzled into it inquisitively.

Seeing that Bai accepted her touch, the girl gently stroked the fur on her head, then massaged her cheeks behind her ears, occasionally scratching her chin.

‘This… what is this?!’ Bai couldn’t help but raise her tail. ‘Is this what humans call a massage? It’s so comfortable!’

Instantly, Bai looked at the girl with profound appreciation.

‘Quite perceptive, little sister.’

The girl stared, slightly stunned, at a cat displaying such human-like eyes, dismissing it as a mere illusion.

She reached out, supported the cat’s four paws, and, embracing her side, lifted Bai steadily into her arms.

“I’m a professional cat owner. I’m taking this cat with me for now. It’s too unsafe on the street, bad for both people and cats.”

“Later, I’ll post adoption messages in rescue groups and pet owner forums. Everyone, please bear witness. If anyone encounters the cat’s owner, tell them to come to ‘Cat Court Cat Café’ to reclaim her.”

With the explanation given, the surrounding crowd gradually dispersed, leaving only a few young people who were genuinely curious about Bai.

“This cat is truly beautiful! So adorable, I really want to pet her.”

“You’d have to get her permission for that.”

“Sister, where is the cat café you mentioned? I haven’t heard of one nearby.”

“It’s just two streets away, inside He’an Alley on Anmin Road. Feel free to come visit if you’re interested!”

The girl, holding Bai, kindly answered the questions until the last few people also left.

She then looked down at the cat in her arms, who showed no fear and glanced around.

“Did you sneak out on your own?”

Bai stiffened slightly.

‘Perhaps, it seems, yes, I did sneak out?’

‘But a cat can go wherever a cat wants!’

Bai quickly regained her calm demeanor.

Talking to the cat was merely a habit; she hadn’t actually expected a response.

The girl, still holding Bai, began walking home.