The Cat-girl’s New Pastime

Having transformed into her human-like form, Bai wandered aimlessly around the base.

Clutched in her hands was a large carton of milk.

This transformation into a Cat-girl was specifically so she could fully savor the sensation of drinking heartily.

Without a particular destination, Bai simply moved on instinct.

Milk stained the corners of her mouth as she occasionally lifted the carton to take another generous gulp, her movements filled with an unrestrained spirit.

As she ambled along, Bai softly hummed an unfamiliar melody, her newest form of entertainment.

During her time in the Old City, Bai had often heard the sounds of traditional opera and folk songs.

These artistic expressions of language and rhythm carried the joys and sorrows of ordinary people, telling stories and legends that were woven into each melodic phrase.

Recently, Bai had discovered instrumental music, another new thing she adored.

The regular rise and fall of sounds, the varying pitches—it was merely a voiceless melody, yet it contained a wealth of information.

Though subtle, this information could even be grasped by ordinary people.

Bai particularly loved the upbeat tunes.

Utilizing the more developed vocal cords of her Cat-girl form, she tried humming a melody she had heard the previous day.

She remembered the rhythm well, interspersed with rustling sounds like wind blowing through a forest, and a recurring violin motif.

It brought to mind her days of running and hunting through the woods.

Lost in these thoughts, Bai happily narrowed her eyes, unconsciously weaving her imaginings and mood into the melody she hummed.

“Hum~ hum-hum~ la~~”

“Hum-mm~~ mm~ Meow~”

Bai’s song echoed through the quiet corridor.

Without realizing it, she had arrived at the research center.

“I don’t think this part is suitable.”

“The overall structure of this substance absolutely cannot be perfectly stable; it can only be…”

Two researchers, having just emerged from a laboratory, discussed their materials as they walked.

Bai, humming her tune, brushed past them.

Her inexplicably cheerful melody reached their ears.

One researcher suddenly raised a hand to wipe the corner of his eye.

He was suddenly reminded of his carefree days before he left his hometown to embark on his journey of growth.

Bai’s song was like gentle sunlight, full of vitality, dispelling worries and fatigue.

Bai garnered affection from everyone.

Even without the ability to bestow magical powers, this fondness would hardly diminish, for the passive effect of her Pure Land of the Heart constantly influenced those around her.

She didn’t attend school, didn’t go to work.

She didn’t speculate about the personalities or pasts of everyone she met.

She didn’t dwell on what she deserved but hadn’t received, nor did she fret about the future yet to come.

Such a carefree, joyful Cat-girl naturally exuded emotions that could soothe everyone’s hearts.

Her softly hummed melody abruptly ceased.

The two researchers, snapping back to reality, immediately looked towards the source.

Bai had stopped, lifting the carton of milk to her lips for another gulp.

Her tail swayed joyfully behind her.

‘Had she finished the milk?’

Bai lifted the carton and shook it.

It felt light, with no sign of liquid sloshing inside.

‘Then I’ll drink it next time.’

Bai placed the empty carton on her head, playfully swaying as she resumed her steps towards an unknown destination.

The interrupted melody picked up once more.

Watching the Cat-girl’s carefree silhouette gradually recede, her song fading with her, the researchers realized a smile had unconsciously formed on their lips.

“How wonderful…” one sighed, and they returned to their work.

Eventually, after a long wander, Bai arrived at a peculiar room.

Despite being in the research center, this room was set up like a classroom.

Bai tiptoed, finding it a bit strenuous.

She summoned her luxurious flying cat bed, sat on it, and floated closer to the window, peering inside with curiosity.

Inside were several scholars who appeared to be quite elderly, and Dr. Cat was also present.

They seemed to be lecturing students, with various symbols and diagrams drawn on the blackboard.

As for the students, Bai recognized them: three Cat-girls, including the Plant Cat who had invented peanut butter barbecue.

Bai’s Appraisal skill was immensely powerful in potential, but without knowing how to utilize it, it remained just that—potential.

Much like Bai herself, when it came to the sheer volume of information obtained, all the contractors combined couldn’t compare to her.

However, if she were asked to articulate it, Bai might speak even less fluently than Yun Juan.

Therefore, these Cat-girls, considered more precious than the most valuable experimental equipment by scientists, required not only the best food, accommodation, and treatment, but also education in the knowledge relevant to their future work.

At the very least, they needed to understand the direction for gathering information and learn to articulate their findings using professional terminology.

The Cat-girls assigned to external missions also received excellent treatment; it was merely inconvenient for communication.

Incidentally, comparing these Cat-girls to machines shouldn’t suggest they were undervalued.

On the contrary, it signified immense importance; a top-tier piece of equipment, to put it bluntly, was more vital than life itself.

Perhaps it was the telepathy between contracts, for as soon as Bai pressed against the window, Dr. Cat immediately turned to look—a cute face, with a hint of foolishness in its eyes, was pressed against the glass.

Dr. Cat blinked, switched personalities, and, as if struck by an amusing thought, smiled faintly and opened the classroom door.

Bai twitched her ears, floated in on her cat bed, circled the classroom, and sniffed each of her four companions present.

“Boss Bai? Why are you here?” the Plant Cat asked, scratching the leaves on her head.

‘Why did I come?’ Bai fell into thought.

‘How did I get here?’

‘I don’t know.’

OωO

The three elderly scholars nearby quietly confirmed the identity of the white-furred, cat-eared girl who seemed a little out of it.

“She’s the… source?”

“Yes, her name is Xuan Bai.”

“She doesn’t look particularly special, but she’s certainly cute.”

“You’re just used to seeing these young girls now, aren’t you?”

“Cat ears and a tail are the biggest special features.”

“What’s the principle behind that thing she’s sitting on?”

“It doesn’t look mechanical.”

“What power makes it fly?”

“Is it an anomaly?”

While they discussed, Bai had already greeted each of her companions.

She floated gracefully to stand before the three scholars, extending her small head to sniff them closely.

This method was certainly not as clear as simply activating her All-Seeing Eye, but it was Bai the Cat’s instinct: to sniff and become familiar!

The sudden closeness of the girl startled the three old men, who froze, afraid to move.

Only when Bai, perched on her shrunken cat bed, looked at them curiously did they relax.

The three old men and Dr. Cat hadn’t even had a chance to ask anything when Bai spoke first.

She went behind one of the old men and poked his lower back.

“Uncomfortable?” Bai tilted her head, inquiring.

“Are you asking if I’m uncomfortable here?” the old man asked kindly, turning his head sideways.

Bai nodded.

The Cat could smell a decaying scent there.

“The Cat will take you for a check-up later, meow.”

“My boss’s abilities are incredibly powerful,” Dr. Cat said, sounding even prouder than Bai.

“Oh, oh… alright,” the old scholar responded, stroking his head in a daze.

In his eyes, all the Cat-girls in the room were fascinating.

The knowledgeable little one before him had multiple personalities, and now seemed to have switched to a livelier one.

Among the three students, one had leaves growing on her head, which was truly incredible.

It seemed there was also a particularly short, cat-eared girl among the base’s officers.

It was fortunate he wasn’t in biology, or he would undoubtedly be ecstatic.

Dr. Cat pulled Bai closer, initiating her plan.

As the source, Bai’s All-Seeing Eye was undoubtedly the strongest, and Dr. Cat hoped to coax Bai into attending the lecture to freely utilize her computational power.

Bai gazed at Dr. Cat for a while.

The Cat could tell Dr. Cat’s motives weren’t pure, but there was no harm in it.

Learning new things was quite interesting, after all.

After some deliberation, Bai finally nodded before Dr. Cat, who had started to break out in a cold sweat.

The dry, complex lecture resumed, only now with one more feline listener.

‘Ah, I’m full, the sunshine is lovely, and the professors’ voices are just right.’

‘It feels like lying in the square before, listening to the old people chat.’

Bai’s mind, struggling to process the teaching information from the old man, gradually seized up.

Soon, it completely shut down.

“This…”

The old professor looked at Bai, who had already retreated into her cat bed to sleep, and hesitated as he glanced at Dr. Cat.

Dr. Cat sighed, approached the cat bed, and looked at Bai, who was drooling while hugging her tail inside.

She gently rubbed her head.

“Mh-hmm… hiccup… Meow.”

Bai burped, a scent of milk wafting out.

Dr. Cat pushed the floating cat bed, along with its occupant, into a corner and clapped her hands.

“Never mind, let her sleep.”