Yuanyuan pulled Dahua into her arms, gently stroking its fur while waiting for her friends to come and find her. Having once been a kitty herself, she knew all the right spots to pet, and it wasn’t long before Dahua began purring contentedly, rumbling like a small engine.

After what felt like ages, the sounds of her friends calling her name echoed outside.

The game was over—everyone else had been found, except for Yuanyuan, who remained hidden until the very end.

This outcome surprised even Yu Yingze, her older brother. When had his usually clueless little sister become so clever?

He briefly wondered if she had snuck home without anyone noticing, but those concerns vanished when Yuanyuan emerged, holding Dahua in her arms. Instantly, the other kids were drawn to the unusually calm and obedient tabby cat.

“Yuanyuan, where did this cat come from?” The kids gathered around, eager to pet the cat but hesitated, wary of its slightly fierce appearance.

Despite its intimidating look, Dahua was mostly a lazy cat and had no intention of harming anyone. After all, getting into a scuffle would only cause it unnecessary trouble.

“He’s a stray kitty,” Yuanyuan explained, placing Dahua on the ground, where it immediately flopped into a relaxed heap. “What does ‘stray’ mean?”

Yu Yingze crouched down, studying the cat curiously. “It means he doesn’t have an owner. He lives on his own, finding food and shelter by himself.”

Yuanyuan’s heart softened immediately. “Are you hungry?” she asked Dahua, concerned.

After all, she was 250 years old and still relied on her parents to feed her. How hard it must be to find food all on your own!

Dahua gave a cat-like smirk, its round face almost smug as it rolled onto its back, exposing its belly to the kids. “Heh, finding food isn’t hard at all.”

“Awww!” The kids squealed with delight. “He’s so cute! Let’s get him something to eat!”

“I’ll bring some food!”

“Me too!”

“I’ll go get a bowl of water for him.”

Within ten minutes, a procession of children returned, arms full of offerings for the stray. They laid out an impressive spread: sausage, chicken breast, canned cat food, and even some proper kibble for cats. Three bowls of water were lined up next to the feast.

The kids squatted in a circle, eyes wide with anticipation, making bets on which food Dahua would like the most.

“Wow, this one smells amazing,” Dahua purred, padding over to sniff the can of cat food.

One of the kids clapped excitedly. “He likes the food I brought!”

In a corner, another child looked disappointed, his shoulders slumped, holding a peeled sausage in his hand.

Dahua glanced at the dejected child, then sighed dramatically. “Ah, he lives the farthest away, and he went all the way home just to get me something to eat. Fine, I’ll start with his.”

With a lazy waddle, Dahua moved over to the sausage and ate more than half of it, licking his lips in satisfaction.

To make sure no one felt left out, Dahua sampled a bit of everything, leaving each child beaming with pride. After finishing a bit of water, the tabby sprawled out in the grass, basking in the afternoon sun.

“Wow, Dahua, you’re amazing!” Yuanyuan exclaimed, admiring the spread of “offerings” laid before the cat. She leaned down, her nose twitching as she tried to sniff the food herself. “I kinda want to—”

Before she could finish, Yu Yingze quickly grabbed her by the collar, his eyes wide in shock. “You’re not thinking of eating it, are you? That’s cat food, Yuanyuan! It’s not for you!”

Yuanyuan’s shirt collar wrinkled under her brother’s grip, and she pouted, looking up at him with big, sad eyes. “But I’m a kitty too!”

Dahua, mid-lick, froze, his curiosity piqued. He turned his head towards Yuanyuan, narrowing his eyes. “Are you really a cat? Then show me—turn into one.”