Chapter 9: My Cat — Snowball
The moment Chu Yansen and Shu Can stepped into the breeding room, they were stunned, as if they had crossed into an entirely new world.
They stared blankly at a scene they had never witnessed in their entire lives.
Four snowy-white Snow Crystal Cats, as beautiful as little angels, were playfully frolicking together!
One of them sat gracefully licking its paw. Its sapphire eyes flickered as it looked up to curiously inspect the newcomers. The moment their eyes met, Chu Yansen felt as if he had been struck by lightning; a violent shudder ran through his entire body.
Another kitten was curled up into a perfectly round, furry little ball, letting out a lazy yawn. Its tiny paws, impossibly fluffy and cute, swatted lazily at a scratching board before it rolled onto its back, exposing a plush white belly as if inviting them to rub it.
Chu Yansen swallowed hard, his throat bobbing involuntarily.
The most mischievous of the bunch was attempting to scale a cat tree. Its tiny claws scrambled desperately for purchase, but it kept sliding back down, letting out frustrated little meows. Yet, it seemed entirely unbothered, eagerly trying to climb up again and again.
The smallest kitten sat quietly off to the side, tilting its head as it watched its siblings. The artificial sunlight from the incubator washed over its body, making its fur shimmer like fresh winter snow.
Watching this scene unfold, the two men felt their health bars instantly drop to zero.
Chu Yansen stood frozen at the doorway. This reality was far more staggering than anything he had ever conjured in his wildest dreams.
A real, living, breathing Snow Crystal Cat was right in front of him! And he was close enough to reach out and touch it.
Suddenly, the mischievous kitten swatted its water bowl with a tiny paw, knocking it over and sending water spilling everywhere.
Su Wudeng’s vision went dark. She let out a helpless sigh.
Walking over quickly, she mercilessly scruffed the kittens by the back of their necks one by one and deposited the little rascals back into the incubator.
“You little troublemakers. I guess you don’t want any water today, huh?”
Seeing this, Chu Yansen instinctively shouted, “Hey, be gentle!”
Watching the kittens get hoisted into the air by the napes of their necks made his heart physically ache. They were so incredibly tiny and fragile—how could she grab them so violently?
Su Wudeng turned around and offered an amused smile. “It’s fine. Grabbing them like this doesn’t hurt them at all.”
If she had tried to gently scoop them up one by one, who knows how long they would have squirmed and fought her. This method was the fastest.
Chu Yansen watched in distress, his hands twitching with the urge to rush over and carefully cradle each kitten himself.
Just then, Shu Can yanked on Chu Yansen’s sleeve, his voice trembling violently. “Brother Chu, are we hallucinating? These are actual Snow Crystal Cats!”
“I feel like I’m dreaming right now.”
He was so overstimulated he was practically babbling. “Aren’t Snow Crystal Cats functionally extinct? Even with limitless money, I’ve never heard of anyone actually finding one!”
“And yet, there are four of them sitting in this tiny shop! Alive! This… this is absolutely absurd!”
Shu Can let out a profound sigh. “The fact that a hopeless cat slave like you managed to stumble into a probability like this… God must really pity you.”
If Chu Yansen hadn’t insisted on traveling to this remote, fourth-tier planet specifically to hunt down the Moon Shadow mechanical replica, he would have undoubtedly missed these real Snow Crystal Cats forever.
“But…” Shu Can added, his tone sobering, “they’re unimaginably precious. Do you really think Shopkeeper Su is going to sell one to you?”
Chu Yansen’s heart pounded against his ribs.
From the very second he laid eyes on the Snow Crystal Cats, he had resolved to buy one, no matter the cost. But a treasure this extraordinarily rare—would she actually part with it?
He rapidly began calculating the maximum amount of liquid capital he could mobilize on short notice.
One hundred million? Two hundred million? Will that be enough?
If she asked for more, he would need time to liquidate other assets.
Su Wudeng finished cleaning up the spilled water and reorganizing the nest. Dusting off her hands, she finally had a moment to turn around and properly address her two guests.
She immediately noticed that Chu Yansen looked entirely spellbound. His gaze hadn’t wavered from the kittens for a single second, and the raw, overwhelming adoration in his eyes was impossible to hide.
Su Wudeng understood immediately. A faint, knowing smile played at the corner of her lips. “It seems you’re quite taken with these little guys, Mr. Chu.”
“Are you interested in taking one home?”
Chu Yansen snapped out of his trance. All his previous calm composure vanished, replaced entirely by burning eagerness.
“Shopkeeper Su, I… I have adored cats since I was a child.”
“Over the years, I’ve purchased countless high-end mechanical pets and watched thousands of hours of cat documentaries.”
“Every single night before bed, I spend at least two hours just watching cat videos…”
“But I have never, ever seen a real Snow Crystal Cat as breathtakingly beautiful as these.”
Su Wudeng was genuinely taken aback. Two hours? Every night? With that kind of dedication, this man was a terminal, incurable cat slave!
“Shopkeeper Su,” Chu Yansen suddenly said, his expression turning deadly serious, his eyes brimming with absolute sincerity. “If you are willing to part with one, I am prepared to offer two hundred million credits for a Snow Crystal Cat.”
“Ah… what?!” Su Wudeng’s brain short-circuited. She had never heard such a massive number spoken so casually in her life. “Two hundred million credits?!”
Misinterpreting her shock as dissatisfaction, Chu Yansen hurriedly backpedaled. “I apologize. That is simply the maximum amount of liquid cash I can access right this second. If you feel that isn’t sufficient, I can liquidate some company shares…”
“I’ll just need a little time to process the transfers—”
“Wait, wait!” Su Wudeng frantically cut him off. “I wasn’t saying it wasn’t enough; I meant it’s way too much! The truth is, this isn’t about the money.”
Now it was Chu Yansen and Shu Can’s turn to exchange confused looks.
Not about the money? Then what is it about?
Shu Can sensed a red flag. Did the shop owner just not want to sell to them?
He narrowed his eyes suspiciously. “Shopkeeper, you don’t actually want to sell to us, do you? Is that why you’re stalling?”
“Listen, we both know how impossibly rare Snow Crystal Cats are. The price my friend is offering is more than sincere.”
“If you really think it’s too low, we are completely open to negotiation.”
He gestured toward Chu Yansen. Only Shu Can knew the true depths of his best friend’s feline obsession.
“Shopkeeper, you might not realize just how much Yansen loves these animals.”
“We aren’t locals. We traveled all the way from the Capital Star. He endured several grueling days on a starship just to get his hands on the Moon Shadow mechanical cat. If he wasn’t genuinely, desperately devoted to cats, who would go to such absurd lengths to come here in person?”
Shu Can pressed on, his tone pleading. “If you’re worried about their welfare, Yansen can record and send you daily update videos. Would that work?”
“Please, don’t use the ‘it’s not about money’ excuse to reject us. Brother Chu genuinely wants to buy one!”
Chu Yansen’s eyes were slightly red, his Adam’s apple bobbing nervously as he looked at Su Wudeng with desperate anticipation.
Su Wudeng didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. She quickly waved her hands to defuse the tension. “You’re both misunderstanding me. I have absolutely no intention of rejecting you.”
“When I said the price isn’t the main issue, I meant it. My only priority is ensuring these kittens go to excellent homes.” She paused, studying him. Chu Yansen certainly seemed incredibly devoted, but talk was cheap; she needed to be certain.
“Let me put it this way,” Su Wudeng began slowly. “If you truly want to adopt one, you need to hear my conditions first.”
“If you can agree to all of them, you may reserve one today.”
Chu Yansen’s eyes practically ignited at the prospect of actually securing a Snow Crystal Cat. “Name your terms, Shopkeeper!”
Su Wudeng considered her words carefully. “First, the kitten must remain here at the shop for roughly another month. They are still recovering from a severe illness and require close medical observation.”
“Second, during this month-long period, you must visit the shop daily to learn how to properly care for a living animal.”
“You will need to master a Snow Crystal Cat’s dietary needs, hygiene routines, and overall daily care.”
“Furthermore, this period will allow the kitten to gradually acclimate to your presence. If, at the end of the month, the kitten actively chooses to go home with you, I will finalize the sale.”
Chu Yansen didn’t hesitate for a microsecond. “Consider it done, Shopkeeper! I am entirely willing to fulfill all those requirements.”
None of these conditions bothered him in the slightest. It was only a month; he could wait! And as for learning how to care for the kitten himself? That sounded more like a reward than a chore.
Su Wudeng smiled. “Don’t be so quick to agree, Mr. Chu. I’m not finished yet.”
“The most critical condition is this: post-adoption, you must guarantee that the kitten will never be mistreated. You will be required to send me regular daily video updates so I can monitor its living conditions.”
“I will also conduct unannounced, in-person welfare checks. If I discover any signs of neglect or mistreatment, I reserve the right to confiscate the kitten immediately.”
“Naturally, you will also be required to sign a legally binding contract stipulating that, should you ever find yourself unable to continue caring for the cat for any reason, you must contact me first. I will handle the rehoming process. You are strictly forbidden from abandoning or transferring ownership of the animal to a third party.”
This was the most airtight, foolproof protocol she could devise to protect the kittens.
Su Wudeng locked eyes with Chu Yansen. “Are you absolutely certain you can accept all of these terms?”
Before Chu Yansen could answer, Shu Can exploded. “Shopkeeper, aren’t you just deliberately making things difficult now? Who puts this many hurdles in place just to buy a cat? This is stricter than adopting a human child!”
“And a mandatory month-long probation period? Brother Chu manages a massive corporation; how is he supposed to waste an entire month stuck on this planet?”
Shu Can found the demands utterly preposterous. He opened his mouth to continue arguing, but Chu Yansen held up a hand, silencing him instantly.
“I accept,” Chu Yansen stated with absolute unwavering resolve. “It’s only a month. I can wait.”
“I am entirely willing to put in the time to care for the kitten.”
Shu Can’s jaw dropped. He stared at his best friend as if he had sprouted a second head. “Are you insane? Are you just abandoning the company?”
Chu Yansen let out a low chuckle. “It’s not a big deal. I’ll just manage operations remotely.”
“I can rent a luxury apartment nearby. It won’t affect my workflow at all, and I’ll be able to come here and see them every day after I clock out.”
For a kitten, he was willing to bulldoze any obstacle in his path. Just visualizing the routine made a wide, uncontrollable grin break across his face. Who could have ever predicted that his lifelong dream would suddenly become a reality? The thought of coming home from work every day to be greeted by these little angels was pure euphoria.
“I completely support your methods, Shopkeeper,” Chu Yansen added with deep sincerity. “It proves that you genuinely love these animals and prioritize their well-being over profit. I respect that immensely.”
Knowing the shopkeeper operated with such integrity assured him that every cat she sold would find a loving, permanent home.
Suddenly remembering the financial aspect, he asked, “By the way, if we consider my previous one-million-credit payment as the deposit, how much do you estimate the final adoption fee will be? I want to ensure the funds are fully prepped and ready to go.”
Hearing this, Su Wudeng nodded approvingly in her heart. This tycoon really didn’t flinch; he just steamrolled straight past the red tape and agreed to everything. In truth, the rigorous adoption criteria were the real barrier to entry; the price tag was entirely secondary.
She smiled warmly. “If you’re on board with the rules, then I have no further objections.”
“As for the price… let’s set it at double the cost of the Moon Shadow series you originally pre-ordered. Does that sound fair?”
“If that’s acceptable, you may go ahead and pick out your kitten.”
“Let’s just hope that a month from now, the kitten chooses you back.”
Chu Yansen practically vibrated with excitement. “Deal!”
He had zero issues with that price point. He eagerly scanned the incubator, his eyes darting from one fluffball to the next. He noticed that one of the kittens already had a small nameplate reading “Coco” clipped around its neck. That must be the one that had already been spoken for.
The realization that one of these kittens would soon wear a collar bearing a name he chose made his face flush a deep, embarrassing shade of red.
His cat! He was actually going to have a Snow Crystal Cat of his very own!
“Bro, you look absolutely ridiculous right now,” Shu Can couldn’t resist teasing. “Why is your face so red? Just hurry up and pick one already.”
Despite the teasing, Shu Can was genuinely thrilled to see his best friend’s ultimate dream finally coming true.
Chu Yansen found himself paralyzed by choice. Every single one of them was impossibly cute. How was he supposed to pick just one?
Eventually, he devised a strategy. He squatted down in front of the incubator and began softly calling out to them.
Miraculously, one of the kittens padded slowly over to the glass. It stopped right in front of him, tilted its head, and stared back with sapphire eyes shimmering with bright curiosity.
“It’s you.”
“You chose me, so allow me to be your owner.”
“I’ve made my decision,” Chu Yansen declared, standing up and pointing directly at the little white cat. “I choose this one. I want to name him ‘Snowball.'”
Su Wudeng nodded with a smile. “Alright.”
She quickly crafted a tiny name tag with the word “Snowball” engraved on it and gently fastened it around the kitten’s neck.
Seeing the tag in place, Chu Yansen couldn’t suppress his massive, goofy grin.
“This is my little cat,” he murmured. He carefully reached into the incubator and gently stroked Snowball’s incredibly soft fur, whispering reverently to the kitten, “From this day forward, as long as I have a bite to eat, you will never go hungry.”
“I swear to give you the absolute best life has to offer.”
“So, please… come home with me when the time is right, okay?”
Watching the tender exchange, Su Wudeng thought to herself, Snowball really hit the absolute jackpot with this guy.
Between Chu Yansen’s unabashedly doting gaze, his flawlessly tailored designer suit, and his ability to casually drop hundreds of millions of credits without blinking, he was undeniably a titan of wealth. Factor in the detail that he hailed from the Capital Star, and his net worth was likely astronomical.
Tsk, tsk, Su Wudeng chuckled internally. You little rascal, you’ve really stumbled into the good life.
One simple walk to the glass, and you’ve secured a lifetime of unimaginable luxury!
The moment Chu Yansen officially reserved Snowball, he whipped out his communicator and immediately began ordering an avalanche of nutritional supplements.
He bought out almost everything that seemed even remotely applicable. “Top-tier nutritional paste… fresh salmon puree… premium goat milk powder…”
Every item he selected was ultra-premium, top-of-the-line nutritional food originally formulated for human infants, commanding exorbitant prices. It was a shame he couldn’t source dedicated pet supplies, but these would have to suffice for now.
Not that it mattered; he had already dispatched a high-priority memo to his corporation’s R&D division, instructing them to immediately begin developing proprietary pet care products.
Su Wudeng finally witnessed the terrifying purchasing power of the ultra-rich in action.
“Mr. Chu, you really don’t need to—” Before she could even finish her sentence, Chu Yansen slammed the “Confirm Purchase” button.
“Expedited delivery to this address. They’ll be here within half an hour,” Chu Yansen beamed proudly. “My apologies, I got a little carried away.”
He gestured expansively toward the incubator. “Please, share it among all the kittens.”
Su Wudeng could only nod numbly. Alright, alright. I get it. You’re obscenely rich. Show off.
“Um…” Chu Yansen suddenly looked incredibly shy. “Would it be alright if I took a few photos?”
Su Wudeng stifled a laugh. “Of course. Take as many as you like.”
Granted permission, Chu Yansen’s eyes lit up like floodlights. He produced a high-end professional camera seemingly out of nowhere and immediately squatted down, constantly shifting angles to capture the perfect shots of his Snow Crystal Cat.
In a tight macro shot, Snowball’s blue eyes sparkled like flawless gemstones.
From an overhead angle, Snowball was curled into a perfect sphere, looking like a delicate, blooming snowflake.
He even recorded slow-motion footage capturing the exact moment Snowball stretched, a movement so impossibly elegant it was breathtaking.
Within minutes, his camera’s storage was packed with dedicated portraits of Snowball, and the man looked like he had achieved nirvana.
Watching him work, Su Wudeng found herself thoroughly impressed and slightly self-conscious. Am I slacking as a pet shop owner? My photography skills don’t even come close to this guy’s.
The second he finished shooting, Chu Yansen couldn’t wait to flood his social media feeds.
I finally have a cat! The most adorable Snow Crystal Cat in the universe!
He followed the caption with a massive dump of nine high-definition photos.
Then, as if terrified someone might have missed the announcement, he uploaded a dedicated video clip in a separate post.
Almost the exact millisecond the posts went live, his notification feed exploded with comments.
Bro, is this a joke?
Obviously fake, but I have to admit, that simulated mechanical cat is insanely lifelike. Drop the link, where’d you buy it?
Yeah, link please!
Chu Yansen proudly replied to the thread: It is a real, living, breathing Snow Crystal Cat.
Not some cold, soulless chunk of metal!
His comment section instantly went nuclear.
Yansen, since when did you start hallucinating?
Mr. Chu, I think you need to wake up…
Just then, a specific comment caught Chu Yansen’s eye.
@Chu Yansen, check out this video breakdown. Experts have already debunked this specific cat as a high-end animatronic fake. Don’t let yourself get scammed!
Chu Yansen clicked the attached link. It redirected straight to the promotional video Su Wudeng had uploaded earlier.
He immediately fired back a reply: This is the exact shop I’m currently standing in. The cat is 100% real. I literally just bought him from her!
In response, the user simply replied with a single “Ha.” The dripping condescension and mockery in that one syllable were unmistakable.
Shu Can, who was reading over his shoulder, watched his best friend’s face turn dangerously dark with suppressed fury.
“Just ignore them,” Shu Can said, clapping a hand on his shoulder. “They’re going to feel like absolute idiots when the truth finally comes out.”
“I mean, seriously? Are a bunch of random internet trolls supposed to know better than the guy who’s literally staring at the cat with his own two eyes?”
“If you ask me, they’re the ones getting brainwashed by those so-called ‘experts’.”
Chu Yansen considered this for a moment, his anger cooling slightly. He turned to his friend. “If you believe it’s real, why don’t you buy one?”
Shu Can immediately straightened his posture, puffing out his chest with absolute solemnity. “Because I am a devout, sworn member of the Holy Flame Canine Cult! The Holy Flame burns bright! The Holy Flame guides us! All disciples sing: Woof, woof, woof!”
Chu Yansen: “…”
“Please never do that again,” he muttered helplessly. “You look like an absolute moron.”
As the silence settled, a dark thought suddenly crossed Chu Yansen’s mind. There were thousands of hateful, mocking comments flooding the video’s comment section…
If Shopkeeper Su sees all this hate… is she going to be heartbroken?
