My Romance Game Updated – Chapter 38
by Little PandaTantan
Even though Ren Chenxi wasnβt a doctor, she had the most medicine. And since she was injured herself, everyone instinctively assumed that her own experience with injury meant she would know what medicine to use for the wounded, and in what dosage.
Ren Chenxi didnβt bother correcting Chen Gu. From her travels, she knew there were only a few types of medicine for skin lacerations. The old Chinese medicine masterβs hemostatic powder, in particular, was a foolproof choiceβyou just had to pour it directly onto the wound. As for how much to pourβ¦ hmm, she decided sheβd go upstairs and assess the situation first.
After Ren Chenxi nodded, Mu Ning led the girls to the second floor while the men went to the third. Just as Zhang Tongqi was complaining about how they dared to show people such a filthy kennel, Mu Ning opened the main door to the second floor.
βMeowββ The moment the door opened, before anyone could even step inside, a sweet and soft meow came from within. The tender sound instantly melted the hearts of several of the girls.
βAh, I forgot to tell you, we also have a cat. Its name isβ¦β
Before Mu Ning could finish, a fluffy blanket shot out. Mu Ning instinctively tried to catch it with her hands but came up empty. The fluffy, golden blanket was heading straight for Ren Chenxi.
βTantan?ββ1 Ren Chenxi held the somewhat familiar little cat in her arms, completely stunned. The moment her palm touched its fluffy fur, her face filled with disbelief.
βMeow meow meow meow~~~β The little cat in her arms cried out even more delicately, burrowing its little head into the crook of Ren Chenxiβs arm.
It really was Tantan!!!
Hearing the kittenβs tone, which seemed both coquettish and aggrieved, Ren Chenxiβs heart ached. Tantan was a kitten she had found while studying at S University. At many universities, there were always some irresponsible students who would abandon their pets, and Tantan was one of them. Back then, Tantan was tiny, skinny, and filthy. Its fur was matted into clumps. When Ren Chenxi found it, it had been thrown into a garbage can. The scrawny little kitten couldnβt even open its eyes amidst the stinking trash, but it was still trying its best to let out a faint cry for help.
Fortunately, Ren Chenxi heard that tiny meow. The first time she saw the kitten, she didnβt hesitate for a second. Ignoring the filth, she lifted it out of the garbage can. Then, she took the kitten to a pet hospital, got it treated, had its fur shaved, bought all sorts of cat supplies, and began raising it in the apartment she rented by herself.
Under Ren Chenxiβs meticulous care, the kitten tenaciously survived and recovered quickly. In just a few months, it grew a beautiful coat of golden fur. It was safe to say that during that period, aside from orbiting around Mu Ning, Ren Chenxi spent all her remaining time with the little cat.
The healthy kitten was lively, adorable, and very attached to Ren Chenxi. Whenever she returned to the apartment, it would start circling her feet, constantly nuzzling her with its little head. When she held it, it would let out a series of βmeow meow meow meowsβ that sounded like a mix of affection and complaint.
She named the kitten Tantan because it was a beautiful long-haired golden shaded cat. One time, Ren Chenxi saw the kitten sprawled out on the floor like a pancake. From a distance, it looked just like a small golden rug. And so, the kitten, who had been called βMiaomiao,β was renamed βTantan.β
Before her sudden whim to go traveling, the one she was most worried about was Tantan. But at the time, Ren Chenxi thought it would be a two-month trip at most, so she left Tantan with a friend. This friend was on relatively good terms with her at school, had a good character, and his girlfriend was a local who also had cats at home. She was a total cat fanatic. The first time she saw Tantan, she shrieked with delight, wanting to pet it until it went bald.
Tantan had always lived in Ren Chenxiβs apartment, staying there all alone when she went to school. So when it suddenly met other kittens, it wasnβt scared at all; instead, it grew curious. Tantan didnβt even need a quarantine period before it was playing happily with the other cats. Seeing Tantan having so much fun, Ren Chenxi felt relieved. She left it in their care, paid a hefty boarding fee, and then went off on her carefree trip.
After that, Ren Chenxi had so much fun she forgot the time, forgot Mu Ning, and even forgot her adorable Tantan. By the time she returned to the game, two years had passed in the apocalypse. During those few days in the hotel in Y City, it wasnβt that she hadnβt thought about going back to S City to look for Tantan, butβ¦ she was just a rookie who had barely been exposed to the apocalypse. Whether she could even safely reach S City, which was farther away than H City, was a question in itself. Not to mentionβ¦ what might have happened to her Tantan after the entire world was turned upside down. Would it have been smart enough to hide? Would it have been able to find food for itselfβ¦
In a city as huge as S City, how could she possibly avoid so many zombies to find Tantan?
Perhaps one day, when she was strong enough, she would definitely go back to S City to have a look.
But now, she wasnβt strong yet, and she hadnβt even gone back to S City. How did her Tantan appear in H City, purring contentedly in her arms right now?
Just as Ren Chenxi was puzzling over this, Mu Ningβs voice sounded by her ear.
βHow did you know its name is Tantan?β
ββ¦β Crap. She had gotten too excited and lost control of herself. But this wasnβt enough to stump Ren Chenxi. Meeting Mu Ningβs heavy gaze, Ren Chenxi tried her best to appear calm. While stroking Tantan, she answered coolly, βMy brother told me. He even sent me an email with pictures of Tantan for me to see.β
βThen why is Tantan so clingy with you? This is clearly your first time meeting!β
βMy brother and I are twins. Isnβt it normal for Tantan to mistake me for him? Actually, Iβm the one who should be asking questions. This is clearly my brotherβs cat, which was left with my brotherβs friend. Why is it with you now! And you even said you raised it!β
Mu Ning was initially wondering how that could beβcats donβt recognize people by appearance. Even if she and her brother were twins, their scents as a man and a woman couldnβt possibly be the same. But before she could voice her doubts, she was hit with a counter-question. And from the look on her face, did she think Mu Ning was a thief?
Mu Ning was both exasperated and amused, but she patiently explained, βThe apocalypse broke out suddenly. I awakened my ability, and while I was helping our classmates escape from the zombie-infested S University, Tantan ran over on its own, probably looking for Ren Muhui. Iβd seen Tantan before, and I knew it was Ren Muhuiβs cat. Ren Muhui was missing at the time, soβ¦ I just took Tantan with me.β
Yes, Mu Ning had seen Tantan before.
After raising Tantan to be beautiful and adorable, Ren Chenxi thought that all girls must like such cute little creatures. She wanted to show Tantan to Mu Ning, let it act cute and win some favorability points for herself. But that day, she had happily carried Tantan to find Mu Ning. She had just opened her mouth to say she had recently gotten a pretty little cat named Tantan when, before she or the cat could get close, Mu Ning had cut her off with a cold shout.
βStay right there! I donβt like that thing! Take that little monster and get lost!β
Not only did Mu Ning dislike cute little kittens, she had even called her Tantan a little monster! So, Mu Ning, who hated cats and called them monsters, would kindly keep and raise her Tantan for the past two years of the apocalypse? Could it be that she was keeping Tantan as emergency rations?
At this thought, Ren Chenxi subconsciously took a step back while holding Tantan, her gaze towards Mu Ning growing even more vigilant.
ββ¦β The meaning on Ren Chenxiβs face was too obvious. This time, Mu Ning couldnβt even manage a smile. βRen Chenxi! What kind of person do you take me for? No matter how cold-blooded and ruthless I am, I wouldnβt lay a hand on a cat, would I? Tantan is Ren Muhuiβs pet. Since Ren Muhui is gone, Iβm taking good care of his cat for him. Not only are you not grateful, but youβre suspecting me? Hmm?β She just disliked cats, but she wasnβt afraid of them, nor did she have a habit of abusing them!
Hearing Mu Ningβs words, Ren Chenxi came to her senses. Right. When I left the game, Mu Ningβs favorability towards me was already at one hundred percent. So, based on her feelings for meβ¦ ah, for Ren Muhui, it would beβ¦ normal for Mu Ning to endure her dislike and take care of Tantanβ¦ right?
But taking it in was one thing; whether she had taken good care of it during the apocalypseβ¦ was another matter entirely. Tantan was so picky, it was fussy even about canned food. Now in the apocalypse, food was scarce, let alone cat food. Ren Chenxi stroked Tantan, who was still so small after two years, and her tone was still filled with resentment. βTantan is too skinnyβ¦β
Understanding Ren Chenxiβs subtext, Mu Ningβs already icy voice turned a few degrees colder. βRen Chenxi! For the past two years of the apocalypse, Iβve given this cat the best food and the best things to use. Even its cat bed is the best and most comfortable one. If you had any conscience at all, youβd at least say thank you, right? But thereβs no thank you, and instead, you turn around and strike back with a rake.β2 What? You suspect me of abusing Tantan? Let me tell you, donβt think Tantan is really this small! Tantan is a mutated cat. If it wanted to get big, its size could rival a mutated leopardβs!β
In the apocalypse, humans awakened abilities, and animals mutated, increasing their size, speed, and strength. Tantanβs mutation was rather special. Besides a massive boost to all its stats, it could also freely control its size. For some unknown reason, while other mutated beasts wished they were as big as possible to intimidate their enemies, Tantan preferred to maintain its small, cute, and weak appearance.
Previously, Mu Ning had just thought Tantan was being clever, using its small size to deceive enemies. Now, seeing Tantan snuggled in Ren Chenxiβs arms, acting spoiled, Mu Ning roughly understood the real reason it maintained its petite form. Seeing the doting look on Ren Chenxiβs face as she looked at Tantan, Mu Ning added sourly, βDonβt be fooled by Tantanβs appearance. When it gets fierce, it can single-handedly hunt down a mutated wolf of the same order!β
βEh? Tantan is a mutated cat? And itβs that strong?β As soon as Mu Ningβs voice fell, Ren Chenxi excitedly held Tantan up in front of her eyes.
She had been too thrilled to see Tantan just now and hadnβt had a chance to check its information. She was too busy staring into its big, round eyes, squeezing its little black paws, and petting it nonstop. Besides, Ren Chenxi would only check the health bars and ability levels of strangers at first glance. For the adorable Tantan that she had raised with her own hands, she didnβt have such a strong sense of vigilance. So now, as Ren Chenxi seriously looked at the health bar and level above Tantanβs head, she saw thatβ¦ Tantan was a 4th-order mutated cat~
Her little kitten had become successful! Ren Chenxi suddenly felt like a proud mother on the verge of tears after seeing her child make something of himself.
The author has something to say:
Wooden Goddess (sourly): β¦β¦Humans are not as good as cats!β3
Meow~ The disguise is starting to fall off, bit by bit~
Also, itβs 8 oβclock, itβs 8 oβclock, everyone go watch the Winter Olympics opening ceremony~~
Bing Dwen Dwen and Shuey Rhon Rhon, Mama loves you!!!! (Screamingβ)β4
Footnotes
- The name Tantan (ζ――ζ――) is a play on the word for blanket or rug (ζ――ε, tΗnzi), because the cat looked like a small golden rug when sprawled out.
- A Chinese idiom, βdaodayipaβ, that literally means βto strike back with a rakeβ. It describes making a false counter-accusation against oneβs accuser.
- A common saying, βren buru maoβ, literally βhumans are not as good as catsβ. Itβs used to lament that a cat is being treated better than a person.
- Bing Dwen Dwen and Shuey Rhon Rhon were the official mascots of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics.
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