Chapter 22: Into Long Aotian’s World, Day 22 (End)
Chapter 22: Into Long Aotian’s World, Day 22 (End)
Chapter 22: The Twenty-Second Day of Transmigrating into the Dragon King (End)
The morning sunlight, like freshly opened orange soda, was bright and fizzy.
The sunlight, filtering through the sheer curtains, gently spilled into the bedroom of An Yi's apartment, pouring a soft golden glow.
The air was filled with the scent of incense.
An Yi had already changed into the shirt and trousers that Shao Xiuya had ironed for him, and was adjusting his cuffs in front of the full-length mirror.
Shao Xiuya walked over with two cups of coffee and handed one to An Yi.
He was wearing a soft smoke-gray turtleneck sweater today, shedding the sharp, cutthroat vibe of the corporate world and taking on a more gentle, homey demeanor.
"Good morning, my Chairman An." Shao Xiuya's voice carried the laziness of waking up and a hint of care. His gaze fell on An Yi's face, and he reached out to gently brush the faint, subtle pink mark on his collarbone that hadn't completely faded.
"Did you sleep well last night?"
An Yi took the coffee, took a sip, and the warmth dispelled the last traces of fatigue.
He turned around and gave Shao Xiuya a look that said, "Don't you know the answer yourself?" before saying lazily, "What do you think?"
Seriously?
You know the answer.
Shao Xiuya chuckled softly, set down his own coffee cup, and walked over to stand in front of An Yi.
He didn't say a word, just reached out and, with natural ease, adjusted An Yi's collar—which was already perfectly straight.
"Don't move. It's a bit crooked." Shao Xiuya deadpanned the nonsense. His fingers were long and nimble, his movements gentle, and his fingertips accidentally brushed against the skin of An Yi's neck, sending a slight jolt.
An Yi's heart skipped a beat. He looked up and met Shao Xiuya's deep, focused eyes. They were filled with tender love, like a calm harbor.
"Ayi..." Shao Xiuya's voice was low, honeyed.
"Hmm?" An Yi replied, his tone unconsciously rising.
Shao Xiuya's Adam's apple bobbed. Suddenly, he reached out and took An Yi's hand that was hanging at his side.
An Yi was slightly startled. Then, almost reflexively, he clasped back, their fingers tightly interlaced, perfectly fit. Palm against palm, temperature merging.
"I was thinking..." Shao Xiuya's voice carried a hint of barely noticeable nervousness, but more so, determination: "We've been together for quite a while now. Should we... consider... our 'next step'?"
His gaze was burning, filled with anticipation and a hint of barely concealed shyness.
An Yi: ...
Quite a while?
It's only been a few months, hasn't it?
But looking at Shao Xiuya's face in front of him, he let out a laugh and said, "Mm-hmm."
Shao Xiuya's eyes instantly lit up astonishingly, as if stars had fallen into them.
He tightened his grip on An Yi's hand, a brilliant smile blooming on his face—a smile that could melt anyone's heart. He leaned forward and gave him a gentle kiss, full of love.
"Really?"
He rested his forehead against An Yi's, their breath intertwining. The sunlight bathed them in a warm golden rim:
"Our 'next step' is just beginning. Ayi, my love, I want to plan every single day of our future together."
An Yi raised his head and nuzzled against his cheek: "Really."
----------
A week later.
An Yi was reclining comfortably in his chair. Shao Xiuya stood behind him, his hands naturally resting on his shoulders, gently massaging.
"Ah..." An Yi let out a long, satisfied sigh. His body completely relaxed under his lover's skilled massage, even his spine going limp.
He closed his eyes in comfort, his thick lashes casting a small shadow under his eyes, the corners of his mouth unconsciously lifting slightly: "Finally, some peace and quiet." His voice carried a satisfied laziness.
Earlier, Huang Chan had suddenly visited. At the time, he and Shao Xiuya were still embracing, which shocked Huang Chan to the core.
He recalled the thunderstruck look on Huang Chan's face—how could his best buddy, Chairman An, ruler of the business world, and the equally powerful President Shao beside him... have turned gay?!
Then came Huang Chan's earth-shattering outburst.
Huang Chan suddenly raised his hand and tightly covered his chest, as if protecting some precious treasure, his face a mixture of extreme "horror" and "awkwardness."
In a tone as if his virtue had been tainted, he said, trembling: "Yi... you... you don't have any dirty thoughts about me, do you...?"
He paused, as if not convinced enough, and added with mock seriousness: "Even though I am dashing, charming, and everyone loves me... but! I am a straight man! Straighter than a steel bar!"
An Yi: "..."
Shao Xiuya: "..."
The air went dead silent. An Yi felt a vein throb in his temple, a wave of absurdity washing over him.
Shao Xiuya's warm smile froze, replaced by an icy, polite smile that could kill: "Mr. Huang, please have some respect for yourself!"
An Yi pressed his forehead in exasperation, feeling his IQ and patience being dragged through the mud. He was utterly speechless at Huang Chan's nonsense: "Don't worry!"
"Have some self-awareness. Go look in a mirror and see yourself!"
Huang Chan either didn't get the obvious sarcasm or pretended not to. Instead, he tsked, raised his hand, and dramatically flicked the hair from his forehead.
He gave An Yi a flirtatious look and said in a coy voice: "Look in the mirror? Why? To admire my stunning beauty?"
An Yi: "..."
At that moment, An Yi felt that saying even one more word to this guy was a waste of his life.
It took all his patience and a little bit of physical threat to kick this loud, narcissistic buffoon out.
Remembering Huang Chan's expression, An Yi couldn't help but laugh: "What a goof."
"Mhm." Shao Xiuya lowered his head and placed a gentle kiss on his crown: "But he has no verbal filter."
He paused, as if recalling the farce, then added with a hint of barely noticeable jealousy and disdain: "He sure has a big imagination!"
"Hahahaha!" This time An Yi was genuinely laughing out loud.
He reached up and cupped Shao Xiuya's cheek: "Alright, alright, don't take him seriously. He just likes to joke, his mouth has no filter. Don't worry, he has no feelings for you, and I'm definitely not into him!"
Shao Xiuya seemed to appreciate the touch and the clear answer. He leaned down again, this time kissing him on the nose: "Mhm, I know. Just kidding."
"By the way!"
An Yi, as if remembering something extremely important, shot upright and sprang out of the cozy chair like he'd been launched from a spring.
He held his phone screen toward Shao Xiuya, waggling it emphatically in front of his face: "Hmph hmph~"
He announced, enunciating every word with crisp clarity: "My grandpa and my parents want to meet you!"
Shao Xiuya: "..."
The warm and slightly lazy smile on Shao Xiuya's face froze instantly.
After a solid few seconds, he seemed to remember how to talk. He swallowed hard and forced out a single, disbelieving, earth-shattering syllable:
"Uh?"
He pressed on, his voice unsteady:
"N-now?"
Transmigrated into a Dragon Lord (Bonus Chapter 1)
"...Temporarily adding two extra chapters, because I updated the chapters from the later world into this volume. But Tomato doesn't allow deletion of published chapters, nor adjusting chapter positions, nor republishing chapters, so I can only rush to write one chapter, quality will be up to fate, damn it!!"
An Yi stood in front of the misted mirror in the bathroom. The light poured down from above, bathing his silhouette in cold white light.
Suddenly, he frowned, sensing something amiss.
He raised his hand, pinched the soft flesh of his cheek with thumb and forefinger—it felt softer than before.
He then lifted the hem of his pajamas and hesitantly pressed his lower abdomen; the formerly firm lines seemed a bit blurrier.
An Yi silently looked at himself in the mirror. Through the mist, his face appeared strangely rounded.
An Yi: "..."
He seemed to have gained weight.
Ever since he got together with Shao Xiuya, he always felt like Shao Xiuya pampered him like a baby, giving him sky-high confidence.
He’d get praised to the moon just for eating an extra bowl of rice!
See? Now the payback's here.
An Yi: ...
Shao Xiuya's fault, all of it!
An Yi grumpily lowered his head to splash water on his face. Water droplets traced his jawline and pattered into the sink.
An Yi decided that starting today, he would spend an extra two hours in the home gym every day.
An Yi's plan was officially launched that very night.
He deliberately left work early, turned down Shao Xiuya's dinner invitation to "a newly discovered place with amazing braised beef brisket," only ate a protein bar, and threw himself into the home gym, which had equipment comparable to a small studio.
The treadmill hummed as An Yi sweated profusely.
He pictured himself soon regaining his chiseled jawline and rock-hard abs, and then strut them in front of Shao Xiuya.
Just as he was gritting his teeth and doing lat pull-downs on the cable machine, the gym door gently opened.
Shao Xiuya leaned against the doorframe, holding a cup of something steaming.
He'd just gotten home, jacket off, shirt sleeves rolled to his elbows, revealing his well-defined forearms.
He looked at An Yi's flushed face and sweat-damp hair, his eyebrows rose almost unnoticeably before he broke into a soft smile.
"What's gotten our Chairman An so motivated today?" His voice carried a natural magnetism, like a feather tickling the eardrum. "Working out's great, but don't push yourself too hard."
An Yi panted, shooting him an irritated glare, not stopping: "Not tired! I'm doing great!"
The smile in Shao Xiuya's eyes deepened. He walked over and put the cup aside. "Alright, alright, you're the best. Here, drink up a little. Fresh-pressed veggie juice with kale and chia seeds, super healthy."
An Yi stood up and instinctively took a sip—Hm? The taste was surprisingly sweet and refreshing, without any terrible grassy flavor.
Shao Xiuya noticed he only took one sip and stopped, so he smoothly took the cup back, took a sip from the exact spot where An Yi's lips had been, completely naturally, then thoughtfully looked at An Yi's flushed, hot earlobe from the workout and said slowly:
"But muscles need a good massage to loosen up after a workout, or they'll ache tomorrow."
He put down the cup, his tone sincere and concerned: "I'll help you?"
An Yi: "...No thanks!"
Is it really a massage?
Like a weasel visiting a chicken coop – up to no good!
"You sure you don't want help?"
Shao Xiuya took a step closer, his fingers casually settling on An Yi's tight shoulder blade.
An Yi shuddered, nearly jumping off the equipment.
That hand had a comfortable warmth, pressing with just the right force on the sore muscles, bringing so much relief he nearly moaned out loud.
"You… go away! You're messing up my workout!" An Yi shooed him off.
Shao Xiuya smoothly withdrew his hand, his smile never faltering. "Alright, I won't disturb you. Continue, I'll just watch from the side."
With that, he actually dragged a chair over, sat down leisurely, crossed his long legs at the knee, and fixed his gaze on An Yi.
An Yi: "..."
How the hell is he supposed to train like this?!
With those affectionate, appreciative eyes fixed on him, An Yi felt every movement become stiff and ridiculous.
God knows what he's enjoying! Enjoying his jiggling soft fat?!
The two-hour high-intensity training he'd planned turned into an agonizingly long ordeal under Shao Xiuya's "silent encouragement."
He couldn't last more than an hour, drenched as if he'd been pulled out of a pool, lying limp on the yoga mat gasping for breath.
Shao Xiuya immediately walked over with a towel and water, crouched beside him, and naturally started dabbing away his sweat, from forehead to neck, gently and carefully.
"You worked hard." His voice was low. "Two hours is really too long. Take it slow, step by step is best."
An Yi was too tired to even lift his eyelids and just grunted twice.
Shao Xiuya leaned down and placed a light kiss on his sweaty temple, then spoke in a tone of delighted discovery, as if he'd discovered a new world:
"Baby, have you noticed something?"
An Yi weakly asked, "...Noticed what?"
"You look especially good after working out."
An Yi: ...
Shao Xiuya's fingertips gently traced his flushed cheek, his tone confident: "Your complexion is great, your eyes are sparkling, your whole body is glowing. You look especially... healthy and appetizing."
An Yi: "???"
Appetizing?! What kind of weird adjective is that! Is that the look you give food!
An Yi: "Act like a normal person and get the hell away from me!"
Transmigrated into the Arrogant Hero (Extra 2)
The autumn air was thick. Shao Xiuya had planned a three-day short trip, euphemistically calling it "relax body and mind, embrace nature." The destination was a resort town in the distant suburbs, famous for its hot springs and mountain scenery.
An Yi was highly wary of this.
Given Shao Xiuya's past "misdeeds," he seriously suspected this was another meticulously crafted romance trip.
Could he even get out the door?
The night before departure, he seriously opened his suitcase and inspected the sportswear and running shoes carefully prepared inside. They were prepared by Shao Xiuya; this time, he seemed serious.
"Need to pack anything else?"
Shao Xiuya's voice came from behind, followed by a pair of arms encircling his waist, his chin lightly resting on his shoulder.
Warm breath brushed against his ear, and An Yi instinctively shrank his neck.
"No, I'm just looking." An Yi responded grumpily, trying to ignore the distraction behind him as he continued folding a few breathable, sweat-wicking T-shirts.
Shao Xiuya's gaze swept over the suitcase, a hint of laughter flashing in his eyes, but he didn't say anything. He just nuzzled An Yi's neck and said softly, "We need to get up early tomorrow, so go to bed early tonight."
The next day, Shao Xiuya drove himself.
An Yi sat in the passenger seat, watching the scenery rapidly recede outside the window. The city's tall buildings gradually gave way to rolling mountains and forests tinged with autumn colors, and his mood involuntarily brightened.
Shao Xiuya drove very steadily. The car stereo played soothing light music, and occasionally he would reach over and gently squeeze An Yi's hand.
They had booked a private Japanese-style hot spring inn, a separate courtyard with an open-air bath, where wisps of steam rose in the crisp air.
After putting down their luggage, An Yi watched Shao Xiuya warily, making sure he didn't have any extra moves.
The afternoon plan was to hike on the nearby mountain trail.
An Yi was raring to go. He changed into his professional gear and walked ahead with determination.
The autumn mountain scenery was rich in layers, with interwoven reds, yellows, and greens, like a painter's palette. The air was crisp, carrying the scent of earth and fallen leaves.
For the first part of the trail, An Yi indeed walked quickly, breathing in the fresh air, feeling every cell craving to burn.
Shao Xiuya followed unhurriedly behind him, dressed in simple casual clothes and a pair of sneakers.
He wasn't in a rush to catch up. Instead, he occasionally stopped to take photos with his phone of An Yi's determined back, or a stubborn wildflower blooming by the roadside, or a peculiarly shaped stone.
After about forty minutes, the slope gradually steepened. An Yi's initial momentum slowly waned, his breathing grew heavier, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.
In contrast, Shao Xiuya was still calm and composed, even able to hand An Yi a thermos at the right moment when he stopped to catch his breath.
"Drink some warm water, slowly." He unscrewed the lid, and the water was just the right temperature.
An Yi took it, gulped down several big mouthfuls, and the warm water flowing down his throat indeed felt much better.
He looked at Shao Xiuya's unfazed expression, a bit unconvinced: "How do you have so much stamina?"
Shao Xiuya smiled slightly, took the cup back and put it away, then naturally reached out with a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from An Yi's forehead: "I have a lot of social engagements, so I occasionally need to exercise to maintain my condition. I do work out every day, don't I?"
An Yi thought back, and it was true.
But so did he? He just didn't exercise as much.
On the second half of the trail, An Yi's pace slowed significantly.
Shao Xiuya no longer followed behind him but walked side by side with him. When An Yi was visibly struggling, he would seemingly casually reach out and support his elbow, or on steep sections, go up first and then turn back to pull him up.
Finally, they reached the viewing platform at the summit. The view opened up before them.
Distant mountains were like dark brows against the sky, the layered forests dyed in autumn colors, and the setting sun slowly sinking, coating everything in a warm golden glow.
"So beautiful..." An Yi couldn't help but exclaim. The fatigue from the climb seemed worthwhile at this moment.
Shao Xiuya stood beside him, but he wasn't looking at the scenery. Instead, he looked at An Yi's side face glowing in the sunset light, and his bright eyes from seeing the magnificent view.
He hummed softly, not sure if he was responding to the scenery or to the person before him.
Descending the mountain, the sky was already getting dim.
An Yi's strength was completely depleted, and his calves were trembling.
Shao Xiuya naturally took his backpack as well, carrying it on his chest, then took his hand: "The road is slippery, take care."
On the way back, An Yi was practically half-carried, half-supported down. He was too tired to speak, his mind filled only with a longing for the hot spring.
Back at the inn, the moment he soaked into the open-air bath, An Yi let out a satisfied sigh.
The warm spring water enveloped his exhausted limbs and bones, every pore opening up. He leaned against the edge of the pool, closed his eyes, and felt the day's soreness slowly melting away.
With a gentle splash, Shao Xiuya also slipped into the pool and sat down next to him. He didn't disturb An Yi's enjoyment, just quietly accompanied him.
After a while, An Yi felt a pair of hands on his shoulders, kneading his sore muscles with just the right pressure. The professional technique almost made him moan.
"Mmm..." An Yi sighed in comfort, his wariness completely gone under the extreme relaxation.
"Tired out?"
Shao Xiuya's voice sounded especially gentle in the steaming mist: "If you don't relax your muscles, tomorrow you won't be able to walk from soreness."
An Yi mumbled in response, completely giving up resistance and letting himself be attended to.
The steam from the hot spring made his cheeks flush and his mind feel a bit groggy.
Without thinking, he leaned closer to Shao Xiuya, seeking a more stable support.
Shao Xiuya noticed this clingy little gesture, a gentle smile curling at the corners of his mouth, and his movements became even softer.
That night, An Yi slept extremely soundly.
In the haze between sleep and wakefulness, he felt the person beside him gently pull him into an embrace, a warm hand gently kneading his still sore lower back.
An Yi burrowed into the familiar embrace and calming scent, and just before sinking completely into a deep, dreamless sleep, his hazy mind caught a stray thought: He was actually pretty well-behaved today...
Shao Xiuya smiled quietly in the dark, holding him close, and kissed the top of his soft head.
Transmigrated into the Overbearing CEO (Extra 3)
On a weekend night, the moon was bright and stars were few outside the window, wrapping the suburbs in a hazy stillness.
Only a few warm wall sconces were on in the living room, casting a soft glow that gently outlined the contours of the furniture.
An Yi and Shao Xiuya were curled up on the spacious sofa, under the same soft blanket.
On the TV screen was a trendy city romance drama playing.
The plot had just reached its climax—in the rain, the male lead took off his suit jacket and, with a possessive tenderness, draped it over the female lead's head, while his own shoulders got soaked, his gaze deep and earnest as he confessed his love.
An Yi watched, totally absorbed, and muttered without thinking, "Hey, even if it's a bit cliché, scenes like this always make me want to watch more..."
Shao Xiuya had his arm draped over the back of the sofa. Hearing this, he glanced sideways at the screen, then at the sparkle in the eyes of the guy next to him, a barely visible eyebrow raise.
"Oh yeah?" His voice was hard to read, but he pulled An Yi tighter against him. "You'll catch a cold getting caught in the rain."
...
The perfectly romantic atmosphere was instantly shattered by realism.
Annoyed, An Yi gave him a light jab in the ribs. "Can't you be a little romantic?! This is an idol drama! It's all about the atmosphere, the feeling!"
Shao Xiuya nodded, going along with it. "Mm, my fault."
He picked up a washed strawberry from the fruit plate and held it to An Yi's lips. "Try it, it's sweet."
An Yi opened his mouth reflexively and ate it. The sweet juice spread across his tongue—indeed, it was very sweet.
Distracted by the strawberry, he continued watching the show.
The plot moved to a misunderstanding segment.
A third party interfered, and the female lead turned and ran off, her eyes welling up with tears, leaving the male lead standing with a frustrated expression.
"Tsk! I really hate these misunderstanding storylines," An Yi muttered, totally into it, even leaning forward a bit.
Shao Xiuya's low voice came again from above him, laced with amusement. "If it were me, I wouldn't let that kind of misunderstanding happen."
An Yi turned his head. "Huh?"
Shao Xiuya reached out and wiped a smudge of strawberry juice from his lip with his thumb, the gesture natural and intimate, while his eyes remained on the screen, his tone calm but firm:
"First, I wouldn't give any irrelevant person the chance to get close enough to create a misunderstanding. Second," he looked at An Yi, his gaze deep, "if I ever made you sad, I wouldn't just stand there feeling sorry."
He leaned in, his breath ghosting over An Yi's ear, his voice dropping low, as rich and seductive as a cello: "I'd pull you right back, tie you to me if I had to, and explain until you believed me. Or... do it until you're too worn out to think straight."
That last sentence was heavily suggestive, carrying a scorching heat.
An Yi's face flushed bright red instantly, redder than the strawberry he'd just eaten. He whipped his head back to the TV, his heart pounding loudly, and the angsty lovers on the screen suddenly seemed utterly boring.
"...You, you just focus on the show! Where do you come up with all these twisted ideas?" He tried to sound fierce to hide his embarrassment, but it wasn't very convincing.
Shao Xiuya chuckled lowly, the vibration in his chest clearly transmitted to An Yi, who was pressed close to him.
He looked on, satisfied, as even the pale skin on An Yi's neck flushed faintly. Not wanting to tease him further, he just wrapped his arms tighter around him, resting his chin lightly on the top of his head.
The episode was winding down. The misunderstanding got cleared up, and the leads kissed under a gorgeous night sky, with a grand fireworks display in the background.
An Yi watched the picture-perfect scene on screen and couldn't help but murmur, "This director has a great eye for cinematography. Most other shows don't have fireworks shots as good as his."
"Like it?" Shao Xiuya's voice carried a smile.
"Sort of, I just think the visuals are nice," An Yi replied casually.
Shao Xiuya hummed in agreement, said nothing more, but pulled out his phone and made a few seemingly casual taps.
A little while later, just as An Yi was about to get up for a glass of water, suddenly, from the river outside the mansion, a "Whoosh—Bang!" sound came—a brilliant firework shot into the sky, blooming dazzlingly in the night!
Then a second, a third... Though the scale wasn't as grand as the one on TV, set against the hazy moonlight, it carried a unique romantic charm.
An Yi's eyes widened in surprise. He ran to the window. "Huh? What day is it today? Why are there fireworks?"
Shao Xiuya leisurely walked up behind him and pulled him back into his arms, watching the flickering lights reflected in An Yi's shimmering eyes.
"I don't know," he said casually. "Maybe... it's someone who thought the idol drama's aesthetic shots were nice, wanting to show his baby something more real."
An Yi froze and whipped his head around. "You...!"
Shao Xiuya lowered his head and kissed An Yi's slightly parted lips in surprise, a brief touch, his eyes filled with a gentle, smug smile. "The idol drama's tropes are fake, but what you want to see, I can make real. It's a bit short-notice and small-scale, so you'll have to make do?"
An Yi looked at the still-ongoing fireworks display outside the window—a private show just for him—and then at the man before him with his deep, smiling eyes. He couldn't help but say, "It's currently illegal to set off fireworks during the ban period!"
...
He laughed. "That's in the city. We're in the suburbs now, in our own estate—it's fine."
Transmigrated into the Overbearing CEO (Extra 4) (Unrelated to the main story!!)
What if the two of them turned into little animals...
----------
An Yi woke up to a strange sensation.
Something was tickling his face, like a furry thing brushing against it.
He groggily wanted to reach up and scratch it, but found he... seemed not to have hands?
This realization jolted him awake.
His field of vision was very low, and the furniture in the room seemed enormous.
He tried to sit up, but only saw two white, fluffy paws resting on the dark-colored blanket.
He stiffly turned his head to look at his own body—covered in soft, fluffy long fur, and his figure... round and compact.
He had turned into a Ragdoll cat!
With a pair of blue eyes like glass marbles, and a fluffy tail even bigger than he could have imagined.
"Meow...?!" (What's going on?!)
What came out was a soft, sweet meow, completely lacking in intimidation, more like he was being affectionate.
An Yi panicked. He wanted to jump off the bed and find a mirror, but wasn't used to feline coordination. He practically rolled off the mattress, landing limp-limbed on the carpet with a soft "plop."
As he was still disoriented, a huge shadow loomed over him.
An Yi looked up warily, his fur standing on end, and froze in place.
It was... a massive Doberman.
Sleek and muscular, with glossy black fur, only its limbs and snout showing a handsome rust-red.
It stood quietly, its pitch-black eyes fixed, unblinking, on the little white fluffball on the ground.
An Yi's heart pounded.
This dog was huge! It could swallow him in one bite!
He instinctively tried to step back, but tripped clumsily, unaccustomed to his new legs, nearly falling.
The giant Doberman moved.
It lowered its head and slowly approached. An Yi closed his eyes in fright, letting out a pitiful, harmless whimper.
The anticipated pain never came.
Instead, a warm, wet tongue gently licked the fur on top of his head.
An Yi blinked, dazed.
The Doberman had crouched low, its massive head almost level with his. It leaned in again, rubbing its cool, damp nose against his cheek.
This gesture... was maddeningly familiar.
An Yi froze, a ridiculous thought flooding his mind.
He tentatively let out a thin, weak meow: "...Meow?" (Shao Xiuya?)
The Doberman's eyes seemed to light up.
It let out a low, short sound: "Woof." (Yeah.)
It even tried to nudge An Yi's soft little body with its head, just like it had done countless times before, trying to pull him into an embrace. But given this size difference, the move nearly sent the kitten tumbling.
"Meow!" (Watch it!)
Angered, An Yi swatted the other's nose with his weak little paw.
Shao Xiuya immediately stopped, his expression almost showing something akin to apology.
He thought for a moment, then extended his paw—which was nearly half the size of An Yi's whole body—and extremely gently used its paw pad to touch An Yi's back, as if smoothing his fur.
An Yi: "..."
Alright, confirmed.
Even as a dog, this guy's nature hadn't changed.
After a long while getting used to it, An Yi finally managed to control this fluffy new body.
He stumbled, trying to leave the bedroom. Shao Xiuya immediately followed closely, his huge body staying close beside him, guarding him, afraid he might fall or bump into something.
In front of the full-length mirror, An Yi finally saw what he looked like now—a strikingly handsome Ragdoll cat, blue eyes like they held a sea of stars, but with a slightly dazed expression.
And the imposing Doberman beside him was tilting its head slightly, focusing on the small cat in the mirror, its tail tip swishing almost imperceptibly.
The scene had a strangely harmonious beauty.
An Yi tried to jump onto the sofa. His first attempt failed; his claws hooked onto the sofa cover and he slid down.
Before he could try again, the Doberman beside him lowered his head, carefully took the scruff of his neck, and effortlessly lifted him onto the sofa.
The kitten flopped onto the sofa, resigned: "Meow..." (Let me go...)
Shao Xiuya compliantly let go, then easily leaped onto the sofa himself.
He adjusted his position, curling around the kitten between his warm belly and limbs, then lowered his head and began to lick him methodically, from head to back.
An Yi: "..."
What are you doing? Do you really think you're a dog now?
An Yi initially wanted to struggle, but the Doberman's body temperature was very high, like a small furnace. He resisted for a while, but eventually gave in to feline instinct, a "purring" sound involuntarily coming from his throat. His body relaxed, and he flopped into a cat pancake.
Shao Xiuya's tail swished contentedly on the floor.
Sunlight streamed through the gap in the curtains, illuminating one cat and one dog.
An Yi, lulled into drowsiness by the licking, felt warm and cozy, wrapped in safety and comfort.
Just as An Yi was about to fall asleep, he felt a slight heat in his body, and his perspective suddenly shifted upward.
The sunlight was a bit blinding. He instinctively raised a hand to shield his eyes—it was a human hand.
He had changed back!
An Yi sat up in surprise and delight, finding himself sitting properly on the sofa. Beside him, Shao Xiuya had also returned to human form, wearing his pajamas, seemingly still disoriented.
They looked at each other, both seeing amazement in each other's eyes.
An Yi suddenly remembered being licked and groomed like a kitten just moments ago, and his face flushed bright red.
Shao Xiuya, however, laughed softly. He reached out and gently pinched the soft spot on the back of An Yi's neck that had been "scruffed" earlier.
A faint, involuntary "Purr..." escaped An Yi's throat.
The air froze instantly.
An Yi: "!!!" Mortified beyond belief!
Shao Xiuya paused for a moment, then couldn't suppress his laughter anymore. He suddenly pulled him down onto the sofa, burying his face in the crook of his neck and taking a deep breath, like a large dog marking its territory.
"Looks like... the side effects are kind of cute." His voice was laced with laughter.
An Yi: "..."
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