Chapter 450 - 449: IF Line: Is the Big Shot Vying for Favor Today? 18

Chapter 450: Chapter 449: IF Line: Is the Big Shot Vying for Favor Today? 18

The physics teacher finally got to experience the joy the math teacher had been talking about. He was surprised to discover how good his temper was; even when Jiang Xia asked questions whose answers could be found by simply flipping through the textbook, he replied with immense patience.

And it wasn’t just one or two questions.

The physics teacher was now truly convinced that Jiang Xia had been sleeping in class and hadn’t learned a single thing.

Still, seeing such a change in his students—especially the two school tyrants who usually caused the most trouble—filled the physics teacher with gratification. With the two of them setting an example, fewer classmates were zoning out. Finally, he no longer had the illusion of teaching to an empty classroom.

After class, the physics teacher, just like the math teacher before him, couldn’t help but sing their praises in the office.

Hearing two of their colleagues say the same thing, the other teachers couldn’t help but feel their curiosity piqued.

The next two periods were chemistry, and the cat was now with Mu Tangfeng.

This time, the two boys opened their books and listened to the lecture without needing Shi Lan to stare them down. As long as it wasn’t physics class, she wouldn’t get drowsy. She lay in her corner, acting as a diligent supervisory cat.

Unfortunately, the two of them really didn’t love studying all that much.

At noon, both of their butlers delivered warmer sets of clothes. Jiang Xia and Mu Tangfeng couldn’t wait to change, and their sudden burst of diligence vanished along with the school uniforms they’d taken off.

When afternoon classes began, the two guiltily avoided the cat’s gaze. The moment they sat down, they fell asleep.

Shi Lan pawed at them, but they just gently squeezed her paw before bundling her up in their clothes, pinning her with one hand.

Shi Lan struggled for a moment, but when she realized she couldn’t break free, she regretfully gave up.

She sighed internally. ’After this morning, I can see that Jiang Xia and Mu Tangfeng are actually pretty good at learning and understanding things. But it’s also true that they genuinely don’t like to study.’

Shi Lan had graduated from a prestigious university—though not one in the Capital—by relying on herself and student loans. Born into a poor family, she knew better than anyone that education was her best path forward, so she had cherished her time studying.

It was true she hated physics, but she had also put a lot of work into it.

With family backgrounds like Jiang Xia’s and Mu Tangfeng’s, however, even if their grades were terrible, their families would arrange perfect futures for them. Studying wasn’t their only, or even best, option.

Realizing this, Shi Lan stopped worrying. ’I’m just a cat,’ she thought. ’Their families should be the ones worrying about them.’

She relaxed and snuggled comfortably into the clothes.

When Jiang Xia and Mu Tangfeng no longer felt Onyx moving or staring at them, they were simultaneously relieved and a little uneasy.

Would Onyx start to think they were useless because of this?

When class ended, the two boys took out some snacks and fed them to Onyx, trying to curry favor. They finally relaxed when they saw her eating happily.

It seemed Onyx wasn’t angry.

The afternoon teachers started their classes full of enthusiasm, but returned to the office sighing and groaning. They all looked enviously at the teachers from the morning classes. "You guys are the lucky ones. Those two were sleeping again this afternoon, and half the class wasn’t wearing their uniforms anymore. Looks like we won’t get a chance to experience your ’joy’."

The math, physics, and chemistry teachers took a sip of hot tea and remarked, "We should have known. They couldn’t have kept it up for long."

"It’s fine," one of them added. "At least *we* got to experience it for you."

The other teachers: "...That’s just cruel!"

—

Mu Tangfeng had taken her home yesterday; today, it was finally Jiang Xia’s turn.

Mu Tangfeng, wanting a few more moments with the cat, followed Jiang Xia on a detour to his house. Holding the cat, Jiang Xia couldn’t help but laugh at him. "Look at you. It’s not like you won’t see Onyx tomorrow. And you still insist on following me all this way."

Mu Tangfeng reached out to rub Onyx’s small, gradually rounding head, not bothering to reply.

Only after dropping Onyx at the Jiang family’s house did he reluctantly go with his driver back home.

In stark contrast to Mu Tangfeng’s gloomy expression, Jiang Xia was beaming. The moment he walked in the door, he started showing off to the household staff. "Look! This is my cat. Her name is Onyx. Isn’t she adorable?"

The staff all looked at the cat in unison, paused for a moment, and then chimed in with forced smiles, "Yes, yes, she’s very cute."

’If there were a lie detector,’ Shi Lan thought, ’it would be blaring right now. I appreciate everyone going against their conscience to praise me like this.’

Still, after yesterday’s experience with Mu Tangfeng, Shi Lan’s skin had thickened. She didn’t even blush.

After showing off to the staff, Jiang Xia went to show off to his parents, his face radiating pride and smugness.

Mr. and Mrs. Jiang had already seen pictures of his beloved cat. Their feelings had evolved from initial disbelief to calm acceptance. They could even smoothly play along. "Mm, she is cute indeed."

"Why don’t you take Onyx to see her pet room? We had it custom-made today, just as you requested. Go see if she likes it."

To welcome Onyx, Jiang Xia had specifically asked his family to prepare a room for her.

He was thrilled and immediately took the cat to see it. Shi Lan’s eyes lit up the moment she saw the room.

’It really is great being a rich family’s cat,’ she thought. Just like at He Hanshi’s place, it had all the requisite toys and equipment. He Hanshi’s setup had been even more complete, though. He had even installed a small, personal running-water sink and a paw dryer, which made it very convenient for her to wash her paws.

’But the past is the past,’ Shi Lan thought, ’and I’ve always been one to be content with what I have. Having this kind of life already makes me a very fortunate cat.’

She excitedly tried out the cat tree in the corner, her way of showing Jiang Xia that she loved it.

Seeing this, a smile spread across Jiang Xia’s face, revealing his canine teeth. "Onyx, slow down! If you like it, you can play on it every day. But for now, let’s go downstairs and eat."

Hearing this, Shi Lan obediently leaped down from her high perch.

There were advantages to being a cat. She could leap from a height of over two meters without batting an eye. Of course, that was only because her body was in good shape now. Back when she had first turned into Onyx, she would have worried about shattering on impact. ℯ

Jiang Xia’s heart leaped into his throat. He scooped Onyx up and checked her all over, only breathing a sigh of relief after confirming she was unharmed. He whispered, "Onyx, be careful. If you get hurt, you’ll be in pain, and I’ll be heartbroken."

As he spoke, he gently took Onyx’s front paws and blew on them, worried that the jump might have hurt her pads.

Shi Lan held back a laugh. Seeing the concern in the boy’s eyes, she nuzzled his palm affectionately to let him know she understood.

Shi Lan had thought her life as the cat of a rich heir was finally secure. But that night, just as she was settling into the one-meter-wide luxury cat bed in Jiang Xia’s pet room, she was suddenly transported somewhere else.

The first time is awkward, the second is familiar. Shi Lan felt none of the disorientation or panic from her first transformation. She guessed she must have become another cat. After a brief moment to reorient herself, she quickly assessed the situation.

She seemed to be in a cage inside a moving vehicle; she could clearly feel it bumping and jolting.

The interior was dim, but with a cat’s night vision, Shi Lan could clearly see that she was surrounded by cages. Inside them were all sorts of cats.

Some were scruffy-looking strays, while others were clean, plump, and beautiful, clearly pampered house cats.

At that moment, the first thought that flashed through Shi Lan’s mind was: ’I’ve been nabbed by cat traffickers!’