Go Back to Your Big Cat Form! Chapter 7: Just… Supersized

Chapter 7: Just… Supersized

Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

Editor: Karai

 

Zhao Minghe shook his head inwardly but kept a serious expression. “Major General Lu, he has no record of biting anyone. What happened just now was an accident. He’s never encountered a stranger; he was probably just startled.”

The snow leopard rested his head on his two front paws, trying to hide his predatory traits and appear harmless. It was as if he really were just a big cat.

“Only found this one?”

“Yes, just this one.”

Lu Yao nodded thoughtfully. In the afternoon, there were still mecha debugging tasks scheduled. After finishing his work, Lu Yao went to the medical bay. The doctor had been waiting for him. Aide Zhao had instructed her to personally bring equipment to find Lu Yao if he didn’t come on his own. Fortunately, he arrived as expected.

After Lu Yao gave a brief description of the impact, the doctor began a basic head examination. A handheld medical scanner beeped near the back of his head, detecting metal. The doctor glanced at the data display and asked in surprise, “Major General Lu, did you have a metal implant in your occipital bone?”

“Yes. Many years ago, the back of my skull was damaged. My attending physician at the time recommended a metal implant,” Lu Yao said. That was why there had been such a loud clang when the snow leopard had knocked him down.

“The material is a titanium alloy?”

“Yes,” Lu Yao confirmed. The doctor studied the scan. “This material is very hard and won’t fracture or deform easily. From the scan, there’s no issue. Major Lu, are you experiencing dizziness, nausea, or any nerve pain?” Shaking his head, Lu Yao answered no.

“Good. Then it seems you don’t have a concussion. Just some superficial bruising and soft tissue contusions in your hands. Simple topical treatments will be enough. No need to worry.”

Lu Yao collected the medication and, on his way back to H-sector, picked up a tube of nutritional supplement. When he returned, Zhao Minghe had already left. The long, iron-gray corridor was empty except for a silver-and-white striped big cat lying in the middle. His rounded, pointed ears twitched at the faintest footsteps. When the snow leopard saw Lu Yao, he immediately stood.

Lu Yao froze, even stepping back slightly. After all, this was a large predator capable of running thirty-seven miles per hour, with a bite force of at least four hundred pounds. No matter how soft and fluffy he looked, Lu Yao couldn’t help calculating whether his metal skull could withstand one of the snow leopard’s paws. He averted his gaze, debating whether to step outside for a moment and return later.

The snow leopard smelled the faint catnip scent in the air. His instincts urged him forward, but his human consciousness restrained him. He could see the suspicion behind Lu Yao’s cold, expressionless face. He let out a low whine, stepped back a few paces to clear space at the doorway, and quietly lay against the wall again, awkwardly tucking his paws under his chest, trying to appear harmless and non-aggressive.

Lu Yao took a deep breath, pressed against the wall, and slowly approached his room. The snow leopard followed his every movement. His cold gray eyes were like clear gemstones, and his long tail flicked against the floor in small, rhythmic taps.

When Lu Yao finally reached the door and opened it, a small gap appeared between the door and the wall. Yet he hesitated again. He was a predator, yes—but a predator was also a cat… just a bigger one. And Zhao Minghe had said he didn’t bite.

The fluffy black-and-white tail swirled and twitched in the air like a playful teaser stick. Lu Yao shifted his feet several times but didn’t step forward. He clenched his fists and decided to move toward the snow leopard. If the snow leopard suddenly attacked, the ship’s AI, Wonderland, would summon help.

The snow leopard’s tail flicked faster. He lifted his head to watch Lu Yao squat down one knee away, only about a meter between them. The air carried the fresh, sweet scent of catnip. The snow leopard’s gaze softened, his instinctual tension giving way to curiosity.

Lu Yao slowly extended his hand. First, he allowed the snow leopard to smell him, to familiarize themselves. The snow leopard sniffed twice, then tried to rub his face against Lu Yao. Lu Yao lifted his hand to avoid being rubbed, then stroked the top of the snow leopard’s head. Seeing no resistance, he added his other hand, running it from the sides of his head down to his neck and jaw.

Unlike a domestic cat whose fur is short, the snow leopard, used to harsh mountains, had long, thick, soft fur. Pressing into it felt like sinking into cotton, immensely satisfying. Slipping his fingers into the white fur, Lu Yao could feel the warmth close to the skin.

Lu Yao ran his hands from the snow leopard’s neck down to his jaw and cheeks. His long, strong fingers moved expertly over the softest part of the fur. The snow leopard squinted his eyes, letting out a rumbling purr like a small engine.

Being handled like this, his face massaged and stroked, the snow leopard felt his consciousness almost melt away. Was this how the household cat was treated? Doing nothing, just letting Lu Yao’s cold, fragrant hands press against his face…

Zhou Yunchen, inhabiting this snow leopard form, now faced the greatest existential question of his life: what was the point of being human? Lu Yao asked, watching him curl obediently under the strokes, “What do you usually eat?”

The snow leopard struggled to open his slitted eyes, realizing Lu Yao was speaking to himself rather than expecting a response. Lu Yao thought about it. The Silver Halberd Fleet probably didn’t keep fresh meat just for a pet. Most likely, the snow leopard had been eating specially formulated nutrition. He took out a tube of plain nutrition gel, twisted open the cap, and waved it in front of the snow leopard’s nose. The snow leopard’s head followed the movement, clearly drawn by the scent. Lu Yao poured a bit on the floor to see if he would eat.

The snow leopard sniffed but didn’t bite, as if licking something off the ground was beneath the dignity of a General. Caught between instinct and manners, he hesitated, almost sticking out his tongue—but then Lu Yao extended a snow-white hand, palm slightly cupped, holding the pale blue nutrition gel. Warmed slightly by human touch, the gel glistened invitingly.

Lu Yao knew some cats wouldn’t touch unfamiliar food unless offered directly by a trusted hand. He nodded to the snow leopard and gave a soft hum of encouragement.

The snow leopard had never seen Lu Yao like this. He wasn’t used to being hand-fed—Lu Yao probably never did this for any human—and certainly not for him in this form. But now, seeing that gentle expression, the snow leopard’s instincts told him it was safe.

He lowered his head, licked the gel from Lu Yao’s palm, swallowing it. Plain in flavor, the gel was enhanced only by the subtle sweetness of the lingering catnip pheromones. He squinted his eyes, purring as his tongue worked.

Though his pink tongue looked soft, tiny barbs scraped against Lu Yao’s palm. Even over the slightly calloused skin, the friction left it warm and tingling.

After finishing, the snow leopard still hesitated to let go. He lingered, licking Lu Yao’s hand again. Lu Yao withdrew his hand and poured some of the nutrition gel into a small plastic bowl, placing it before the snow leopard.

Clean and proud, the snow leopard sniffed the bowl. The pale blue gel wasn’t particularly appetizing, but when he glanced at Lu Yao’s ice-blue eyes, full of quiet expectation, he lowered his head and continued eating.

Yet the gel had no real flavor. The lingering catnip taste in Lu Yao’s hand was far more tempting. The snow leopard, taking advantage of his feline form, flopped onto the floor, exposing his white, unpatterned belly. His wide, powerful front paws reached for Lu Yao’s hand.

In an instant, Lu Yao reacted before he could think, stepping back quickly. His palm barely touched the snow leopard’s paw before pulling away. The snow leopard, confused, rose with him.

Lu Yao’s heartbeat thundered. A predator’s claws and teeth were enough to startle anyone. Seeing the snow leopard tense into a defensive posture, he averted his gaze, quickly backed into his room, and shut the door behind him.

He had been careless—feeding a massive carnivore by hand could have ended very badly. One misstep, and he might have been preparing to fashion a new mechanical right hand.

The alloy door closed tightly. Lu Yao went to the bathroom to wash his hands, straining his ears to hear any movement outside. The snow leopard had not reacted angrily to the earlier mishap.

Lu Yao had owned a white cat, Torque. He didn’t mind Torque leaping on him because the cat was domesticated, stable, and he could easily control its actions. But this snow leopard? He wasn’t sure how far Zhou Yunchen had tamed him. Still… he was beautiful.

Returning to his desk, Lu Yao thought about the snow leopard’s life in the wind-swept peaks: graceful, powerful muscles, fluid lines, every movement exuding potential energy. His personal AI assistant held hundreds of gigabytes of Earth’s snow leopard data. After long hours of work, he often browsed through it.

He blinked, recalling the snow leopard’s exposed white belly. Thick, soft fur, warm and pressing against his body… he had never touched it.

Fingers tracing the divorce agreement in his hands, Lu Yao began considering the possibility of obtaining the snow leopard from Zhou Yunchen. Zhao Minghe had said Zhou Yunchen had only recently found him—so perhaps he was technically marital property.

Would Zhou Yunchen agree? Or insist on shared custody with weekly visitation? Would a judge allow it? At first, Lu Yao had no aversion to the marriage, but after three years, he hadn’t found humans particularly interesting. Who could resist a fluffy cat? Especially a large, handsome one who lifted his silver-gray eyes to look up at you.

 

Author’s Note:

General wondered aloud, “Why did I even have to become human?”

 

 

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