Chapter 1: The Rival’s Lap

Incredible!

Who could have imagined that her consistently aloof “nemesis” would ever reveal such a flustered expression.

Duan Yan, the top actress in the entertainment industry, possessed impeccable looks and acting skills, with more awards than she could count.

In the public eye, she always maintained a calm and composed image; even when others won awards she had yet to obtain, she would only offer a faint smile.

Now, Song Jin had become an orange cat, and with just a few lazy “meows,” she had actually managed to make Duan Yan wear a look of pure adoration.

Although she had no idea how she turned into an orange cat, the moment she saw Duan Yan, a thought sprouted in Song Jin’s mind. She left a “ditching note” for her manager, then quickly ran to Duan Yan, easily capturing her attention.

Right now, Song Jin was lying on Duan Yan’s lap, enjoying her caresses on the way to Duan Yan’s home.

From this angle, Duan Yan’s hands were breathtakingly perfect.

Her ten fingers were slender, fair, and tender, as delicate as freshly picked spring onions, seemingly awaiting someone’s gentle kiss.

Perhaps due to the weather, Song Jin felt a slight chill from Duan Yan’s fingertips; her touch was both warm and as smooth as fine jade.

If it weren’t for the fact that Duan Yan’s hand had been stroking her soft fur nonstop since they met, Song Jin might have taken the time to properly admire these hands, and then secretly book a hand-care appointment for herself.

‘Who could stand being petted like this.’

She sighed.

If it wasn’t for the sake of uncovering her “nemesis’s” secrets, as a cat, she would have bolted long ago.

‘Has Duan Yan never owned a cat before? Does she like them this much?’

She tentatively extended a paw, placing it gently in Duan Yan’s hand, and let out a soft, throaty “meow.”

…

‘Weren’t you just petting me like you couldn’t put me down? Why the sudden lack of reaction?’

Song Jin tilted her head up in confusion, only to be met with Duan Yan’s expression of “I’m about to melt from the cuteness.”

Whether she had owned a cat before was hard to say, but one thing was certain: Duan Yan was a complete cat s*ave.

She had guessed right. As someone who had been disliked by cats and dogs since childhood, any cute little animals she encountered would always take a detour to avoid her, refusing to be touched. She could only sneak a pet while they were sleeping to satisfy her craving.

Now, an orange kitten had actually taken the initiative to stage a “run-in” and even made contact with her. Duan Yan was simply overwhelmed by the favor.

The fluffy paw, the tender pink paw pads, landed in her palm with a warm touch. Paired with the orange cat’s watery eyes and adorable cry, it was like a feather lightly brushing against Duan Yan’s heart, making her itch with delight.

Duan Yan beamed with joy, “Wow, does this mean it wants me to pet its paw? Sister Yang, you’ve had cats for so long, you should know, right?”

Yang Jun, Duan Yan’s manager, was someone Song Jin often saw posting pictures of her cat on social media.

“I think so,” Yang Jun replied, extending her hand, eager and seemingly wanting to pet Song Jin as well.

But Song Jin keenly sensed her intention. She didn’t want to be touched by anyone else and was about to dodge.

Before she could move, Duan Yan swept her into an embrace, her fluffy head pressed tightly against the crook of Duan Yan’s neck. Her entire body was securely protected, cherished so much that not a single strand of fur was to be touched by another.

“You are not allowed to touch my cat!” Duan Yan said, like a child protecting her favorite toy.

“So stingy. It’s not like I’m going to steal your cat. Can’t I just pet it once? How did you used to pet my cat? Forgetting your friends the moment you see a cat,” Yang Jun rolled her eyes.

“No way. This is the first cat in all these years to actively seek me out. You just don’t get it!” Duan Yan’s face glowed with the happiness of “I finally have a cat.”

‘This is so childish…’

Song Jin grumbled to herself, but in the next moment, she caught a whiff of a faint, elegant fragrance.

The scent was refined and pleasant, a perfect match for Duan Yan’s image.

Initially, when Duan Yan carried her into the car, the rich fragrance made Song Jin assume it was the car’s air freshener. She never expected it to be Duan Yan’s own scent.

‘What brand of perfume is this?’

‘It smells amazing. I have to steal this secret!’

With this little scheme in mind, Song Jin couldn’t help but move her head closer, her front paws gently prodding at the fabric of Duan Yan’s clothes, trying to identify the perfume’s components.

However, the proximity was too close, leaving her a bit breathless. Her body instinctively shifted slightly, trying to relax its tense muscles.

Suddenly, with a loud “thud,” the car screeched to a halt. The sudden jolt threw everyone inside off balance, their bodies lurching forward.

Song Jin quickly dug her claws into the fabric to keep from falling. Duan Yan also hastily pulled her into a tight hug, terrified she might get hurt.

“What happened?” Duan Yan asked.

The driver answered with a frown, “The car in front of us suddenly stopped for some reason. I’ll go check on the situation.”

With that, the driver opened the door and got out, leaving the two women and one cat in the car.

The car’s interior lights were dim. Being held in Duan Yan’s arms, Song Jin’s vision was limited, but her sense of smell became even more sensitive.

She detected an even richer fragrance, more fragrant than what she had just smelled!

Her nose twitched as she carefully sniffed the scent, but for some reason, she couldn’t identify the name of the perfume.

Song Jin felt a little disappointed but quickly rallied her spirits. Once they got to Duan Yan’s house, she would surely be able to find out the perfume’s name.

In the dim light, Song Jin felt a bit restless. She nudged her head against her surroundings and moved her paws about idly.

Inadvertently, her paw brushed against a soft, tender, and cushiony spot through the fabric, as light as a cloud.

Unable to resist, she gently pressed down with her paw again.

‘So comfortable!’

‘What is this place? It’s so soft!’

Song Jin squinted her eyes, a purr rumbling in her throat, and her tail unconsciously perked up, swaying back and forth.

‘Could it be Duan Yan’s belly fat?’

‘But Duan Yan’s stomach has always been flat. Could it be that after a winter of neglecting her figure, she’s grown such soft flesh?’

At this thought, the corner of Song Jin’s mouth curled into a smug grin, and she couldn’t help but press down on the soft area with a little more force.

She herself had always been diligent with her workouts, maintaining perfect abs even through the winter.

“Ngh…” Duan Yan let out a muffled grunt, which was very distinct in the quiet car.

“What’s wrong? Did you bump into something?” Yang Jun’s voice rose half a degree in alarm.

“It’s nothing, just the little one acting up…”

Duan Yan’s tone was natural, as if describing a mundane event, but only she knew she was faking it.

At first, she thought it was the cat’s whiskers brushing against her skin, but then the ticklish sensation spread like a tiny electric current, making her feel uncomfortable all over.

Duan Yan reached out and gently caught the mischievous little paw.

!!!

Song Jin’s feline eyes widened, startled by the sudden touch, and she abruptly realized she had stepped somewhere she shouldn’t have.

Although she tried her best to remain calm, her inner embarrassment was practically radiating out of her body.

She had never had any improper thoughts about someone of the same s*x, especially not when that person was her career nemesis.

The sole reason for deigning to get close to Duan Yan was to secretly gather intel, then surge ahead in her career and leave her formidable rival, Duan Yan, far behind!

However, her brazen behavior just now was an undeniable fact. All she could do was lie limply on Duan Yan’s lap, burying her face as low as possible as if trying to burrow into the ground.

If she could see her own face, it would surely be as red as the stunning dress Duan Yan was wearing—a red that was impossible to ignore.

Recalling how she had deliberately kneaded that spot, her cheeks felt as if they were being scorched by the sun, and she was overcome with shame.

Duan Yan was just as awkward at that moment.

She hated excessive physical intimacy with others, especially in that kind of place. It would make her feel disgusted.

But the offender wasn’t a person, but an adorable little cat who had “staged a run-in” with her.

Duan Yan didn’t feel violated. On the contrary, the spot that had been kneaded still retained the little cat’s residual warmth, a tingling numbness that she found very strange…