Chapter 1 — The Illusion of Spring Peaches

I am a professional pet communicator, earning my living through livestreaming and private consultations. My days flow peacefully, neither too exciting nor particularly dull, and I find this rhythm quite agreeable. Today marks another recurring weekly livestream. As usual, I sit down at my desk, turn on the camera, and begin broadcasting.

Barely had the broadcast room opened when someone sent a virtual gift along with a request for a direct video connection. I accepted. On the other end of the screen appeared a petite girl wearing a fluffy Lolita dress. Her eyes were swollen red like two ripe peaches, while her black cat squatted right beside her, turning its rear end toward its owner in a display of utter disdain.

"Miss, please help me take a look. Lately, my cat keeps hitting me all the time! It was always a bit aloof before, but it has never laid a paw on me!"

I stared at the round bottom of the cat on the screen and couldn't resist absentmindedly stroking the tabby cat resting on my lap. The result? It scratched me with a swift swipe of its paw, hurting so intensely that I almost screamed out loud.

"Ouch! That blow was way too heavy!"

Rubbing the fresh scratch on my arm, I motioned to the girl: "Turn your cat around, let its face point toward me."

"Ah, yes, yes!" The girl nodded like a pecking chicken, then scooped the cat up into her arms. The cat refused to cooperate, struggling wildly in every direction. Finally, she had to grip its chubby cheeks tightly, forcing its face to turn toward the camera.

I observed for a moment before asking softly, "Lately... you just broke up with your boyfriend, didn't you? And you've been crying constantly?"

"Huh? That's right! How did you know?" The girl widened her eyes in astonishment.

"Your cat told me." Looking at her bloodshot, puffy eyes, I could easily guess how much she had been weeping these past few days.

"Then... then miss, why is it hitting me?" the girl asked with a trembling voice.

I let out a soft sigh: "It says... you should cry less and stop making such a huge fuss. Weeping like this every day, all your good luck is washing away with your tears."

By this time, more and more viewers were pouring into the livestream room, and the comment section began scrolling rapidly:
[The cat slaps the infatuated girl back to reality, good job kitty!]
[Girl, even the cat can't take it anymore, how many times have you cried lately?]
[Just break up already, sister. When one trash man leaves, another better one will come along.]
[Cry what cry! Exactly, stop the damn waterworks!]
......

Hearing my words, the girl's eyes brimmed with tears once more, her face quivering and her lips pressed into a tight line. She hugged the cat fiercely, squeezed its round head to force it to look right at her, and whimpered tearfully in accusation: "When other people raise cats, the cat cuddles into its owner's arms to comfort them when she cries. But what about you, you unfilial brat! You only know how to hit me?! Did I not treat you well enough? You demand wet food, you demand opened cans, did I ever fail to spoil you?!"

As soon as the girl finished speaking, the comments in the stream instantly split into two factions. Several viewers began defending her:
[That is so true! Even if this lady is a bit overly emotional, this cat is being way too harsh!]
[Eating fine gourmet food every day and still unwilling to show some sympathy for the owner, anyone would feel heartbroken.]
[You can't domesticate such a beast after all this time, miss, just set it free...]

Right at that moment, the black cat in the girl's arms let out a long, drawn-out "Meow—ooo!", waving its front paws repeatedly and swatting at its owner's mouth as if roaring: "Enough already, stop crying!"

Seeing this scene, my face instantly froze, evoking the exact feeling of the classic old man meme on a Nokia phone—an expression of helplessness beyond all measure.

"Don't rush to take the cat's side, you guys need to be fair." I rested my chin in my hand and said earnestly, "When she was just going through her breakup, didn't it stay by her side to comfort her? Back then, did it let her cuddle it, kiss it, and pick it up high? It certainly did! But look at her, it has been four whole months! She cries like a rainstorm every single day, her tears are about to pickle its fur with salt. If I were a human, even I wouldn't be able to stand it!"

The moment those words left my lips, the girl's face flushed a deep crimson. She lowered her head, looking so flustered she couldn't utter a single syllable. The comment section went wild again:
[Four months? ... Well... admittedly, that is a bit... long.]
[If my best friend cried over a man for four months, I would have smashed her head in ages ago!]
[Little kitty, I am so sorry, I blamed you wrongfully just now. You have suffered so much!]
......

The livestream room was now filled with laughter mixed with sympathy, and the majority of the viewers began rooting for the cat, advising the girl to move on quickly. Meanwhile, the girl on the other end blushed like a ripe tomato, too thoroughly embarrassed to lift her head and look at the camera.

Just then, I spoke up again, my tone serious yet tinged with gentle teasing: "Oh, right... your cat also asked me to pass along one more message."

I raised an eyebrow slightly, looking straight into the screen: "The veterinarian at the pet clinic you always take it to—the one who raises that white Samoyed—has secretly liked you for a long time."

"Huh?" The girl abruptly lifted her head, staring at me with wide eyes, her face a mask of utter shock.

I arched an eyebrow and said slowly, "Your cat says that the foolish Samoyed at the clinic once confided in it that the vet has fancied you since the very first time he met you. But after hearing that you had a boyfriend, he quietly locked those feelings away in his heart until now."

I paused briefly before continuing, "It also said it thoroughly investigated all the cats and dogs at the clinic. The conclusion is... that vet has both good looks and a kind heart, and his character is completely trustworthy. Even though he did—um—neuter its Samoyed," I cleared my throat, "still, since he is a good man, if you want to date the vet, it can reluctantly accept it."

The livestream comments exploded into a frenzy:
[Holy cow, is this the upgraded version of the "cat repaying kindness" trope?!]
[As expected, cats are wonderful, only humans are flawed!]
[Cat: "Don't say I never looked out for you."]
[Host, please check on my cat later too, I just went through a breakup as well...]

The comments flew past like shooting stars, dazzling my eyes so fast I couldn't read them all. Upon hearing this, the girl was overwhelmed with surging emotion, her eyes reddening as if she were about to burst into tears once more. Consequently, the black cat immediately raised both front paws and unleashed a flurry of rapid slaps across its owner's face: "Stop crying!"

Taken completely by surprise, the girl was stunned into stillness, her tears beaten right back into their ducts. Seeing that this connection was successfully resolved, I offered her a few words of well-wishing and ended the call.

Muting my mic, I leaned back in my chair, exhaling a long breath, and gulped down a cup of water. Afterward, I turned back to continue chatting with my "regulars" in the livestream room. My channel isn't overwhelmingly popular, but it boasts a loyal group of viewers. Having broadcasted for a long time, we've gradually grown familiar with each other's screen names like close friends, gathering at this hour every week to chat about everyday life.

"Brother Liu, where are you on business lately? Tianjin? Tianjin is lovely, those crispy, fragrant stuffed pastries are addictive the moment you try them! Oh, and the Tianjin accent is quite delightful to hear."

"Sister Wang, you're still planning to send me local specialties? You're too kind... Wait, dried fish? Well then, let me thank you on behalf of Ah Li in advance! I'll message you my address privately later."

Right at that moment... the screen suddenly blazed with brilliant light. A super-large festival animation materialized, covering nearly half the frame. The glowing visual effects lingered for a long time because the viewer on the other end had sent ten of them all at once.

Me: "..."
Viewers: "..."
The entire livestream room fell dead silent.

I've been in this profession for quite a while, yet not a single person had ever gifted me a festival animation. And yet today, someone dropped ten of them in one go?!

In the blink of an eye, a massive wave of viewers flooded in, and the comment section erupted like fireworks:
[Oh my god, which wealthy tycoon sent these gifts?!]
[Dear heavens, please grant me a wealthy tycoon big brother like this!!!]
[The host isn't even some glamorous internet celebrity, ten festival animations... is that even worth it?]

As soon as the special effects ended, the gift-giver sent a direct connection request. I clicked to accept the connection, and as the screen brightened, I saw a handsome young man lounging casually in a chair, carrying an arrogant, untouchable aura. Beside him sat a fully grown Doberman dog, jet-black all over with muscular, solid physique, sharp and chilling eyes, and a stern expression just like a personal bodyguard.

The comments in the livestream instantly blew up:
[Wait a minute?! Isn't that ID belonging to Young Master Li?]
[Whoa? Young Master Li is actually this handsome???]
[Hold on, isn't Young Master Li a gaming streamer? Why did he wander over here today?]
[What is this? A pet communication room? And he's talking to dogs?!]

On the other end, Young Master Li lazily leaned back against his chair, his lips curving into a half-smile carrying a hint of wicked charm: "I heard you know how to talk to pets?"

I calmly nodded: "Yes, I do."

He let out a cold huff, his gaze sweeping over me from head to toe through the screen, his tone dripping with blatant contempt: "You aren't a scammer, are you?"

Me: "..."
Talk about a difficult customer.