Chapter 6: Moving to a New Home

Zhao Yong also took a step back. After all, a true master carries himself with dignity, and it truly wasn’t proper to try to bribe someone of such stature with money.

Since Shi Yi had offered her own solution for her lodging, Zhao Yong simply went along with it.

Seeing that Zhao Yong no longer insisted on giving her the house, Shi Yi placed the ring of keys into his arms.

“I can live anywhere. You decide.”

Zhao Yong hooked the ring of keys onto his waistband, grinning foolishly.

“All right, Master! Leave this to me. Why don’t you start packing today? Tomorrow, I’ll find someone to help you move!”

That night, Shi Yi thought of the calico that had spoken in her mind earlier that day.

She cleared her throat and spoke softly.

“White Tiger, are you there?”

Her gentle voice echoed in the empty house.

Just as Shi Yi thought the system would not reply, a crisp voice suddenly rang out in her mind.

“What do you want from this system?”

Shi Yi was stunned for a moment, and immediately the image of that calico cat appeared in her mind.

“You’re the system? Then are you a cat or...?” Shi Yi asked cautiously, unable to believe such an absurd situation had actually come to her.

White Tiger stood to one side, glanced at Shi Yi, and flicked its tail with pride.

In an instant, a flash of white light darted before her eyes. Shi Yi instinctively covered her face, and when she opened her eyes again, a plump calico cat was perched upon her bed, licking its pink paw with an air of disdain.

“Foolish host, this system is neither human nor ghost. I am the White Tiger, and I appeared alongside your Pre-Crime System. If you must call me something…” The calico tilted its head thoughtfully and continued, “If you must describe what I am, you may regard me as a god—there is nothing I do not know, nothing I cannot do!”

The little calico puffed up its chest with pride, raising its head as if it would touch the ceiling.

Shi Yi couldn’t help but reach out tentatively and stroke its brow. To her surprise, it was as soft as any real kitten.

Emboldened, she began to gently stroke the calico.

“How dare you, human, actually try to—purr, purr, purr…”

The calico couldn’t help but begin to purr.

Shi Yi, watching this, couldn’t help but laugh softly.

So much for claiming to be a god—was it not an adorable little cat all the same?

Mustering her courage, Shi Yi scooped the calico into her arms.

“White Tiger? In my opinion, you’re really just Big Yellow.”

Shi Yi smiled unconsciously, for the calico’s face bore a large patch of yellow fur, right around its nose and mouth, making it look especially comical.

“How about I call you Big Yellow from now on?”

Shi Yi gently stroked the calico’s head. White Tiger nearly exploded with indignation at the name, fur bristling all over.

“How can you call this system by such an awful name? I am a god! A god! How can I be called Big Yellow? That is an insult to my divine status!”

Shi Yi could hardly imagine this tiny calico—speaking in a childish voice—had anything to do with divinity.

She allowed herself a rare smile.

“All right, all right, you’re a god, not a cat.”

It took some effort, but Shi Yi finally managed to smooth down the bristling fur.

She squinted at the cat, studying it.

“But you, following me like this, what’s your purpose? What can I do for you?”

She didn’t believe in kindness or love without reason, nor did she believe anyone—or any god—would help her for nothing.

The calico squinted in pleasure, purring as it spoke lazily.

“I have my reasons for staying with you. Every time you complete a task, I gain certain benefits as well. I truly am the White Tiger, only now, for particular reasons, I must exist as a cat. When you finally complete your tasks, I’ll be able to return to my true form.”

As it spoke, the calico stretched out its paw, as if to show off its muscles.

Shi Yi fell silent, considering this. The purpose seemed reasonable enough.

Now, every task she completed gained her another year of life. For her, the advantages far outweighed the costs.

Cradling the calico, Shi Yi soon drifted off to sleep.

She didn’t actually have much to pack; her scattered clothes could barely fill a twenty-inch suitcase. Beyond that, there was only her master’s portrait. That was the sum of her worldly possessions.

Early the next morning, Zhao Yong arrived right on time with a moving company, knocking at Shi Yi’s door.

She was already prepared, waiting at home for his news. It didn’t matter to her where she lived; saving money was what mattered most. That was her greatest wish.

When she opened the door, Zhao Yong stood there grinning.

Seeing only a single, lonely suitcase behind her, he scratched his head in confusion.

“Master, is this really all your luggage?”

Shi Yi nodded and glanced at the four or five burly men behind Zhao Yong, the corner of her mouth twitching.

“I don’t have much. You can send these gentlemen back.”

Zhao Yong peered into the apartment, looking around. It was spotless, with only a small suitcase’s worth of belongings.

He waved to the movers and eagerly helped Shi Yi with her luggage. Carrying the portrait, she stepped out the door.

The compound was large, with both old and new buildings. The new ones were tall and impressive, clearly recently built.

Zhao Yong had arranged for Shi Yi to stay in the very top floor of a new building.

Shi Yi had expected a modest one-bedroom apartment.

But when the door opened, what greeted her was a spacious apartment with four bedrooms and two living rooms. She was so stunned by the sight that she froze.

She had never lived in such a grand place. Even when she’d been with her master, she’d always led a wandering, rough life.

This was the sort of place that only appeared in her dreams; she couldn’t stop staring.

Zhao Yong, seeing her reaction, smiled with satisfaction. Clearly, the master was pleased with his arrangement.

He carefully set her suitcase and portrait aside.

“Master, what do you think? Is there anything you need? If so, just let me know—it’s no trouble at all!”

Having argued with her before, Zhao Yong now ended every sentence with “it’s no trouble at all,” afraid she might feel she was imposing.

How could a master be allowed to suffer the slightest inconvenience?

He followed Shi Yi closely, watching as she wandered from room to room, exclaiming softly in wonder. His satisfaction grew.

Shi Yi silently inspected every room. When she entered the master bedroom and saw the large floor-to-ceiling window and the enormous bed, her astonishment was clear.

“This is so big…”

She couldn’t help but speak aloud. Zhao Yong grinned.

“Of course! How could I let a master stay anywhere less?”

As he spoke, Zhao Yong rubbed his hands together, a hint of embarrassment flickering across his face.