Do You Have Any Opinion on Mechanical Cat Ears? (CAT EARS)
Dust swirled near the gentle slope until a spherical cat-ball arrived with a dust suppression water truck to gradually settle the haze. Then, they began devising ways to rescue the cat-ball trapped beneath.
The material of these cat-bots couldn't expand or shrink on its own, but it was highly pressure-resistant. Their chips were flat, and during initial probing, they could feel the trapped cat-ball still wriggling—it just needed quick rescue!
Two paper birds remained pinned to the spaceship's roof, straining their necks to look down.
Perhaps due to the angle, they happened to spot something the cat-balls had missed—in an unnoticed corner, a bony hand suddenly burst from the soil, grasping emptily at the air like a zombie emerging, creating a chilling scene.
Both paper birds froze momentarily.
Zhou Yuechu's trembles slightly.
"Mr. Ji is indeed unharmed... but where are my sunflowers and pea shooters?!"
She laughed at her own words, as if transported back to summer vacations playing games with her brother.
She remembered his system, 4399—named after a childhood gaming website they'd frequented. Back then, 4399 would perk up its mechanical cat ears, looking utterly delighted.
Her expression darkened at the memory—those days were long gone now.
They watched silently as Ji Yiwei slowly emerged from the loose soil and shook the dirt from his clothes before turning his gaze toward the cat-balls, the fluttering paper birds concealing his movements.
The massive ore leaned precariously, with some commotion in that direction. Ji Yiwei frowned, focusing his vision—
There, beneath the enormous rock, a cat-ball lay trapped with only its tail visible, pressed completely flat.
Ji Yiwei typically felt indifferent toward other cat-balls—his affection was reserved for San San as an individual, not for cat-balls in general.
He was about to look away and continue searching for San San among the crowd when his eyes snapped back abruptly.
Wait—that tail...
It was San San's tail!
For a moment, Ji Yiwei's mind went blank. He couldn't believe his San San was the one crushed beneath that massive ore.
He'd only just discovered San San's lengthy writings and learned the truth about how the Main System had been oppressing them all along. His heart had been full of plans to make it up to San San after returning, then "snip" that damn Main System like a watermelon.
Now, all that confidence and determination froze solid—his San San lay trapped under the ore with his condition unknown.
There could be no mistake about the tail—he'd never misidentify San San's tail.
That sleek black tail bore no extra markings yet always appeared glossy and supple, capable of curling into countless adorable shapes to convey emotions. It would wag happily when pleased, attempt to strangle him when angry... So many precious memories were tied to that tail.
In this moment, Ji Yiwei desperately wished he'd been wrong.
Strings of code flickered again in his dark pupils as the paper birds concealing his movements began falling from the sky.
Using his power here might alert the Main System, causing it to panic and flee—but what did that matter? Minor complications paled in comparison to San San's immediate safety.
If he wished, he could make this massive ore evaporate instantly!
Tail...
Ji Yiwei recalled the first time he met Sansan.
He was a host who had been exiled through multiple infinite spaces. This particular infinite space had kept him only because it coveted his ability to earn points and conquer worlds. Beneath its friendly demeanor lay greedy intentions—something Ji Yiwei saw clearly.
Yet he couldn't care less.
His heart had long died, and the world had lost all meaning.
He didn't even care about being imprisoned. Though the shackles on his wrists and ankles could be shattered effortlessly, he made no move to break free.
Leaning against the prison wall, he watched as tree shadows outside folded into paper birds, casting dappled patterns before him.
The paper birds reminded him of the past as fragments of glitching code flickering in his eyes.
A mechanical head approached, urging Ji Yiwei to undertake a mission.
"I can grant you privileges beyond your wildest dreams."
"Just deliver one-third of your past achievements."
Ji Yiwei responded with a lazy, mocking laugh.
He observed the mechanical head struggling to prop itself up on two circular rings to appear more imposing, instantly seeing through its greedy, deceitful nature.
This thing actually thought it could manipulate his will...
How fearless.
"...What kind of privileges?" he asked, feigning interest.
The mechanical head, mistaking his compliance, practically drooled at the thought of his illustrious record—alongside his notorious exploits. To appear friendly, it ventured deeper into the cell to elaborate.
"I'll select and assign you a system. As for the points earned per mission..."
Unbeknownst to the mechanical head, Ji Yiwei had already tuned out its incessant chatter. Tilting his head slightly, he smiled serenely.
The mechanical head's guard lowered further. Ji Yiwei waited patiently—this would be his first bit of amusement in a long time, so he was careful and deliberate.
When the mechanical head came within reach, his lips curled into a grin—
He yanked the outer ring, and the mechanical head shrieked!
Electric currents surged through Ji Yiwei's body, charring his hands and arms, filling the air with the stench of burning flesh. Yet he showed no sign of pain as he still kept gripping the ring with unrelenting force as he smashed it repeatedly against the floor and walls.
Laughing through the carnage, he refused to let go, even as blood splattered everywhere.
His world had already ended.
Might as well drag everything down with him.
The mechanical head was utterly terrified. After multiple brutal impacts, its outer ring cracked, allowing it to wrench free and flee in panic beyond the prison bars.
Ji Yiwei remained still for a moment while still clutching the broken ring, before slowly straightening up to admire his charred wounds—somewhat disappointed.
As expected, the outer ring was just decoration. Pity he hadn’t gotten hold of the main head.
Wouldn’t that round thing have cracked beautifully against the ground?
The now one-ringed mechanical head, trembling with fear, dared not approach him again. Only from behind the laser bars did it muster a hollow threat.
"Host Ji Yiwei! Such defiance will cost you dearly!"
Ji Yiwei took half a step forward, causing the shackles on his feet to clank.
The mechanical head instantly recoiled in panic—this was likely the first time it had suffered such severe injuries.
Ji Yiwei smiled.
Well, it would have to get used to it. Since he had arrived in this infinite space, the real fun was yet to come.
He paid no mind to the mechanical head’s threats. It warned him he would be punished, just as many others had warned him he would face retribution. He had never cared about the latter, let alone the former. He was even still smiling.
How wonderful. His prison life had finally gained a bit of anticipation.
He waited eagerly for the so-called "punishment" the mechanical head had promised. But when the day finally arrived, Ji Yiwei found that his punishment and retribution...
...seemed a little too adorable.
At the corner of the laser barrier, a pair of tiny mechanical cat ears peeked out.
A long mechanical tail swayed playfully before curling into a friendly, heart-shaped half-circle—a gesture of goodwill.
Then, the round, cat-eared ball spoke in a stilted, programmed voice.
"H-H-H-Hello, Host! I-I-I'm the system matched to you. The Main System sent me here."
Ji Yiwei had the distinct impression that this ball was alive—and was currently, in secret, throwing shade at the mechanical head. Though its speech was rigid, the text projected on its screen was utterly sincere—
[Help!]
[Don’t hit me!]
He found it somewhat amusing but maintained an indifferent expression.
The ball fell silent, as if Ji Yiwei’s cold treatment suited it just fine. It simply settled into a small corner outside the cell, coiling its tail around itself with its screen displaying a clock icon.
The ball was waiting.
Once enough time passed, it could leave and freeload elsewhere.
Reading its subtle body language, Ji Yiwei grew slightly dissatisfied. He felt he wasn’t being taken seriously. Whether fear or panic, others' emotions should be at his mercy.
So, just as he had once lured that greedy mechanical head, he took the initiative to engage.
"Hello," he replied belatedly, as if no time had passed at all, his eyes faintly smiling. "Pleased to meet you. Let’s shake hands."
Perhaps sensing his unpredictability, the ball’s mechanical cat ears flattened backward. After some hesitation, it decided not to sour relations too quickly and obediently floated closer to the laser barrier before extending its tail toward Ji Yiwei.
"H-Hello."
A faint smile curled Ji Yiwei’s lips.
First, he extended his scorched, bloodied hand—successfully startling the ball—before pausing and calmly withdrawing it to offer the other hand instead. His expression remained fixed in a gentle, deceptive smile, and the ball, thoroughly fooled, reached out its tail to shake.
Half a minute later.
With its tail still held captive, the ball finally grew frightened. It watched as Ji Yiwei, still smiling, slowly increased his grip, as if trying to drag it through the bars. Its round body tilted slightly, the laser barrier inching closer to its... rear.
Ji Yiwei watched with satisfaction as the ball trembled in growing terror and its drooping ear-tips pitifully endearing. Just as his satisfaction was about to peak—
The tail broke off.
Ji Yiwei instinctively let go, and the severed tail fell. The ball immediately "whooshed" to retrieve it before protectively tucking it behind itself while blinking its slit-pupiled eyes at him. Ji Yiwei fell silent for a moment, then laughed in exasperation.
"Are you a gecko?"
The cat-eared ball finally showed emotion beyond its programmed responses. Too pleased with itself, it completely forgot to disguise its glee and burst into shameless laughter.
"Meowhahahaha... haha... ha..."
Noticing Ji Yiwei's subtle expression, the ball's laughter gradually trailed off until it didn't dare make another sound.
Ji Yiwei gazed at it calmly, and the ball's ears immediately drooped in defeat, projecting tragic words onto the screen.
[I'm done for!]
[Just a measly tail!]
[Should've given it to him sooner!]
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