Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Everything happens so fast — too fast.

First,

"You’re fired!"

Second,

"—buy a house for the one you love."

Third,

"One day you’ll grow old and you’ll be replaced, Nice!"

And finally,

an unexpected meeting.

Nice lands right in front of Lin Ling, out of nowhere. Nice’s calmness and Lin Ling’s shock collide under the setting sun. Nice’s footsteps, so full of courage and grace as the perfect hero, move slowly in Lin Ling’s eyes, yet quickly in reality.

Then, it all happens.

Nice’s signature smile and his favorite pose for his fans.

And then, he dives straight down.

“What the hell was that?!”

Holy crap. Holy crap. Holy crap—!

Lin Ling shivers in fear. His legs move reflexively, rushing toward the stairs. His mouth gapes open like a suffocating fish. He wants to scream , but he can’t. His brain can’t process anything except the thought that he needs to get downstairs— now —and check what’s going on below.

That’s right. Forget the fear for now. Lin Ling has to get down there immediately.

Nice. Nice—the perfect hero he just cursed out—ends his life right in front of him.

How is this even possible?!

Lin Ling knows just how perfect Nice’s life is. Compared to most heroes, he’s the only one who ever earned the title of "perfect." With his strength and status, he could easily surpass X any day now.

So why?!

His mind can’t process anything. The knowledge of Nice’s perfection—the same one he uses every day for ad campaigns—completely clashes with the sight of Nice ending his own life before his eyes. It’s so, so, so wrong.

Nice isn’t supposed to die...

Lin Ling forces himself to believe it; Nice isn’t supposed to die. He can fly—he must just be trying out a new flying style. Yeah, that’s it. He’s probably just bored, testing something new.

But... what kind of “flying style” looks like jumping off without a second thought?!

No. Lin Ling has to check on him right now!

When he reaches the ground floor and throws open the door, his eyes scan the area immediately. No one’s around. The place is eerily quiet. Nice should be gone by now...

“A-a-a-ahh…”

...but in the distance, he spots a lump covered by something white, stained with splotches of blood.

Without thinking, Lin Ling dashes toward the white lump. He nearly trips, but scrambles up and keeps running, not caring that he almost twists his ankle.

“N-Nice…”

Lin Ling stares in disbelief at what he finds. His knees give out. That’s definitely Nice’s outfit—his trademark white hero uniform, now soaked in blood.

But that’s not what shocks Lin Ling the most.

“M-me-meow…”

From underneath Nice’s bloodstained clothes, a small white cat struggles to crawl out.

Frozen in disbelief, Lin Ling gapes like an idiot as the cat blinks up at him with its bright blue eyes.

Those eyes...

“N-N-N-N-Nice...?”

The cat tilts its head slightly, as if trying to process the human’s words.

“M-meow...?”

The cat blinks once.

And then—

"GYAAAA!!! DON’T DIE, NICEEEE!!"

—the cat passes out.

Let summarize what happens in this day,

Lin Ling gets fired just for creating the To Be Hero X marketing concept. He wants to give up and almost jumps. But then, it’s Nice—the perfect hero who can meet everyone’s expectations—who jumps first, almost as if deliberately getting ahead of Lin Ling.

Then...

“That cat is really Nice, our perfect hero!”

Four hours after waiting for the cat’s surgery, Lin Ling blurts out the secret without filter to the vet who is treating the white cat—Nice.

“Nice jumped right beside me and turned into a cat!”

“...”

Dr. Shen, a veterinary surgeon used to dealing with severe injuries in animals, never expected to be facing a pet owner in psychological shock, resembling a mental disorder. Should she get a certification in psychiatry... specifically for pet owners?

“So the little one is named Nice—”

“He is the real Nice.”

Okay, this pet owner is definitely experiencing a mental disorder.

“Even though he doesn’t have white fur and blue eyes, it doesn’t mean he’s that Nice.” Dr. Shen stays professional, trying to calm Lin Ling. “I know it’s shocking to see your pet injured like this.”

“I have proof!”

Lin Ling takes out his phone.

He didn’t take photos of the incident; his mind was too chaotic with Nice’s condition right now. But as the best hero of Treeman, losing Nice would be an alarm for them. They must be looking for Nice and finding his bloodstained white shirt.

Sure enough, Lin Ling finds a breaking news video from Treeman.

“Look—!”

[Breaking News! Nice will undergo closed training and discover a new technique to challenge the top 10!]

“...”

Dr. Shen looks at Lin Ling with pity. Turns out the owner of the little cat has gone mad.

“As the best veterinary hospital, we offer psychological assistance packages to calm pet owners. I know seeing your beloved pet injured severely can be shocking.”

“It’s real!”

“Ah... it seems you need a psychiatrist.” — his hallucinations are getting severe.

“No, no—”

“For now, rest here in the hospital. Your cat has passed the critical phase.”

“I don’t—”

“I know it’s hard, but you can face it.”

Dr. Shen pats Lin Ling’s shoulder for encouragement and leaves him alone in the waiting room.

“Oh my god... this is too much...”

Lin Ling is exhausted now.

Sitting in the middle of the veterinary waiting room, he doesn’t know what to do. There’s just so much information today: he got fired, Nice tried to kill himself, and now Nice has turned into a cat who got injured after falling from the 25th floor.

Honestly, it’s a miracle that Nice is still alive, though he’s still unconscious in the ICU. How long it will take for Nice to wake up, he doesn’t know, but at least he’s passed the critical phase and his life isn’t in danger. Now, all he can do is wait.

But… why did he turn into a cat?

Lin Ling is so frustrated, really.

Even though he doesn’t want to believe that Nice tried to kill himself, with all his abilities... why a cat?!

A dog can become a “human” because of the power of trust to fight evil, but what’s the point of becoming a cat? Even a cat can die after jumping from the 25th floor. Nice must’ve survived because of his hero’s body resilience, right?!

Ahhh… Lin Ling is getting more frustrated.

But what frustrates him the most is Treeman’s attitude. The damn company isn’t looking for Nice, but instead, they’re covering up the case with fake news. Nice isn’t undergoing training for new techniques, he turned into a cat.

Should he call Treeman now?

“Tuutt…. Tuutt… Tuutt..”

Haha.

What does one expect from someone who’s been fired—Lin Ling’s number is blocked.

Lin Ling takes a deep breath. Now, he needs to focus on Nice’s condition first.

According to the doctor’s examination, Nice has severe injuries all over his body, including his head. His head has a severe wound, with the possibility of brain damage. Looking at the wounds, it’s clear there’s potential brain damage, which could affect his activities or, at worst, lead to paralysis.

But despite all the injuries… It's truly a miracle he’s alive, even if he’s turned into a cat.

For now, Lin Ling doesn’t want to think about why Nice jumped at that moment. He doesn’t know Nice beyond being a marketing concept creator for his job. Besides Nice’s condition, there’s one important issue that needs to be solved.

“The bill must be really expensive.”

Lin Ling is already broke, with no income, and will get even poorer by paying for Nice’s surgery.

He knows that he could ask Nice for money later once he wakes up (and interrogate him about why he tried to kill himself and  turned into a cat). But right now, he has to pay for proper care for Nice. And he doubts his savings will cover the veterinary hospital bill, at least not until Nice wakes up.

“Should I take out a loan—Huh?!”

Lin Ling’s body jerks, almost falling. His hands shake, and his eyes widen in disbelief when he sees the balance on his digital app.

Wh-why?

His savings have increased by 18 million yuan.

With a one-line note: tip for your new marketing concept —the concept that got Lin Ling fired.

The sender is Nice; exactly 2 hours after Lin Ling sent the concept to Miss J.

“.....”

Actually…

… what is happening right now?

Chapter Text

Just like humans, animals that have undergone major surgery must be monitored from every angle—especially if the injury is to the head. Several post-op procedures must be followed to ensure there are no lingering effects.

For example, checking for amnesia—yes, cats can experience amnesia.

Some severe head trauma cases result in memory loss and cognitive decline. Head scans are essential to prevent unexpected complications, especially if the cat takes unusually long to regain consciousness after major surgery.

In Nice’s case, the unlucky white cat who fell from the 25th floor, there’s no doubt he needs that kind of assessment.

This little cat does take longer to wake up, but his post-op vitals—heartbeat, breathing rhythm, and blood pressure—are all relatively normal. His wounds are starting to close, and there are no signs of seizures. His recovery is surprisingly fast… for a normal cat.

But because Nice takes so long to wake up, Dr. Shen suspects that all the post-surgery side effects are concentrated in cognitive functions. So, once Nice is fully awake, Dr. Shen immediately starts a cognitive evaluation.

Tests are done to assess sensory response, balance, and eye reflexes. Nice shows no symptoms—everything looks fine. But during the sessions, he always seems dazed, especially around people—unlike typical cats, who often growl or scratch at unfamiliar doctors and nurses.

Nice remains still and only responds when prompted. Otherwise, he does nothing.

It seems to be a case of memory disorientation.

So now, a memory recognition test must be done… involving his owner.

“Niceee… whyyy do you have to get amnesiiaaa…”

Ah.

Dr. Shen suddenly remembers—this cat’s owner is not right in the head.

In the middle of the test, Lin Ling pulls out his tablet and shows a close-up photo of Nice in his signature pose.

“Look… this is you!”

He points at the white hair and blue eyes in the photo, then at the cat’s white fur and blue eyes.

“Remember your true form… who you really aaare…”

Lin Ling presses the photo right in front of Nice’s face.

“Return to your original seelllf—!”

“….”

So really… who’s the sick one here?

But the white cat in front of Lin Ling doesn’t respond. Or maybe he just doesn’t care. He casually licks his paw and then flops over— exhausted .

“Oh my god… poor Nice…” Lin Ling stares at the small cat, his heart breaking. “…why did you end up as a cat?!”

Dr. Shen remains silent. He is an actual cat.

But before this room becomes Lin Ling’s personal emotional breakdown zone, Dr. Shen gently pats his shoulder and says, “That’s not how we test a cat’s memory.”

“He is Nice!”

Dr. Shen just smiles. Yes, the cat’s name is Nice.

Though this is the first time Dr. Shen has dealt with a completely delusional pet owner, he remains professional… and a little sympathetic.

“You don’t need to worry. Aside from possible memory loss, everything else looks good.”

Seeing that Nice is starting to get restless and a little anxious, Dr. Shen softly strokes his fur. Honestly, it’s amazing his fur is still this soft after falling from 25 stories and having a slightly crazy owner.

“Let’s try something that builds comfort through closeness.”

Dr. Shen gently picks up Nice and hands him to Lin Ling. Lin Ling instinctively cradles Nice like a mother holding a baby, gently stroking his back. Feeling Lin Ling’s warmth, Nice responds by curling up in his arms.

“M-meow…”

It’s the first response Nice has made since the memory check began.

“Looks like he remembers you,” Dr. Shen says with a soft smile. “He might still recognize you through your touch.”

“I’m not that close to him!”

Still, Lin Ling holds Nice tighter, like he never wants to let go.

Nice seems content in Lin Ling’s arms. But then, he sniffs—his tiny nose inching closer to Lin Ling’s neck.

“Meoow…?”

He sniffs again.

Something… smells weird.

Then—

“Huuaaargh… hhuooekkk… uugh…”

“….”

—Nice throws up. Right on Lin Ling’s shoulder.

"I'm extremely sensitive to cheap perfumes, especially the scent of poverty—"

That’s a line from a perfume commercial starring Nice, written by none other than Lin Ling. The perfume costs half of Lin Ling’s monthly salary and is advertised with Nice’s sultry voice. Whatever it smells like (clearly, it smells rich), it keeps selling out ever since Nice becomes the face of it. Even the latest sales report shows no signs of slowing down.

Which means, unfortunately, the commercial still airs on TV… in front of Lin Ling—right after he finishes changing clothes because Nice pukes on him.

“……”

Lin Ling really hates that commercial.

As if being humiliated daily as a corporate slave isn’t enough, must he now be mocked by his own copywriting?

He only writes that line because he has to.

“I’m so tired…”

He exhales deeply, as if trying to push out the chaos inside him.

Even after getting fired, there’s still too much to deal with.

While waiting for Nice to wake up, Lin Ling digs into all the news related to him. Every article says Nice is undergoing secret training and won’t appear in public anytime soon. There is no mention of his condition. No missing person alerts. Nothing.

Maybe Treeman is really hiding the truth.

But one thing haunts Lin Ling more than anything.

When he returns to the rooftop where Nice falls, there’s no trace of the incident. The blood and clothes are gone. The CCTV shows only Lin Ling—no sign of Nice at all.

It’s like someone deliberately erases all evidence.

But why?

If that person really wants to erase Nice, they should’ve seen Lin Ling carrying him to the animal hospital. At the very least (though Lin Ling wouldn’t like it), they would have shown up by now to silence him and take Nice away.

But a whole week passes. No one comes.

Now Lin Ling—whether he wants to or not—has to protect Nice. As a cat.

Arrrghhh…!

He really wants to scream.

The frustration of losing his job now piles on top of this ridiculous situation with Nice. His head feels like it’s going to explode. He doesn’t know what to do.

And now Nice has amnesia—what kind of karma is this?

He really wants to give up. But Nice—the same Nice who once casually gives him 18 million yuan just because he likes his idea—is now hurt and helpless. Lin Ling can’t abandon him.

“I have to take care of him…”

That’s right, Lin Ling has to care for him. Especially after being handed 18 million yuan. For the sake of his benevolent god of wealth, Lin Ling is willing to play servant.

So Lin Ling returns to Nice’s room.

“Prrrrr…”

Nice is already asleep, belly up— a human pose, not a cat one! —completely guiltless after puking on Lin Ling’s shoulder. He shamelessly exposes his round, fluffy belly to the world. Sleeping soundly. Totally indifferent to Lin Ling’s breakdown.

“…..”

Lin Ling should be the one who turns into a cat that day. Not Nice….. it’s not fair!

“If you weren’t Nice, I’d totally scold you right now.”

Lin Ling sighs softly, staring at the soft white fur on Nice’s stomach.

Right now, Nice looks completely at peace.

“All right, we’ve got time.” Lin Ling gently strokes Nice’s belly. “Get some rest… I’ll protect you.”

Even if Lin Ling is just an ordinary human, he can still protect Nice. At least long enough for him to turn back into himself.

Well, to be honest…  Lin Ling has never taken care of a cat before. His only experience is raising three adorable hamsters as a child.

Looking back...

The first one runs excitedly into a fan… and dies.

The second one, for reasons unknown, jumps from the fourth floor… and dies.

The third one… dies of a heart attack during a peek-a-boo game.

“…..”

Nice is a human.

So taking care of him should be easier… right?

Lin Ling believes—

Taking care of Nice should be easy. He’s a human.

Nice is a human being. A real human—

“MEEEEEOOOWWW!!!”

CRASH!!

“MEEEOOOWWW!! MEEEOOOW!!”

THUD!! CRACK!!

“MEEOWW!! MEEOWW!! MEEOOOW!!”

…

—It has to be easy… right?

Lin Ling covers his face, wincing. He doesn’t know whether to cry or just give up on life.

From inside the exam room—Lin Ling is asked to wait outside—comes the sound of shattering glass, falling equipment, something tearing, and possibly a solid punch. All of it is serenaded by Nice’s increasingly violent howls. The longer he’s in there, the louder it gets.

But above all that…

“Lastly, the vaccine.”

“MEEEEEOOOWWWWW!!!!”

Lin Ling can only… (OAO)

Is this going to be okay?

No. No, it’s not. This is dangerous… Nice is a real person . He’s not a cat.

No matter how many times Lin Ling tries to explain that Nice is actually a human—nobody believes him. 

According to government regulations, all cats and dogs admitted into animal hospitals must receive required vaccinations. Lin Ling can’t take Nice home without getting him vaccinated. 

Lin Ling has no choice. … Nice gets the full feline treatment—including rabies shots.

“MEEEEEOOOOOWWWWW!!!”

I’m so sorry, Nice 🙏🏻🙏🏻

Now, it’s time to pray.

Lin Ling hopes that when Nice turns back into a human… he won’t kill him. And he won’t burn down the entire animal hospital either.

As Lin Ling silently prays—using every known religion he can think of to ask for protection for himself and this clinic—a vet assistant staggers out of the exam room. Her clothes are wrinkled and nearly torn. Her arms and cheeks are covered in scratch marks from Nice. 

“Mr. Lin Ling?”

She still manages a polite smile, as if she’s used to cats from hell. Before Lin Ling can even ask how Nice is doing, she hands him a pamphlet.

“Since your cat is unusually aggressive, have you considered this?” she says cheerfully. “It’s still part of our government-funded program.”

Lin Ling takes the flyer...

A government initiative for controlling the cat population. Free neutering.

“………”

ABSOLUTELY NOT!

I STILL WANT TO LIVE! 😭😭😭😭

Bonus: 

White Cat aka Nice

Chapter Text

The first time he opens his eyes, he realizes one thing: he can’t remember anything.

Who he is. What has happened. Where this place is.

Those questions keep popping up in his mind. But no matter how many questions appear, he can’t answer them. Everything is blank—like a void with no walls and no exit.

Strangely, beneath all that emptiness, he feels at peace. Nothing stirs him to seek the truth. There is no fear. Only… surrender. As if his body and soul have already given up

Or maybe… he has forgotten how to feel fear.

Who knows.

He doesn’t even want to find out.

Whatever has happened, his body feels extremely tired. His mind is dull, and something inside him seems to be missing. But the only thing he wants is to fall back asleep—much longer, and let everything disappear.

He shouldn’t have woken up again.

“He is Nice!”

But a voice suddenly cuts through the silence in his mind. That man—whoever he is—keeps whining and convincing everyone that he is Nice. The man even comes up to him several times to make sure he’s not hurt.

That man… 

Since when were they close?

No—does he even know this man?

No matter how hard he tries, the man’s face doesn’t appear in his empty mind. How many times he tries to remember, he finds nothingness.

“He is Nice!”

“….”

Alright then.

Since he remembers nothing and it’s exhausting to even try remembering, then… let’s just say he is Nice.

So starting today, he is Nice.

Whoever Nice is, if that’s what everyone says… then what choice does he have—even though he doesn’t really like the name.

Then, for the first time, Nice starts paying attention to his surroundings.

Nice’s blue eyes look at the man… Lin Ling. He’s busy talking to people in white coats. Nice doesn’t understand what they’re talking about, but he draws one important conclusion: almost everyone he meets says Lin Ling is his owner.

Seriously?

Nice stares at Lin Ling from head to toe.

Ha.

How could they possibly think that fool is his owner?

Look at him. His clothes are messy and plain. His face looks clumsy and whiny. His body is scrawny and weak—god—even the injured cat beside him from a recent fight still looks stronger than Lin Ling.

Not to mention the smell when they first met…

Is he really… poor?

And what’s worse—

“Hisss… Meeeoow!”

“You don’t have to worry, Nice! I’ll protect you even if no one else believes in me!”

“Meeeoow! Meeoow!!”

“No matter what happens, you are Nice!”

“Meeeoow!”

“I’ll protect you!”

“…”

Haha.

Seriously?

Nice refuses to have such a stupid owner who can’t even understand a word he says.

Who exactly do they think Lin Ling is, to claim ownership so shamelessly?

Ha! Owner? Oh, please. Get real. Just look at that man—his clothes look like they lost a fight with a tornado, his hair’s staging a rebellion against all grooming products, and that smell… ugh. Honestly, it’s a miracle Nice didn’t faint right on the spot when they first met.

No, no. Let’s get one thing straight.

Nice is the true owner. The boss. The supreme master. A noble being deserving of grand ceremonies, flower showers, and red carpets.

And Lin Ling?

Just a commoner. A servant. A pitiful man who can’t even protect his master from being poked and prodded by strange people in white coats—people who dared, with their cursed cold hands, to jab something sharp into Nice’s divine body.

Unforgivable!

Not only did Lin Ling dare to pose as the owner, he even delivered Nice’s glorious body into the hands of those emotionless gremlins. Like a parcel!

Ah yes, of course.

As the rightful boss, Nice must punish these weirdos. And this careless servant, too. One. By. One.

Yes, he must deliver judgment. A lesson none of them will ever forget.

(And in that moment, Lin Ling feels a chill crawl up his spine, caught in the laser-focus glare of Nice’s catlike eyes.)

But before Niceis is about to declare his dominance and exact royal justice, Lin Ling commits an act so insolent…. he picks Nice up.

“Meeeoooww!”

Nice squirms. A sacred body like his should never be hoisted like a sack of rice—especially not by this scruffy commoner. He should be standing tall, dignified, preferably on a velvet throne—or at the very least, in designer boots.

But no. He is now in Lin Ling’s arms. Like a child.

His flawless body… wrapped in Lin Ling’s—

“Meeooww…”

…wait.

Why is this… warm?

“I stopped wearing that cheap perfume,” Lin Ling mutters dryly, while gently rubbing Nice’s back. “Try not to puke again, alright?”

“Meeoow…”

Nice chooses to ignore him. Dignity requires silence. Instead, he buries himself deeper into the warmth—far more comforting than that cursed hospital blanket. This warmth... somehow feels familiar.

“Prrrr…”

Hmm.

Alright, it’s not that Nice is surrendering control. Absolutely not. Just to be clear: this does not mean he’s surrendering control. Not at all. Nice is still the boss. Obviously. He’s just allowing Lin Ling to serve him, as all loyal servants should—nothing more.

Isn’t that natural? Servants are supposed to serve, right?

Yeah. It’s only natural. A good servant carries his master, so the master doesn’t have to walk. And now, from this vantage point, Nice can clearly show everyone who’s in charge. Nice can even demonstrate his status as Lin Ling’s superior.

Yes, yes. Brilliant move, as expected from someone as clever as himself. He should command Lin Ling to carry him.

Let the world see: he is the one commanding Lin Ling.

Satisfied, Nice nestles in. That is, until Lin Ling suddenly says:

“Alright, let’s go home.”

“Meeeow…?”

Home?

Nice doesn’t remember having one.

But of course he should have a home. He’s a boss, after all. And Lin Ling—his dutiful servant—clearly knows where to take him.

“Meeooww.”

Nice smiles, deeply satisfied. He truly made the right choice in selecting a servant like Lin Ling. Even if he doesn’t remember his home, Lin Ling will bring him there. Such loyalty.

Nice really is brilliant… picking the perfect servant.

Should he reward him?

However, once they arrive at the parking lot, Nice immediately wants to retract every compliment he just gave.

“….”

Nice’s blue eyes narrow sharply at Lin Ling. Instead of pulling up in a luxury car, Lin Ling places him... in a bike basket.

“Meeoow.”

“I told you, I won’t put you in the carrier box again.”

“MEEEOOWW!”

Ugh, this stupid servant...

Why can’t he understand Nice’s very clear language!

So Nice repeats himself. Loud and proud: “Meeooow.”

"Ah no, Nice... You have to wear a seatbelt." Lin Ling straps a jacket onto him that’s already connected to the bike’s harness. Then he gives a goofy smile, "Comfy, right?"

“….”

God. Can he return this servant?

Why can’t this idiot understand him!

But before Nice can lodge another royal protest, Lin Ling hops on the bike and starts pedaling. His eyes are focused straight ahead, but now and then, he glances at Nice, making sure Nice is doing okay in the front basket.

Despite carrying a heavy bag behind and Nice up front, Lin Ling manages to ride at a surprisingly smooth pace—not too fast, not too slow. Just enough for Nice to feel the breeze brushing against his fur, fluttering through the air like a soft lullaby.

And suddenly…

Huh..?

This breeze… when was the last time he felt something this gentle?

He doesn’t remember. But deep inside, he feels a strange longing with every rotation of the wheels.

His once-annoyed eyes wander. He sees people walking hand in hand. Friends laughing over food at sidewalk cafés. Kids playing soccer, backpacks flung aside after school.

Here, in this simple city moment, the world is bathed in peace—soft, golden, and… real.

A peace that feels... precious.

So real, it hurts.

Why?

Why does something so peaceful feel… heavy?

Like it’s forbidden.

Like he was never meant to feel something this normal, this kind.

It’s strange. Shouldn’t this kind of peace feel... normal? It’s supposed to be ordinary, nothing special. But the longer Nice watches, the more he feels a nostalgic ache in his chest. Something he longs for more than anything—but has lost. Something he can’t even remember anymore, leaving behind only emptiness.

But before Nice can sink too deep into that void, a warm hand gently strokes his head.

As if sensing Nice’s mood, Lin Ling slows down slightly. He smiles at Nice, silently assuring him he isn’t alone. Occasionally, he strokes his head again, soothing without words. It feels like Lin Ling understands.

Ah…

Nice exhales quietly.

What’s the rush to remember anyway?

Sure, he doesn’t know who he is, or where he came from. But he’s still himself. That’s enough for now.

Besides—he hasn’t lost everything. He still has tomorrow.

And more importantly…

“Meeoow.”

Nice lifts his chin with pride, locking eyes with Lin Ling.

He still has a servant who’s good enough.

Yeah, this is fine.

He’ll allow himself this moment. He’ll enjoy this peace…just a little longer.

"Alright, this is our home now."

"....."

This dump?

Nice slowly turns his head toward Lin Ling, who’s still carrying him like some holy relic. His flat, unimpressed eyes drill into Lin Ling’s face, demanding an explanation. Of course, that look alone is enough to make Lin Ling break into a nervous sweat.

“I-I-it’s my home! Not yours…!”

Nice’s gaze sharpens even more. One paw casually lifts—unsheathing a claw. Lin Ling immediately begins sweating buckets.

“I can’t take you to your home right now! No one would believe your condition!”

“…..”

Why does it feel like he’s been kidnapped by this fool?

But looking at him properly... could this guy even kidnap a potted plant, let alone Nice?

It's hard to imagine this man kidnapping someone as majestic as Nice. Lin Ling is too awkward. Too clumsy. Too much of a pushover. The kind of guy who’d be crushed by society in five minutes if left unsupervised. A hamster in human form—doomed without constant care.

Well, fine...

Nice will forgive him. Just this once.

After all, he’s currently amnesiac. He doesn’t know who his enemies are. Or allies. Or if someone out there is trying to hurt him. The only thing he does know is: Lin Ling is his servant. And probably trustworthy.

So, for now, this will be his new base.

"Meeeoow."

Nice jumps gracefully from Lin Ling’s arms, landing with the poise of a king dismounting a royal steed. His sharp eyes scan the place, inspecting every corner. He must determine whether this sorry little shelter is at least worthy of housing his divine presence.

To be fair, for a peasant like Lin Ling, it’s not terrible. A bit pathetic, sure—but liveable. Two bedrooms, a shared living space with a small kitchen. Clearly old, but clean. Weirdly clean, considering how clumsy Lin Ling is.

Still, something about the place feels… off.

Nice doesn’t like the emptiness of it.

Since this will be his base for the time being, Nice has to mark his territory right away.

"Meeow~"

"AAAAHHHH!! NICEEEEE!!! NOT ON THE SOFA!!"

Unfortunately, it’s too late.

Tip #1:

When cats first come to your home, they often tend to pee in certain corners of the house. This is their natural way of marking territory and ensuring that the house is theirs. So, don't worry too much—it's a completely normal thing~!

Bonus:

Why I make Nice isn't "Nice", because of thiisss 🥰🥰