Fenix looked down at his not-so-sharp claws and thought of his teeth, which were just enough to gnaw on a small piece of dried fish. He took a deep breath.

Damn, why!?

Fenix was on the verge of being infuriated.

He always wondered why he was such a weak cat.

Other felines hunted by pouncing and biting their prey's throats. But him, only him!

Only he jumped down from a certain height on a branch to ambush his prey using the impact force!

And if the first strike missed, he had to start all over again.

Before, he thought it might be because he hadn't fully grown yet, and his awakened form was not yet adult-sized, so it naturally wouldn't function like a full-grown cat.

After all, considering his current size, he was still a complete cub. Cubs didn’t need to hunt; they just needed to learn and become proficient.

But now, Fenix wasn't so sure anymore.

He leaned forward to examine his reflection in the water, feeling somewhat lost in life.

Fenix calculated with his paws; he had been in his awakening period for over half a month.

The soft fluff that symbolized his cub status had completely fallen off, and he had already replaced a set of teeth, but his body size seemed to have hardly grown at all.

That wasn't right; that was very unscientific.

Even if he wasn't entirely out of his cub stage, anyone who has raised a cat knows that kittens grow at a rate comparable to inflating a balloon; within a month, they can double in size.

A two-month-old kitten can still fit in one hand, but a three-month-old kitten is no longer controllable with just one palm.

But him?

In these past half a month, it seemed he hadn't grown at all.

Initially, he could fit in Lion’s pocket, and now he still could.

Not only that, he didn’t feel cramped in Lion’s pocket at all.

What did this prove?

It proved that he might have actually not grown at all.

Fenix: “…”

Damn!

Isn’t this a bit excessive?

Even if he couldn’t be as majestic as a lion, could it be that he didn’t even deserve to have the body size of a grown cat?

His current size was barely twice the size of a squirrel.

What could he do?

Crack walnuts?

Fenix felt a bit overwhelmed.

What kind of ridiculous fantasy species was this!

Could it be any worse?

Was it because he wasn’t Athena that he didn’t deserve to have an impressive awakened form?

Worthless awakening!

Better not awaken at all!

Before awakening, Fenix was happy, but now, his happiness had been extinguished by the awakening.

Fenix kicked his feet and lay down on the rainbow-colored floating bed, pretending to die on the spot.

Lion reached out, pulled the floating bed back quickly, picked up the stiff cat cub, and headed for the restaurant outside.

The bay where Lion's hotel was located had excellent natural conditions; the waves were gentle, and the breeze was serene. The morning sun shone on the sea, turning the shimmering waves into specks of gold.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

Feeling frustrated, Fenix snapped several photos of the scenery and then took a picture of Lion's breakfast before sending them to the dorm group chat.

Rainbow Fart Command Center (4)

Fenix: "[Photos] x9"

Lancelot: "Damn, BluBay has such beautiful spots!"

Alfred: "Fenny, you bastard! Posting greasy breakfast early in the morning, are you worried about getting fatty liver?"

Derek: "The beach is completely empty, I thought BluBay's scenery would be packed with people."

Fenix: "It's private property."

Lancelot: "Stomach acid rising."

Alfred: "For some reason, lemons are surrounding me."

Fenix: ":)"

Sour!

Everyone should be sour!

If Fenix wasn't happy, Lancelot, Derek, and Alfred weren't allowed to be happy either!

Brothers walk together, whoever is happier first is a dog!

After damaging his brothers emotionally, Fenix finally felt a bit better. He took a deep breath and turned to look at his breakfast today.

The cat food that tasted good before now suddenly didn’t seem appetizing.

Fenix typed: "Boss, since I’m not a cat, do I need to eat this anymore?"

Lion thought it might not be possible: "Your habits are not much different from a cat’s."

Fenix felt extremely aggrieved.

Lion thought for a moment and cut a small piece of lamb from his plate for him.

Such a small piece shouldn't cause any problems.

Fenix sniffled appreciatively: "Boss, you’re so nice."

To be considered nice was already a big deal.

Lion felt this kid was too easily satisfied.

Watching Fenix finish the small rack of lamb, he asked, "What are your plans for the future?"

Plans?

What plans could there be?

Fenix despondently flicked at the carrot in his bowl: "My biggest dream is to become a slacker office worker squatting in a cubicle."

He wasn’t without fantasies of awakening before, but after failing and gaining unexpected benefits, he wasn't as eager anymore.

Suddenly awakening wasn't too bad either. If he could handle it himself, he would; if not, he would go to an awakening school. Either way, he wouldn’t make things difficult for himself.

Meeting Lion was both surprising and delightful, but overall, things were going well.

To be honest, Fenix always felt that he had pretty good luck.

He had a big heart and hadn't experienced many setbacks since childhood, nor did he have lofty ambitions. Growing up carefree to his current age, he was always pretty happy.

He felt he should continue to be happy.

Speaking in broader terms, life is short, joy is a way to pass time, and sorrow is also a way to pass time.

Time doesn’t stop for sadness; thus, people should use happiness to pursue time.

Fenix thought about it and typed: "I don’t want to register, I don’t need those subsidies. After the awakening period ends, I just want to find a normal job."

Lion had some understanding of Fenix’s plans, but hearing him say it still made him a bit surprised.

This youngster, why does he have the mentality of an old man, lacking any ambition?

“Such low aspirations?” he asked.

Fenix: "Contentment brings joy."

Lion raised an eyebrow: "Quite enlightened."

Fenix: "Because I accepted a long time ago that I am just an ordinary person."

No kidding.

With the essence of the world laid bare before you, what else could you do?

If someone with a smaller heart encountered this, they might go crazy or secretly stir up trouble.

But Fenix had a big heart.

Being a passerby NPC was fine; what was wrong with being an ordinary NPC?

Why did Xiao Ming’s grandfather live to be a hundred?

Because he didn’t meddle in other people’s business.

Fenix saw things clearly.

He spoke in a mannered tone: "Being able to live comfortably with enough money to survive is a pretty good life."

Lion reached out and rubbed the cat cub’s head, then laughed after a moment.

Fenix stretched out his paws to press down Lion’s hand onto his back: "Meow?"

Lion: "This attitude of yours is quite rare at your age."

Indeed!

Praised, Fenix proudly puffed out his chest.

After all, Fenix had already endured unbearable weight at the age of thirteen.

His young shoulders carried the burden of seeing through the essence of the world early on.

It was quite touching.

Lion said: "If you haven’t decided on your future plans, would you consider staying with me?"

Fenix was taken aback.

Lion lowered his eyes and put down his utensils, saying: "I had some issues with my awakening earlier. For so many years, I’ve been looking for solutions, but to no avail, until I unexpectedly met you."

Fenix: ?

Fenix: !!!!

Fenix’s eyes widened in shock.

Fenix suddenly realized!

Damn!

He always wondered why Lion had such a good temper, it wasn’t scientific. It turned out it wasn’t Athena exaggerating in the forum, but because of the characteristics of his awakened form?!

Fenix was astonished.

Wait a minute.

Shouldn’t this setting belong to Athena?

Fenix thought deeply and then felt a chill.

Damn! Mystery solved!

Turns out Fenix was just a condensed version of Athena.

So Athena = Fenix Plus!

Knock!

How pathetic!

Finally awakening, not only was he a useless waste but possibly a substitute?!

My God!

What era is this to still use the substitute trope?!

I’ll kill the production team!

Are you cliché or what?! Cliché?!

Cliché!

Absolutely cliché!

Fenix took a deep breath: "So it’s because of this..."

Fenix typed this but deleted it character by character.

Thinking about it, if he weren’t useful to Lion, why would Lion treat him so well?

He wasn’t Athena, and he wasn’t even a girl.

Could it be just because cats are cute?

If cuteness could make Lion so gentle, how could Athena die so many times?!

After all, Athena could customize her appearance when entering the game!

There were countless cute versions of Athena.

Sigh.

The adult world is indeed full of cold monetary relationships and shallow transactions.

Lion was good to him because he was a substitute for Athena!

Oh my God!

Fenix was miserable.

Fenix felt quite melancholy.

He was unwilling and couldn’t help but confirm again: "Boss, that fatty..."

"..."

Fenix silently deleted the typo and retyped: "Boss, that Feifei, isn’t there any other use?"

Lion looked at Fenix’s unwilling expression and tried to console him: "According to legends, there is no other use, because this legend is rather obscure, but in reality... you are better at climbing trees than the average cat?"

?

No.

What do I need to climb trees for?!

Am I a monkey? Or is tree climbing part of my job description?!

Fenix was suffocating; he wanted to strangle this stupid awakening, even time-travel back to the year of his birth and delete the awakening gene fragment!

Fenix had a mournful face and humbly admitted the truth: "But Boss, this awakening is really terrible..."

Lion looked at the cat cub hugging its tail in despair and thought for a moment: "Support-type awakenings are actually quite good, after all, there are those who awaken as insects."

Fenix suddenly lifted his head from his tail and stared at Lion in shock.

Lion confirmed: "There are insect awakeners."

In an instant, Fenix’s spirits soared.

Indeed, people need to compare themselves with others to gain a sense of superiority!

He perked up and gobbled up his breakfast.

Lion looked at the rejuvenated cat cub and couldn’t help but chuckle.

Too easy to understand.

He reached out, tapping the tabletop lightly with his fingertips.

"About your future plans?" he asked, "Do you want to stay with me?"

Fenix hesitated and cautiously replied: "Boss, you’re a good person."

Lion hummed softly.

Fenix: "But life is long."

Lion heard this and narrowed his eyes.

He scrutinized the cat cub crouching on the other side of the table, and a thin slit-like pupil appeared in his deep brown eyes, focused and intense, like a lion eyeing an unsuspecting prey.

Fenix was startled under the gaze.

He looked up at Lion.

Lion also looked down at him, then curled his lips.

The good mood and peaceful facade suddenly cracked.

A dangerous and bloody aura enveloped the air.

The sensitive cat cub instantly bristled and instinctively wanted to flee.

Lion sensed this and steadied himself: "So, you don’t want to?"

Fenix didn’t answer, staring at Lion with suspicion and uncertainty written all over his face.

Lion knew he had scared the little cat cub.

He paused and extended his hand towards the crouching Fenix.

Fenix subconsciously "meowed," drooping his ears, tucking his neck, and dodging backwards.

Lion stopped, put his hand down under Fenix’s gaze, and then held it out flat.

The cat cub looked at the rough hand, then looked up at Lion.

Lion was silent for a moment and said: "You can’t leave."

"..."

"I need you."