Fenix looked at the "troublesome subject" before him.

Apart from that initial glimpse, he had never observed Lion from this angle before.

In the past, he always had to look up at Lion.

Now that he could look at him straight on, he felt that Lion's attractiveness had increased several notches.

In terms of attractiveness, Lion was only a tiny bit behind Fenix.

Lion was also sizing up Fenix.

Cat eyes, tousled hair, thin lips. Slim-looking, but upon closer inspection, there was substance.

The projection was almost identical to the real person, but compared to the projection, the real person was brighter and more vibrant.

The yukata Fenix was wearing appeared loose due to his tumble down the stairs, and the sleeves were rolled up, revealing the smooth and well-defined muscles underneath.

Lion wasn’t surprised by this.

Awakened beings generally had figures that were pleasing to the eye.

Oh, except for the pudgy Ferran.

Lion retracted his gaze and looked down at the ointment in his palm.

The smell of the ointment was somewhat pungent.

But Lion could faintly detect the sweet milk scent lingering on the kitten.

Fenix continued to stare at Lion.

Lion reached out and took the doorknob and lock from Fenix’s hands, "What are you looking at?"

"I’m looking at you," Fenix replied, his voice clear and bright with a peculiar liveliness, "Boss, you’re really good-looking."

Lion paused, met Fenix’s gaze, then gently looked away.

What was this kid talking about?

Did he think Lion would be pleased by compliments about his appearance?

Lion placed the doorknob and lock aside, inwardly sighing.

To be honest, he actually was.

As the saying goes, flattery never fails. Besides, Fenix’s expression was particularly earnest, not seeming like flattery at all, but rather a statement of fact.

That was quite comforting.

Lion handed the painkillers to Fenix and told him to take them, then repeated, "Extend your leg."

"Huh? Oh." Fenix obediently extended his leg, opened the painkillers, swallowed one, and then winced as Lion applied pressure with the ointment.

Lion looked at the leg covered in bruises.

This kid hardly had any scars from life’s storms and time. Just a minor bump had left these marks.

His delicate skin contrasted sharply with the large bruises, making him look particularly pitiful.

Fenix, who had gotten used to Lion fussing over him, didn’t find anything amiss.

The painkillers alleviated the pain, so Fenix opened the shopping interface and began browsing through clothes.

Lion glanced up and saw Fenix quickly adding items to his cart.

It looked like he was buying wholesale.

Indeed, the prices were wholesale-like.

T-shirts costing ten dollars for ten pieces, and fifteen pairs of shorts for a hundred dollars.

Fenix had a principle when it came to purchasing daily necessities.

For items he needed to use long-term, he would buy high-quality, expensive products, like suitcases, winter clothes, and sneakers.

For short-term consumables, he always went for the cheapest options, buying in bulk.

He’d wear them as long as possible, and once worn out or dirty, he’d throw them away without regret, like summer clothes and bedding sets.

Lion frowned slightly, feeling that such cheap clothes couldn’t possibly be comfortable, "I prepared clothes for you."

Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

Fenix paused mid-payment, looking up at Lion.

Lion pointed to the small box on the sofa.

Oh!

Wow.

Look at this boss.

Look at this Lion!

Savor it, savor it!

Fenix felt that Lion was truly a man of unmatched caliber, perhaps even better than the cold but domesticated war god.

Just look at this level of consideration—how could anyone resist?

If it were a girl, she would’ve swooned right then and there.

Fenix sighed, closed the shopping interface, and took the ointment from Lion.

Fenix: "I can do it myself!"

Lion’s eyebrows twitched, "You can do it yourself?"

Fenix held out his hand, "Not paws anymore, I can use my hands."

"Alright."

Lion didn’t argue, getting up to wash his hands. Not surprisingly, he heard a wail of agony.

Through the mirror, he saw Fenix leap up from the ground, writhing in pain, and then returned his attention to washing the ointment off his hands.

What did he say earlier?

Lion idly recalled:

Awakened beings tend to lose control of their strength and feel unfamiliar with their bodies when they transform back into humans.

This applies to interactions with objects, and naturally, to themselves as well.

Awakened beings, regardless of their awakened form, generally have enhanced physical attributes, and their specific advantages depend on individual differences and effort.

Fenix had no intention of putting in any effort.

His awakened form’s advantage wasn’t something he could exercise.

Fenix was currently immersed in disbelief.

He stared at his hands in disbelief after being struck by his own hands.

What’s going on?!

Striking a comrade is one thing, but striking oneself is just unreasonable!

What’s wrong with you awakened beings?!

Can you just hurt yourself out of nowhere?!

Fenix turned to look at Lion and instinctively "meowed."

Fenix: "..."

???

Damn!

What’s happening?!

Lion calmly explained.

Yes, when they transform back into humans, they also struggle with these residual instincts from their awakened forms.

It’s like when you spend time in a foreign country and accidentally slip into speaking the local language when you return home.

Being a cat for a month and instinctively meowing is perfectly normal.

And it’s kind of cute.

There might be other symptoms, like extending a tail, raising ears, growing whiskers to measure distances... or even biting one’s hands.

Lion glanced at Fenix through the mirror.

Fenix stood there with the ointment, seemingly pondering the meaning of life and society.

Lion dried his hands and walked out, "You need to adapt to your new bodily functions."

"Huh?" Fenix was taken aback, "What new body?"

"Awareness of your new abilities," Lion clarified.

Fenix: "...So you mean I have to relearn everything?"

Lion thought about it and nodded.

Fenix took a deep breath.

Damn!

Damn it all!

Learning to be a cat was tough enough, but having to learn how to be human again is even worse?!

Being an awakened being is just too hard!

It would be better to not awaken at all or stay a cat forever.

Fenix looked down at the bruises on his legs and body, set the ointment aside, gave up on treatment, and turned to search for clothes.

Fenix changed into the shirt and pants brought by the robot, looked in the mirror, and felt he looked a notch higher in attractiveness.

He snapped a couple of full-body photos, planning to send them to the dorm group chat.

But the trio had just posted pictures of their takeaway food and tagged him specifically.

Fenix looked closely and recognized the delicious stinky tofu from the vendor outside the east gate of their school.

Damn!

Fenix was envious.

He didn’t know if he could still indulge in such unhygienic but delicious junk food.

He would have to experiment extensively to determine what foods he could consume without adverse reactions.

Fenix grumbled and typed, "Willing to eat your share of takeaway, but only one portion."

Lancelot: "Sorry, next in line."

Alfred: "Can share a bite."

Derek: "Will share a piece of pickled bamboo shoots."

Fenix: ?

Damn.

You guys are so annoying!!!

Fenix didn’t send the photos, angrily closing the chat window, and in a fit of rage, twisted off another doorknob.

"..."

Fenix took a deep breath, moved gently, and carefully pressed the doorknob back in place.

The doorknob returned to the door.

Fenix breathed a sigh of relief, even more cautiously attempting to turn the lock.

The doorknob rotated 360 degrees without a click signaling the lock was open.

Fenix gently tugged on it, looking down at the doorknob he had casually removed, "..."

Damn!

Damn it!

Stupid awakening!

Fenix was getting angry!

Really angry!!

Lion sat in the living room, hearing the commotion from the bathroom, turned to glance, and deduced what must have happened.

He got up to help Fenix open the door, but the bathroom door was kicked open, the lock shattered.

Lion looked up, seeing Fenix standing stiffly in the doorway.

Lion: "What are you doing standing there?"

Fenix pursed his lips, drooping eyes, hesitantly, "Boss..."

Lion tapped the table, "What’s wrong?"

Fenix hesitated.

Fenix stopped speaking, then tried again.

Fenix looked down, visibly dejected, "My pants split."

"...” Lion’s gaze swept lightly over Fenix’s tightly clasped legs, his lips curling slightly before turning away, leaving Fenix a view of the back of his head.

Fenix: ??

Damn!

Do you think I can’t tell you’re laughing?

Stop laughing!

Why are you laughing?!

What’s so funny?!

They’re dress pants! A high kick splitting the seam is totally normal!

Lion kept chuckling.

Fenix was mortified!

Damn!

Stop laughing!

If you don’t stop, I’ll get mad!

Really mad!!

Perhaps sensing Fenix’s intense gaze, Lion cleared his throat, turned back, thought for a moment, and went to fetch a set of pajamas from his bedroom.

Lion was a size larger than Fenix, so the pajamas fit him perfectly but hung loosely on Fenix.

The soft and stretchy material allowed Fenix to perform acrobatics without risking a repeat of the split-pants incident.

Feeling relieved, Fenix put on Lion’s pajamas, did a few jumps in the bathroom to confirm they worked, then exhaled deeply.

He stormed out of the bathroom, kicking the split pants aside.

Lion turned to look at the emerging youngster.

Fenix’s face was attractive without being aggressive, giving a comfortable and harmless impression.

Even when he was angry, his expressions didn’t evoke fear or tension.

Now wrapped in Lion’s oversized pajamas, hiding his muscles, Fenix looked frail and vulnerable, especially with the bruises from the fall.

From a distance, he looked like a helpless figure ripe for protection.

Lion’s fingers twitched, a tingling sensation spreading from his mouth to his heart.

Lion composed himself, "Why are you fighting with a pair of pants?"

Fenix grumbled, "It’s clearly fighting with me!"

…Alright.

Lion shifted his gaze, seeing Fenix straddle the chair, lean on the backrest, puff out his cheeks, and reopen the shopping interface.

"Buying clothes?" Lion asked.

Fenix shook his head, "No, buying gifts for friends."

Lion paused, "Athena?"

"Yeah, everyone likes Athena." Fenix, influenced by his dormmates' idol worship, spouted praise easily, "Who wouldn’t love Athena? There’s no one better than Athena in the world!"

Hearing this, Lion narrowed his eyes.

The mermaid singer recording songs several star systems away suddenly sneezed without warning.

(Author's note: Athena: Get lost, don't touch me!)