"Boss," the bodyguard entered the hall. "Athena's studio has requested us to jointly publish a clarification."
Upon hearing this, Lion's face tightened as he narrowed his eyes, looking somewhat displeased. The bodyguard observed Lion's expression and thought that Athena might have already teetered on the brink of disaster multiple times.
Lion found these trivial matters annoying. He was about to suggest disposing of the troublemaker but then remembered that Athena was currently the only confirmed person capable of keeping him from exploding.
Tapping his fingertips rhythmically on the desk, Lion said, "Send the loose-lipped ones to the resource planet, handle the rest as you see fit."
After finishing, he stood up, "I'm going out."
"I'll call the driver..."
Lion casually grabbed a leather jacket and put it on, "I'm going alone."
"Alright, Boss."
Lion chose a motorcycle from the garage, climbed on, put on his helmet, opened the terminal map, and searched nearby using the keyword "cat."
Lion glanced at the cat-related stores found in the eastern suburb, picked the nearest one, and with a roar of the engine, sped off.
The bodyguard heard the motorcycle fade away, checked the media information leaking inside tips on his terminal, and silently sighed.
Why do people always stir trouble without checking both parties' backgrounds first?
To avoid this kind of trouble, he deliberately left some tails for others to investigate.
Without proper investigation or notice, they leaked the information and unfortunately met the Boss's bad mood, so they'll have to go mining on Lionheart's resource planets.
The bodyguard issued a few orders and then confirmed the destination of his boss to make sure he could find him if needed.
But when he opened the map, he froze.
"Huh?" "Coffee shop for cats?"
...
Something feels off.
Lion stood outside the cat cafe's entrance, peering through the large glass windows at the cats sleeping peacefully inside.
Something feels off.
He squinted his eyes and stared expressionlessly at a tabby cat sleeping flat for three seconds.
That cat suddenly sat up, alertly pricked its ears, locked eyes with Lion through the glass, and bolted back into the depths of the shop as if fleeing for its life.
Lion watched its fleeing silhouette and the other cats that had become alert upon sensing the unusual aura.
They all looked quite standard.
But none of them made him feel as happy as Fenix.
The little friend he had picked up didn't even need direct contact to lift his spirits; just thinking about him made Lion feel better.
Outside the store, a staff member peeked out, glanced at Lion's motorcycle and his impatient face, and felt a chill run down his spine.
Hesitating for a moment, he still asked, "Sir, would you like to come in?"
Lion's answer was to mount the motorcycle again and speed off.
Lions are animals with strong territorial instincts. The crowd in the bustling city center was already making Lion feel incredibly uncomfortable.
Lion looked up at the central business street of the eastern suburb, where a projection of last night's Athena concert was playing.
Athena's voice helped him maintain his composure, but the irritation surged within him, causing a slight sweat to break out on his body.
On his way back, Lion thought about the small, soft white ball he had blocked for a day.
With a turn of his wrist, the motorcycle spun around, and he headed towards the city center.
...
Fenix was crouching on the sofa, full of anticipation, watching the maintenance robot unpack the parcel.
The cat litter and litter box were taken by the robot butler to the bathroom.
Regarding how to use these things, Fenix didn't want to think about it for the time being.
He watched the maintenance robot unpack the incredibly expensive parcel and take everything out.
Besides the main box of nutritional supplements, there was a pile of miscellaneous freebies.
Things like brushes, toy balls, collars, and other random items.
The maintenance robot was sorting the freebies and placing them appropriately.
Fenix stretched his neck from the sofa, staring at the empty cardboard box for two seconds. By the time he realized what he was doing, he was already crouching inside it.
Fenix was stunned.
The maintenance robot, about to discard the box, paused.
Oh no.
Fenix unconsciously stepped on the soft cushion at the bottom of the box used for shock absorption.
This box gave cats a sense of security!
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
Fenix clung to the edge of the box, poked his head out, thought for a moment, and waved his paw at the maintenance robot in a shooing gesture.
Thus, the maintenance robot left all the boxes behind.
Fenix jumped out of the large box and looked around.
The box beside it was empty too, but it was three to four times smaller, seeming far too small for Fenix to lie in.
But it was so tiny...
Making cats want to squeeze in.
Fenix circled the small box twice, resisted for a moment, but couldn't hold back and lifted his hind legs to step in.
The white kitten wiggled his fluffy rear end, squeezing into the small box.
Fenix's eyes lit up.
Fenix could do it!
Fenix pulled his front paws back, placed them on the edge of the small box, and slowly squeezed in.
Fenix began to melt.
He retracted his paws, tucked his neck, opened his mouth to grab his unwieldy big tail, and used it as a blanket, draping it over his body, resting his head on the edge of the box.
Wow!
Fenix succeeded!
Fenix turned to look at the box stuffed with his own body, sighing contentedly.
How comfortable.
He closed his eyes in comfort, feeling a sense of harmony with life at that moment.
Wait a minute.
Fenix suddenly raised his head and looked around the large house.
Such a big house!
Such soft beds!
Not sleeping in them would be such a waste!
Sleeping in a box in an eight-hundred-square-meter private manor, I suspect you have a problem!
Fenix, who had just settled in, reluctantly crawled out, gazing longingly at the small box.
But the small box was really amazing.
No way.
Fenix needed to find a win-win solution!
Fenix crouched beside his dream box, pondered for a long time, and then bit the box, dragging it upstairs.
Can't waste the soft bed.
But can't bear to part with the small box.
Then drag the small box to the bed, won't it be a waste anymore!
Ha.
No wonder it's me!
Absolutely brilliant!
There won't be a smarter cat than Fenix!
Fenix proudly wagged his tail, dragging the box from the downstairs living room to the bed upstairs, and happily squeezed in.
...
When Lion opened the door to Sunnyfields Manor, it was already dark.
Only the streetlights were on in the manor, and the house was dark.
Looks like the little one has gone to sleep.
Realizing this, Lion's agitated heart suddenly calmed down.
He subconsciously lightened his steps but felt a bit incredulous after realizing his behavior.
Only others ever conformed to and flattered Lion; when had Lion ever cared about others' feelings?
Lion stood under the porch, pondering for a long time, and finally, with a click of his tongue, resignedly opened the door quietly.
The house was dark and quiet, but Lion, with vision akin to a lion's, was unaffected by the darkness.
The living room was a mess compared to when he left, with various cardboard boxes and packaging bags scattered on the floor. One box of nutritional supplements had been opened and partially consumed.
Lion looked at the messy living room, checked the robots' status, confirmed everything was normal, and then went upstairs.
Fenix had chosen the master bedroom on the second floor.
Perhaps because he was the only one living there, he didn't bother closing the door when sleeping.
Standing at the bedroom door, Lion immediately saw the luxurious, soft bed...
With a cardboard box on it.
Lion was stunned for two seconds. Quietly entering the room, he found the little cat that had been bouncing around in his head all day, now sleeping soundly in the box, snoring softly.
Using his tail as a blanket, his face was hidden now.
Lion looked at the box, then at the bed beneath it, feeling a rare sense of bewilderment as his thoughts struggled to keep up with the reality.
Standing beside the bed, he watched quietly for a while, gradually feeling a hint of drowsiness creeping up.
Lion took a deep breath, finally confirming that Fenix was the one calming his emotions.
He reached out and gently touched the soft, smooth fur of the kitten, but withdrew instantly, yawned silently, and turned to pick a room randomly, washing up and going to bed.
...
When Fenix woke up, the sun was already bright.
He poked his head out of the box, sniffed the lingering scent in the air, feeling like he smelled Lion's fragrance.
But Lion was dating Athena, how could he have time to care for a weak little kitty?
Fenix sighed, touched his terminal, and checked the time.
It was only half past nine in the morning, yet the dorm group chat already had over ninety unread messages.
Fenix hung the terminal around his neck, jumped off the bed, and walked towards the bathroom while scrolling through the chat history.
Lancelot: "Athena's studio clarified it. Lion's assistant liked the post. Sigh, no chance for the boss lady."
Fenix paused, opened his mouth to order the robot butler to brush his teeth, and continued scrolling.
Lancelot: "Lion doesn't have a social account, can't even figure out the situation."
?
No, Lion does have a social account.
Fenix looked at the Golden Daddy's account.
It's just that his status isn't open to anyone except friends.
Derek: "Maybe there's still some truth to it. Athena has been in the industry for years, and this is her first scandal!"
Having read many of Athena's love stories on forums, Fenix couldn't help but nod.
Based on his experience reading romance stories on that forum, perhaps Lion had been chasing after Athena for a long time, but she remained indifferent!
On the night of Athena's concert, Lion couldn't hold back and stormed into the backstage area, creating a scene of forced affection!
Only to be exposed by another suitor of Athena!
Not only did this make Lion disliked by Athena, but it also broke her myth of having no scandals since her debut!
Oh my!
How scheming the rival!
How domineering Lion!
How unlucky the heroine!
Fenix's mind was spinning with script ideas.
Lancelot maintained his final stubbornness as a fan: "It must be that Lion likes Athena!"
Derek: "If clarified, doesn't that mean the pursuit failed?"
Alfred: "?! Then wouldn't the mood be terrible!"
After getting his teeth brushed and face wiped, Fenix wondered if Lion had indeed broken up and whether he needed a caring little kitten companion.
But as soon as he came out of the bathroom, he saw the person in question walking out of the room, wearing a loose shirt.
It looked like he had cleaned himself up in the shower in the room.
Fenix was stunned.
What's Lion doing here?
He turned to look at the room.
It was clear Lion had spent the night here.
Lion turned his head and met Fenix's gaze, looking exceptionally spirited!
Not at all like someone who had broken up.
Fenix thought for a moment and greeted him, "Meow."
Lion looked at him for a while, then responded with a light hum, "Meow."
Fenix: ??
What are you acting out?
Fenix widened his eyes, his face filled with confusion.
Lion walked up to him and squatted down, "What's with the cardboard box on your bed?"
Still confused, Fenix instinctively typed, "Because I wanted to sleep in the bed and the box."
Lion: ?
You sure are a little genius.
Fenix met Lion's gaze, "Boss, did you sleep here last night?"
Lion nodded, "I'll be staying here from now on."
Fenix: ?
Lion must have broken up.
He must be in a terrible mood to chase Fenix away.
Fenix turned to look at the beautiful house and typed sadly, "Okay, I'll move out."
Lion held back Fenix, who was turning to leave, "No, you stay here too."
Fenix: "?"
Lion: "I like you very much."
Fenix: ?
Fenix: ??
No, please don't.
Please don't like me!
I think I'm better off moving out.
Fenix was extremely anxious.
I don't want to live with you!
Don't you know your own issues!
Fenix is such a tiny cat, frail and feeble, barely enough for one bite from your awakened form!
Have mercy on the newly awakened kitten!
Fenix tactfully said, "I'm pretty noisy."
Lion completely ignored Fenix's tact and even poked the soft kitten under him in a rather good mood.
"It's fine, I'll move all my stuff here today."
Fenix: "..."
Geez.
I suspect Lion wants to kill me.
He doesn't spare even such a cute kitten.
Lion, you have no heart!!
"I've thought about it, you start working today," Lion said lazily.
Fenix was stunned.
Lion poked the stunned Fenix again, "Hmm?"
Fenix was poked until he rolled over and looked up at Lion.
"You're pretty short on cash, aren't you?" Lion said, his voice and demeanor calm, almost giving the impression of gentleness.
"How about starting work early and getting paid for it?"
Fenix typed, "8000?"
Lion found the little one surprisingly cheap.
He nodded, "8000."
Fenix took a deep breath.
Alright!
From today onwards, I'm Lion's die-hard fan!
Lion is kind-hearted, handsome, rich, has a nice voice, long legs, and is suave. If he doesn't get an HE ending, it's Athena's fault, not Lion's!
Anyone who says my boss has problems, I'll deal with them!