"???" The Little Black Cat was a little confused as it watched the Big Orange Cat flee in panic.
Then, it saw its companion get up from the ground and stare at it, stunned.
"Meow... Why are you looking at me like that?" the Little Black Cat asked. At that moment, it was still unaware of the strange transformation its body had undergone.
"Meow... Y-You should see what you look like right now," the Little White Cat said to its companion, snapping out of its daze.
"Meow... What’s wrong with how I look?" the Little Black Cat asked as it turned its head to look down at its body.
Its eyes widened as it stared in disbelief at its massive new frame and the long tail swinging back and forth, completely out of its control.
"Meow... How did you suddenly get so big?" the Little White Cat asked, walking up to its companion, full of curiosity. Unlike the Big Orange Cat, it wasn’t scared by the Little Black Cat’s sudden transformation.
"Meow... I’m not sure! But when I saw that Big Orange Cat pinning you down and bullying you, all I could think was, ’If only I were as big as him, I could teach him a lesson and save you.’ Then, my body suddenly got this expanding feeling, and I guess that’s what made me turn into this!" the Little Black Cat told its companion, recalling the strange sensation.
"Meow... An expanding feeling? Do you still feel it now?" the Little White Cat asked.
"Meow... No, it’s gone," the Little Black Cat said, concentrating for a moment.
"Meow... Well, can you change back to your normal size?" the Little White Cat asked.
The Little Black Cat froze at the Little White Cat’s question. The realization dawned on it a moment too late. ’Meow... Oh no. Don’t tell me I can’t change back?’
The moment the thought crossed its mind, the worry on the Little Black Cat’s face vanished, replaced by a nonchalant air. "If I can’t change back, then I can’t change back! I kind of like being this size.
From now on, that Big Orange Cat won’t be able to bully us with his size anymore."
"..." The Little White Cat watched its companion, now several times its own size, act so nonchalantly. Speechless, it raised a tiny paw and scratched its cheek.
Just as it was about to say something else, the faint golden Spiritual Light in the eyes of the much larger Little Black Cat vanished.
"Meow... Ugh, my head’s so dizzy." The instant the faint golden Spiritual Light in its eyes disappeared, the Little Black Cat’s vision went dark. It swayed unsteadily on its feet before collapsing to the ground.
As the Little White Cat watched, the collapsed Little Black Cat began to shrink rapidly, returning to its original size in just a few seconds.
"Meow... I feel awful!" The Little Black Cat, now back to its normal size, gave its groggy head a little shake and let out a pained mewl.
The Little White Cat hurried over, reached out a paw, and gently nudged the Little Black Cat’s head with its soft pink pads. "Meow... What’s wrong?" it asked with concern.
"Meow... My head feels awful," the Little Black Cat said.
"Meow... Oh no, what should we do?" the Little White Cat cried anxiously.
"Meow... Don’t worry," the Little Black Cat said, seeing how worried its companion was. "I’ll be fine after I rest for a bit."
The sun climbed slowly in the sky, and the shadows of the buildings shifted with it.
"CHIRP CHIRP CHIRP..." A few early birds out foraging flew into the residential complex and landed on the branches of a large, leafy tree. They watched the two little stray cats in the shadow of a distant building warily, letting out a stream of crisp calls.
After watching over its companion for half an hour, the Little White Cat finally asked, "Meow... Are you feeling any better now?"
"Meow... Much better. My head doesn’t feel awful anymore," the Little Black Cat said, climbing to its feet.
"Meow... Now that you’re back to normal, we should get out of here before that Big Orange Cat sees us!" the Little White Cat urged, seeing that its companion seemed to be alright.
The Little Black Cat nodded. Though its head didn’t hurt anymore, it still felt weak overall.
If the Big Orange Cat that had been scared off saw that it had returned to its normal size, there was no telling if it might rush back for revenge.
With that, the two little stray cats quickly left the residential complex.
* * *
Time flew by, and in what felt like the blink of an eye, the morning was gone.
The midday sun was like a giant fireball, burning fiercely as it relentlessly poured an excess of light and heat down onto the earth.
Even though it was already September, the weather was still scorching. The asphalt, baked by the blazing sun, looked like it might burst into flame.
A sudden gust of wind brought a wave of heat, causing Lin Li to frown as he got out of his newly parked car.
’This weather is brutal. I need to head straight home after lunch.’
Zhang Yuxi had invited Lin Li to lunch at a Western restaurant. Following the directions she’d sent, Lin Li found it.
"Welcome, sir. How many in your party?" a waitress asked warmly, approaching Lin Li as soon as he stepped inside.
"My friend already has a reservation," Lin Li told the waitress.
Just then, he saw someone waving at him from a table near the window. He excused himself to the waitress and walked over.