Lu Mingming was also hungry. After ending her stream, she eagerly devoured a large bowl of rice, feeling thoroughly satisfied.
This was the life.
She opened her optical computer and logged into her livestream backend to check her earnings. To her surprise, after platform deductions, she still had over 600 Star Coins!
There was also a private message from the Tianhe platform asking if she wanted to sign a livestreaming contract. Lu Mingming hadn't decided yet, so she temporarily put it aside without replying.
Since the little white cat hadn't provided any information about its guardians, Lu Mingming planned to take the little one to the community center the next day to check for lost child records, so its guardians wouldn't worry.
Considering the little white cat was young, Lu Mingming moved its "throne" to the master bedroom for easier care. She thoughtfully prepared a cashmere blanket and the essential nutritional goat milk for young children. The star network was incredibly fast; her order arrived within an hour of placement.
Unfortunately, the little white cat stared at the fragrant basin of milk on the table with indifference. The whole cat even disdainfully extended its little meat paws repeatedly, attempting to knock over the basin of milk.
"This won't do, baby needs to grow tall and strong."
Lu Mingming deliberately put on a stern face and personally brought the basin of milk to the little one's mouth.
The little white cat pressed a paw against Lu Mingming's lips, retreating step by step. Its tail swished impatiently behind it, expressing strong protest.
Unable to resist any longer, it finally extended its pink tongue to tentatively lick some milk. One lick after another followed, and finally, it couldn't help but lower its head and drink it with a semblance of dignity. Milky white liquid splashed onto its fur.
Lu Mingming felt her heart flutter with cuteness.
After licking the milk from its mouth, the little white cat came to its senses. It seemed embarrassed to be drinking milk from a basin after being weaned. Its body stiffened, and it quickly kicked its paws, curling itself up with its tail, closing its eyes to shut out the world.
Lu Mingming washed the milk basin and went to bed. As she slept soundly, she didn't notice the slight indentation on her pillow. She only vaguely felt a motor rumbling near her ear.
The next day.
When Lu Mingming woke up, her nose tickled, making her want to sneeze. She looked closely and saw a few silver-white hairs floating beside her pillow.
After breakfast, she took the little white cat to the community registration office as planned.
The security guard at the community service center first took the little one for a basic interstellar check-up. Afterward, Lu Mingming requested a private conversation in a separate room. The little white cat wanted to follow but was refused. It remained in the waiting room with a displeased expression, watching children's cartoons played by the staff.
Within a few minutes, the little white cat's once round, large eyes were slightly closed, giving the appearance of being completely uninterested and drowsy. As soon as the staff member left, assuming it was safe, its little paws quickly switched the channel to the news.
The official alliance interview was being broadcast on the screen.
"I have heard some news regarding the heir. I hope everyone will not be misled by unscrupulous media and will wait for us to uncover the truth."
Count Gudefen, with white temples, looked at the camera with arrogance, snorting coldly:
"His Highness must ensure his safety while abroad. If the situation is confirmed, then as the judge, I will consider your withdrawal from the imperial succession and the appointment of a close relative or Grand Duke as the new heir."
These rebels, they couldn't help themselves as soon as they were away.
The little white cat looked up at the screen, a murderous glint in its eyes. After a moment, it narrowed its eyes and switched back to the children's channel, feigning that nothing had happened.
Meanwhile.
Lu Mingming detailed the time and place of her encounter with the little white cat yesterday and then asked, "Could you please check for recently lost feline children?"
The staff member sighed helplessly, took out a list from the drawer, and shook her head. "There is no information about it among the children who have gone missing in the community recently. I suspect it is not a lost child."
Lu Mingming looked through the information and asked doubtfully, "What do you mean?"
The staff member sent Lu Mingming the results of the examination report, telling her a cruel fact: "The examination results are out. This child... is not a cat, but a hybrid leopard. You can take a closer look. Miss, you are unmarried and have no children, right? Every child is registered with an optical computer at birth to record their personal information. As expected, it was likely abandoned intentionally."
There was another possibility he did not mention: an exceptionally gifted individual in the Alliance could directly destroy an optical computer. But how could that be related to this down-on-his-luck hybrid?
Ah??? Not a cat?!
Lu Mingming was shocked and quickly opened her optical computer. It clearly stated:
【Genetic Identification: Felidae Leopard (Note: Hybrid Leopard)
Physique Rating: Weak (Note: No genetic diseases)
Mental Strength Rating: Undeveloped
Awakening Difficulty: Extremely High (Note: Adoption not recommended or requires considerable effort)】
She had completely mistaken the species! That thin little white cat was actually a little snow leopard!
In fairness, it wasn't Lu Mingming's fault for misidentifying it. The little one was entirely white without any markings, and so thin, it didn't resemble the robust appearance of a snow leopard.
Lu Mingming frowned, a sense of foreboding washing over her:
"Since there are no genetic diseases, why was it abandoned?"
The staff member looked at Lu Mingming with surprise, not understanding why she would ask such common knowledge for beast-human hybrids. "Alas, hybrids go against the natural laws of growth. They are usually ancient and full of beastly nature, unteachable, and their overall qualities are among the lowest in their species. Furthermore, they cannot transform into human form, so the abandonment rate is very high."
"My recommendation is to hand it over to a convalescent home for care. Of course, the final decision is yours."
The little snow leopard, its identity finally recognized, arched its back and stretched lazily. After hearing the staff member's words, a hint of sarcasm flashed in its ice-blue eyes. It pushed open the glass door and walked out of the community registration office without stopping.
As expected, it had reached this point again. This woman would also abandon it, just like the things it heard from the servants in its childhood—
"If the Alliance heir is a hybrid waste, then I would rather die to prove my worth and change the heir!"
"...Could it be a bastard from outside? Won't the one above kill it and the first wife?"
"Hybrids are all useless and idiotic. It doesn't understand these things. It's still eating leftovers from us servants,嘻嘻."
"..."
"It's still young. It should be allowed to choose who it wants to become, and I will accompany it."
The girl's voice was gentle yet firm, like a faint beam of light shining into a path shrouded in darkness, a path that seemed to have no end.
The little snow leopard froze, its paws hanging suspended in mid-air, making its premature departure seem laughable.
Three hours later.
Lu Mingming returned home holding the little snow leopard. The little one now had an optical computer configured at the community registration center around its neck. It was small and cute, like a bell, and its new name, Tangyuan, was engraved on its leather collar.
Lu Mingming looked at the little snow leopard on her shoulder and found it even cuter.
After spending a considerable amount at the community registration center for the little snow leopard, Lu Mingming's account was left with only three hundred Star Coins. This meant she had to find a job quickly to earn money.
She hadn't saved money for medical treatment, but now she had a substantial expense for raising a cub.
If Lu Mingming were to abandon the little snow leopard, she definitely wouldn't be able to do it, and she had no regrets about her actions.
Because Lu Mingming herself was a pure-blooded human, it did not count as adoption. Moreover, the child protection association or community services would conduct regular inspections. Failure to fulfill the guardian's responsibilities would result in the withdrawal of conveniences by the staff and legal action.
Lu Mingming also discovered that despite growing up on the streets, the little snow leopard had a pampered temperament and was never willing to walk on its own. Most of the time when they went out today, Lu Mingming had to carry it in her arms.
On the way back now, it simply stood on her shoulder, lifting its chin high, its gaze indifferent, while its tail dangled around Lu Mingming's fair neck—as if claiming her as its private territory, forbidding anyone else from coveting.
Other younglings of different species they encountered on the road wanted to get close to Lu Mingming, but they were all scared into trembling by the little ancestor. Within seconds, they all fled in disarray.
Lu Mingming first picked up some discounted meat and various feline supplies on the star network. After deducting shipping fees, she was left with a meager hundred Star Coins, which further fueled her desire to earn money.
Following today's unexpected incident, Lu Mingming decided to accept the livestreaming contract from Tianhe Platform. This job at least offered a guaranteed minimum monthly salary of 1,800 Star Coins.
Although with the base salary and sporadic tips, she certainly wouldn't be able to provide the cub with a very good living environment, her primary task at the moment was "to get money to survive."
However, Tianhe officially also had a requirement: Lu Mingming needed to host a new livestream the next day to maintain traffic.
That evening, Lu Mingming browsed through popular livestreams with high click-through rates on major platforms to learn and draw inspiration.
Streamers on the star network were either eccentric, doing things most people wouldn't dare to do, or possessed heavenly beauty. They could simply sing a few songs and still be praised and become immensely popular.
Lu Mingming considered herself to have no particularly outstanding strengths other than her skills in caring for small animals and making some simple food... Wait, food?!
A spark of inspiration flashed in Lu Mingming's mind.
While Tangyuan was nestled on the soft sofa, Lu Mingming reached out and gently stroked its soft belly with moderate pressure.
The little snow leopard leaned back comfortably, revealing its fluffy white belly, its meat paws opening like a flower. Its tail tip subtly wrapped around Lu Mingming's slender wrist. Seizing the moment, Lu Mingming said, "Tangyuan, have you ever had double-skin milk? I'll make it for you during the livestream tomorrow~"
The little snow leopard: "..."
It stood up displeasedly and moved away from Lu Mingming's massage. It had never acknowledged this stupid name! But what was double-skin milk?
Lu Mingming blinked her large, watery black eyes and coaxed softly, "Baby, don't you want to try it."
The little snow leopard: "..."
The little snow leopard pretended to be indifferent and placed its paw pads on Lu Mingming's warm palm, thereby agreeing. Lu Mingming then curved her eyes into a smile.
The next day, as soon as the time arrived, Lu Mingming prepared all the livestreaming materials before logging into her Tianhe livestreaming account.
She casually glanced at the number of followers displayed in the backend and her eyes widened in shock.
Wait, was she really not mistaken? How did the number of followers double?!