As Gao Xuan walked along the street, there were barely any pedestrians around. The surroundings were exceptionally quiet.
“The world isn’t safe anymore. Everyone’s too frightened to leave their homes,” Gao Xuan murmured. “I wonder what things will become in the future.”
Cola strolled beside her at an unhurried pace, looking relaxed and carefree.
Suddenly, his ears twitched, and he turned his head alertly.
“What is it?” Gao Xuan asked in confusion.
Cola began growling at the bushes beside the road, as though he had detected a hidden enemy. He repeatedly issued threatening warnings in that direction.
The bushes rustled before quickly becoming still again.
“Who’s there? Come out,” Gao Xuan ordered sternly, her expression darkening.
Upon hearing her, an enlarged Ragdoll cat emerged from the bushes.
Its eyes were large and round, with deep-blue irises. Its coat was thick, its tail exceptionally long, and its fur was chocolate-coloured.
It was extraordinarily beautiful, resembling an elegant fairy.
Gao Xuan frowned.
For some inexplicable reason, the cat looked familiar.
While she was briefly distracted, the Ragdoll picked up a rat the size of a loaf of bread and placed it before her.
It then let out a soft, melodious meow before shyly running away.
Cola approached and sniffed the rat, revealing a visibly hungry expression.
Gao Xuan stood there in confusion, completely unable to understand what had just happened.
After thinking for a moment, she wrapped the dead rat in some wastepaper and carried it in one hand. She then urged Cola to hurry home.
For some reason, the dog’s steps became exceptionally light, and he seemed rather impatient.
When they returned to the rented flat, Gao Xuan took out her keys to unlock the door.
However, she heard squeaking noises coming from inside.
The flat was filled with her stockpiled supplies!
Her heart tightened, and she quickly opened the door.
A fist-sized hole had been bitten into one of the bags of rice, and translucent white grains were scattered across the floor.
A plump grey rat was crouched there, eating ravenously.
It was only slightly smaller than the one the Ragdoll had brought her.
Before Gao Xuan could say anything, Cola charged forwards.
Hearing the noise at the entrance, the grey rat turned its head. A fierce light shone in its tiny eyes.
However, Cola was extremely agile.
He raced towards the rat and bit through its neck in a single attack!
The smell of blood spread through the room.
Gao Xuan closed the door and opened the windows for ventilation.
At the same time, she muttered, “Why have even the rats become frighteningly large? Their teeth are unusually sharp too. Anyone bitten by one would probably end up in hospital.”
She placed the two dead rats together and began cleaning the flat.
She soon discovered that only a tiny number of packages had been bitten open. Most of her supplies remained intact, allowing her to breathe a sigh of relief.
However, after thinking further, she realised something was wrong.
There were countless rats in the world. They existed practically everywhere.
If they evolved as well and began attacking humans whenever they became hungry, wouldn’t every household without a pet be doomed?
Even worse, what would happen if a family did have a pet but was forced to face numerous rats at once?
Almost instantly, Gao Xuan realised that the situation would rapidly deteriorate from this point onwards.
Her heart became heavy as an intense sense of danger suddenly arose within her.
Her telephone rang without warning, interrupting her thoughts.
Gao Xuan checked the caller ID and discovered that it was Gu Xinghang.
She composed herself and answered.
“What is it?”
“I wanted to remind you that the first stage of evolution will be completed around January 20th.”
His deep, mellow voice came through the telephone.
“Rats, ants, bees, sparrows, crows, mantises, spiders, snakes… Any creature that once seemed perfectly ordinary may become a deadly killer in the future.”
“Even an insignificant tree beside the road might suddenly transform into a hunter.”
“So I should move into your villa and seek protection?” Gao Xuan asked.
“Given your personality, you would probably rather die than depend upon someone else.”
Helplessness entered Gu Xinghang’s voice.
“I simply hope you understand the situation clearly so that you can survive more effectively.”
“I understand.”
Gao Xuan lowered her head, lost in thought.
After a brief pause, Gu Xinghang softly murmured, “Gao Xuan, you must remain safe.”
He then hurriedly ended the call.
Gao Xuan stared blankly ahead, countless thoughts filling her mind.
For a moment, she felt that receiving so much advance information was practically cheating.
Then she considered how, after hearing so many important details, the debt of gratitude she owed him had already become impossible to repay.
A moment later, she wondered why she did not simply move into the villa now that it had already been transformed into an impenetrable fortress.
At worst, she could save Gu Xinghang’s life once more in this lifetime.
However, no matter how much she considered it, she could not overcome the barrier in her heart.
In the end, Gao Xuan released a long sigh.
“This damned pride of mine.”
Had she been slightly more shameless, she probably would have rushed over and latched onto his powerful thigh long ago.
While she was feeling melancholy, her gaze accidentally fell upon the discarded paper.
Her eyes immediately widened.
“Cola, why did you eat the dead rat?”
Cola sat obediently nearby, wearing an exceptionally innocent expression.
*I’m a good dog.*
*I haven’t done anything.*
*Did something happen just now? I have no idea.*
Gao Xuan was speechless.
Could he at least wipe the rat fur from around his mouth before pretending to be innocent?
She crouched down, feeling a slight headache.
“What if it upsets your stomach?”
Cola continued pretending not to understand.
Suddenly, her telephone chimed with the arrival of a text message.
Gao Xuan opened it and discovered that it was from Gu Xinghang.
“I forgot to mention something earlier. Eating evolved animals only benefits the body and causes no harm. If you have the opportunity, properly train that retired police dog. He has immense potential.”
Gao Xuan glanced back at Cola and muttered thoughtfully, “Potential to become a con artist?”
…
Inside an old residential community, a stray dog was rummaging through a rubbish bin in search of food.
It was not particularly large and stood around the same height as an ordinary poodle.
However, its once-white fur had become black with dirt, making the entire dog look filthy.
A young man happened to pass by and immediately felt sorry for it.
“Whose dog is this? Why isn’t anyone taking care of it?”
After speaking, he immediately went to a supermarket and purchased sausages and mineral water.
Once the dog had eaten and drunk its fill, the young man smiled.
“Come home with me. Don’t wander around outside anymore.”
The stray dog hesitated.
However, after being repeatedly persuaded, it ultimately decided to follow him.
The young man lived inside the old residential community, so the pair quickly reached their destination.
When they arrived outside his door, the young man allowed the dog to enter first.
A cold smile then appeared at the corner of his mouth, and he decisively shut the door.
The young man was Zheng Yuchen, a student at a local university.
Because he disliked living in a dormitory, he rented a one-bedroom flat near the university.
In other words, apart from Zheng Yuchen and the stray dog, there was no one else inside.
“You followed a stranger home just because he gave you a little food. You really are stupid.”
Zheng Yuchen stopped pretending to smile, and his face became filled with malice.
As he stretched his limbs, he complained, “Recently, terrorists have been releasing new animal species everywhere, making me too afraid to act.”
“But you’re so small that you probably have nothing to do with those new breeds.”
He licked his lips, revealing a trace of anticipation.
“It hasn’t been easy to find a suitable target. I hope you can endure for a few extra days.”
He then casually grabbed a small wooden stool beside the dining table and swung it at the dog.
The stray dog desperately fled.
It stood partially upright and frantically scratched the door, hoping to escape.
Unfortunately, the door remained firmly shut.
“It’s useless. Give up.”
Zheng Yuchen laughed loudly and punched the dog’s back.
A miserable cry rang out.
Rather than hesitating, Zheng Yuchen became increasingly excited.
Anger, hatred, and despair flashed through the stray dog’s eyes.
Finally, its gaze became resolute.
“Don’t lie on the floor. The game has only just begun.”
Zheng Yuchen slowly approached, teasing it without restraint.
In the blink of an eye, the stray dog moved like lightning and bit down on his neck.
“Ah—!”
A scream suddenly rang out as blood poured from Zheng Yuchen’s neck.
“Damn it!”
His expression became exceptionally ugly.
He violently dragged the stray dog away and smashed it against the wall.
Because his movements were too forceful, the telephone in his pocket flew out and landed on the floor.
After suffering several heavy blows in succession, the stray dog began vomiting blood.
Before long, it stopped breathing.
“The hospital… I need to call an ambulance.”
Zheng Yuchen barely managed to calm himself and attempted to seek help.
However, he had lost too much blood, and his vision repeatedly darkened.
Before he could retrieve his telephone, he collapsed unconscious onto the floor.
Time continued to pass.
Zheng Yuchen’s body gradually became cold and stiff.
**
Night descended.
Gao Xuan lay on the sofa, browsing forums on her telephone.
Although there were very few useful posts online these days, she could not find any other way to receive information from the outside world.
In truth, going outside would allow her to understand the situation more clearly.
However, what if her opponents refused to fight individually and attacked as a group instead?
Life was precious, and she had no intention of taking such a risk.
*Tap, tap.*
A strange sound came from outside the window.
Gao Xuan raised her head in surprise and discovered a spotted dove circling outside with several blades of grass in its beak.
It seemed to want to enter.
She quickly approached, opened the window, and leaned forwards to see what was happening.
Unexpectedly, the dove flapped its wings and flew directly towards her.
It forcibly placed the blades of grass into her palm, then rubbed affectionately against her.
This scene also felt inexplicably familiar…
Only then did Gao Xuan remember that she had once encountered a severely injured spotted dove beside the road.
The bird had looked half-dead and extremely pitiful, so she had taken it home and cared for it for several days.
Once it recovered and prepared to leave, it had rubbed against her in the same manner.
“Woof! Woof!”
Believing it to be an enemy, Cola began barking fiercely.
“It’s all right. It probably isn’t here to cause trouble,” Gao Xuan reassured him.
Cola appeared to understand and obediently fell silent.
However, he remained beside the window with a vigilant expression.
The spotted dove cooed softly several times before flying away again.
“So it came all this way solely to give me some grass?”
Gao Xuan did not know whether to laugh or cry.
However, thanks to the dove, she suddenly remembered that she had also once rescued a Ragdoll cat.
The one she encountered on her way home must have brought the dead rat to repay her kindness.
It was not that Gao Xuan had a poor memory.
She had simply rescued too many animals throughout her career.
Furthermore, most Ragdoll cats looked similar, and she had long forgotten what the one she saved had looked like.
By combining the animals’ behaviour with the fragmented memories remaining in her mind, she finally managed to guess a reasonable explanation.
“They should all live well from now on.”
Gao Xuan closed the window and did not take the incident seriously.
However!
The following day!
Even more animals secretly came to repay her kindness by delivering gifts!
Rats, ants, sparrows, spiders, water snakes, and various flowers and plants…
All kinds of gifts were piled into a small mountain.
Each piece of prey was larger than the last and had clearly evolved.
Gao Xuan fell silent.
Their deep affection and loyalty were truly moving.
Unfortunately, she was merely an ordinary human and could hardly endure so much gratitude.
What would happen if those gifts suddenly woke up and attacked her together?
In the corner, Cola licked his lips and impatiently waited for his meal.
For the sake of her own safety, Gao Xuan decisively cooked the edible gifts and fed them to Cola.
As for the various flowers and plants…
She searched online for a long time but could not find any relevant information.
In other words, those plants were probably entirely new species.
“Have the plants also begun evolving?”
Gao Xuan’s expression became exceptionally grave.
**Nomad:**
Ragdoll Cat
Leave a Reply