How to Raise a Cat Cake

"March 7th, Trailblazer, welcome home, pom!"

Before the train carriage had even come to a stop, Pom-Pom, who stood only a little over a meter tall, was already waiting by the door.

Pssh—

The carriage door opened, and a pink figure and a gray figure stepped out one after the other.

"Pom-Pom, we're back!" The moment March 7th set foot in the parlor car, she started chattering away.

"Pom-Pom, we haven't seen each other in a while. You look like you've gotten fatter!"

"Passenger March 7th, please don't make malicious remarks about the conductor's figure, thank you, pom!"

Pom-Pom shot March 7th a displeased glance, then looked down, black eyes lighting up slightly.

"What's this, pom?"

Pom-Pom rose on tiptoe, holding both hands out, little stars appearing in his eyes.

"March 7th, Trailblazer, is this a pet you brought back from the space station, pom?"

March 7th couldn't help laughing when she saw Pom-Pom straining to get a look on tiptoe.

"This little one is Miss Ruan Mei's newest creation. Right now—"

"Right now, it's going to stay on our train for a while. Pom-Pom, you're not allowed to bully it!" Stelle cut in before she could finish.

"Hey! Passenger Trailblazer, that's a little mean, pom! Am I that kind of person, pom?"

Pom-Pom stamped his little furry feet hard on the floor, puffing out his cheeks as he glared at Stelle.

But his tiny body and his attempt to look stern made both of them cover their mouths and giggle again.

"Forget it, I'm not talking to you anymore. This conductor has work to do, pom!"

"All right, all right, we'll stop teasing you!"

March 7th was grinning from ear to ear, but she held back her laughter and patted Stelle beside her.

"Here, Pom-Pom, you can hold it."

Lin Feng squirmed and swished his tail reluctantly.

March 7th was too comfortable, and he really didn't want to leave her arms.

The warmth against her chest in particular was something he couldn't bear to leave once he snuggled up to it.

"Meow~"

Lin Feng turned around in March 7th's arms and gave a soft meow, rubbing his four chubby paws against the clothes on her chest again and again.

"March 7th, it doesn't seem to want to leave you." Stelle bent down. She had seen everything just now.

This Cat Cake seemed to have gotten attached to March 7th.

Could there be something on March 7th that interested it?

So the bold Stelle walked a circle around March 7th and even felt through her pockets, trying to find something unusual—

Like anything related to trash cans.

But obviously, the cleanliness-loving March 7th wouldn't have anything related to trash cans hidden on her.

"Hey! Are you done searching yet?" March 7th rolled her eyes at Stelle in exasperation.

"Maybe I'm just naturally beautiful, with a built-in attraction for little guys."

Despite saying that, March 7th still crouched down and put the Cat Cake on the floor.

What about when she ate?

When she slept?

When she bathed?

She couldn't carry this little guy in her arms all the time.

After leaving March 7th's embrace, Lin Feng placed his four little fleshy paws on the train floor. It was a little chilly.

But it felt quite unusual. Compared with the floor on Herta Space Station, this one was smoother.

Perhaps that was thanks to Conductor Pom-Pom cleaning it every day.

It was smooth enough that maybe escaping would be easier too...

Wait, no!

I've already left the space station. Why am I still thinking about escaping?

He was free and unrestrained now. All he had to do was enjoy his new life as a cake.

"What an unusual species. March 7th, this is one of Madam Ruan Mei's creations, isn't it?"

A figure in a fiery red dress approached, and a slender arm gently scooped Lin Feng up, lifting him off the floor again.

Meow~ (So soft~ so fragrant!)

"March 7th, you didn't... steal Madam Ruan Mei's creation and bring it back, did you?"

Himeko held Lin Feng's soft body in one hand and stroked the Cat Cake's little head with the other.

She looked the little guy over from front to back, then turned her gaze to the two youngsters.

"Himeko, Madam Ruan Mei entrusted it to us to look after for now. It might be living with us for a long time," March 7th hurriedly explained.

"That's right!" Stelle nodded furiously beside her.

Himeko couldn't keep the smile off her face. The little guy in her hands was simply too wonderful to pet.

"Perhaps it wouldn't be bad to enjoy petting it while I drink my coffee~"

Lin Feng had no idea what Himeko was thinking. All he knew was that the two enormous things in front of him, each bigger than his head, were pressing against him so hard he could barely breathe.

"Such big! Such white! Steamed buns!"

That's right!

Lin Feng knew he was only describing steamed buns, and he trusted the censors thought so too.

But right now, he felt like he was about to suffocate.

He wasn't joking. He really was about to suffocate.

A Cat Cake's body might be soft, but squeezed between two huge, soft "steamed buns," he didn't have room to draw a breath.

"Meow... ow..."

He gave a faint protest, his four short little legs kicking weakly in the air.

Himeko finally seemed to notice the little thing struggling in her arms and loosened her hold slightly.

Lin Feng sucked in a deep breath of fresh air and went limp in her palm, like a glutinous rice cake that had been squashed flat and released.

That was close...

I almost became the first transmigrator in history to be smothered to death by steamed buns.

"It seems to like me," Himeko said, looking down at the limp little thing in her palm. A smile touched her lips, and her voice held a trace of pleasure.

She reached out with her other hand and gently rubbed the top of the Cat Cake's head with her fingertips.

Her touch was just right, neither too light nor too heavy, with a gentleness unique to a mature woman.

Lin Feng narrowed his eyes in comfort, the tip of his tail swaying unconsciously.

"Look, its tail's wagging!" March 7th leaned closer, delighted. "It must really like you, Himeko!"

"Hmm..." Stelle tilted her head and observed him for a few seconds before saying seriously, "It could also be a neurological spasm caused by oxygen deprivation."

"Hey!"

March 7th smacked Stelle on the back of the head.

Stelle rubbed the back of her head, expressionless. "I'm talking about a scientific possibility."

"Just shut up!"

While the two of them bickered, Himeko had already turned the Cat Cake over and begun rubbing his belly.

Lin Feng was powerless to resist.

His soft cake body was kneaded back and forth by those slender, fair hands.

She pinched his left side, then pressed his right. She even gave him two gentle, rhythmic pats, as though checking whether a piece of dough had risen enough.

Any person with a temper ought to be unable to stand being handled like that.

But he was only a Cat Cake!

Besides, her hands were soft and warm, and her touch was just right. Who could object to that kind of treatment?

Lin Feng settled down without a trace of guilt, his beady eyes narrowing to slits in comfort. Every now and then, he let out an enraptured

"Meow—"

"Its reactions are adorable." Himeko's smile deepened, and her finger traced a gentle arc along the Cat Cake's back. "And its coloring is unusual too. Blue-and-white markings are rare."

"Right? Right?" March 7th nodded furiously. "I thought it was super pretty the first time I saw it! Even prettier than Pom-Pom!"

Pom-Pom, standing nearby, had been on tiptoe for some time, craning his neck and gazing longingly at the Cat Cake being petted into bliss in Himeko's arms.

His little furry hands were clenched into fists, and his black eyes were full of longing.

"The conductor wants to hold it too, pom..." Pom-Pom's voice grew quieter and quieter, with a plaintive note.

Only then did Himeko notice Pom-Pom's expression. She paused, then smiled.

"Oh, I should have noticed.

Pom-Pom, here, you can hold it."

She bent down and carefully held the Cat Cake out to Pom-Pom.

Lin Feng felt his body lift as he went from Himeko's warm palm into another pair of... uh, smaller hands.

Pom-Pom's hands were tiny, barely any bigger than the Cat Cake himself.

He carefully supported Lin Feng, afraid he might lose his grip and drop him.

"G-gently, pom..." Pom-Pom was so nervous that even his breathing slowed. "The conductor has never held anything this soft, pom..."

He looked down at the little blue-and-white thing in his hands, his eyes sparkling as though he had received the most precious gift in the universe.

Lin Feng also opened his beady eyes and met Pom-Pom's gaze.

So this is the conductor...

He was even smaller than Lin Feng had imagined, with furry ears standing atop his head, a neatly worn shirt and vest, and a meticulously tied bow tie.

He was a very serious, middle-aged-uncle type of... uh, little creature.

Lin Feng was wondering whether to give a cooperative meow as a friendly gesture when Pom-Pom suddenly looked up and asked with a serious expression,

"Does anyone know how to raise a Cat Cake, pom?"

The carriage fell silent for a second.

March 7th scratched her head. "Uh..."

Stelle blinked. "..."

Himeko thought for a moment, then answered seriously, "Probably the same way you raise March 7th. It should be fairly easy."

"Hey!" March 7th bristled. "How did I become the benchmark for raising a Cat Cake?!"

"Because you're both pink and cute," Himeko said with a smile.

March 7th opened her mouth to argue, but then felt there seemed to be a compliment in there too. Unsure how to respond, she could only huff and turn her head away.

Stelle chose that moment to twist the knife. "True. March 7th usually just eats, drinks, and sleeps. A Cat Cake is probably much the same."

"Stelle! Whose side are you on?!"

"The side of objective facts."

Just as the two were about to start another round of bickering, Himeko interrupted them.

"Why don't we ask Dan Heng? He's knowledgeable, so he might know how to care for this kind of creation."

March 7th's eyes lit up. "Right! Dan Heng's archives have all sorts of strange information. There must be something about Cat Cakes in there."

"Then let's go." Stelle had already turned toward the far end of the carriage.

"Come on, come on!" March 7th hurried after her.

Before Pom-Pom could speak, the weight in his arms vanished—

March 7th had already come back and carefully "taken" the Cat Cake from his hands.

"Pom-Pom, you can hold it again later! We'll go ask Dan Heng first!"

Before she had even finished speaking, the two of them and the Cat Cake had disappeared around the corner of the corridor.

Pom-Pom stood there in a daze, his little hands still held out as though supporting the Cat Cake. Only a trace of warmth remained in his empty palms.

He stood stunned for two seconds, then stamped his feet hard.

"You're being so mean to the conductor, pom!!" The little figure spun around angrily in the empty carriage. "I didn't even get to pet it enough before you left, pom!!"

Himeko covered her mouth and chuckled, then reached out to pat Pom-Pom on the head. "There, there. Once they've finished asking, I'll have them bring it back to you."

"Really, pom?" Pom-Pom looked up at Himeko plaintively.

"Really."

"...Then the conductor will wait a little longer, pom."

Pom-Pom straightened up again and walked into the carriage with his hands behind his back, taking little, angry steps as he muttered,

"Passenger March 7th and passenger Trailblazer are both meanies, pom..."