Although they brought Zhou Qiang back to Fallen Phoenix City, Teacher Zhang actually planned to spend this year's New Year in Chewan, along with Aunt Mei, the two kids, two cats, and a crow.
Chewan is located at the foot of the Kasha Snow Mountain, a city "surrounded by snow-capped mountains," and is one of the famous tourist destinations. During the New Year season, many people also go there to ski.
They planned to rest at home for a few days, allowing the animals to adjust their state, and then fly to Chewan City.
On the second day of Chu Tingwu's idle time, she was stopped by the neighbor next door to Teacher Zhang's house.
The neighbor curiously asked, "Little Chu, will you make that cat food again this year?"
It wasn't that the cats at home were craving this dish, but last year's scene of a crowd of cats gathering was too interesting, and the neighbor just hadn't been able to capture it. This year, the kids were also coming back for the New Year, so they wanted to see the lively atmosphere again.
Chu Tingwu looked at the cat in the neighbor's house and then at the pet dryer that Zhou Qiang had just bought: "This year, I probably won't be making cat food, but I can give the cats a bath—do you need that service?"
The neighbor looked at the cat.
The cat: "……?"
-
"Meow——"
Chu Tingwu's cat-washing business began.
She had the system start a live broadcast and then divided the first cat-washing video into a new series.
The theme of this series was "home cat washing."
Zhou Qiang wore a mask, responsible for carrying the equipment and rinsing.
Chu Tingwu was in charge of controlling the cat and drying it.
Their first customer was naturally the neighbor, as the low winter temperatures meant they couldn't wash the cat outdoors, so they coaxed the neighbor's cat into the bathroom.
Soon, the bathroom echoed with cursing sounds.
Shao Lingwu, who had already returned home, also saw her video and quickly poked Chu Tingwu in their group chat, suggesting: "It's too troublesome and burdensome to carry the equipment by hand. Let's rent a car."
The next day, when the audience opened the UP's live broadcast, they found the UP filming a brandless electric tricycle from a 360-degree angle—
After filming the front, back, and sides of the car, she said, "This color and style can't compare to Bayi-Nine."
Who is Bayi-Nine?
But Shao Lingwu liked this remark and gave it a thumbs up.
After bringing the tricycle home, he seemed to start letting loose. During this time, he was self-studying mechanical theory and once again modifying Bayi-Nine, adding many components and replacing many devices.
Chu Xiao's comment on this was: "You might as well just buy a motorhome."
The newly rented (but sponsored by Boss Shao Lingwu) electric tricycle naturally couldn't compare to the one grown in love (?), but it did make Chu Tingwu's home visits much easier.
—Because during these days, Chu Tingwu was really treating "cat washing" as a business.
The neighbor posted a message in the homeowner's group, and since most of the other neighbors knew Chu Tingwu, they all supported her, saying, "Last year, you fed my cat, so this year, you can wash it too."
What's the connection?
So Chu Tingwu rode the tricycle, with Zhou Qiang sitting on it, and occasionally three or five cats or a crow perched on the equipment, while a crow flew in the sky, and they went door to door to wash the cats that had been scheduled.
Of course, it wasn't free.
The cat owners would give Chu Tingwu and Zhou Qiang money with the excuse of "giving you a New Year's red envelope," and they would also share the money with Shao Lingwu according to a ratio, as a dividend for Boss Shao's sponsorship of a tricycle.
[Outrageous...]
[Utterly shameless...]
[Unbelievable...]
[Good heavens, how can a UP wash six cats in one day? And after finishing in the afternoon, she even washed two dogs at the customer's house?!?]
Chu Tingwu's cat-washing drama didn't stand out too much at first, and fans complained, "You've finally remembered you're a pet UP and started doing some pet-related live streams." Although they complained, they still loved watching, as the videos featured many different breeds and personalities of cats.
Moreover, Chu Tingwu no longer just argued with the cats by herself; she would help translate.
But after the second day of the live broadcast, when she flatly translated what the cat said and then the live broadcast was reported and shut down, Chu Tingwu stopped translating in detail.
The audience, who felt like they had been scolded for nothing, thought: "=，="
Why shut it down? They loved listening!
Then Chu Tingwu started offering other additional services, such as helping owners and pets reconcile their feelings—
Today, while washing this Siamese cat, the Siamese cat's owner complained: "Nini has a heart problem, but it always eats without restraint. Sometimes, even after we've gone to bed, it will open a can by itself in the middle of the night. Oh, its weight can't go up anymore, how can it not know?"
Chu Tingwu persuaded the cat: "It says it doesn't like the taste of the cat food, and it only eats it reluctantly for your sake, but it still wants to eat canned food. Why don't you change the cat food?"
The owner: "?"
The owner showed Chu Tingwu the storage cabinet at home, filled with thirty-four kinds of cat food, twelve flavors, all from big brands.
Nini, who was in the drying box, got a reproachful look from Chu Tingwu: "Meow?"
Chu Tingwu: Just greedy.
The owner realized that even little cats could deceive people, or maybe it just didn't like any of the flavors and only wanted canned food.
The owner laughed and cried: "By the way, Nini was actually raised by my son's classmate..."
"He's studying abroad, and his classmate also went to study abroad, raising Nini there."
Zhou Qiang: "Then did they abandon it?"
“Oh, no,” the owner said helplessly, “Then he got into prison for drunk driving and killing someone, so he couldn’t take care of the cat anymore.”
Zhou Qiang & Chu Tingwu: "……"
The audience: "……?"
Everyone sat down and started listening to gossip.
There were many such gossip stories, and even if the content wasn't so explosive, the owners could also share stories like "how I chose my baby from so many cats."
Chu Tingwu's live broadcast seemed to quickly turn into a talk show, where the cat was often pressed down, looking utterly miserable, occasionally cursing, while in the background, the cat owner and Chu Tingwu asked and answered questions, mostly the owner talking, with Zhou Qiang occasionally chiming in.
They washed various cats, some adopted, some brought from friends' homes, some who had wandered into this home, or rather, chosen a new family for themselves, and some who were already eagerly awaited even before they were born.
Chu Tingwu also washed many dogs, one of which was an injured retired military dog, with prosthetic front legs and scars from surgery visible on its chest and abdomen.
During the bath, this military dog was always very gentle and calm, unlike other dogs who either played excitedly, jumped directly over, or were timid. After the bath and blow-drying, the military dog just put its head over and rested it in Chu Tingwu's palm.
Zhou Qiang, leaning beside her, also stretched out her hand, and the warm, clean military dog with a hint of pet shampoo scent raised its chin and rested it in her palm for a while.
Then, they took their leave.
"What are we eating tonight?"
"Aunt Mei said there will be tempura shrimp and cream mushroom soup..."
The electric tricycle stopped in front of the small villa. When getting off, Zhou Qiang touched the handlebar—
The next day, they would board the plane to Chewan City.
"Although I don't quite understand why Shao Lingwu, after not knowing each other for long, wanted to adopt a vehicle..." she said, "But after getting along for a while, wanting to adopt it also seems normal."
Chu Tingwu: "?"
No, I think both are a bit abnormal.
You'd better return the car.
Fortunately, the next day, they didn't board the plane with an electric tricycle.
Every cat and crow had a seat, but Chu Tingwu bought an extra one.
The seat of that ticket was occupied by a seagull-shaped, one-of-a-kind bionic drone.
Upon hearing Chu Tingwu describe herself in such a manner, the system naturally did not object. Instead, it quietly vetoed the "seagull" design proposal for the drone in the company.
Why make a seagull drone when they could make an eagle? After all, the eagle design had received more votes.
After a six-hour flight, they landed at Chewan City Airport and were met by the local guide they had arranged.
As soon as they got off the bus, Zhou Qiang tightened her coat: Chewan City was indeed cold.
The local guide had originally worked as a tour guide and was a contact of Teacher Zhang's student. Due to having many disciples and grand-disciples, Teacher Zhang had acquaintances in various industries. This local guide had helped them book a reliable homestay.
The homestay owner rented out entire houses, with many villas available in Chewan. The homestay was quiet, well-decorated, and surrounded by a pleasant environment. Whether heading to the ski resort or the city center, the transportation was convenient. The local guide even left the car for them—since they had decided to explore on their own and no longer needed the guide's arrangements.
Upon arriving at the homestay, Chu Tingwu had the system cover the doorplate and posted photos of the homestay and the snowy mountains.
Fans wished her a great time and sent New Year's greetings, though some expressed regret: Why did the cat-washing video series end so abruptly? They could have continued watching, or maybe the content creator could offer home cat-washing services?
The main issue was that their cats were too unruly. Bathing them felt like trying to control an entire army. No one could hold them down, and it wasn't just about getting the creator's autograph or a photo.
The interior was equipped with underfloor heating and a humidifier. Aunt Mei went out to buy some daily necessities they hadn't brought along. The third floor of the homestay had floor-to-ceiling windows facing the Kasha Snow Mountain, where an indoor swing was set up, covered with a plush blanket.
Chu Tingwu swayed back and forth on the swing, and soon the cat joined her.
She sighed while holding the two cats:
Recently, all the courses in the dream classroom had been land-based, so there was no chance to play with boats. She was feeling a bit nostalgic.
"Chu Chu," Zhou Qiang called from downstairs, "Want to try out the gear?"
Of course, she was referring to the skiing gear!
Coming to Chewan, how could they not go skiing?
The homestay even anticipated their needs and had prepared several sets of gear, which were more than enough for beginners.
When they were about to head out, Teacher Zhang stopped them: "By the way, Aunt Mei said she brought clothes for Sanwuwu, Shikuai, and Xiao Wu. Make sure to put them on when you go out."
Even though the animals had fur to keep them warm, playing in the snow in this weather was still too cold.
...Aunt Mei's taste was much more normal than Chu Tingwu's.
Sanwuwu didn't get a floral cotton-padded jacket but instead received an XL red and gold cat warming suit, looking like a giant red envelope.
Shikuai, on the other hand, wore a golden and red outfit, resembling a walking ingot of gold.
These colors were likely chosen because they stood out against the snow... so much so that the embroidered patterns reflecting the light were almost blinding.
Aunt Mei picked them up, and the family of seven headed to the ski resort.
The largest ski resort in Chewan City was right in front of the homestay. Many tourists, like them, drove there, while others stayed in the hotel inside the ski resort.
The scheduled coach, learning that they were all beginners, suggested: "Then let's start with the most basic... Are you practicing on a snowboard?"
Chu Tingwu, having experience with skateboarding, wanted to start with a snowboard, and Zhou Qiang was indifferent, so she chose the same.
The coach, hearing their conversation, chuckled: "Skiing and skateboarding are a bit different, but there are similarities. For example, in skiing, your feet are strapped into bindings—"
Although there were differences, all sports required physical fitness and balance, so Chu Tingwu progressed quickly. The coach saw she was doing well and focused on teaching Zhou Qiang.
Then Teacher Zhang smiled and said: "Since Tingwu has learned, why don't you teach me?"
Aunt Mei glanced at her.
Chu Tingwu abruptly stopped: "Ah?"
The coach hadn't heard this, and frankly, no coach would dare take on such an elderly "beginner student."
If Teacher Zhang fell, she might break a bone.
And skiing was the most prone to falling... not to mention Teacher Zhang couldn't see.
Zhang Youyi: "I came to the ski resort. Should I just watch you all have fun?"
Chu Tingwu: "But it's dangerous."
Zhang Youyi remained calm, with a faint smile: "Did you think it was dangerous when you rock climbed in Sang City?"
Mentioning Sang City specifically, it naturally referred to that wild climb.
But Teacher Zhang's tone wasn't accusatory.
Chu Tingwu could easily say "I need to apologize to the fans" when facing Teacher Fu, but she couldn't bring herself to say it to Teacher Zhang. Finally, she said: "I can't teach you today, but I'll learn well."
Teacher Zhang's eyes curved, and she raised her hand: "Then I'll look forward to it."
Chu Tingwu stepped forward and high-fived her.
What she meant by "learning well" was to fully master the skill and ensure Teacher Zhang wouldn't fall even once—because she would be right beside her.
Obviously, the elderly lady didn't aim to become a skiing expert, just to learn some basic moves. At least by putting on skis, she would have truly experienced it.
Instead of standing by and listening to them practice.
And if Chu Tingwu could prove she had the ability to ensure her student wouldn't fall, it would also prove she could ensure her own safety, allowing her to experience the sports she loved but were dangerous and worried her family.
Chu Tingwu began her "teaching" the next day. The location was a smaller, more beginner-friendly ski area near the hotel, where it was less likely for someone to accidentally slide in and knock over a practicing beginner.
Besides her and Teacher Zhang, Zhou Qiang also came to accompany them. Most of the long-term newcomers here were kids.
The first day mainly focused on putting on the boots and how to stand steadily on the board. When Chu Tingwu helped Teacher Zhang stand, a little girl who was also self-learning curiously observed them.
The girl was cute and a bit timid but very well-behaved. She looked up at Chu Tingwu for a while and then raised her hands: "You're a cat!"
Chu Tingwu, busy taking care of Teacher Zhang, tore Shikuai off her head and handed him to the girl: "Here, you can pet him."
The girl shook her head but still petted him twice, then touched Chu Tingwu's sleeve and sighed like a little adult: "I mean, you're a cat."
As if worried Chu Tingwu might misunderstand her species.
Chu Tingwu: "=="
You and the system would definitely get along.
Shikuai kicked and jumped back onto Chu Tingwu's shoulder, grumbling about how cold his paws were.
Zhou Qiang chatted with the girl a bit and learned that she seemed to have watched Chu Tingwu's videos—
And, believing the system's narration, truly thought Chu Tingwu was a human-shaped cat.
Soon, the girl's coach came over and took her away to continue her lessons.
The next day, when Chu Tingwu returned, she saw Teacher Zhang chatting with the girl.
She asked Zhou Qiang, who had arrived earlier: "Where are her parents?"
They only saw the coach, but where were the parents?
Zhou Qiang: "It seems she came with her mom, who's busy and stays in the hotel. She's worried the girl might be bored, so she let the coach teach her to ski."
The little girl's name was Mu Mu, and she was nine and a half years old.
Apart from being a bit shy, speaking softly, and moving slowly, she was a fairly normal child.
After getting familiar with them (mainly Teacher Zhang), she would even bring small buns and boiled eggs from the hotel's buffet restaurant, holding them tightly against her chest.
After spending a few quiet days at the beginner's field, the coach in charge of Mu Mu brought some news: "I heard that Louise has also arrived. I wonder where she's staying?"
A few novice skiers stood expressionlessly.
Coach: "…Louise holds the world record for alpine snowboard speed descent."
Which made her a master of snowboarding.
Chu Tingwu: "Oh!"
Mu Mu tugged at her, then asked the coach: "Is she a cat?"
Coach: "…Of course not."
Mu Mu turned to look at Chu Tingwu and whispered: "Then you're still more amazing."
Coach: Why would being a cat make someone more amazing?
She didn't understand, and Chu Tingwu wasn't entirely clear either—although she had been exposed to various sports, aside from parkour, she hadn't closely observed the athletic states of other athletes.
In her view, the parkour they experienced during competitions wasn't even close to being extreme.
She had never seen Arthur perform high-altitude parkour, leaping between skyscrapers.
Let alone a world-class athlete—
"Alpine snowboard speed descent" is also an extreme sport.
To put it in an inexact analogy, it's like asking Chu Tingwu to strap on a snowboard at the top of a cliff, where the slope is almost a perfect 90 degrees, and descend to the bottom at the fastest speed.
During this process, the only cushion for humans is "snow."
Based on Chu Tingwu's meager experience of learning to ski for a few days, this is an extremely luck-dependent and technically demanding "game," with a high probability of mistakes.
…But which extreme sport doesn't have a high chance of mistakes?
The coach was feeling a bit restless, her mind wandering, so she chatted with Chu Tingwu and the others, mentioning "Louise":
"It's said that her sponsor asked her to come over to shoot a promotional video for snowboarding, and she happened to want to try the Kaxie Snow Mountain descent… She's filming during off-hours before the ski resort opens, but that means we can go watch."
However, the actual descent is something you can't witness; you can only watch the final edited video.
Zhou Qiang poked Chu Tingwu and said slowly: "Are you going?"
Chu Tingwu: "Do you have a slightly mistaken perception of my skills?"
To teach her elderly students, she, as their teacher, is still working on the basics.
As for extreme sports or alpine descents, what does that have to do with her… Though she was indeed curious… she could restrain herself, especially since there's no sailing tonight… Though she was indeed curious… Maybe she'll go check out Louise's videos.
Later in the training session, the cats also got on the boards and played a couple of rounds. Initially, Wu Zuan was hiding in Aunt Mei's hat, but later burrowed into Sanwuwu's long fur and little vest, trying to stay warm in the cozy fur.
Otherwise, it's freezing.
Finally, Mu Mu's mom found some time to come pick her up.
Seeing her mom, Mu Mu's eyes lit up, but she didn't notice she was still wearing her skis and took a step forward, about to fall flat on her face.
Mu Mu's mom quickly reached out to catch her, while Chu Tingwu, who was nearby, smoothly skied over and caught the little girl by the waist.
"Thank you, Tingwu," the tired-looking woman said softly, "Thank you for taking care of Muxi these past few days."
"You're welcome," Chu Tingwu replied, "Aunt Jian."
The woman patted her daughter's cheek, helped her take off the skis, and then smiled at Chu Tingwu: "For now, don't answer your dad's calls. It's not your concern; just enjoy yourself."
As the woman left, Zhou Qiang came over, glancing at Chu Tingwu.
Chu Tingwu explained: "That's my stepmother."
The Mu Mu who always plays with them is actually Chu Tingwu's half-sister, Shen Muxi.
As she was being led away by her mom, Mu Mu kept turning back, waving goodbye to them.
—Chu Tingwu and Aunt Jian actually got along well.
When living with her father, Aunt Jian was very polite to her, and that politeness as a stepmother was more than the concern from Shen Yue.
Back then, Mu Mu hadn't been born yet.
Later, when Chu Tingwu was taken away by her great-grandmother, her sister was still an infant.
But after spending these few days together, Chu Tingwu recognized them.
The system didn't remind her.
Chu Tingwu knew why. After bidding farewell to Aunt Jian, she felt a bit dazed:
"It seems like I really don't have any blood relation with them anymore."
After being bound to the system, her genes had changed. And after leveling up, the lv1 genetic inheritance made her instinctively realize, upon seeing them, that although she and Mu Mu were still nominally sisters, the part of her genes from her parents had completely transformed.
Losing that part of her genes didn't make her feel lost… maybe because she wasn't entirely alone.
Zhou Qiang yawned: "Let's go back. Didn't we agree to have an online quiz with Chu Xiao and the others tonight?"
Even on vacation, you can't slack off on studying, Chu Tingwu.
Chu Tingwu: "The cats I know don't have to go to school =,="
Zhou Qiang, expressionless: "The cats I know already have PhDs."
Don't try to escape your studies!
-
Chu Tingwu tried to escape.
Of course, she did finish the quiz her teammates gave her, then flopped onto her bed, once again showcasing her ability to fall asleep instantly.
Zhou Qiang: "=_="
It's going to be hard for you to get a PhD like this!
The future Dr. Chu didn't care about that, because when she opened her eyes, she was already wearing her gear and standing on the shady side of Kaxie Snow Mountain, halfway up the slope.
…Probably because she was too busy with the exam, she didn't get to watch Louise's video.
…No tutorial, no problem!
Chu Tingwu confidently controlled her snowboard and started descending—
And one minute later, she successfully plunged into a snowbank, her legs sticking up in a fish-like pose.
Chu Tingwu: "=="
Forget it.
Back to studying.
