The System Mistook Me for a Cat

In the minds of newcomers to rock climbing, there’s always a touch of fantasy about being able to "leap freely on cliff faces." However, in official competitions, rock climbing often requires choosing routes, making judgments, and enduring repeated failures... all of which take more time. Bouldering competitions are especially time-consuming, and in international events, contestants might even run out of the allotted time before they can even get started, let alone reach the first scoring point.

But some experienced climbing spectators, as they watched Chu Tingwu’s VR live broadcast, began to doubt what they were seeing—

How come her starting pace seemed steady, but it got faster and faster as she went along?

Moreover, although the UP didn't show it, the high immersion of VR made it hard for streamers to hide details. Sharp-eyed viewers, from Chu Tingwu's breathing changes and some movement choices, discovered that she seemed to have made mistakes... but before the errors caused any serious issues, she had already resolved them, leading everyone to question their own judgments.

[Maybe it wasn’t a mistake; maybe the host was just showing off?]

The system read the live chat comments to Chu Tingwu.

Chu Tingwu: “==”

Stop talking.

Although the system could scan in advance to help Chu Tingwu recognize the route and choose her path, even after completing all its auxiliary tasks, it couldn’t physically take her place. Therefore, as long as Chu Tingwu remained human, she would inevitably make mistakes.

But she successfully relied on her formidable physical abilities (and fingers) and her instinct to avoid danger (and fingers) to leave a few less obvious marks on the wall and maintain a seemingly flawless record of reaching the summit.

The tourists at the top were in shock.

Originally—they had come to photograph birds!

They were supposed to be capturing shots of migrating birds flying overhead, operating drones, but never did they expect someone to climb up below them, completely unequipped and going solo.

"This person" arrived without showing any signs of exhaustion or excitement, merely exchanging a glance with them, then lifting her hand politely as if she were just another passerby: “Excuse me, thank you.”

As ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‍she spoke, she took off her glasses and walked to an open area, where a seagull-shaped biomimetic drone flew up from below and landed on her shoulder, looking like a high-tech accessory.

Immediately, her support team rushed over, presenting Chu Tingwu with prepared food and water, and even offering to massage her to relax her muscles, while setting up a temporary tent… This made onlookers hesitate to approach.

They all felt like this maybe was some kind of professional video shoot.

Still, some couldn’t help but keep glancing at Chu Tingwu, and eventually, as if recognizing her, they raised their cameras before they approached to say hello.

The mountain wind scattered the mist, and higher up, a group of falcons cut through the sky. Below them, other birds either flew away in fear or were obscured by their imposing figures, but due to the difference in speed, the lowest ones still managed to stand out. Unlike those mighty migratory birds, it looked more delicate, smaller in size, almost indistinguishable from a sparrow, making it hard to imagine it was also a traveler among them.

It was exhausted, as if it might be blown away by the high altitude winds at any moment, so its altitude continued to drop. But when it saw the cliffside below, it chirped excitedly, rushing over and landing on Chu Tingwu's other shoulder with complete trust.

After resting for two seconds, it hopped over to the seagull drone, greeting it with two casual “chirps.”

System: "…"

Diandian: "Chirp chirp?"

System let out a deep "chirp."

After receiving the bird, Chu Tingwu and the little bird both felt more at ease, which had become a daily ritual. Meanwhile, Chu Tingwu glanced at the side screen of the system, which displayed the location of the flocks of crested goshawks. The system's surveillance was more precise, offering real-time data.

It was time to move on.

She still proceeded normally, but her schedule became more flexible... however, online, the speed of misinformation spread too quickly, even the system couldn’t stop it.

So, as Chu Tingwu was having dinner, the system awkwardly informed her:

"They say you're risking your life to feed the crested goshawks, unleashing your potential to climb straight up from the foot of the cliff to the top, surpassing the competition climbers… you could be nominated for this year’s Most Moving Person in China."

Chu Tingwu: "…"

?

When she opened her phone, she found the rumors even more exaggerated—

In modern times, what spreads the fastest? Of course, it’s memes and trending jokes. And coincidentally, after the recent development and the systems special promotion to allow the chicks rest more, the public sentiment exploded today.

People didn’t really think Chu Tingwu was treating "potential outbreak while feeding birds" as the truth, but rather, she had always wanted to engage in unprotected rock climbing and was a skilled climber. However, in this atmosphere of pretending not to understand, playing with emerging memes was more interesting, and exaggerated titles could make the information spread faster. In short, it meant more likes and views.

The narrative quickly changed—

"Switching constantly between transportation modes, able to paraglide and climb cliffs at will, and following the migratory journey of birds with the determination of chasing the first level protectorate. After multiple efforts to feed it and win the affection of the national protectorate, the woman finally succeeds."

Then the Panda Reserve shared this weibo post, debunking the claim that the national protectorate in the article wasn’t actually a panda.

Chu Tᶦηg༗wu: "?"

Soon after, for reasons unknown, other preserves, whether she had been to them or not, all followed suit to debunk other claims that the protectorate wasn’t a Chinese white dolphin, a golden snub-nose monkey, a hawksbill turtle, a green peafowl...

Oblivious passersby cheered, while also responding, "Nor was it me, even though there’s only one me in the whole world. But I can’t fly either, I’m not endangered, and I will go home under rainy weather to avoid it - there ༎ຶ’s nor any need to look on this cliffside for me. I can’t climb that high."

Under the direction from the government, the public sentiment flourished with the topic “Finding National Protectorate." Although everyone knew Chu Tingwu was chasing after a flock of crested goshawks, they still intended to feign ignorance just to play arounᙅd with the theme. So, a bunch of fun images were edited and meme content made.@@novelbin@@

The debunked post "that" was claiming the crested goshawks were indeed the “persons”, the image featured pointy poking its head out of the screen.

Just as Chu Tingwu hauled the cats poking from under a hollow garden planter out, someone nearby suddenly raised their cell phone to take photo of her, she:"=="

Hang Ling laughed : "I can’t help It. Who have asked you have become so renowned now."

People can’t chase after the crested gōshawks, yet couldn’t they still track Chu Tingwu down to enjoy their time spent? Chu Tᙧຳngເwu often updated post on her social media accounts sharing the real-time whereabouts of crested goshawks and then, some excited ᶆfans followed suit, also posting where in turn she was—Had it wasn’t of her transport vehicle which didn’t look like an actual police car then likely she was able to get preferential roads passing ᶄprivilege.

The anticipated journey was down scaled to days , after that she’d catch up big birdie flocks soon; her plans have become more flexible and now even could found time assisting Hang Ling fetch strays cats.

"Nevertheless...", Hang Ling considered the situation: "You seem not to consume that much time collecting these stray cats than rest."

Quite enviously, since they made every effort to lure by sound, request collaboration with adult felines, brought out lots cutting ່edge tech, sometimes even had end traps laid in wait, yet often managed only capture them by chance; meanwhile Chu Tingwu strolled over, 'nyaing' twice only, ՝leaned squatting low and poof, all grown cat were effortlessly her prisoner while any not-yet seasoned junior kittens wabbled towards her direction.

Hang Ling always felt with the first acquaintance contrast, there’s certainly something concealed in "upgrade" with Chu Tingwu .

They have had quite bit break for sight for quite while too but now whereabouts differ as before wasn’that "Fallen Phoenix City" as then - now turned Ҟis "ԮԹㄒҟㄚꓡ㯯್Ҕꬿ".

Branch building for "Little Sunshine Pet Hospital“ lay down here.

Hang Ling accepted hold-taking off cage by Chu Tingwu: “The first intentioned decision of hospital going was establishment new sub-branch in ᗘᎥᙁCιty(the provincial level town close enough nearby location of Fallen Phoenix City), but…" – but just evaluating all market circumstances later, they came across recognition: the sub-branch might perhaps be loss-inducing for business deal with.

After Chu Tingwu's 16th birthday, the pet hospital she funds, the charitable enterprises she sponsors, and even her own charity foundation have all made significant contributions to helping stray animals and providing health assurance for pets... There's no need for Little Sun Pet Hospital to open a branch in such a competitive area. Even though the hospital's current reputation could guarantee profits, that's not what they're after.

So, after a meeting, the hospital decided to open a branch in Yunquan City, the hometown of the hospital director. Hang Ling arrived early in the year to prepare for the opening of the new branch.

Although Hang Ling jokingly said that Chu Tingwu "changed and upgraded secretly," when Chu Tingwu turned to look at her, she didn't realize that she herself had become more capable and composed.

Her aura was both professional and stable, yet gentle and soothing when handling cats. Challenging work can sharpen a person, but working in a field one loves can nourish the soul.

With plenty of time on her hands, Chu Tingwu petted all the cats rescued by the hospital and even helped a prematurely separated kitten learn how to use the litter box—without demonstrating it herself—but Hang Ling whispered in her ear:

"Have you called Three-Five-Five today?"

Chu Tingwu: "=="

Yes, she had called! But why did this question make her feel guilty, as if she were sneaking off to a cat cafe behind her own cats?

She wasn't at a cat cafe; she was just volunteering for half a day... Surely Three-Five-Five would understand, right?

Through Hang Ling, Chu Tingwu also met other rescuers. Today, her route conveniently passed by a private winery, saving her a lot of time and even exchanging a box of wine for a signed photo. She picked up Diandian on the roadside of Yunquan City, but the falcon's behavior was a bit odd.

Just as Diandian was about to dive straight into Chu Tingwu's arms, it suddenly spiraled upwards just before landing—

[The kid's grown up and started performing acrobatics?]

[What happened? Did the national first-class favor buff disappear?]

[Did Chu Tingwu forget to recharge?]

She didn't... Wait, she never even had to recharge in the first place!

After shooting up, Diandian seemed flustered and landed, only to take off again, as if it wanted to approach but was hesitant.

Chu Tingwu: "…?"

She realized what was going on!

Quickly pulling down her jacket zipper, she took off her coat and tossed it into the car, simultaneously brushing off the cat hair on her pants before reaching out her hand to the bird.

Diandian: "Chirp chirp chirp!"

Too scary!

Why did it feel surrounded by the smell of cats, as if it had just been licked twice by a feline companion? Instinctively, it was terrified and dared not come close. Now that the smell had dissipated slightly and there were no cats around, Diandian hurriedly started its usual prompting:

"Let's fly together now! We don't know when a cat might show up, so let's get going!"

Chu Tingwu: "Next time."

Next time for sure.

Next lifetime, she’d definitely make the system recognize her as a bird.