Chapter 14: Is there such a disease that causes animal ears to grow?_1

Haicheng First People's Hospital.

In the consultation room, a doctor with only a few hairs on his head, who clearly looked experienced, examined the freshly received films and blood test reports. His brows furrowed then relaxed as he scrutinized them for a long time before finally taking off his glasses to look at the person sitting opposite him.

"Does it still hurt? What does it feel like now?"

Luo Xi's face was somewhat pale as he replied, "It was quite uncomfortable before, but it's better now, not much pain anymore."

The doctor asked, "Are your family members here?"

Luo Xi shook his head, "They're not here. I came with a classmate. Just say whatever it is, I can handle it."

"Alright."

The doctor spoke gravely, "Classmate, your illness is a bit strange. It somewhat resembles acute leukemia, but looking at other indicators, it doesn't seem to be that. I suggest you get a more detailed full-body check-up."

"Leukemia?" Luo Xi's hand on the table trembled slightly.

"Actually, it's not that bad," the doctor consoled. "Even if it really is leukemia, at most it's in the early stage. As long as you get timely treatment, there is still a great hope for a cure."

Luo Xi suddenly asked, "What if this isn't leukemia, but some unknown disease?"

The doctor was taken aback, "What do you mean?"

Hesitating for a moment, Luo Xi said, "I mean, for example, after getting this disease, is there a possibility of growing strange animal ears? Similar to those anthropomorphic characters in games and on TV. Or like those beastmen and demihuman characters in otaku mobile games."

The doctor: "..."

What nonsense is this child talking about?

Could it be not only his body is sick but his mind as well?

The doctor handed the films back to Luo Xi and stood up to pat his shoulder.

"Don't overthink it. Though, if there really is such a strange disease, then it could be named after you, classmate. Wouldn't that also be a pleasant thing?"

Luo Xi: '(ー`´ー)?'

The doctor laughed, "Go back and discuss it with your parents. This kind of thing can't just be toughed out alone; after all, your life is most precious to them."

Luo Xi sighed inwardly.

How could he even bring this up?

Besides, those two parents of his wouldn't care about him even if he did.

After all, they had stopped caring since he started university.

...

Outside the consultation room.

As soon as Luo Xi came out, Wang Yuanjie, who had been sitting on a bench, stood up and asked with concern, "How is it? Are you alright?"

Luo Xi forced a smile, "I'm fine, it's just acute gastroenteritis. The doctor said I should eat less barbecue and stuff in the future."

Wang Yuanjie was Luo Xi's roommate and had the best relationship with him among the four in the dormitory. It was he who had dragged Luo Xi from his bed to the hospital on his electric scooter.

However, by the time they got to the hospital, the pain and burning sensation Luo Xi felt had already lessened a lot.

He knew that the problem with his body was probably not some normal illness and was definitely closely related to that text-based game, but he still ran some tests under Wang Yuanjie's insistence.

Wang Yuanjie breathed a sigh of relief and joked, "Hey, I thought you were a goner, and that I might have been able to get a recommendation for postgraduate studies. Too bad."

Luo Xi punched Wang Yuanjie and scolded him with a laugh, "Too bad your head! What kind of filial son wishes his dad dead so he can inherit his spending debt? By the way, I'll pay you back when I get my paycheck next month."

"No rush on the money."

Wang Yuanjie laughed and threw a punch back, "Heh, I don't know why, but looking at your face right now, I feel it's kinda asking for a slap. Come here and let dad slap you twice."

"Looking for a beating!"

"Alright, no kidding. It's good that you're okay." Wang Yuanjie dodged and laughed, "Since you're back today, let's call up that kid Chen Yao this evening and have a meal together... never mind, given your condition, you can't eat good food. We can wait until you're well to celebrate. So, are we going to karaoke now or to the card parlor to relax?"

Luo Xi shook his head, "Let's go back to university. Isn't this the time you ought to be studying?"

"I'm not missing much."

Wang Yuanjie suddenly stared into Luo Xi's eyes, "Little mule, you're not hiding anything from me, are you?"

Luo Xi replied without changing his expression, "Of course not."

He glanced down at the text on his phone.

[Traveler, your character is currently in a state of fainting. Would you like to accelerate to the next event node?]

[Your body is undergoing drastic changes...]

[Note: In the Dream World, any changes and enhancements fundamental to the life essence of your character will be equally reflected onto your physical form in the Otherworld.]

...

By the time Luo Xi returned to the university, it was already four in the afternoon.

He was sitting behind Wang Yuanjie on the small electric heater, and the two of them rode into the campus through the south gate, along a road flanked by the picturesque campus scenery, where many couples and visitors were strolling about.

A variety of colorful stray cats also lived in this area. The school had originally planned to cull them, but the stray cats were very alert, disappearing into the woods at the sight of strangers. Plus, with the protection and obstruction from the girls, the issue was left unresolved.

After all, who in today's social media climate wouldn't be afraid of being called out in a post online?

Luo Xi looked at a small gray cat by the road and felt a sudden impulse. He said, "Wang Yuanjie, stop for a second."

Wang Yuanjie hit the brakes and looked back, asking, "What's up?"

Luo Xi pointed to the side of the road, "There's a cat over there."

"You want to pet the cat? Forget it, we didn't bring any food, so you won't be able to touch it, and if it bites you, that'd be trouble. A rabies shot costs a lot of money, and you said you were broke, right?"

"It's fine, I just want to have a look."

Luo Xi got off the scooter and walked straight towards the small gray cat.

"Meow~"

The small gray cat faced him, meowing softly, its pure eyes showing no sign of fear.

Not only that but as Luo Xi reached out his hand towards the little gray cat, it didn't retreat. Instead, it took a step towards him and even voluntarily pressed its little head into his hand, gently rubbing against it.

"Meow—meow—"

Suddenly, several cats, big and small, emerged from the nearby grass, curiously sizing up Luo Xi before gathering in front of him, wagging their tails and rubbing against his legs and shoes.

"Coo—coo—"

A spotted dove flew over from somewhere and landed on Luo Xi's shoulder, as if mistaking his hand for a branch. Then it started to coo as if courting.

At this moment, Luo Xi seemed to hear an auditory hallucination.

[Your Happiness Level +10]...

Wang Yuanjie stood to the side, completely dumbfounded.

What's this situation?

Wang Yuanjie had brought his own girlfriend here before to pet the cats, but these cats were very pragmatic; without any food, you couldn't even think about touching a single fur, and trying to pet them forcefully could result in bites and scratches, causing more harm than good.

How did Little Mule manage to just reach out his hand and have a bunch of cats willingly come up to him?

And what was with that cooing chicken?

A passing girl saw this magical scene and captured it on her phone.

As time passed, the crowd of onlookers grew larger and larger.

Luo Xi suddenly turned around to find that he was surrounded by people, so he quickly flicked the courting foolish dove off his shoulder, put on his hat to cover his face, and hopped onto Wang Yuanjie's scooter to make a swift getaway.

After Luo Xi left, a girl knelt down, peeled a sausage, and offered it to the gray cat.

"Little Mi, come here, have some sausage."

The gray cat took a bite of the sausage, glanced at the girl, then turned its head and disappeared into the woods.

Seeing so many people, the other cats also scattered in fright.

That left a crowd who had come to see the cats and wanted to feed them standing in the wind, disheveled.

This isn't right, is it?

Later on, a set of photos related to Luo Xi spread quickly through Haicheng University's forums and confession walls, making Luo Xi, who had always kept a low profile during his four years at university, inexplicably famous for a while.