The System Mistook Me for a Cat

Chapter 170

Cheng Cheng lay sleeping at the feet of Chu Tingwu, who was busy reading some literature.

Professor Mi had encouraged her: "Since you have such a great opportunity, why not write a paper on the Red Rain Falcon as your topic?"

Theoretically, his work was done, and he could have returned home long ago. However, despite Professor Mi going back, he had left his graduate students behind, and they were now commuting weekly by plane... During regular online classes, he would also include Chu Tingwu, even though they didn't have an official teacher-student relationship. She was treated as a true student.

However, Chu Tingwu had never actually written a paper before.

After reading a bit about the Red Rain Falcon, she bent down and gently stroked Cheng Cheng's head.

The dog's eyes didn't open, but its tail wagged slightly.

In front of Chu Tingwu was her computer screen, but when she blinked, a virtual screen from the system appeared beside her, displaying various health reports about Cheng Cheng.

Ever since the last rain, the Yorkshire Terrier hadn't been keen on going outside much.

It wasn't a particularly lively dog that enjoyed causing havoc at home, but it didn't mind going out for walks either, especially given the large ranch they had now. However, Cheng Cai seemed to have noticed something.

Recently, Cheng Cheng's usual walks had turned into regular trips between the hotel and the staff quarters, where it would often encounter tourists. The dog would stand at Cheng Cai's side, curiously tilting its head to look at the various unfamiliar faces and the virtual projections following them.

Then it would let out a couple of "woofs," as if trying to communicate with Cheng Cai.

Most of the time, Cheng Cheng would lie beneath the hotel's shoe-changing bench, on the reception desk, or in front of Chu Tingwu's door... No one ever chased it away because it was such a friendly little dog.

Last time, Chu Tingwu even saw Cheng Cheng mediating a dispute: A family on vacation had gotten into an argument in the lobby, and as their voices grew louder, the Yorkshire Terrier anxiously trotted over to their feet, looking up and barking in a rhythmic pattern, as if it were truly speaking.

The family felt both awkward and embarrassed. After they stopped arguing, the dog made sure everything was okay before slowly walking back to the reception desk, climbing onto the table with the help of a robot, and continuing to watch the people around with its little eyes.

Because the hotel used self-check-in, human services were only available on weekends. Someone took a photo of Cheng Cheng lying there and later posted it online alongside a picture of a swallow resting on the QR code at Qingshan Temple, claiming that the cat and dog, along with the temple and hotel, perfectly matched and were both under Chu Tingwu's management.

Qingshan Temple: "?"

Taoist Zhuge had to use the official account to debunk the rumor: They hadn't received any funding from Chu Tingwu! Qingshan Temple's finances were stable and didn't need corporate support.

Netizens, however, insisted: This clearly means that the cat and dog are both under the leadership of Master Chu!

Chu Tingwu thought about it and subconsciously reached out to scratch Cheng Cheng's chin.

The dog placed its front paws in her palm, eyes squinting, appearing small and content. After Chu Tingwu let go, it opened its eyes and slowly wagged its tail.

The next day, Cheng Cai found that Cheng Cheng was still at the hotel.

When ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‍she came over, the dog was playing ball with Three-Five-Five. The AI's ears twitched slightly in annoyance, but they were playing a simple game. Three-Five-Five rolled the ball along the carpet, and Cheng Cheng wagged its tail and pounced, barking proudly after successfully catching it.

But when Cheng Cai opened the door, she found the room was quite crowded, almost too full to move.

Several of the popular animated cat guides were also in the room, though they remained quiet, just watching, not participating in the game. Some followed the ball, until one cat, while running, was tripped by another cat's outstretched paw.

Cheng Cai: "..." Wait, you're all programs!

The programs started arguing within their virtual world.

Cheng Cai couldn't help but laugh and understand why some fans of the animations visiting the ranch looked like they were on a pilgrimage.

The realism of the programs exceeded the virtual, making people believe they were truly alive.

Cheng Cai found Chu Tingwu in the next room and couldn't help but discuss the matter: If a program could perform so vividly that it seemed truly alive, was it human nature to treat it as a life form, or had they been deceived by the program?

Chu Tingwu: "Does it matter? I even have a system."

Cheng Cai: "The system isn't a real system."

Cheng Cai thought Chu Tingwu was joking. The "system" in her words was naturally the partner she had started making videos with, the company's other boss, a senior manager who had completed much of the work remotely... Chu Tingwu's friend.

There were rumors that "system" was actually the last heir of a wealthy foreign family, but due to a congenital skin disease that made it impossible to expose themselves to light (or possibly a psychological condition), they had to communicate remotely. It was also said that "system" had long been re

There was no elaborate ceremony; just a small handful of ashes buried beneath the gravestone. Flower seeds were scattered in front of the tomb, and Chu Tingwu decided to plant flowers there. However, before they left, a bouquet of flowers could be placed there.

Humans observed from a distance. The grass beneath the rain was still damp, and Cheng Cai chose the same kind of rose that the Yorkshire Terrier would always pass by on its way to school.

Then, a small red-beaked bird descended from the sky, its spotted wings shimmering in the sunlight. It swooped down, snatched a petal, and flew away.

Cheng Cai was dumbfounded. She blew her nose, glanced at Chu Tingwu, and finally said, "Well, that happened."

The next day, tourists who had heard about the ranch's beloved puppy's passing were searching for Cheng Cheng's grave... when they saw a familiar little car slowly pass by.

Inside the car was the Yorkshire Terrier, clearly... wait, that's a projection!

Just like the tour guide cats, only the car was real—the dog was an illusion.

They followed the car, tracking it to the gravestone. A Red-billed Goshawk landed on the tomb, and the puppy's projection poked its head out of the car, barking twice.

Red-billed Goshawk: "..."

The bird, clearly annoyed, flew away.

The projected puppy wouldn't get out of the car. Most of the time, it seemed like a real tourist, driving its car along random paths around the ranch. Only when it detected nearby human quarrels or animal disputes would it poke its head out.

Thus, those in the know considered it a "memorial," while those unaware thought it was a new feature of the ranch, chasing the customized sightseeing car around, and somehow managing to experience the most exciting spots on the ranch.

Your ranch's tour guide dog is far more responsible than the tour guide cats!