A few days after his unexpected meeting with Diah, Rian was slowly getting back into his usual routine. The farm had been getting busier every day. Most of the vegetables had already been harvested and packed, while several workers were still busy cleaning up the equipment. From the back of the property came the occasional sound of shovels scraping against the ground and wheelbarrows being pushed around. Rian had just finished checking on some of the crops when his phone rang. The name on the screen immediately made him stop. Diah. Rian smiled. Not just a normal smile. It was the kind of smile that was way too wide for someone who had merely seen a name on a phone screen. He quickly answered the call. “Hello?” Diah’s voice came from the other end. “Rian? Are you busy?” “Nope. Just taking it easy. I just finished walking around the farm.” Rian’s normally relaxed voice suddenly sounded a little lighter. Even his steps became slower, as if he had suddenly gained all the time in the world. Under a nearby tree, Jojo opened one eye. He looked at Rian. Then at Rian’s smile. Then at Rian walking back and forth while playing with the edge of his shirt. Jojo immediately frowned. Disgusting. The cat raised his head slightly. Until now, he had considered Rian a reasonably sensible human being. Greedy when it came to making money, stubborn whenever he had made up his mind, and extremely stingy whenever the subject involved the precious serum. But now? One phone call with a woman had turned him into this. “Yeah, I’m glad you called too.” Rian stopped for a moment. His smile grew even wider. “Yeah... I still remember those days back in high school.” Jojo immediately sat up. His eyes narrowed. Oh, no. This was definitely about that woman again. Rian walked farther away from the work area while continuing the conversation. “So where are you working now?” Diah said something on the other end. Rian chuckled. “Oh, you’re still there? Wow, you really like that place.” He listened for a few seconds. “Me? Well, I’m like this now. I run a farm. It started out pretty small, but it’s grown quite a bit.” Rian started telling her about his life. The farm. The vegetable business. His workers. Even his plan to build a gourami pond. Strangely enough, he didn't feel bored at all, even though he had already told most of those stories to other people. Because this time, Diah was the one listening. And somehow, that made everything sound more interesting. Under the tree, Jojo was slowly losing his patience. He licked his front paw with a completely blank expression. Then he muttered, “Meow.” Rian glanced at him. “What?” Jojo stared at him sharply. But Rian simply raised one finger. “Hang on. I’m on the phone.” Jojo went silent. He stared at Rian for several seconds before finally going back to grooming himself. What an arrogant human. A few minutes later, Rian laughed again. “Yeah, just be careful on your way home.” He paused. Then his face turned slightly red. “Let me know when you get home.” A few seconds later, the call ended. Rian stared at his phone screen. His smile was still there. Even though the call was over, he was still smiling. As if Diah was somehow still on the other end. Jojo stared at him from under the tree. For a long time. Very, very long. Then he stood up and walked over. “Meow.” Rian was still looking at his phone. “Hm?” Jojo sat in front of him. He raised his chin slightly and began speaking in an extremely serious tone. “Meow meow.” Rian finally put his phone into his pocket. “What?” Jojo flicked his tail. If cats could laugh like humans, he probably would have been rolling on the ground by now. The cat pointed one front paw at Rian’s face. “Meow.” Rian frowned. “Why are you looking at me like that?” Jojo let out a long sigh. Then he began comparing himself to Rian. According to Jojo, he had once been a cat overflowing with charisma. Elegant steps. Shiny fur. A sharp gaze. Confidence reaching the heavens. Before settling down at Rian’s farm, he claimed to have been extremely popular with female cats in his old neighborhood. He even puffed out his chest as he recalled his glorious past. “Meow.” Rian stared at him blankly. “You’re talking about your past again?” Jojo nodded. “Meow.” “The one where you supposedly had a whole bunch of admirers?” Jojo nodded even faster. Rian chuckled. “Okay.” He started walking past Jojo. “And?” Jojo followed him. “Meow!” Rian kept walking. Jojo followed. “Meow! Meow!” Rian finally turned around. “Listen, I know what you're trying to say. You used to be charismatic.” Jojo froze. His eyes lit up. “Meow.” “But I don’t care.” Jojo’s face immediately fell. Rian continued walking with a small laugh. “Nowadays, all I see is a fat cat who sleeps all day, eats all day, and steals dried fish whenever nobody’s looking.” Jojo was instantly offended. He chased after Rian while meowing loudly. “Meow!” “What?” Jojo pointed at himself. Then at Rian. Then toward the direction where Rian had been talking on the phone. His expression was crystal clear. I’m way more charismatic than you! Rian held back his laughter. “Your charisma is gone.” Jojo froze. “What?” “All that’s left is fat.” Jojo looked down at his own stomach. Then slowly looked back at Rian. Rian burst out laughing. “Okay, okay. Don’t get mad.” Jojo huffed and looked away. Rian thought the matter was over. It wasn't. A few steps later, Jojo caught up again. This time, he walked beside Rian with an exaggeratedly elegant stride. His head was held high. Every step was slow and graceful. Rian glanced sideways. “What are you doing?” Jojo kept walking. “Meow.” “Don't tell me you're demonstrating your charisma.” Jojo stopped. Then turned around with a proud expression. Rian immediately laughed. “Oh, come on.” Jojo meowed again as if declaring that humans simply had no taste. Rian shook his head, still smiling. But a few seconds later, his smile changed. It became slightly sinister. “Jojo.” Jojo stopped. “What?” Rian looked directly at him. “Remember my warning from yesterday?” Jojo blinked. “Meow?” “The one about getting you neutered.” Jojo’s entire expression changed. His body went completely stiff. He stared at Rian as if he had just seen the Grim Reaper. “Meow...?” Rian slipped his hands into his pockets. “Actually, I think it’s a pretty good idea.” Jojo took one step backward. “Meow?” “You talk too much.” Another step backward. “Meow... meow...” Rian moved closer. “Better to do it before your old habits get you into trouble.” Jojo immediately turned around. But before he could run, Rian raised a hand. “Relax. I’m kidding.” Jojo stopped. Slowly, he turned around. His face showed obvious relief. Then Rian smiled. “But if you keep talking about your glorious past...” He pointed at Jojo. “...I might actually do it.” Jojo immediately sat up straight. Perfect posture. Then he lowered his head. “Meow.” Rian raised an eyebrow. “Huh?” Jojo meowed again. This time, his voice was soft. Polite. Almost suspiciously polite. Rian stared at him for a few seconds. “Why are you suddenly so polite?” Jojo raised his head. “Meow.” Rian narrowed his eyes. “You’re scared, aren't you?” Jojo immediately looked away. “Meow.” Rian laughed. “Pathetic.” The two of them eventually made their way toward the back of the farm. From a distance, the sound of workers became clearer. The gourami pond they had planned a few days earlier was almost finished. Pak Supri was standing beside the pond, checking the workers’ progress. Not far from him, Pak Joko was inspecting the drainage system. Rian stopped a few meters away and carefully looked over the work. The pond walls had already taken shape. The bottom had been leveled. The water inlet and drainage channels were also clearly visible. Rian nodded with satisfaction. He called out to Pak Supri. “Pak Supri!” Pak Supri turned around. “Oh, Boss.” He walked over while wiping the sweat from his forehead. “Almost finished, Boss. Just a few small things left.” Rian looked down into the pond. “Is the bottom done properly?” “Yep. Pak Joko checked it too. We made sure the slope is right so the water can drain easily when we need to clean the pond.” Pak Supri pointed toward one corner. “The water inlet is also separate from the drainage outlet.” Rian crouched down for a closer look. He didn't know much about pond construction, but he still wanted to make sure everything was being done properly. After a few moments, he stood back up. “Good. Once it's finished tomorrow, don't put the fish in immediately.” Pak Supri nodded. “Got it. We'll clean everything first.” “Yeah. I want everything ready before the fingerlings go in.” Rian then turned toward Pak Joko. “Pak Joko, make sure this wall is strong, okay? I don't want it leaking a few months from now.” Pak Joko chuckled. “Don't worry, Boss. If it leaks, I'll be the one embarrassed.” Rian smiled. “Not just embarrassed, Pak. My fish might escape.” Pak Joko laughed. “Can fish really escape through a wall?” Rian laughed along. “If these gourami really end up costing five hundred thousand rupiah per kilo, I'm pretty sure they'll have enough motivation to escape.” Pak Supri burst out laughing. Pak Joko shook his head, laughing as well. “You really come up with the strangest things, Boss.” Rian simply smiled. He looked at the pond once more. In a few days, the gourami fingerlings would be introduced. After that, the real experiment would begin. He still didn't know whether the serum would work on fish the same way it worked on plants. If it did, he might have an entirely new product with an even higher value. If it failed... Well, at least he would learn something. Rian turned toward Jojo. “What are you going to eat once the gourami are ready?” Jojo immediately walked closer. “Meow.” Rian laughed. “Don't tell me you want a special portion.” Jojo sat beside his leg. This time, he spoke very politely. “Meow.” Rian looked at him suspiciously. “Why are you being so polite?” Jojo raised one front paw. Then pointed toward the pond. He was obviously talking about his food allowance. Rian sighed. “If the gourami turn out well, we'll change your usual ration.” Jojo's eyes immediately lit up. “Meow!” “Yeah. Instead of eating dried fish all the time.” Jojo looked satisfied. Rian rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “From now on, you can eat gourami.” Jojo immediately meowed happily. “Meow!” “But not too much.” Jojo froze. Rian continued. “Those fish are expensive.” Jojo stared at him. Then at the pond. Then back at Rian. His expression suddenly became serious. “Meow?” Rian nodded. “Yeah. You need to learn how to respect company assets too.” Jojo stared at Rian for several seconds. Then slowly sat up straighter. He looked exactly like a manager who had just received a raise. Rian laughed at the sight. “You hear the word ‘gourami’ and suddenly turn into the model employee.” Jojo lifted his chin. “Meow.” Rian narrowed his eyes. “Just remember. Your share is fish. Not the entire pond.” Jojo immediately looked at the pond. Then back at Rian. “Meow.” “No.” “Meow.” “No.” Jojo pointed toward the pond. Rian shook his head. “Keep dreaming.” Jojo huffed. But this time, he didn't argue too much. After all, there was one thing he had already decided. As long as Rian had that gourami pond... his life as a cat was safe. At least until that human started threatening something far more valuable to him again. Jojo slowly wrapped his tail around the lower half of his body. His pride could fall. His charisma could disappear. But his family jewels... those had to stay safe.

Chapter 29 — A Phone Call, Gourami, and a Cat’s Pride