You Are Brother Egg? . . .
Cha Eun Xiao stood there in disbelief, his expression a mixture of astonishment and disappointment.
"Why did it have to be a cat? And why all the grand ceremony?" he silently lamented. He felt utterly shattered, his mouth still hanging open in shock.
In the center of the eight eggshell fragments, the small, snowy, and indolent creature finally arose, its movements deliberate and dignified. It shook its fur, causing the water clinging to it to vanish, and proceeded to move in a solemn and regal manner toward one of the shell pieces. It clamped down on the shell, chewed, and swallowed it with a certain nonchalance, as though it were the most natural thing in the world. Reinvigorated after its impromptu snack, it moved on to the remaining pieces, consuming each one with the same leisurely attitude.
Despite being tiny, the shell fragments were significantly larger than the feline, which was more like a rat eating an entire cow, yet its size remained unaffected.
Cha Eun Xiao was left standing there, thoroughly confounded.
"Is this the primal spirit creature?" he contemplated in disbelief. "A cat?"
The creature bore a striking resemblance to a cat, save for its smaller size. Nevertheless, it displayed one significant deviation from the norm: it was oviparous, whereas cats were viviparous.
The cat devoured the shell fragments with impressive alacrity, finishing its meal in short order. It raised its head to gaze at Cha Eun Xiao with an air of nonchalance and extended a snowy paw to clean its whiskers. Then it let out a rather unimpressed "...Meow?"
Cha Eun Xiao regarded the cat with a heavy heart and met its eyes, understanding its unspoken request: "I'm full now. Why don't you pick me up? What are you waiting for? Come and cradle me in your arms. Take good care of me! What's the matter with you?"
Cha Eun Xiao was at a loss for words. He comprehended the cat's message but found it difficult to believe. He muttered, "What do you want?"
Growing impatient, the cat walked directly toward Cha Eun Xiao and grasped his leg with its claws. It scaled his leg, reaching his arms in search of a comfortable spot to rest. It evidently realized that it might fall without any support. Annoyed, it tugged on Cha Eun Xiao's sleeve with one claw, slid onto his arm, and utilized its tail to coil around his other arm, creating a snug resting place. It reclined elegantly, blinked, and nuzzled its whiskers, followed by another "Meow."
It seemed to be communicating with Cha Eun Xiao, instructing him on how to properly hold it. "This is how you should do it. Understand? You must hold me tightly like this!"
Cha Eun Xiao shook with disbelief, his mouth twitching. He stared at the tiny creature, an overwhelming sense of awkwardness washing over him. His heart ached as he questioned the heavens, "What have I done to deserve this? How will I ever live with this?" His voice echoed to the sky.
The cat, however, remained indifferent, reclining in Cha Eun Xiao's arms and resting against his chest. It flicked its tail gently, clearly conveying its annoyance with him.
The revelation hit Cha Eun Xiao like a ton of bricks. This creature was unmistakably Brother Egg. However, the disappointment was crushing him. He sighed heavily and, with a gloomy expression, asked the cat, "Are you Brother Egg for real?"
He secretly hoped that the cat wasn't Brother Egg. He genuinely didn't want a cat. But his hopes were in vain.
The cat continued to ignore him, now silent. Cha Eun Xiao let out another deep sigh. "Well, it seems like it's you. Brother Egg, right?"
The cat remained in his arms, indifferent to his sentiments.
Cha Eun Xiao tried to reason with the cat, attempting to address it as something other than Brother Egg.
"So you're not Brother Egg? That's a relief!" he muttered to himself. "It was quite unnerving back there. If this isn't Brother Egg, it won't understand my words. Clearly, this little cat doesn't comprehend me. It can't be Brother Egg; I'm sure Brother Egg wouldn't turn into such a disappointing creature. Thank the heavens..."
In response to Cha Eun Xiao's musings, the cat pricked its ear, scratched its whiskers with a claw, and raised its tail straight up, as if contemplating. It seemed to be thinking, "What on earth is he saying? It sounds absurd. Should I respond? It'll be uncomfortable. Oh well, I might as well try to tell him the truth..." The cat then lifted its head and let out a weak "...Meow."
Cha Eun Xiao's hopes went through a rollercoaster of emotions. "You are Brother Egg?"
"...Meow!"
"Really?"
"...Meow!"
He had been through a rollercoaster of emotions, from hope to disappointment and back to hope, but now he found himself crestfallen yet again. The situation was simply... disheartening!