Chapter 2 — Cathulhu Online, MUNYA!

Chapter 2 – Cat Dad’s Determination

Without a fully charged phone, Miao Xiaomao was depressed. He blamed his old self for spending all his time playing mobile games and forgetting to recharge the phone.

He stood in front of the school gate. The massive high-school complex looked like a university campus rather than a school for children or teenagers.

Xiaomao glanced at the giant billboard on the building opposite the school gate.

[Pangu Online 2 Grand Opening Soon]

Virtual reality games were popular when Xiaomao was a high-school student. Many games offered a rich gaming experience while some boasted that everything gamers did in their games benefited the mind of the gamers.

However, one game stood out from the rest because of its atrocious economic model.

GameFi

It was the short term of Decentralized Finance Gaming. Gamers were usually required to purchase the game’s native cryptocurrency tokens before they could play the game.

Xiaomao narrowed his eyes and stared at the ad billboard. He knew what would happen to the game in the next decades.

‘This is not the time to invest in that game. The Contribution Token’s price will plummet by 99% within a month after the IDO sale. Then, the price stagnates for almost a year before it jumps up after the game introduces that feature. And when the secret of the game is revealed… No, stop thinking about that for now. I have to get a part-time job and save my money before that happens.’

Xiaomao turned around and walked into the school, heading toward the bulletin board in front of the main building to check his class and name.

While Xiaomao was walking, he attracted the attention of the local students.

As Xiaomao was a half-European half-Asian man, he stood out among the black-haired students. His taller height, unique face, and refined jawlines looked attractive more than plain asian dudes.

But from Xiaomao’s perspective and his past experience, they were flies, looking at the smelliest dog’s poop.

‘Schoolgirls can’t be trusted! THOTS BE GONE!’

Xiaomao avoided touching any schoolgirl and checked the bulletin board and found his name. Just like what he had remembered, he was assigned to 1-E class, which belonged to the not-so-good students who barely passed the school entrance exam.

‘I’m not going to get demoted to that F class again.’

He went to his class.

…

Xiaomao sat through three hours of boring introduction classes in the morning. Having the mind of a 40 years old, some content in classes were too simple.

At lunch break, he finally got a chance to move and relax. However, a dozen schoolgirls surrounded him.

“Where are you from?”

“What’s your name? Can I have your Instagram and telegram ID?”

“Can I have your phone number?”

“Wanna have lunch together?”

“Would you like to hang out after school?”

Their sharp voice chirped as if they were fighting to get his attention. Again, Xiaomao felt like he was a poop in the middle of a horde of thirsty flies.

‘I didn’t take a morning bath on purpose! Don’t you smell my nasty armpit’s dead-rat scent?! Why are you ganging on me?!’

Despite having a nasty mental monologue, Xiaomao wryly smiled as he politely replied to them one at a time. While he was at it, he took several deep breaths, preparing for the inevitable.

A few minutes later, a pretty schoolgirl with a short skirt and revealing uniform walked over. She shooed the others away and coyly sat at Xiaomao’s desk.

“Hey, handsome. Wanna come with me? I’ll show you something good.”

If Xiaomao had to define this girl, she would be described as “THOT”. She wore thick makeup and tanned her skin like Japanese Gyarus, and she seemed to have tampered with her bosoms.

They were fake. Yet, she unbuttoned her blouse and revealed the cleavage.

In his previous life, Xiaomao fell prey to the temptation before, and he still regretted it for over 20 years. She was the reason for his class demotion as he ended up joining the worst clique of the school and became a delinquent.

A great man once said, “Never stick it in crazies.” And Xiaomao agreed with it after suffering through three years of painful high-school experience.

‘Nope! I won’t fall for those cheap fake boobs again.’

He inwardly scoffed at the girl’s seduction. He stood up and gently smiled, “I’m sorry. I’m not used to the country at the moment. Does anybody know a way to the cafeteria?”

The chirping girls were delighted, and they held Xiaomao’s arms to bring him away from the silicone-chest girl.

…

After lunch, the classes were uneventful.

The brown woman had already hooked up with a guy at the back of the class, and that big guy was all over her.

Xiaomao remembered them. They were the cliché class delinquents that picked on the weak kids.

In the previous life, they tried to befriend Xiaomao through the THOT, but Xiaomao declined.

The fake-chested woman later had an affair with the big guy. Then, troublesome school life ensued.

Xiaomao didn’t want to repeat the mistake ever again. He ignored the guy and the THOT.

After the annual exam, he might be able to change classes to the A or B class if he could get a good grade. Then, he would be out of their radars.

At 7.10 PM, Xiaomao’s classes were over. He ignored the poop flies and sprinted home before friends of the THOT and the big guy from F class could show up.

Xiaomao managed to leave the building unhindered. He could hear the loud voice of several delinquents, and he could imagine what would happen to the students that were targeted by the group.

‘I’m not a protagonist. None of my business.’

Although Xiaomao knew what might have transpired over there, he would not take action. Staying low-key and getting through the boring period in life was his goal.

…

5 months later

Xiaomao gazed at his grade sheet. As he had predicted, he scored A in every subject on the first semester. If he could maintain his grades, he might be promoted to the A class.

Now, he could officially move away from the bullies and potential troubles.

Xiaomao rushed to a convenience store next to the school. As soon as he entered the store, the store manager nodded at him.

“Hello, boss Qin!”

“Early as usual. You are working hard, Xiaomao.”

Qin Yun, the local manager, was 55 this year. He wore glasses, and he looked weak. However, he hid a toned body in his clothes as he was a former bodybuilder.

“Hehe. I have cats to feed.”

“Hahaha! Right. Isn’t this the payday as well? By the way, I know that cat food doesn’t cost much. What have you been doing with your excess money? Woman?”

“Nah, I’m saving money for that.”

Xiaomao pointed at the game poster in the store.

Pangu Online 2

“VRMMO game? Isn’t that game in the news? Will you invest your money in a Ponzi scheme?”

Qin Yun knew about the game as it was in the news. The cryptocurrency of the game company had plummeted by 99%. The IDO price was 2 USD per token, but it was less than six cents per token now.

Xiaomao grinned, “I know the inside news. It will moon in 10 months.”

“Pfft. Every crypto freaks said that.”

“I’m serious, though.”

“Whatever. Go change your clothes. Get ready for your shift.”

Xiaomao pouted as the boss didn’t believe in him.

PUUU

“Ah.”

Xiaomao accidentally farted because of stress.

Qin Yun covered his nose, “Do something with your farting habit! Why do you always fart whenever you start your shift?! Go see a doctor!”

“I’m sorryyyyyyy!”

…

Midnight, Xiaomao headed home.

As soon as Xiaomao reached home, he discovered his parents in the living room. A pizza box was in the middle of the coffee table.

His parents grinned. They waved their hands at Xiaomao.

Xiaomao felt bad for his parents, “Are you waiting for me?”

Miao Damao snorted, “Obviously, it’s your judgment day! Grades, now!”

Typical Asian parents, Xiaomao complained in his mind.

Still, he and his parents made a bet. He was confident that he could get the bonus and earn that pizza on the table as a midnight snack.

Xiaomao puffed his chest and handed over the grade sheet.

4.0 GPA

Perfect A in every subject

EZ!

Xiaomao’s father skimmed through every subject. Then, his facial expression turned dark.

“Why not S?”

Xiaomao’s smiling face was frozen, “I beg your pardon?”

“Above the A grade should be the S grade, right? Doesn’t the school integrate the AA grade or AAA grade?”

Xiaomao facepalmed, “Dad. School grades ain’t tiers on the internet. There is no AA grade, AAA grade, or S grade whatsoever. Don’t mix it up.”

“Pfft! When I took the exam, I scored 100 points out of 10! The letters of my grades are painted in real gold to honor my achievements! Look at your sheet. The letter’s color looks like shit. You’re a failure!”

“…”

Messing with his son enough, Miao Damao gave the sheet to his wife. The mother read it and grinned.

“Having an Asian kid growing up in the Asian environment is the best.”

Xiaomao wanted to retort. That was racism.

Also, the mother was from Eastern Europe, who had migrated to China long ago. She seemed to rely on internet memes to understand the Asian culture even though she had been living in China for decades.

“Anyway, I win the bet. Can I have that pizza and my cheque?”

The father scoffed and tossed Xiaomao an envelope.

Xiaomao opened the envelope. Indeed, a bundle of cash was in there.

“Jokes aside, good job. Maintain this enthusiasm, and you won’t end up homeless. Also, we’ve eaten half of the pizza. The rest is yours. As for the game capsule that you asked for, I’ll order it online.”

“Alright!”

PUUUUU

Again, Xiaomao had a gas issue.

And it smelled like dog poop.

“GET YOUR ASS OUTTA HERE! YOU SKUNK!” His parents screamed and covered their noses.

Xiaomao took the pizza and sprinted to his room. But his father’s voice came after him.

“BE SURE TO TAKE A SHIT QUIETLY, OKAY?”

“…”

…

In his room, Xiaomao opened the envelope to count the cash.

100 bills of 100 Yuan notes. 10,000 RMB or 1,600 USD.

It was not much, but it was honest work.

Xiaomao opened his bankbook to check his total saving.

After working part-time for four months, Xiaomao gained a humble amount of saving money.

Xiaomao had 3,400 USD in his account. This amount came from the part-time job and daily allowance from his parents. With the additional 10k RMB, Xiaomao had a bit over 5,000 USD to spend.

It was enough to start investing in the game cryptocurrency and THAT game.