Chapter 413 Lullaby (asking for monthly ticket)
On the afternoon of August 29, near dusk, the top of a wooden house in Reykjavik harbor.
Gu Wenyu and Su Zimai lay on the colorful roof, looking at the sea in the distance.
The setting sun was slowly sinking below the horizon, and the sea reflected the setting sun. The sea surface was dyed a bright red like the sky. Fishing boats glided through the blood-red water, leaving streaks of white in their wake.
"I will go to Hofs Glacier the day after tomorrow." Gu Wenyu suddenly said.
"The day after tomorrow?" Su Zimai turned his head to look at him.
"Hmm, it should be the day after tomorrow. August has 31 days, right?" Gu Wenyu thought for a moment, resting his arm behind his head and counting on his fingers. "That should be right. I didn't check the calendar."
"Damn it! Are you an idiot? It's such an important day!" Su Zimai was stunned for a moment, then scolded, "Dad and brother are all doing what you want. Don't lead them into trouble."
"knew."
"Please, could you be a little more reliable? Just show some of the momentum of a big moth, okay?"
"I'm just an elementary school student. It's normal for me not to know how many days there are in a month. Please don't be so demanding of me, okay?"
Gu Wenyu spoke nonchalantly, turning his head to look at the undulating sea. The shadows of one or two fishing boats were floating on the horizon, swaying vaguely in the reflection of the setting sun.
"Even primary school students know that August has 31 days, okay?" Su Zimai continued.
"Yeah, you're right." Gu Wenyu said, "Actually, I know how many days it's been, I was just teasing you... I just like to tease our diaper demon, don't you agree?"
"How dare I disobey? I'm afraid you'll suddenly disappear again one day." Su Zimai said softly, moving slightly closer to him.
The brother and sister lay on the wooden roof, enjoying the breeze and watching the seagulls flying across the sunset. The salty and humid sea breeze blew from afar, lifting the hair on their foreheads.
"Brother, do you have someone you like?" Su Zimai asked suddenly.
Gu Wenyu was stunned for a moment, then slowly turned his gaze away from the distant sea and turned to look at her, "What's wrong with you again?"
"Look at this reaction, it's there."
"Why do you ask that suddenly?"
"When I asked you the other day what type of girl you liked, you seemed absent-minded," Su Zimai said, looking away. "I know you so well, I knew what you were thinking right away."
"You just keep making random guesses... When have you ever guessed right?" Gu Wenyu turned his head and asked, looking at her profile.
Su Zimai pulled out his phone and said proudly, "For example, I knew you were definitely not dead. I checked Weibo and Twitter every day, waiting for the day you'd be caught on camera, the truth would be revealed, and Dad and Brother would rush over to spank you."
As she spoke, she showed Gu Wenyu some messy browsing history.
"Since you know I'm not dead, why are your eyes so red from crying?" Gu Wenyu said.
Su Zimai was stunned.
"If you say that again, I'll be angry." She glared at him and said viciously.
"Okay, okay, I won't say anymore."
"Will the girl you like also come to Iceland?" Su Zimai thought for a moment and then asked.
"Um."
"Does that mean you admit that you have someone you like?" Su Zimai's tone darkened.
Gu Wenyu was silent for a while, then nodded, "Maybe..."
"What do you mean by maybe?"
"Actually, I don't really understand any of this. Although the combined memories of those machines in my head span centuries, I've never actually experienced them firsthand. It's like I've learned about this world from books."
"If you think you like her, then you like her. What's there to think about?" Su Zimai rolled his eyes at him. "What's her name?"
"Keep it a secret. I'll tell you later."
"Have I seen it?"
"Maybe I have, maybe I haven't."
"I will bite you to death right now."
"I was wrong."
"Later... remember to bring her to see me, okay? Even if I may not have a good impression of her at first, it will definitely get better as we get to know each other for a long time." Su Zimai murmured with his eyes lowered.
"As you command, Commander Mai Mai."
"Brother, since you like her, why did you bear to let her come to Iceland?" Su Zimai rolled his eyes at him.
"Why not?" Gu Wenyu thought for a moment, "I've already used my father and brother, so I can't be partial to her. It's not fair to the others I've used. It's not fair at all."
"Your mind is full of these things, taking advantage of others, taking advantage of others, and not dividing them fairly, aren't you a fool?"
"What else?" Gu Wenyu whispered, "I know it's dangerous up ahead, but I still let them come. I know what I'm doing, and I won't make excuses for my actions."
"Then, then, then, then... then why don't you use me? I'm the only one you're unwilling to bring to the Salvation Society." Su Zimai hesitated and looked away. "Is it because you think your best sister is the most important person in the world? More important than the person you like?"
As she spoke, she secretly glanced at Gu Wenyu's profile with full anticipation.
Gu Wenyu was silent, and then said bluntly: "That's because you are too inexperienced. Bringing you over will only cause trouble, okay?"
Su Zimai was stunned.
Gu Wenyu turned his head and looked at her, "You don't think you have any use value, do you? Your fighting ability would make even a dog shake its head."
Su Zimai's face darkened and he was furious. "Get out!"
"It's rare to have so much free time. Can't we just catch up? You always talk so much." Gu Wenyu said, yawning, "I have to deal with so many people every day... I'm tired of talking."
He smacked his lips and lay down again, his arms behind his head, staring blankly at the sky dyed red by the setting sun.
Su Zimai was silent for a long time. "Brother, your personality is so awkward. If you like someone, you must tell her nicely. Do you understand?"
"Why are you lecturing me again?"
"Because if you don't say it, others won't understand." Su Zimai said softly, "You should have a good talk with your brother and father, and they will understand, but you just don't want to."
Gu Wenyu was silent.
After a moment, he nodded gently: "I understand. After all this is over, I will talk to her."
"Don't make them sad." Su Zimai warned.
"Um."
"You are not allowed to get hurt yourself." Su Zimai raised his eyes and lowered them again, reminding him again.
"Um."
At this moment, Su Zimai suddenly stopped talking. She raised her head and looked into his eyes. He also turned his head and looked into her eyes curiously.
Their eyes met, and Su Zimai suddenly stretched out his hands, lifted up Gu Wenyu's face, and squeezed his cheeks to make them pout slightly.
Gu Wenyu stared at her in confusion.
"If you get hurt, come back to me. Don't cry alone. And brother and dad, even though I'll definitely laugh at you first, they'll definitely comfort you." Su Zimai stared into his eyes and whispered, "Got it?"
Gu Wenyu remained silent.
"Do you know?" Su Zimai frowned and spoke word by word.
"I understand, Master Mai Mai..." Gu Wenyu tilted his head and stretched out his voice, "Am I just a child in your eyes?"
"You're just a child. You're so sensitive, yet you keep pretending not to care."
Gu Wenyu chuckled, "No one in the world understands me better than you."
"Isn't it?"
"Thank you for being my family, even if it's just a coincidence."
"What coincidence? Isn't that destined?" Su Zimai asked.
"Fate? Why?"
"Tell me, out of all the people in the world, why did your ability choose me to be your family? Because it was destined... No matter which world or time, we are destined to be family. Do you understand?"
Gu Wenyu was stunned. He suddenly recalled the memory he had seen from Restricted 1001.
In the life 1001, he was adopted by Su Ying and became siblings with Su Zimai. Indeed, as Su Zimai said, no matter which timeline they are in, they are family, and this may not be a coincidence.
"Okay, I give in. You are the most logical diaper demon in the world."
"Call me that again, and I'll bite you to death."
"Understood, Master Mai Mai."
Gu Wenyu reached out and touched Su Zimai's hair.
They looked up at the last ray of sunlight in the sky, white birds flying across the vast horizon. At this moment, the setting sun sank into the sea, and the harbor of Reykjavik dimmed, and their faces were shrouded in darkness.
"Come on, let's go have dinner." He said softly.
"I want fried shrimp."
"I'll buy you whatever you want to eat. I still have some money on me."
"Tell me the truth, is it Cesar's?"
"How do you know? But his money is my money."
"They just bully the kids."
"I'm a kid too, okay? And you immediately turned me evil. You'll have a part in the destruction of the world in the future."
August 30, 00:30 am, Reykjavik, Iceland.
It was already late at night, inside an abandoned train station, a dark red train was parked on the mottled tracks.
In one of the dimly lit carriages, Lin Xingshi sat quietly on her seat, her shoulders folded, her head resting against the window. But after a moment, she suddenly opened her eyes and turned to look out the window at the demon train.
Under the aurora-lit night sky, a helicopter-like blue dragon shadow flew by. Its enormous wings sliced through the moonlight, stirring up a whistling wind.
Lin Xingshi raised his eyebrows, tilted his head back, and silently watched the blue shadow leave.
She was unconsciously absent-minded for a moment, her lips moving as she murmured:
"Little New Year..."
There is no doubt that the one flying across the sky at that time was naturally the Totoro Demon from the Zodiac Team. And since the Zodiac Team has come to Iceland, this means that the Little Nian Beast must be among them.
"Looking at the commotion just now, could it be that the son of the beast has arrived as well?"
Zhuge Hui knocked on the carriage door, then pushed it open and walked in while talking.
"Yes." Lin Xingshi retracted his gaze and said slowly, "Xiao Nian and the Zodiac Team should be hiding over there in the snow-capped mountains. Wait until September 1st, and then join us on our journey to the Hofs Glacier. The black pupa might be right next to them."
"Black pupa? It turns out we still haven't figured out the origin of this kid from the Gu family." Zhuge Hui waved his folding fan and said thoughtfully.
"Even their own family members don't understand, let alone outsiders like us. We just need to know that he has a deep connection with the Salvation Society," Lin Xingshi said. "The truth will come out sooner or later. We must seek justice for Jiu Ya."
"Hey, the Salvation Society, now they have a grudge against us Lake Hunters. Even if we don't get past this, those old guys in the family will find a way to wipe out the Salvation Society." Zhuge Hui said.
"Don't count on those old guys in the family. Can they be trusted?"
"Indeed, they still suspect you and the Son of Nian are involved in some sort of conspiracy." Zhuge Hui waved his folding fan. "If the Son of Nian hadn't arrived in time that day, I'm afraid you and Wujiu would have died."
"I haven't seen him for so many years, and he saved my life again."
"'Again?'" Zhuge Hui caught the word and asked curiously, "What do you mean?"
Lin Xingshi was stunned.
"Ah...this." She stammered.
Zhuge Hui wordlessly closed his folding fan and pointed it at Lin Xingshi with a serious expression.
After a moment's silence, Lin Xingshi spoke calmly, "If I hadn't met Xiaonian ten years ago, I might have died."
"Why?"
"When I boarded that smuggling boat, I thought, why not just jump into the sea and be eaten by a demon? That way I can get revenge on my family. Who made them treat me like that?"
At this point, she suddenly raised her lips slightly, "Then, I was looking around in the cabin, and I only saw some rat-like faces. Just when I was getting bored and was about to open the window, I suddenly saw a somewhat silly child."
"Is that child the son of the Nian beast?"
"Yeah." Lin Xingshi nodded. "At the time, I was thinking, if I jumped off that boat, no one would be able to protect him. He would definitely be kidnapped by those human traffickers after getting off the boat, so I sat down and talked to him."
"How ironic! Even if you hadn't intervened, the Son of Nian would have still been able to chew those bad guys into pieces, right?"
"I didn't know Xiaonian was a demon at the time. I only knew he was someone who needed my protection."
"The captain is such a nice person." Zhuge Hui said.
Lin Xingshi lowered his eyes and said nonchalantly, "After that, we ended up living together in Lijing. Every day, we were just lazing around, either watching TV in the air-conditioner or sneaking into classes by the window. Gradually, I stopped thinking about committing suicide."
As she spoke, she turned to look at Zhuge Hui and smiled gently.
"Doesn't that sound childish?"
"What's so childish about this?" Zhuge Hui sighed. "To a ten-year-old, sometimes even the smallest thing can make them think the sky is falling. But at the time, we all thought you were eaten by the son of the Nian beast."
"Your Majesty thought I killed Xiaonian, and you thought Xiaonian ate me... How funny." Lin Xingshi shrugged.
"Yes, you later returned, but you refused to tell the truth and didn't mention a single word about the Son of Nian," Zhuge Hui said. "That's why this matter has puzzled us for so many years."
"Some people are meant to be kept secret," Lin Xingshi said softly. "Besides, I was just a child back then. If I had spoken about those things, I don't know how much of a stir it would have caused within the family. And how could I have endured their scolding?"
"Time flies. We were just kids back then." Zhuge Hui shook his head and said with a sigh, "I always thought we would grow old and give up our position as Lake Hunters to newcomers. But what a pity... Jiu Ya passed away before us."
"Anyway, take a rest first. We'll talk about it tomorrow if there's anything."
After Lin Xingshi finished speaking, he stood up from his chair and walked towards the door of the train compartment alone.
"You said you were going to rest, where are you going?" Zhuge Hui was puzzled.
"I'm going for a walk outside."
Lin Xingshi whispered as he untied the long braid on his head, and his fiery red hair fluttered in the night wind like seaweed.
At the same time, in another corner of Reykjavik.
On the winding snow-capped mountain trail, a blue dragon was crawling in the snow, carrying a young man in a black hoodie and a palm-sized mouse on its back.
"We finally made it to this damn place called Iceland. Oh... it wasn't easy." The Rat Demon stroked his beard, held his waist and sighed.
"Let's live on the snow mountain today." The little Nian beast said and yawned.
He reached out and patted the blue dragon's back under his butt, then turned his head to look at the other 'passengers' on the dragon's back.
Sitting on the dragon's back were a group of creatures resembling small puppets. They were the zodiac animals that had been shrunk by the Rat Demon's power, including the Mad Bull, the Monkey, the Rainbow Horse, and the Rabbit.
Now the little Nian Beast can lift them up with one hand, and they are as easy to bully as mini toy dolls.
"Since we're here, change me back." The mad bull demon hugged his shoulders and said coldly.
"Bad thing, change me back quickly, otherwise how can I eat peaches?" the monkey devil also said.
Facing the demons' urging, the Rat Demon puffed out his chest and snorted coldly, "What are you arguing about...you noisy creatures, just keep it like this for now. It's not easy to be discovered. Besides, what are you trying to do with such a big body? The fight hasn't started yet, it will only have side effects."
As he spoke, the Rat Demon lowered his head and looked down at the zodiac ball on the dragon's back, thinking that this was the first time he felt that he was very tall.
The little Nian Beast was too lazy to pay attention to them. He dusted off his hoodie, got off the dragon's back, and stepped onto the soft snow.
"Oh, boss, I just saw a human mansion over there," the Rat Devil suddenly said, "Want to go take a look?"
"Oh, that's my friend's residence, don't go near there." said the little Nian beast.
It thought, Xia Pingzhou still lives there. Wouldn't it be embarrassing if it ran into Bai Tanlang and the others there now?
"Friend?" asked the Rat Demon in confusion.
"Yes, they helped us stop many of the lake hunters back then. Otherwise, the Zodiac Team would have suffered even more casualties." Little Nian Beast said, "Anyway, don't get close to that place. We can just find a cave to stay in. Try not to alert the enemy during this time."
"Okay, I'll do as you say." The Rat Demon raised his hands over his head and stood at attention.
The little Nian beast curled its lips and stopped looking at it.
He stood alone on the edge of the snow-capped mountain, looking at the brightly lit city in the distance.
Reykjavik's Pearl Tower glowed brightly in the night sky, and the aurora borealis streaked across the sky. The world was so noisy, yet seemed so far away.
All kinds of voices drowned out the bustling market, none of which had anything to do with him, but there was one person who was coming for him.
From a long distance away, he met the gaze of the figure at the harbor, and then he descended from the edge of the snow-capped mountain and walked towards Reykjavik step by step.
(End of this chapter)
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