Chapter 16 What are you afraid of?
Luo Qingyan is a strong person. She understands that tears can release emotions, but they cannot solve problems.
Standing in her familiar home at this moment, feeling the changes of time, the loneliness, and the passage of years, she was overwhelmed with emotion.
She has been strong for far too long. She struggles alone in a city thousands of miles away, never uttering a sound no matter how hard or tiring it is; she faces the death of her loved ones time and time again, only letting her tears flow inward; she is very used to going to the hospital alone, and even after receiving the diagnosis of cancer, she calmly accepts it.
However, when she returned home, she still wanted to be a child who was pampered by her parents again.
Once, in this home, she could freely do whatever she wanted without worrying about anything in the outside world, with her parents holding up an umbrella to shelter her from the wind and rain.
Who doesn't like feeling pampered?
Unfortunately, one must always face the world alone in this life.
Death is terrifying, but it can also be harmless.
-
After venting her emotions, Luo Qingyan wiped away her tears and immediately got down to business, without any hesitation.
First, check all the functions of the bathtub. The faucet, water storage, drainage, etc., are all working properly.
Then she identified suitable hiding places for the little male merman. Three options were considered: the wardrobe in the guest room, the wardrobe in her own room, and the storage cabinet in the study.
Use a measuring tape to measure the length, width, and height of each part. The storage cabinet in the study is too small; it could be squeezed in, but it's inconvenient, and the door is easily pushed open with the slightest movement. The wardrobe is more spacious. The wardrobe in the guest room has fewer clothes, but that would be inconvenient if someone came to rest there. Her own room has more clothes, but it's the master bedroom, so it's more private.
There's no need to rush to determine the exact hiding place now. As long as we confirm there's a place to hide it, that's enough. We can deal with the rest later.
Then she checked all the appliances in the house. She planned to have the little merman come and stay with her for a few days first; she would only be there for an hour or two at most, so her safety had to be ensured.
Finally, take a walk around the house, reflecting on what you do on a daily basis and noting down anything you might be missing.
That's all there is to it. When planning, it didn't seem like much and was relatively simple, but when you actually start doing it, you'll find there are many trivial matters.
By the time everything was finished, it was almost eleven o'clock.
Luo Qingyan wanted to get back to her grandmother's house as soon as possible, but she didn't rush back immediately. She sat quietly on the sofa and ordered takeout first, so she could receive it soon after she got back.
After spending these few days together, she discovered that the little merman wasn't a picky eater and was willing to try all kinds of food; there wasn't anything he didn't like. She wanted to let the little merman try more, so he wanted to order this and that: beef burgers, chicken leg burgers, chicken wraps, popcorn chicken, chicken wings, fries, egg tarts, and cola—he ordered them all.
Looking at the pile of things she had ordered, she felt very satisfied. Then she realized it was already past eleven o'clock, so she immediately rushed back to her grandmother's house.
I am eager to go home.
The little male merman waiting at home will surely enjoy today's lunch!
-
"Delicious!" The little merman held half a beef burger, took a bite and his eyes immediately lit up, and he chewed faster and faster.
To ensure the little merman could try everything, Luo Qingyan specially took a knife and cut the hamburger and chicken wrap in half, giving the little merman the larger half and keeping the smaller half for herself. The little merman noticed the food wasn't split evenly and asked a question. She replied that she couldn't eat too much, but wanted to share everything with the little merman.
"Isn't there a specific description of how delicious it is this time?" Luo Qingyan held another small half of the beef burger in her hand and took a small bite.
"The bread is soft, the patty is crisp, the vegetables are refreshing, and the sauce is just the right amount. When you take a bite, the flavors mix together and hit your taste buds like a drumbeat. The sauce is the finishing touch, instantly filling your mouth with a silky, rich flavor that is incredibly satisfying!" After describing it, the little merman immediately took another bite of the burger.
Luo Qingyan listened attentively and nodded in agreement: "Yes, that's true! Take your time eating, there's no rush, there's more!"
"Mmm, everything smells wonderful."
Which one would you like to try next?
"Hmm... the one that's rolled up."
"That's a chicken wrap. The sauce inside is a little different from the burger sauce; it has a sweet flavor."
"It's both salty and sweet? That must be really unique!"
...
Normally, I think three meals a day are just ordinary things, but eating with my little merman always makes for a different experience. His curiosity and surprise make meals anything but boring, and instead, they're full of joy.
Actually, it's not just about eating.
After lunch, there was a midday rest. After the midday rest, Luo Qingyan brewed some flower tea and took it to the bathroom, intending to drink tea with the little male fish while choosing clothes for him.
Since she mentioned buying clothes for the little merman last time, Luo Qingyan had selected many items, and the selection kept growing. She felt that the little merman looked good in everything, and she couldn't bear to part with any of them. So, she simply let the little merman choose some more himself.
-
"Do you have a favorite color?" In order to see the clothing styles more clearly, Luo Qingyan took out her tablet, logged into her shopping platform account, and then went to her favorites to show the little male fish the clothes she had selected one by one.
The little male merman obediently watched Luo Qingyan operate the system: "No."
“Okay… I imagine you would look absolutely stunning in formal attire, especially a three-piece suit—elegant, vintage, and sophisticated! But since you’re always staying at home, there’s no need to dress so elaborately; comfort is key. You could try a shirt, how about a white one?” Luo Qingyan said, clicking on a link to a white shirt.
"Yes, that's fine." The little merman looked at the picture carefully.
"What about the style? Would you prefer something with a more sophisticated design, something like a European court style? You're over three hundred years old, you must have lived through that kind of elaborate era, right?"
"They're both pretty. Which one do you prefer?"
"I came to ask you because I was having a hard time deciding, but... it seems I have a result now. I've seen too many simple things; of course, I want to try something different when I have the chance!" A smile graced Luo Qingyan's eyes and brows. She felt like she was playing a real-life dress-up game, as a mermaid—it was so dreamy, so wonderful!
“You look happy.” The little merman’s gaze shifted from the screen to Luo Qingyan’s face.
“Of course! It’s fun to choose pretty clothes, and it’s even more fun to choose clothes for a beautiful mermaid!” Luo Qingyan’s attention was fixed on the screen, and as she spoke, she opened a new page. “Actually, colors are nice too, I think even some flashy colors would look good on you…”
The little male merman was listening obediently, but for some reason, he suddenly swayed, his eyes sharpened, and he became alert.
Completely bewildered by the interruption, Luo Qingyan paused, blinked, and asked, "What's wrong with you?"
The little male merman frowned, remained silent, and pricked up his ears to listen to something.
Luo Qingyan instantly realized that the little male merman must have heard something she hadn't: "Did you hear something? A danger signal?"
The little male merman still did not respond to Luo Qingyan, and his expression became increasingly tense.
"I'll go out and take a look," Luo Qingyan said, putting down the tablet and getting up to walk outside.
The little male merman did not stop her, nor did he say anything.
-
I walked out of the bathroom and didn't hear any strange noises. I walked out of the house and still didn't hear any strange noises. I walked out of the courtyard and still didn't hear any strange noises.
Luo Qingyan had witnessed the merman's keen hearing firsthand, and to ensure his safety, no amount of caution was too much. She continued to check the surrounding area.
After running around everywhere, I finally got the answer from my neighbor.
"Hey! There's a house on fire on Huayang Road right next door! I heard the fire is huge, and there was already thick smoke before the fire trucks arrived. My friend is watching over there, and they're still putting out the fire. Do you want to go see it?"
"Oh...no. I saw several people rushing over there, and I was a little curious. Thank you." Luo Qingyan's tense nerves gradually relaxed; at least it wasn't a situation that would threaten the little male merman. She then quickly returned home.
-
After running for a while, fine beads of sweat appeared on Luo Qingyan's forehead, and her nose and throat felt a little uncomfortable, but she didn't care about these things and continued to jog home because she didn't want the little merman to be frightened.
Surprisingly, the bathroom door was closed. Chestnut stood outside, occasionally scratching at the door with its front paws, but there was no response from the other side.
It seems the noise outside really scared the little male merman.
“It’s not a threat to you, it’s just that a house on the next street is on fire.” Luo Qingyan said as she opened the bathroom door, only to find that it wouldn’t open. “I’ve checked, it’s fine.”
There was still no response from the other side of the door.
"Are you alright?" Luo Qingyan's first reaction was to worry that something had happened to the little male fish. She knocked on the door and twisted the doorknob repeatedly, thinking of looking for the key, but she wanted to check the situation inside the house first.
He knocked and turned the doorknob, making so much noise that there was finally a response from inside the bathroom: "I'm fine, you... let me be alone for a while."
Hearing the little male merman's voice, Luo Qingyan breathed a sigh of relief, but then worried again, her mind racing. Could someone else be inside threatening the little male merman? Thinking this, she quickly turned to find the door key.
She found the key as quickly as possible and returned to the bathroom door. Chestnut was already sitting obediently, not scratching at the door.
"I'm really fine..."
When Luo Qingyan opened the door, the little male merman's voice came from inside the bathroom. He had calmed down a bit, but her worries were not diminished at all.
The door opened, and only the little male merman was inside the bathroom.
In an instant, Luo Qingyan realized something. She stood at the door without going in, her worry replaced by disappointment. She sighed almost softly, "Don't you trust me?"
The little merman's expression darkened for a moment, and he did not answer.
"The sirens of fire trucks, the sounds and smells of houses burning and exploding, and the noise of crowds... You thought it was something else, right?" Luo Qingyan's eyes were dull and lifeless. "Am I really not in danger? What are you hiding... Never mind, there's no point in asking you. After all, you need to protect yourself."
After saying that, Luo Qingyan turned and left without the slightest hesitation.
A note from the author:
[Milk tea][Sprinkling flowers] This fish is being mischievous~~
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