The Little Duck 30

Chapter 30

As the first ray of morning sun fell, Jian Xin boarded the plane home.

Before takeoff, she took a picture of the airport and posted it on her Moments.

—Going home early for the New Year!

Just as she posted it, she got a like.

Looking closely, it was Yan Lu’s little cousin.

The next second, her phone’s QQ suddenly vibrated. She clicked on it and saw that Yao Wenqian had sent her another doodle.

Don’t Steal My Little Pudding: [Image]

Don’t Steal My Little Pudding: Have a safe trip, duck!

It was indeed a “safe trip, duck.” In the picture, a little duck was running with the wind on a lawn, its little wings flapping so fast they were a blur, its neck stretched long, its head twisted back as if looking at the camera, its mouth wide open, its beady eyes full of wisdom.

Isn’t this from a few days ago, when I turned into a duck and was taken for a walk by Yan Lu?

At that time, she had just finished her flexion and extension exercises, had breakfast, and was reading a novel on her bed with her phone when she fell asleep. When she woke up, she heard Yan Lu wanting to take it for a walk.

A strong wind had suddenly come up that day, making it hard for her to even stand. She could only fly forward with the wind.

She heard Yan Lu calling “Cauliflower, Cauliflower” behind her, and Xin Xin was also barking, so she looked back.

In that instant, she saw Yan Lu smiling and taking a picture of her.

That afternoon, she woke up in her own bed. The moment she opened her phone’s QQ, she saw the silly photo in her private chat.

It had only been a few days, and her little cousin had already drawn it.

Fine, draw it, but why did she have to pick her dazed look to draw?

Just as Jian Xin was shaking her head at this doodle, she heard the flight attendant’s reminder to switch her phone to airplane mode.

She came back to her senses, replied with “Cauliflower is so cute, duck,” and then switched her phone to airplane mode.

On the way home, Jian Xin looked at the sea of clouds below and couldn’t help but let her thoughts wander.

Does this duck kidnapping thing have a distance limit?

If I get kidnapped by the duck at home too, will my parents be scared if I’m always sleeping at random times?

If I won’t be kidnapped by the duck if I’m far away, then should I consider moving back to Nanjiang?

Most of the studio’s work could be done on the computer, and it was rare to need to go to the studio to record. Even if there was something that had to be recorded in a studio, Nanjiang wasn’t without paid studios.

Her current job was relatively free, so she could indeed live wherever she wanted…

Living with her family would save her money and worry. Her parents had never pushed her to get married. As long as she avoided some of the big-mouthed relatives during the holidays, it could be said that everything was good.

But she was just a little reluctant. The thought of leaving Jincheng made her inexplicably reluctant.

How strange, she had never particularly liked that city before…

Is this reluctance now because of Yan Lu’s appearance?

Sigh! Why am I thinking about this!

It’s as if going home will really stop me from turning into a duck. None of this has been confirmed yet, right?

—Sleep, sleep!

Jian Xin dozed on and off. In a daze, a thought briefly flashed through her mind—if I fall asleep on the plane and turn into a duck, and the flight attendant can’t wake me up after we land, will they send me to the hospital?

The next second, she jolted and opened her eyes.

Outside the window, there was still a blue sky above and white clouds below, and she was still strapped to her seat.

Jian Xin was silent for a moment, then couldn’t help but let out a sigh of relief. With a lingering fear, she opened her phone and started reading a novel she had downloaded beforehand.

After getting off the plane, she walked out of the airport with the crowd, leaning on her crutches. She looked up and saw her parents, who had arrived early to wait for her.

Huang He hurried over. Looking at her crutched leg, her first words were, “Is it cool to be lame?”

“It is!” Jian Xin replied with a grin. “Mom, you’ve never flown, have you? You might not believe it, but this car accident made me fly!”

“Fly up, and then fall down in a second, right?” Huang He said irritably, taking the suitcase from her hand and tossing it to Jian Changjiang.

“No, I flew for a long time!” I have wings, so I fly every few days, okay?

“Alright, alright, you flew for a long time, so amazing!” Huang He said, not knowing whether to laugh or cry, as she supported Jian Xin. “I’ve made you pork rib soup to help your little broken bones heal!”

Jian Changjiang, holding the luggage, looked back at Jian Xin’s leg and couldn’t help but ask, “Does it still hurt?”

“It does!” Jian Xin wailed. “Hey, I’ve always heard people say it takes a hundred days for bones and muscles to heal. I never took it seriously before, but now I feel like a hundred days is not enough at all!”

“Want me to carry you?”

“Please, how old am I, and how old are you!” Jian Xin said, shaking her head and waving her hand. “It’s just a few steps. Don’t throw out your old back!”

To prove that she was fine, she even hopped on one leg a couple of times on the spot, but she didn’t look very steady, which scared Huang He into quickly holding her down and helping her into the car.

After getting in the car, Jian Xin opened WeChat and took a look.

There were a few more likes and comments on her Moments.

In a second, she saw a Corgi profile picture with its tongue out and its head tilted in the like list.

—Didn’t she say she doesn’t use WeChat?

Jian Xin’s lips couldn’t help but lift slightly. In an inexplicably good mood, she started to read the other comments.

One of the comments was from Director Niu. She said—Xiao Jian is home. Rest well at home and take care of your injury.

Director Niu had changed her profile picture. It was taken at some ocean museum. She was wearing a light green long dress, a full-body side shot. Her short hair was past her shoulders, the ends slightly curled, and she looked quite elegant.

Indeed, once a person stops working, even their former exploitative boss can look handsome.

Jian Xin thought for a moment and replied, “Director Niu, your new profile picture is so beautiful!”

Finally, she closed WeChat and opened QQ.

After she had turned on airplane mode, Yao Wenqian had replied with a “hee-hee.” The band group seemed to be talking about an online celebrity’s product endorsement failure that was trending today.

She hadn’t been following the gossip and couldn’t join in, so she sent a [Dumbfounded] sticker, then switched out and opened her private chat with Yan Lu.

But although she had opened it, she didn’t send a single message for a long time.

She thought for a long time, then first opened her private chat with Yao Wenqian and saved the “safe trip, duck” picture.

Picked Up a Heart: Qianqian, this Cauliflower you drew is so cute. Can I use it as my profile picture?

Don’t Steal My Little Pudding: Wow, really!

Don’t Steal My Little Pudding: Sister Xin, go ahead and use it. You can use any of my drawings you like. I’m so happy!

Picked Up a Heart: [Love you][Love you][Love you]

Don’t Steal My Little Pudding: [Blushes]

Jian Xin hesitated for a few seconds in the change profile picture interface, then finally took a deep breath and changed both her QQ and WeChat profile pictures to the little duck drawn by Yao Wenqian.

The next second, she reopened her private chat with Yan Lu and tentatively sent a sticker.

Picked Up a Heart: [Your big cutie has suddenly appeared]

The moment the sticker was sent, she couldn’t help but get nervous.

This nervousness didn’t last long. As long as Yan Lu was awake, she was always quick to reply.

Perched by the Roadside: Remember to do your flexion and extension exercises when you get home.

Picked Up a Heart: [How can you be like this]

Picked Up a Heart: I poked you, not for you to rush me to do my flexion and extension exercises!!!

Picked Up a Heart: [Holding back tears]

Picked Up a Heart: [Can’t hold it back—waaah!]

Perched by the Roadside: Why did you change your profile picture?

Picked Up a Heart: I just thought it was cute, so I changed it.

Picked Up a Heart: Cauliflower is cute, and Qianqian drew it so cutely!

Perched by the Roadside: [Happy]

Jian Xin was taken aback by this sticker. When she came back to her senses, her typing speed had even increased.

Picked Up a Heart: You know how to use stickers?

Picked Up a Heart: Hahahaha, this is the first time I’ve seen it!

To be precise, this was the first time Yan Lu had sent her a sticker. This was like the sun rising in the west!

Perched by the Roadside: Are your aunt and uncle okay?

Picked Up a Heart: How can the topic change so abruptly?

Picked Up a Heart: They’re fine. I’m having pork rib soup at home tonight.

Picked Up a Heart: But I actually want to eat sweet and sour fish.

Perched by the Roadside: You’re already home, are you afraid you won’t get to eat it?

Picked Up a Heart: That’s true!

The conversation ended there. Jian Xin couldn’t help but flip through the chat history several times, until a feeling of carsickness came over her, and she quickly closed her eyes.

By the time Jian Xin got home, the topic in the small band group had already turned to her.

[We’re All Going to Be Rich Zzzz]

Is This Temple Still Worth Praying At: Whispering, someone secretly changed their profile picture.

Is This Temple Still Worth Praying At: [Take a closer look]

Lan Lan Can’t Sleep Enough: Why did she change it to a big goose?

King of Urgency: It looks like a duck.

Is This Temple Still Worth Praying At: It’s probably her ex’s duck, right?

Lan Lan Can’t Sleep Enough: [Sudden realization]

Is This Temple Still Worth Praying At: She’s so in love!

Lan Lan Can’t Sleep Enough: So in love!

I’ll Pray Later: [Scratches head]

I’ll Pray Later: I just think it’s very cute.

The Dead Duck is Still Stubborn: Mmm-hmm-mmm!

I’ll Pray Later: ???

No, no, no!

Is this name polite? This name is not polite, right!

I’ll Pray Later: Zheng Xinyue, be respectful with your name!

The Dead Duck is Still Stubborn: Mmm-hmm-mmm-hmm-mmm!

Lan Lan Can’t Sleep Enough: [Covers mouth and laughs]

King of Urgency: [Hahahahaha]

Looking at her friends’ reactions in the group, Jian Xin sighed, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

She went back to her room, did ten minutes of flexion and extension exercises, then got up and filled her empty computer desk with her laptop and various music equipment. She opened her arrangement project and started working on the unfinished song.

Time passed quickly, and she heard her mom calling for dinner from outside.

Jian Xin said “eh,” stopped her arrangement, and went out of the room on her crutches.

Huang He had made a large pot of pork rib soup in advance and had also stir-fried a plate of spicy shrimp. The aroma filled the entire kitchen.

Jian Xin, holding her bowl and chopsticks, started to eat happily!

As she ate, she fell into a moment of hesitation.

Huang He saw her hesitation and said, “If you have something to say, just say it. What’s with the hesitation while eating?”

Jian Changjiang: “Are you in trouble, or are you short on money?”

“Uh-huh—” Jian Xin tried hard to swallow the food in her mouth, lowered her eyes, picked up a piece of pork rib, and poked it in the chili dish. “I’m not in trouble, and I’m not short on money. It’s just, it’s just—”

“Just what?” Huang He urged. “If you’re going to talk, just talk. Don’t be all ‘uh-huh’ and ‘ah-ah’. It’s making me anxious.”

“It’s just that I saw Yan Lu,” Jian Xin pouted and said, “She asked me to say hello to you.”

Huang He’s hand, which was picking up food, paused for a moment, then quickly returned to normal. She asked faintly, “Oh, when was that? How did you meet?”

“The young lady who hit me is her cousin,” Jian Xin said in a low voice with her head down. “It’s quite a coincidence. I was drunk that day and ran out onto the main road in a daze. I’m also somewhat responsible for what happened—it’s only because I ran into an acquaintance that they didn’t fuss over it. Otherwise, I might really be short on money.”

“This isn’t about money. You’re lucky you weren’t disabled!” Huang He said, then paused and looked up to ask, “How is she now?”

Jian Xin: “She’s doing well, better than me anyway.”

Huang He: “Of course. She was always more willing to study than you when she was young.”

Jian Xin: “…We’re on different tracks, you can’t compare us like that!”

Jian Changjiang cleared his throat twice and changed the subject. “It’s good that she’s doing well. Ask her to come back and visit when she has the chance.”

Huang He nodded. “I can make her whatever she wants to eat.”

“Okay,” Jian Xin replied, pursing her lips and not saying anything more, just continuing to eat quietly.

That night, she lay on her own bed and stared blankly for a long, long time.

She spread her arms, occupying most of the bed.

She still remembered telling Yan Lu that her bed was very big and could fit two people.

Actually, this bed wasn’t very big, not even as big as the one in her rented apartment now. But for her at that time, sharing half of it with a classmate didn’t feel like a luxury at all.

Yan Lu liked to sleep on her left side, the side closer to the wardrobe.

That person, she was a very sound sleeper. The way she was before she went to sleep was the way she was when she woke up. Unless you squeezed her, she would never move.

I wonder if she’s still like that now…

Jian Xin thought, and couldn’t help but smile and shake her head.

What a pity. Every time I turn into a duck, I can’t outlast Yan Lu. I can’t even figure out what time Yan Lu usually goes to bed, let alone anything else.

Should I tell my parents what she said?

Does Yan Lu not want to come back, or is she afraid to come back?

Jian Xin tilted her head and looked at the ceiling, blinking.

If I were in her shoes, I probably wouldn’t dare to come back either, she thought.

After all, she had disappeared without a word back then. Besides silently paying back a sum of money, there had been no other news from her. To suddenly come back would be a little scary.

Afraid that her aunt and uncle would hold a grudge, afraid of being asked about what happened back then, afraid that nothing would be the same…

Actually, what was there to be so afraid of?

As long as she was okay, nothing else mattered.

Jian Xin thought for a long time, then finally couldn’t help but open her private chat with Yan Lu and compose a message.

Picked Up a Heart: We had spicy shrimp and stewed pork ribs at home tonight. My mom’s cooking is as good as ever!

I told my parents that I saw you. I also said that you’re doing well now, much better than me.

But my mom’s mouth, you know it, right?

She just said, “Nonsense, she was always more willing to study than you back then!”

I said, are we on the same track?

You’re in literature, I’m in music. You can’t just use academic scores to measure future achievements, right?

But anyway, they still miss you. My dad hopes you can come back and visit when you have the chance, and my mom also said that whatever you want to eat, she’ll make it for you!

It was a long message. The moment Jian Xin pressed the send button, her mood was inexplicably complicated.

She didn’t know if she was doing the right thing.

Her relationship with Yan Lu didn’t seem to be suitable for such words, as if they were still a family.

Perhaps, Xinyue and Lan Lan were right. She did have a little bit, but just a little bit, of a desire to get Yan Lu back.

Out of habit, or out of unwillingness to let go.

If they hadn’t reunited, she wouldn’t have discovered that she had never let go of that person.

But they had had such an unpleasant breakup back then, and many problems were simply unsolvable. And now, Yan Lu seemed to have her underground love fairy. She really shouldn’t be making a fool of herself…

The moment the message was sent, she could already predict the other person’s polite refusal.

Perhaps she should wake up. This wasn’t going to work. She would have a nervous breakdown sooner or later.

With this thought, Jian Xin unconsciously typed a line in the input box—but I think you’re very busy, so you probably don’t have the time, hahahahaha.

Just as she was about to send the message, she received Yan Lu’s reply first.

Perched by the Roadside: Okay.

Perched by the Roadside: Auntie’s sweet and sour fish is particularly delicious.

Jian Xin was taken aback for a moment, then quickly deleted the unsent message.

Picked Up a Heart: Right, right!

Picked Up a Heart: My mom’s sweet and sour fish, I’m not bragging, but the restaurants outside can’t compare!

Picked Up a Heart: When you come, I’ll definitely arrange it for you!

Perched by the Roadside: [Happy]

Picked Up a Heart: [Happy dog]

Jian Xin couldn’t help but let out a “hihihihi~” laugh as she hugged her phone. After realizing that her laugh was a little sly, she quickly put on a serious, cold expression.

Of course, this coldness didn’t last for a few seconds before it turned into a smile again.

She suddenly felt that there was nothing wrong with sending that message.

First of all, Yan Lu might not be in a relationship now. And even if she did have an underground love fairy, so what? Does that stop them from having been a family once?

—It doesn’t stop them at all, okay!

Jian Xin took a screenshot of the chat history and sent it to the “Family” WeChat group.

This Person is Dead: [Screenshot]

This Person is Dead: Mom! She wants to eat sweet and sour fish!

Huang He: [Okay]

Jian Changjiang: [Thumbs up]

The next second, she also took a screenshot of this chat history and sent it to Yan Lu.

Today is a happy day, she thought. Maybe Cauliflower’s profile picture brought her good luck?

She closed her eyes and slowly took a few deep breaths.

Will I go over there tonight?

She didn’t know, but there was a small hint of anticipation in her heart.

*

At three-thirty in the morning, the lights in the study were still on.

The duck and dog at home were already fast asleep. The small duck nest was always crowded with the two sticky little ones.

On the black and white interface was the unfinished outline, and the music she had listened to in her youth was once again playing softly in her ears.

Yan Lu glanced at the time in the bottom right corner of her computer and couldn’t help but sigh.

She had said she would go to bed early today, but how did she end up staying up so late again, and she wasn’t even sleepy…

She casually closed the outline, picked up her phone from the desk, and looked at it for a while.

In both WeChat and QQ, there was a new friend with a duck profile picture.

“Do you have any sense of boundaries?” she asked, looking at the little duck that was messy in the wind, and couldn’t help but mutter to herself, “Why are you using a picture of my duck as your profile picture?”

As she spoke, a hint of a smile appeared in her eyes.

The little duck in the duck nest suddenly opened its eyes. In a place where its owner couldn’t see, it tilted its neck and stared blankly for a while.

After a brief daze, it slowly got up, moved away from Xin Xin’s side with light wings and light feet, and then, with the familiar song, it waddled to Yan Lu’s feet.

“Uh-huh—” the duck said, tilting its head up.

Yan Lu came back to her senses, smiled, and picked it up from the floor, placing it gently on her lap.

“Why are you always waking up at night lately?” she asked, tilting her head to look at Cauliflower, her fingers gently poking its dazed head. “Is someone causing you to have insomnia too?”

“Quack?” What do you mean, is someone causing you to have insomnia too?

The little duck flapped its wings forcefully to show its dissatisfaction.

But Yan Lu couldn’t understand her hints at all. She just casually smoothed her feathers and looked down at her phone again.

“Quack ahh—” What’s so good to look at? I want to look too!

The little duck stood on its tiptoes, stretched its neck long, and opened its beak, trying to peek at the screen, but was defeated by its height.

“You’re standing so high, what are you trying to see?” Yan Lu said, her eyes curving as she held the phone screen up to the little duck’s beak. “Mommy is looking at Xin Xin. You want to see Xin Xin too, right?”

Jian Xin: “…”

I thought she was looking at something fun, but it turns out she’s just looking at that dog Xin Xin.

But Yan Lu wasn’t looking at a photo, but a doodle drawn by Yao Wenqian.

In that drawing, Xin Xin was sticking its butt out, its little short legs as if running forward, its tail blown by the wind like a messy big feather duster, and under its feet was the same lawn as the “safe trip, duck.”

Its little head was also looking back, its little pink tongue sticking out, its face full of wit.

Jian Xin hadn’t seen this one. Now that she had, she felt she had every right to suspect that this person, Yao Wenqian, was biased!

Yes, that’s right, Yao Wenqian must be a dog person!

Otherwise, why would she always draw Xin Xin so cutely, but Cauliflower would be inexplicably dazed and clumsy?

Just as Jian Xin was letting her thoughts wander, the phone in front of her was taken away.

A few seconds later, Yan Lu suddenly reached out and lifted the little duck’s round chest, once again placing the phone screen in front of its long, flat beak.

“Mommy changed her new profile picture,” she said, waving the phone in front of the little duck, her voice suddenly becoming very, very soft. “Because… she also changed her profile picture today… it’s you.”

“Uh-huh?”

“Cauliflower, what do you think she means by changing her profile picture to you?”

Jian Xin opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but all that came out was a “quack ah!”

Yan Lu: “Maybe it’s just because you’re really cute.”

“Ugh ah, uh-huh!”

Yan Lu smiled and rubbed the little duck’s head, her gaze hazy and thoughtful.

She was silent for who knows how long, then suddenly asked softly, “Why are there still four people in that group?”

“You tell me, in her heart, what am I…”

Jian Xin tilted her head up and stared blankly at Yan Lu in front of her.

Her thoughts, in an instant, were in complete chaos.