The Little Duck 36p1

Chapter 36 p1

Jian Xin was really impressed with herself. She was always dreaming about random things, which made it hard for her to come back to her senses for a long time after waking up.

It wasn’t time for her daily flexion and extension exercises yet, and Yan Lu was probably still asleep.

Jian Xin stared at the ceiling in a daze for a long time, then suddenly sighed, sat up, and, placing her hands on her right leg, began to do her flexion and extension exercises on her own.

A few minutes later, the familiar voice call rang, and she answered it.

“Do your flexion and extension exercises.” As expected of Yan Lu, her tone was indifferent, and her words were concise.

But it didn’t matter. She had just come out of an unspeakable dream, and her face was still hot. This cold shoulder could serve as a way to cool down.

“Actually, five minutes before you called me, I had already started!” Jian Xin’s tone was a little smug. “Didn’t expect that, did you? I’m so self-disciplined today!”

Yan Lu: “I didn’t.”

It probably wasn’t a hallucination. Jian Xin heard a faint, almost inaudible laugh, not much heavier than a breath.

Jian Xin tilted her head to the side, raised her left shoulder, and held her phone between her shoulder and ear, continuing to do her leg flexion and extension exercises.

She had gradually gotten used to this pain, and it no longer made her cry out like in the beginning.

She even had the mood to grit her teeth and tease herself, “When it comes to enduring pain… I’ve become quite skilled at it, haven’t I? Look at me now… I don’t even make a sound! I’m practically a—little expert at enduring pain!”

“You’re proud of getting into a car accident,” Yan Lu couldn’t help but retort. “First a legendary crash-proof king, and now a little expert at enduring pain.”

“Hehe…” Jian Xin giggled, her hands pausing for a moment, and she asked back, “What else? Should I regret it every day, be depressed every day?”

“You’re just like you were back then,” Yan Lu said softly.

“Everything has two sides. If you only stare at the bad side, life would be too tiring,” Jian Xin said, pausing for a moment, lowering her eyes, and lifting her lips slightly. “If I hadn’t had that drink, if I hadn’t been hit by your cousin, I wouldn’t have seen you again, right?”

“…”

“Jincheng is not big, but it’s not small either. Neither of us likes to go out. We’ve lived in the same city for three years, and neither of us knew the other existed. *Sometimes, what people need is just that one moment of fate, right?” Jian Xin said softly. “When fate comes, it comes. Who cares what it’s exchanged for?”

She said, then laughed nonchalantly, her voice rising a little. “I think it’s worth it!”

After a brief silence, Yan Lu said faintly, “You can do it slowly by yourself.”

Finally, she hung up the call.

Jian Xin pouted and continued to do her flexion and extension exercises.

That noon, the suspended private chef was renewed, and Jian Xin once again ate the nutritious meal that Yan Lu had paid for.

As she ate, she thought, the price of this nutritious meal was probably not cheap. After all, they came to her door three times a day with ingredients to cook.

She had been a beast of burden for so many years. Had she suddenly started to live off a rich woman?

The thought of living off someone else was a little embarrassing at first, but on second thought, it was inexplicably a little thrilling.

Damn it, this indescribable thrill must be a human flaw!

Jian Xin shook her head and opened her phone to look at movie tickets.

She chose a theater that was relatively in the middle for both her and Yan Lu, booked two tickets for two-forty tomorrow afternoon, took a screenshot, and sent it to Yan Lu.

This theater was in a shopping mall, and there were many places to eat on the fourth and fifth floors. After the movie, they could just walk around and find a place that looked good to have dinner.

This animated movie had been out for a while and had a small audience. It was also a weekday, so even if they didn’t have the theater to themselves, there should be very few people, and it shouldn’t be much different from being just the two of them.

Perfect, simply perfect!

Jian Xin got up, leaned on her crutches, and walked to the window. She pulled open the curtains with force, letting the sunlight fill the entire bedroom.

When she looked down again, Yan Lu had already replied.

Perched by the Roadside: Do you need me to pick you up?

Picked Up a Heart: That would be too much trouble for you. I specially chose a place in the middle to make it more convenient for you.

Picked Up a Heart: It’s much more convenient for me to go out now. I can go by myself!

Perched by the Roadside: Okay.

Picked Up a Heart: See you tomorrow then!

Perched by the Roadside: See you tomorrow.

Picked Up a Heart: Two-twenty, at the mall entrance!

Perched by the Roadside: Mmm.

Picked Up a Heart: Don’t call the private chef for lunch tomorrow. The timing is not right, and I’m afraid I won’t make it. I’ll just grab something to eat on the way.

Perched by the Roadside: Okay.

Picked Up a Heart: [Happy dog]

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

Jian Xin hugged her phone to her chest, took a deep breath, and, as if remembering something, she lowered her head and started typing again.

Picked Up a Heart: What are you having for lunch?

Picked Up a Heart: How about we have two meals together?

Picked Up a Heart: I feel like we have plenty of time for lunch at this time!

Perched by the Roadside: I can’t wake up.

Jian Xin: “…”

So heartless, so decisive, a rejection without a hint of hesitation.

Picked Up a Heart: [Oh—]

Picked Up a Heart: [Then it’s fine]

—It’s fine, don’t worry. Don’t you know how duplicitous she is?

With this thought, Jian Xin composed herself a little and sat down at her computer to open the project she hadn’t finished yesterday.

That night, she took a shower, lay in bed early to get sleepy, afraid that her lack of energy tomorrow would affect the state of her date.

Mmm… it should be considered a date, right?

Although she was probably the only one who thought so, she still had to be serious about it!

I hope everything goes well tomorrow!

With this thought, Jian Xin slowly closed her eyes.

Actually, although she said early, it was already one in the morning.

Even though it was already late, she was still inexplicably energetic. She had already put her phone aside, but she just couldn’t fall asleep.

When you can’t sleep at a time like this, it’s inevitable that you’ll be anxious and overthink.

Jian Xin opened her eyes several times, looked at the dark ceiling, and counted strange things in her heart.

First sheep, then dogs, and finally, she had even counted over a hundred ducks, but she still didn’t feel sleepy at all.

How can this go on?

I probably won’t be able to wake up tomorrow…

She didn’t know how long she had been anxious, but her consciousness finally began to blur.

In a daze, it seemed to get a little colder around her.

She seemed to hear someone talking in her ear. The voice was not loud, and it was inexplicably familiar.

She dazedly opened her eyes and saw Yan Lu sitting at the computer.

On the computer screen was the interface Yan Lu usually used to write her outlines, black background, white text, and clear paragraphs.

There was also a voice call on QQ. Listening to the voice, the person on the other end should be Lin Xiyu.

Lin Xiyu was muttering something. Jian Xin’s head was dizzy. She subconsciously perked up her ears to listen, but only vaguely heard something about copyright, investors, and that she could try.

Too sleepy, I don’t understand.

Jian Xin gave up on eavesdropping, closed her eyes again, snuggled closer to Xin Xin, curled up her small body, and once again entered dreamland.

I should hurry and sleep, she thought. I have a movie to watch with Yan Lu tomorrow.

As she slept, the surroundings gradually became quiet, and the room seemed to no longer be bright.

An unknown amount of time passed when she heard the sound of someone washing up.

Isn’t she the only one at home? How can there be the sound of someone washing up?

Just as Jian Xin was wondering, she felt a puff of hot air on the back of her neck.

A small puff, with a hint of moisture, hot then cool, cool then hot.

What’s going on…

Jian Xin opened her eyes in a daze and saw that everything around her was so familiar—the duck nest, the study, the turned-off computer, the dog bed and cage in the corner, and a Xin Xin that was nuzzling the back of her neck with its nose.

The sky was very bright, and it was clearly daytime.

Wait, this isn’t right!

With a “dong,” Jian Xin jumped out of the duck nest with a “quack.”

She looked back in surprise, as if she couldn’t believe what she was seeing. But Xin Xin tilted its head, looked at her with an innocent and bewildered expression, and even barked at her a couple of times.

This sound, so solid and clear, was too unlike a dream!

No, no, this shouldn’t be…

The little duck opened its beak and blinked. When it came back to its senses, it quickly ran into the living room and looked at the old-fashioned grandfather clock on the wall.

One o’clock in the afternoon!

“Quack?!”

This can’t be, how is it already one in the afternoon!

No, no, I shouldn’t be here!

I have a date with Yan Lu to watch a movie!

I have to go back, how can I go back?!

“Quack quack!”

Great Duck Spirit, you’re listening, right!

“Quack ahh ahh, ugh ugh ugh ahh!”

I know you’re a good person, oh no—you’re a good duck. You’ve helped me and Yan Lu a lot, and I’m very grateful!!

“Ah ugh ugh ugh ahh ahh quack—”

Please, please! Don’t mess with me at a time like this. Let me go back, okay!!!

The little duck flapped its wings, stomping its feet in anxiety.

Xin Xin came over, stretched out a small paw, and pressed it on the little duck’s beak a couple of times, as if it was annoyed by the noise.

“Quack ahh!” Don’t mess around, you little dog!

“Woo woof! Awoo woof woof woof!”

“Cauliflower?” Yan Lu poked half her body out of the bedroom. “Why are you suddenly shouting so loudly? What’s wrong?”

Hearing the sound, Jian Xin quickly flapped her wings and rushed to Yan Lu’s feet.

Because she was in such a hurry, she lost her footing and fell with a neck-and-chest brake—it hurt a little, but it wasn’t important!

The little duck quickly jumped up and looked up at Yan Lu.

Yan Lu had already changed into her going-out clothes. A beige long down jacket was draped over her shoulders, revealing a form-fitting black sweater, paired with dark blue high-waisted wide-leg pants and a brown scarf.

She had put on light makeup today, and with this outfit, she looked simple and beautiful.

Jian Xin was in a daze for a moment, then became anxious again!

She had now turned into a duck and definitely couldn’t make it to her date.

It was freezing outside. If Yan Lu really went there to wait for her, her mood would definitely explode!

Since she didn’t know how to go back, the most urgent thing was to find a way to make Yan Lu stay at home and not rush to the date—otherwise, she would be a terrible person!

“Quack ahh ahh!” Yan Lu, Yan Lu, don’t go out yet!!

“Ugh ugh ugh ugh ugh ahh!” Why don’t you give that person a call first?!!

Yan Lu saw the little duck jumping and hopping at her feet, its wings flapping as if they were about to catch fire, and she was very confused.

“I’ve already prepared food for you and Xin Xin, enough to last until I get home,” Yan Lu said, crouching down and rubbing the little duck’s head.

No, no, this has nothing to do with food!

“Quack quack quack—quack quack quack quack quack!! Ahh ahh quack quack quack!!!”

Help, the problem now is that the person you have a date with is right in front of you, and she can’t go back, hey!!!

Jian Xin was so anxious that she could only jump and hop around Yan Lu’s feet.

Xin Xin, who had followed her all the way, was still squatting at the door, acting cute, which made her, the duck, seem a little tactless.

Yan Lu took out her phone and checked the time, then rubbed the little duck’s head again and coaxed it softly, “Be good, Cauliflower. Mommy is going out to watch a movie. You play with Xin Xin at home, and Mommy will play with you when she gets back tonight, okay?”

“Ugh—” Not okay!!!

“Be good,” Yan Lu stood up, picked up the handbag from the bed, turned and walked out of the bedroom, heading for the front door.

Jian Xin felt her brain explode. She rushed into the living room in a panic, flapped her wings, and flew onto the shoe cabinet by the door—she lost her footing again and fell with a big chest brake, her wing feathers all puffed up in anxiety!

The sudden “charge of a duck” knocked over the decorations on the shoe cabinet, sending them to the floor.

Yan Lu was startled. Her hand, which was opening the door, froze in mid-air, her eyes full of shock.

“Cauliflower, you…”

The little duck stood up and started to rant at Yan Lu.

“What’s wrong with you…” Yan Lu crouched down and started to pick up the scattered things on the floor.

The duck on top of the shoe cabinet was still quacking nonstop, as if it had eaten something wrong, but it was clearly not a physical problem, because its cries and actions were too healthy, too energetic—even the dog at home couldn’t compare to it!