Famine

Chapter 15

I nodded quickly.

She smiled beautifully, but I felt a subtle sense of unease.

However, I quickly shook off that feeling of unease. For the first two days of summer vacation, I slept soundly, completely exhausted, which was an exceptionally sweet experience.

Shuo also indulged me in sleeping like this, occasionally lighting an incense burner for me so that I could sleep more soundly.

“You must be exhausted after such a long year,” she said on the third day. “But you need to get some sunshine.”

She asked me to help her (or hinder her) work in the herb garden, and I also learned from her how to make perfume candles and small crafts. If you ask me what I learned, I can't really answer. They were all just bits and pieces of little things and stories, which I only suddenly realized when the context made sense.

But at that time, I was still thoroughly enjoying this safe and peaceful life. In her café filled with the scent of the forest, I felt "home" for the first time.

Although she often laughed at the little things I made, saying they were full of "mysterious spirit" and couldn't be sold, she treasured them and kept them carefully, saying that if someone got them a hundred years later, they might achieve great things.

I have serious doubts about this.

This summer vacation has started really well.

Unfortunately, the "good start is half the battle" principle struck again.

One afternoon, when I was drowsy and wearing my hair in a vanilla braid, Tang Chen came to visit me in Shuo.

I was happy to see him, but the words "disaster is imminent" kept popping into my mind.

He smiled as brightly as the afternoon sun. "Hi, Hengzhi. You look much better."

…Of course. Without you, this troublesome thing, I don't have to risk my life, so of course I look better.

But of course I didn't say that. I just chuckled twice and nervously looked behind him. "Hello, hello... Lioness... I mean, where's Miss Liu?"

"Yu Zheng?" He sat down next to me, and Huang E, who had been bored out of her mind and dozing off all day, immediately woke up, cheering and jumping into his arms like a cat that had eaten catnip, whimpering and rubbing against him... I felt embarrassed for her. "She went abroad to study. You know... it's not so convenient for me to travel."

My tense nerves relaxed, and I pulled Huang'e out of his arms, tossing her behind me. She cursed and rushed back, "I'm so sorry, I've been so disobedient..."

"It's alright, I'm happy to see her too." He affectionately stroked Huang'e's hair. The dead monster was completely limp on him, looking like it was in ecstasy.

If you knew her ultimate goal was to sleep with you, would you still be so happy?

But I didn't want to cast an unnecessary shadow on his heart. "It's so hot, why did you come here?"

"I'd like to invite you on a trip," he said casually.

It's unbearably hot, what's the point of traveling... Young people will always be young people.

…I think I'm the same age as him.

No, I must improve my interpersonal relationships; I can't continue like this, acting like a little old woman. "Oh, who else?" I asked, braiding my hair. I always need to filter the list first; one troublemaker in the group is enough.

"Just you and me."

The vanilla braid in my hand fell to the ground, and blood gushed from my face.

Well… it’s not that I don’t trust Tang Chen, it’s just that I don’t want to be disemboweled and torn to pieces by the lioness. I’ve thought I might die a horrible death, but not like this!

"Does 'okay' seem a bit inappropriate?" My voice was trembling.

“Ah, you’ve misunderstood.” He laughed. “I’m going to Tainan to see an elder… He’s a traditional Chinese medicine doctor. I think you’re not feeling well, so I’ll have him take a look while I’m there.”

He bent down to pick up the vanilla braid, wiping the sweat from his forehead. This must be what it feels like to escape death.

"A round trip in one day?" I asked cautiously.

“Tainan isn’t far from here, and I’m driving, so don’t worry.” He smiled brightly.

She secretly breathed a sigh of relief. "I'll go tell Shuo."

Shuo didn't say anything, just told me to bring an extra set of clothes.

"Why bring clothes if I'm going to come and go in the same day?" I started to feel a little uneasy.

Let's just consider it 'preparing for a rainy day'.

I wanted to get more information, but Shuo looked completely innocent. "It's okay if you don't bring it, really, kids think so much."

I was convinced by her innocent and pure eyes. Although I didn't bring an extra set of clothes, I picked up my coat and checked my slingshot and moonstone reserves with some unease.

As it turns out, every word Shuo said had meaning. It also proves that Tang Chen himself is a walking "troublemaker."

The weather forecast for the past few days has been sunny, and there are even calls to conserve water, as there is a fear of drought.

But as soon as we entered Tainan city, a torrential downpour began, like hail, with tremendous force. By the time we stopped near Tang Chen's elder's house, a mere ten meters away, we were both completely soaked.

So that's what Shuo meant by "taking precautions"!

We, two unlucky drenched chickens, awkwardly went to ring the doorbell. Tang Chen had barely pressed it when the door opened.

But I couldn't get in, and Huang E let out a scream and simply burrowed inside my coat.

A tall, thin middle-aged man leaned against the door, looking at me (and Huang E), and smiled gently, "Xiao Chen, you've made such a special friend?"

"Uncle, they are all good people," Tang Chen, still dripping with water, quickly assured him. "They helped me a lot."

He pointed his sword at me, and I really wanted to run away as fast as I could, even if it meant getting soaked in the rain. But where could I possibly go?

The old man swung around me twice, and I suddenly felt the pressure ease, almost falling into a doorway I couldn't normally enter.

With slumped shoulders, I carried the trembling Huang'e inside, dejectedly following him in. The kind old man found us clothes and urged us to take a shower.

For some reason, their bathwater smelled of mugwort. If I hadn't been exposed to Shuo's influence for so long, I might have vomited along with Huang'e. It was also because I had been drinking herbal tea for a long time that Huang'e went from being unable to stand it to being able to barely tolerate it, so he gagged a couple of times and that was it.

Wearing loose-fitting clothes that resemble a Taoist robe, even though I know they are clean, I feel like they might prick me.

All the signs combined... this uncle, who is said to be a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner, is probably Tang Chen's great-uncle, that mysterious master.

…If I had known we were here to see this master, I would never have come, even if you killed me.

After we finished showering, we sat huddled in the living room like lambs to the slaughter, awaiting our tragic fate.

Unexpectedly, this wise elder brother kindly took my pulse and performed the four diagnostic methods of observation, listening, questioning, and palpation, without mentioning a single word about calamity or monsters.

“Your constitution is severely deficient in Yin, but someone has already prescribed medicine to regulate it.” Uncle pondered for a moment, “However… if the root cause is not removed, it will ultimately only treat the symptoms, not the underlying problem.”

I quickly said, "I don't want to get rid of the root of the problem."

He looked at me with surprise, his gaze turning serious. "If you're sick, you should get cured."

“She’s my problem.” My palms started sweating; only now, at this critical moment, did I realize my true feelings. Quickly, I gave him my birth information: “I have no relatives, no family to rely on, a life of wandering. What do I have? All I have is this ‘illness’!”

Huang E, who was nestled in my arms, suddenly looked up at me, but I didn't look at her.

Yes, what do I have? I have nothing. No home, no family, and I have to be careful around even my only friend.

Aside from my own shadow, isn't the only thing that has truly followed me all along a monster called Ara-Kake?

If I lose her too, I'll be so incredibly miserable.

I burst into tears, and Tang Chen quickly handed me a tissue and whispered words of comfort. Actually, I'm not a crybaby; I've probably shed more tears this year than I have in the past ten years combined.

My uncle remained silent for a moment, silently calculating my birth chart, his brows furrowing deeper and deeper.

"You've been here so long, and you haven't even had a glass of water." Uncle called to Tang Chen, "Xiao Chen, go make me some coffee. Also, heat up the mung bean soup in the fridge for me. I've been chilled by the rain, so I need something hot to warm me up."

He obediently responded and went to the back.

My uncle looked at me for a while and sighed softly. "Your fate... is truly like this. I shouldn't have let Tang Chen go there for my own selfish reasons, adding another layer of misfortune to your life."

She looked at him in surprise. Did he mean... I was Tang Chen's "benefactor"?

"...It's not a big deal. Tang Chen will be fine, I'll take care of it." I said vaguely.

His brow furrowed even more. "It's not that simple... but it certainly involved a lot of danger. Tang Chen isn't destined for marriage..."

"I didn't do this for any romantic reason!" I said sternly.

Why am I being so fierce?! I just hate it when people think I'm taking things on for some reason, that's not true at all! I don't want to monopolize Tang Chen, it's ridiculous!

She lowered her voice reluctantly, "He's my friend. The first...person who truly wanted to be my friend. He'll definitely find love; the one who truly doesn't is me! I just want him to be happy, it's that simple! Please stop thinking about things that weird..."

"...You are a very good girl, really very good." He said solemnly, "It is a great loss for Tang Chen that you are not destined to be together."

"Having friends is enough; I won't expect anything more." I sniffed.

He sighed, as if he wanted to say something but couldn't bring himself to say it.

I don't care what he's going to say. I just hope he doesn't lay a hand on Huang'e. Tang Chen and Huang'e hold equal weight in my heart.

Only today have I come to understand this principle.

As a result, it was impossible to make a round trip on the same day.

The rain was getting heavier and heavier, looking like a strong typhoon. I really didn't want to face the lioness's anger, but my uncle repeatedly assured me that nothing would happen, so we stayed overnight.

My room was quite far from Tang Chen's. He and his uncle were still chatting, but I felt incredibly tired, so I went to sleep.

Huang E didn't say a word all day, and I even wondered if she was sick.

After I lay down, she stood at the head of the bed and finally uttered, "What should I do? I feel like crying and throwing up."

"Then go ahead and cry and throw up," I replied coldly, turning my back to the wall. "Just don't throw up on my face."

"You're so heartless, and I'm fine again," Huang E said in surprise.

Why bother protecting this idiotic monster? Am I the one who's really sick?

I must have masochistic tendencies. It's such an embarrassing thing to talk about.

***

The next day, the heavy rain continued.

But we really couldn't stay any longer. Huang'e was uncomfortable, and actually, I wasn't feeling too well either. Every part of this house seemed to be rejecting us two beings with demonic energy.

Uncle Shi calculated for a long time, his brows furrowed. Finally, he sighed in despair, "I've interfered too much too."

He smiled at me, his brow unfurrowing. He turned and searched for a moment, then handed me a small wooden sword. "Fate, it's definitely not something written down."

For those who can't read emotions and hearts, even just understanding their riddles is a struggle for me. I hesitantly took the wooden sword; it wasn't even as long as my middle finger. But the spiritual energy was cute… or should I call it demonic energy?

"Thank you." I bowed cautiously.

“I’m letting go now, Xiao Chen,” he said meaningfully. “Your fate is in your hands from now on.”

His words sounded really strange. While I was still full of doubts, I got into Tang Chen's car and drove into the heavy rain.

Then I realized a truth.

All truly wise people speak in lofty and profound ways, but their words are absolutely meaningful. This is true of Shuo, and it's also true of Shibo. But they won't tell you explicitly.