Little Duckling - Chapter 36

Jian Xin was exasperated with herself. She kept having these nonsensical dreams that left her disoriented for hours after waking up.

It wasn’t yet time for Qu Shen’s daily reminder, and Yan Lu was likely still asleep.

Jian Xin stared blankly at the ceiling for a long time before sighing, sitting up abruptly, and pressing her hands against her right leg to begin her stretches.

A few minutes later, the familiar voice call rang through. She answered it without hesitation.

“Do your stretches.” As expected of Yan Lu, her tone was indifferent and her words concise.

But it didn’t matter. Jian Xin had just emerged from an unspeakable dream, her face still flushed. This cold shoulder was a welcome way to cool down.

“Actually, I started five minutes before you called!” Jian Xin said, her voice tinged with smugness. “Surprised? I’m super proactive today!”

Yan Lu: “Not really.”

It wasn’t her imagination—Jian Xin heard a faint, almost imperceptible chuckle, barely louder than a breath.

Jian Xin tilted her head, lifted her left shoulder, and wedged the phone between her shoulder and ear, continuing her leg stretches.

She had gradually grown accustomed to the pain, no longer yelping in agony as she had in the beginning.

Even through the pain, she couldn’t resist teasing herself, gritting her teeth as she spoke: “Enduring pain… well, I’ve gotten pretty good at it, haven’t I? Look at me now—not a single yelp! I’m practically a pain-enduring prodigy!”

“A car accident has really gone to your head,” Yan Lu couldn’t help but retort. “First you’re the legendary crash-resistant queen, and now you’re a pain-enduring prodigy.”

“Heh heh…” Jian Xin chuckled sheepishly, pausing her exercise briefly. “What else am I supposed to do? Regret everything and wallow in self-pity every day?”

“You haven’t changed a bit,” Yan Lu murmured softly.

“Everything has two sides. If you only focus on the bad, life becomes too exhausting,” Jian Xin said, pausing briefly before lowering her gaze and curving her lips into a faint smile. “If I hadn’t had that drink and been hit by your cousin, I never would have seen you again, would I?”

“…”

“Jin City isn’t that big, but it’s not small either. Neither of us are the type to go out much. We lived in the same city for three years without ever knowing the other existed. Sometimes all it takes is a fleeting moment of fate, right?” Jian Xin said softly. “Fate comes when it comes. What does it matter how it’s earned?”

She chuckled dismissively, her voice rising slightly. “I think it’s totally worth it!”

After a brief silence, Yan Lu said calmly, “Just take your time with it.”

With that, she hung up.

Jian Xin pouted slightly and resumed her squats.

That afternoon, the private chef service resumed, and Jian Xin once again enjoyed Yan Lu’s nutritious meals.

As she ate, she couldn’t help but wonder about the cost of these meals. After all, the chef came to her place three times a day with fresh ingredients to prepare each meal.

After years of working like a mule, was she suddenly living off a rich woman’s generosity?

Living off someone else’s generosity seemed shameful at first, but upon closer reflection, she felt a strange, secret satisfaction.

Damn it! This indescribable sense of pleasure must be a primal human flaw!

Jian Xin shook her head and pulled out her phone to check movie tickets.

She chose a theater relatively central to both her and Yan Lu, booked two tickets for tomorrow afternoon at 2:40 PM, took a screenshot, and sent it to Yan Lu.

The theater was located in a shopping mall, with plenty of dining options on the fourth and fifth floors. After the movie, they could simply stroll around and grab dinner at whichever place caught their eye.

The movie had been out for a while, and as an animated film with a niche audience screening on a weekday, the theater wouldn’t be crowded even if they didn’t book the entire auditorium. It would feel almost like having the place to themselves.

Perfect, absolutely perfect!

Jian Xin rose and, leaning on her crutch, walked to the window. She yanked open the curtains, letting sunlight flood the bedroom.

When she glanced down at her phone, Yan Lu had already replied.

Yan Lu Er Qi: Do you need a ride?

Picked Up a Heart: That’s too much trouble for you. I specifically chose seats in the middle so it would be easier for you.

Picked Up a Heart: Getting around is much easier for me now. I can manage on my own!

Yan Lu Er Qi: Okay.

Picked Up a Heart: See you tomorrow!

Yan Lu Er Qi: See you tomorrow.

Picked Up a Heart: 2:20 PM, at the mall entrance!

Yan Lu Er Qi: Got it.

Picked Up a Heart: Let’s skip the private chef for lunch tomorrow. Her timing doesn’t quite work, and I’m worried I’ll be late. We can just grab something on the way.

Yan Lu Er Qi: Okay.

Picked Up a Heart: Happy Dog

Picked Up a Heart: Love YouLove YouLove You

Jian Xin hugged her phone to her chest, took a deep breath, and then, as if remembering something, typed another message.

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

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

Picked Up a Heart: It feels like we have plenty of time for lunch!

Yan Lu Er Qi: Can’t get up.

Jian Xin: ……

How heartless, how decisive, how utterly devoid of hesitation in his rejection.

Picked Up a Heart: Oh——

Picked Up a Heart: Then never mind.

Never mind? Don’t worry, it’s fine. Don’t you know how much she says one thing and means another?

Jian Xin thought to herself, took a deep breath to compose herself, and sat down at her computer to resume the project she hadn’t finished the day before.

That evening, she took a shower and went to bed early, hoping to get a good night’s rest so she’d be in top form for tomorrow’s date.

Hmm… I guess it counts as a date, right?

Even if it’s just me who thinks so, I still need to be prepared and take it seriously!

I hope everything goes smoothly tomorrow!

With that thought, Jian Xin slowly closed her eyes.

Actually, “early” was a bit of an exaggeration—it was already one in the morning.

Despite the late hour, she felt strangely alert. Even though she’d put her phone aside and hadn’t checked it, she just couldn’t fall asleep.

When you can’t sleep at times like this, it’s easy to spiral into anxious overthinking.

Jian Xin opened her eyes several times, staring at the pitch-black ceiling, mentally counting bizarre things to distract herself.

First sheep, then dogs, and finally even a hundred or so ducks—still, not a hint of sleepiness.

How can I keep going like this?

I might not be able to get up tomorrow…

She wasn’t sure how long she’d been anxiously tossing and turning when her consciousness finally began to blur.

In her daze, the room seemed to grow a little colder.

A voice murmured nearby, soft and strangely familiar.

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

The screen displayed Yan Lu’s usual outline-writing interface: black background, white text, neatly organized paragraphs.

A Q/Q voice call was active, and from the voice, the other party seemed to be Lin Xiyu.

Lin Xiyu was muttering something, but Jian Xin’s head was spinning. She instinctively strained her ears to listen, but only caught fragments like “copyright,” “investors,” and “we could try.”

Too tired to make sense of it.

Giving up on eavesdropping, Jian Xin closed her eyes again, snuggled closer to Xin Xin, curled up into a small ball, and drifted back to sleep.

I should just sleep, she thought. Tomorrow I’m going to the movies with Yan Lu.

As she slept, the room gradually grew quiet and darkened.

She didn’t know how much time had passed when the sound of someone washing up reached her ears.

She’s the only one home. Why is there the sound of someone washing up?

As Jian Xin puzzled over this, she felt a warm, damp breath repeatedly brushing against the back of her neck—hot, then cool, then hot again.

What’s going on…?

Jian Xin blinked her eyes open, disoriented. Everything around her was familiar: the duck nest, the study, the closed laptop, the dog bed and cage in the corner, and Xin Xin, who was nuzzling her neck with her nose.

The room was brightly lit, clearly daytime.

Wait, this isn’t right!

With a thump, Jian Xin leaped out of the duck nest with a startled quack.

She glanced back, as if unable to believe her eyes. Xin Xin tilted her head, gazing at her with innocent, bewildered eyes, and let out two soft barks.

The sound was so clear and distinct—it couldn’t possibly be a dream!

No, no, this shouldn’t be happening…

The Little Duck blinked, her beak agape. Realizing what was happening, she scrambled into the living room and glanced at the old-fashioned wall clock.

One o’clock in the afternoon!

“Quack?!”

No way! How is it already one in the afternoon?!

No, no, no, I shouldn’t be here!

I promised Yan Lu we’d go see a movie together!

I have to get back! How can I get back?!

“Quack! Quack!”

Great Duck Immortal, are you listening?

“Quack-a-a-a-a! Uh-uh-uh-ah!”

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

“Ah-uh-uh-ah-ah-ah-quack!”

Please, please! Don’t mess with me now! Let me go back, okay?!

The Little Duck flapped her wings and hopped frantically, her tiny feet pounding the ground.

Xin Xin leaned closer, extending her paw and pressing it twice against the Little Duck’s beak, as if to tell her to be quiet.

“Quack!” Stop bothering me, you little dog!

“Woof! Woof-woof-woof!”

“Cauliflower?” Yan Lu called out, leaning halfway out of the bedroom. “Why are you barking so loudly all of a sudden? What’s wrong?”

Hearing Yan Lu’s voice, Jian Xin immediately flapped her wings and rushed to Yan Lu’s feet.

In her haste, she lost her footing and tumbled head over heels—a bit painful, but that didn’t matter now!

The Little Duck quickly hopped up and craned her neck to look up at Yan Lu.

Yan Lu had already changed into her going-out clothes: a long, beige down coat draped over a fitted black sweater, paired with high-waisted, wide-leg dark blue pants and a brown scarf.

She wore light makeup today, and her outfit was simple yet stylish.

Jian Xin froze for a moment, then panicked.

Now that she was a duck, she definitely couldn’t keep her appointment.

It was freezing outside. If Yan Lu went there and waited for her, she’d be furious!

Since she didn’t know how to turn back, her immediate priority was to keep Yan Lu at home. She had to stop her from going to the appointment—otherwise, she’d truly be unforgivable!

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

“Erk! Errk! Errk! Errk! Errk! Why don’t you call them first?!”

Yan Lu watched the little duck hopping and flapping its wings frantically at her feet, looking utterly bewildered.

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

No, no, no! This isn’t about the food!

“Quack! Quack-quack-quack! Ahh! Quack-quack-quack!”

Help! The person you’re supposed to meet for the movie is right in front of you, and I can’t turn back!

Jian Xin was in a complete panic, hopping frantically around Yan Lu’s feet.

Xin Xin, who had followed them all the way, was still squatting by the door, trying to be cute. This made Jian Xin, the duck, look rather out of place.

Yan Lu checked the time on her phone, then gently patted the Little Duck’s head, coaxing softly, “Be good, Cauliflower. Mommy’s going out to see a movie. You stay home and play with Xin Xin, and Mommy will come back tonight to spend time with you, okay?”

“Uh—” No! Not okay at all!

“Good girl.” Yan Lu stood up, grabbed her handbag from the bed, turned, and walked out of the bedroom toward the front door.

Jian Xin felt her mind explode. She rushed into the living room, flapping her wings, and flew onto the shoe cabinet by the door—only to lose her footing again and crash-land chest-first, her feathers bristling in panic!

The sudden “charging duck” sent the decorative items on the shoe cabinet tumbling to the floor.

Yan Lu froze, her hand hovering over the doorknob, her eyes wide with shock.

“Cauliflower, you…”

The Little Duck stood up and began quacking loudly at Yan Lu.

“What on earth is going on here…?” Yan Lu crouched down to gather the scattered items from the floor.

The duck perched atop the shoe cabinet continued to squawk incessantly, as if it had taken the wrong medicine. Yet it was clearly not a physical ailment, as its cries and movements were too vigorous, too full of energy—even the family dog couldn’t match its vitality!

Just as Yan Lu finished picking up the items and placing them back on the shoe cabinet, the duck kicked them back onto the floor with one swift motion.

This time, she froze in complete bewilderment.

“Gak gak gak gak ah!”

Yan Lu, Yan Lu, don’t leave yet! Please call me! I’m begging you!

“Ah ah ah ah uh uh uh!”

Wake me up, or realize I’m still asleep, and you won’t have to make this pointless trip!

“Gah—gak gak gak gak ah!”

This is driving me crazy! What kind of nonsense is this?! That stupid duck is messing with me at the worst possible moment!

Jian Xin flapped her wings frantically, squawking wildly, hoping Yan Lu would somehow understand her desperate message.

Yan Lu remained bewildered for a moment before reaching up to grab her from the shoe cabinet. Gripping the duck by the base of its wing, she turned and strode toward the study.

“Gah?!”

“What are you doing? You’re not going to lock me in a cage, are you?!”

“Aaaah! Aaaah!”

“This isn’t right! I’m telling you, even if you really have to go, you should take me with you, not lock me in a cage!”

Little Duck struggled desperately, but she couldn’t escape Yan Lu’s grasp. In an instant, she was tossed into the duck cage.

By the time she turned around, the cage’s small door had already dropped shut.

Jian Xin opened her beak, staring blankly at Yan Lu outside the cage.

Yan Lu seemed to be in a bad mood today. Her tone when coaxing the duck and her movements when locking her up lacked their usual gentleness.

“…Quack?”

Yan Lu, please let me out.

“Quack quack quack quack…”

Or at least give me a call…

Little Duck’s cries suddenly softened.

Yan Lu glanced at the time, frowned, opened Q/Q, and clicked into Jian Xin’s private chat.

11:30 AM

Call canceled. Tap to redial.

11:32 AM

Call canceled. Tap to redial.

11:33 AM

Call canceled. Tap to redial.

Jian Xin’s sleep schedule was notoriously erratic. It wasn’t the first time Qu Shen’s calls went unanswered, but usually, once Jian Xin woke up, she’d at least send a quick text with a brief explanation.

Today, however, there was still no response. Had she forgotten about their plans and overslept? Or had her phone died overnight, leaving her without an alarm?

If it were Jian Xin, neither scenario would be surprising.

Still, Qu Shen wanted to keep their plans…

Even if they missed the movie, they could still grab a bite to eat at the mall.

She imagined Jian Xin rushing to the mall, her face flushed with apology, stammering out her excuses.

To be honest, if she were truly stood up, she wasn’t sure what value those apologies would hold.

People always had a thousand reasons to break a promise. No matter how perfect the excuse, what was missed was missed. There was no real need for explanations… After all, Qu Shen herself had missed far more important things. She had no right to blame Jian Xin.

But she still wanted to hear what Jian Xin would say.

As if possessed by some strange impulse, she changed her clothes and put on makeup.

But the duck in her house seemed to be in a particularly foul mood. It woke up squawking wildly and had scattered everything from the shoe cabinet across the floor.

Today was truly a day when nothing seemed to go right.

They had agreed to meet at 2:20 PM, but a sudden wave of reluctance washed over her.

Yan Lu stood in her study, staring at her phone for a long time, her expression unreadable. Finally, she took a deep breath and walked toward the front door.

Inside the cage, Jian Xin was frantic, desperately trying to reach the latch with her beak.

But her beak wasn’t nearly agile enough. Despite knowing how the cage opened and trying repeatedly, she couldn’t budge the simple latch.

Just then, Xin Xin waddled in, wagging its tail. It tilted its head, observing the duck’s strange behavior.

Perhaps out of curiosity, it hopped over and nudged the cage latch open with its small, black nose.

Jian Xin froze for a moment, then erupted with joy. She pecked Xin Xin’s forehead with a loud smack.

“Gaaah!” Little dog, I love you to death!

Yan Lu had just stepped out of the house, not yet having closed the door, when Cauliflower, whom she had just caged, burst out, flapping its wings and charging toward her.

It stretched its neck forward, its tiny wings beating so fast they left afterimages, propelling it like a miniature rocket.

Xin Xin chased close behind, her four short legs bouncing with boundless energy.

Yan Lu quickly stopped closing the door, fearing she might accidentally injure the two wind-footed creatures.

The next moment, they surged forward in tandem, circling her feet and erupting into a cacophony of quacks and barks.

Yan Lu crouched down and coaxed them for ages, but neither would return home.

She tried walking toward the house, hoping to lure them inside and then slip away later, but even when she reached the sofa, the duck remained unconvinced. It stood outside, head tilted upward, watching her from afar.

Cauliflower remained motionless, while Xin Xin foolishly wagged her tail, pacing back and forth between the doorway.

After much deliberation, Yan Lu finally decided to take them both in the car.

Knowing she could go out with Yan Lu eased Jian Xin’s worries somewhat. Even if she couldn’t make her appointment, at least Yan Lu would have Ya Ya and Happy Dog for company.

The duck sat in the back seat, gazing out the window at the blue sky and white clouds.

Xin Xin crouched beside her, tail wagging rhythmically, thumping against the seatback with each swing, her face radiating pure joy.

Jian Xin tilted her head, lost in a daze of wild thoughts.

In the dead of winter, being stood up must make Yan Lu furious.

When I wake up, how will I explain? What kind of apology will earn her forgiveness…?

As Little Duck pondered, a sudden bark erupted behind her.

She instinctively turned, but before she could focus, a dog’s paw slammed into her forehead.

The force of the blow knocked her off balance. Like a ball, she tumbled headfirst, eyes squeezed shut, rolling smoothly under the seat.

“Gah—?! Ouch! My right side—it hurts!”

Did I land on my duck leg?

Will I have to waddle around as a lame duck from now on?

Wait, something’s pressing down on me!

Jian Xin’s eyes snapped open. She found herself curled up in bed, the thick quilt weighing heavily on her, a dull ache throbbing in her right leg.

She reached for her phone to check the time, only to realize she’d forgotten to charge it last night. The device was completely dead.

“Aaaah! You idiot!”

Jian Xin cursed as she scrambled out of bed and rushed to the bathroom. She barely had time to brush her teeth, wash her face, change clothes, grab her wallet, and hobble out of the apartment complex with her cane.

She walked against the biting wind, combing her hair with her fingers as she muttered to herself:

How sloppy, how sloppy! I never used to be this sloppy even when I was going to work!

You’ve really hit rock bottom, haven’t you? Showing up to a date looking this disheveled!

That damn gigolo! How dare he drag me out at a time like this? He’s practically trying to kill me!

As she ranted, she flagged down an empty taxi. After giving the driver her destination, her first question was: “Can I pay with cash?”

“Ah, I might not have enough change.”

“No worries, I have small bills!” Jian Xin replied quickly, then immediately asked, “Driver, what time is it?”

The driver glanced at his watch. “Two thirty.”

“Master, could you please hurry? I’m meeting a friend and I’m already late!”

“You should have left earlier next time,” the driver said, glancing at the flustered girl in the rearview mirror. “Time management is important. Otherwise, you’ll miss appointments. Understand?”

“Yes, yes… But this was beyond my control! Just drive faster, please!”

“I’ll do my best,” the driver replied, accelerating.

Jian Xin got out of the taxi at 2:54 PM.

She scanned the mall entrance for Yan Lu but didn’t see her. Rushing inside, she used an emergency data cable to power on her phone and rent a portable charger.

The moment the charger was connected, Jian Xin frantically opened Q/Q to check her messages.

Her breath caught in her throat as she stared at five missed calls in the private chat.

Her finger trembled slightly as she pressed the callback button.

The call connected quickly. She spoke timidly, her voice awkward yet polite: “Hi…”

“Not hi.”

“……”

“Um, I… I overslept. And I forgot to charge my phone, so I didn’t hear any of your calls,” Jian Xin explained, forcing herself to sound calm. “I’m so sorry! It wasn’t intentional. I’m already at the mall and just rented a power bank!”

“The movie started half an hour ago. So, um… do you want to go in and see if we can still catch it, or should we just buy tickets for the next showing?”

“We probably don’t need to bother,” Yan Lu said.

“Ah, wh-why not…?”

We don’t even need to bother? Is Yan Lu really that angry…?

“I can’t get into the mall. Come find me,” Yan Lu said before hanging up.

A location pin arrived moments later.

Jian Xin paused for a moment, then turned on her navigation and hurried over.

The location was a café near the mall, about 300 meters away, tucked down a narrow alley in a rather secluded spot.

After a ten-minute walk, Jian Xin finally found it, hidden away in a corner.

Yan Lu was sitting at a corner table by the window, on a sofa, with Cauliflower on her lap and Xin Xin beside her.

Hearing the tap of Jian Xin’s cane, she stood up, turned, and waved Jian Xin over.

Jian Xin hurried over, looking at Yan Lu with a confused expression.

She doesn’t seem angry at all…?

Jian Xin hesitated to sit down, standing awkwardly to the side with her lips pressed into a thin line. “I’m so sorry,” she mumbled. “I accidentally overslept…”

“It’s only a little past three. I haven’t been waiting long,” Yan Lu said calmly, gesturing to the opposite seat. “Sit down. Your leg is still injured.”

Jian Xin nervously settled onto the sofa, asking in a small voice, “You’re not angry?”

Yan Lu: “What’s there to be angry about?”

Jian Xin: “I was late.”

Yan Lu: “At least you made it.”

Jian Xin: “But we missed the movie.”

Yan Lu paused, then smiled dismissively. “It’s just a movie.”

The words hung in the air, subtly ambiguous. Her tone was indifferent, as if she didn’t care, yet she offered no alternative plan. It was likely she was silently seething…

Panic surged through Jian Xin. After a long moment, she finally mustered the courage to speak. “I don’t think it’s too late. There’s another showing at 3:30. We could still make it if we head back now and grab dinner afterward… So, are we really not going?”

Yan Lu: “Probably not.”

Jian Xin bit her lip, her brow furrowing slightly. Yan Lu was indeed angry, refusing even to consider the next showing.

“I don’t know what’s gotten into these two today,” Yan Lu said, ruffling Xin Xin’s head. “They insisted on coming with me, even breaking out of their cages. It’s like they’ve become sentient, clinging to me like crazy… The mall doesn’t allow pets, and this is the only pet-friendly place nearby, so I had to bring them here to wait for you.”

“While I was sitting here, I kept wondering why they were so determined to come. It’s almost as if they knew you’d be late and were afraid I’d be lonely waiting, so they came to keep me company.”

She shook her head with a faint smile, her voice tinged with resignation. “Even though you’re really late, I brought them along, so we can’t see the movie. We’re both at fault.”

Jian Xin’s mouth dropped open, her eyes widening.

Yan Lu: “How about we call it even this time? No blaming each other. We can try again next time?”

Xin Xin and Cauliflower tilted their heads, their round eyes—one large, one small—staring intently at Jian Xin.

Jian Xin froze under their combined gaze for a long moment before snapping back to reality.

Oh!!

So that’s what happened!

How could I have forgotten that pets aren’t allowed in the mall?

Phew, that was close! I almost thought Yan Lu wouldn’t forgive me!

Ugh, I was just scaring myself!