Little Duckling - Chapter 9

The summer sun streamed through the balcony window into the study, its golden rays dazzling and slightly blinding.

Jian Xin slowly squinted open one eye and yawned deeply.

For the first time in ages, she’d slept dreamlessly through the night, without an alarm, waking up naturally feeling exceptionally refreshed.

Ever since becoming a workaholic, Jian Xin hadn’t enjoyed such a peaceful sleep in ages.

This would have been a delightful experience—if she weren’t still a duck, locked in a duck cage.

That’s right, she was still a duck!

The Corgi was gone from outside the cage, but she remained trapped in this dilapidated enclosure.

Heaven only knows the faint sense of dread that washed over Jian Xin the moment she opened her eyes and took in her surroundings.

She’d been too naive, foolishly believing that this time, like before, she could simply sleep and return to her own body.

Judging by the sun, it was already midday.

If she was still here, what would happen to the “her” lying in the hospital bed?

Would others think she’d fallen into another coma, or would they simply assume she was a drowsy patient?

No matter how much someone loves to sleep, they can’t possibly sleep through an entire day, can they?

The more Jian Xin thought about it, the more anxious she became. Without realizing it, she let out a shrill, piercing cry.

The cry was loud, sharp, and ear-splitting, startling even herself.

But the room remained empty. Neither Yan Lu nor Xin Xin, the dog, responded to her call.

Why isn’t anyone answering?

After hesitating for a moment, Jian Xin tilted her head back and let out a few more raspy squawks—still no response!

Oh no, there’s no one here…

She’d almost forgotten that Yan Lu was supposed to visit her at the hospital today.

Could she already be on her way?

Ugh, I was the one who asked her to come yesterday… I can’t just ignore her after she’s traveled all that way, can I?

Even if… even if it doesn’t matter, this body still needs to eat, drink, and relieve itself, right?

I can’t stay here. I shouldn’t stay here. I don’t want to stay here at all!

But how am I supposed to get back?

The Call Duck in the cage grew increasingly anxious, so agitated she didn’t even notice when she pooped.

With her wings tucked behind her back and her neck slightly extended, she paced back and forth in the duck cage on her small, orange-yellow webbed feet.

Just then, the sound of a door opening echoed from the living room.

Jian Xin immediately began flapping her wings and squawking frantically.

“Gaaah—” Yan Lu, is that you?

“Ugh-ah-ah-ga-ga—” Hurry and let me out!

“Gaa-ga-ga-woo-woo-ah-ah—” Even if you’re just visiting, take me with you!

Yan Lu had barely stepped inside, still in her slippers, when she heard her duck going berserk in the study.

Hearing the commotion, Xin Xin wagged her tail and rushed home, urgently “leading” her owner by the leash to Cauliflower’s cage. The dog began pawing at the cage with her short front legs.

“Woof! Woof-woof!” She barked at Yan Lu over her shoulder as she pawed.

“Gah?” Jian Xin tilted her head in confusion.

“Alright, alright, I’ll let Cauliflower out right now,” Yan Lu said, crouching down to unlock the cage door.

Just as Jian Xin was about to leave, Xin Xin poked her head into the cage, blocking her only exit.

“Gah—” Get out of the way! I want to leave!

Instead of retreating, Xin Xin leaned in further, her nose gently brushing against Jian Xin’s chest.

Jian Xin let out a startled “Gah!” and leaped back.

After a moment of panic, she regained her composure. Still shaken but refusing to back down, she pecked fiercely at the large dog head in front of her six or seven times.

The duck’s attack carried a hint of emotion. Xin Xin whimpered in fright and withdrew her head, looking thoroughly dejected.

As someone who had been afraid of dogs since childhood, Jian Xin suddenly felt elated after winning her first battle against a bad dog.

For a fleeting moment, she even imagined the sunlight bathing her transformed into a golden suit of armor, symbolizing her victory.

The duck’s heart swelled with pride.

She stood on tiptoe, flapped her wings, and let out a triumphant “Gah!” at Xin Xin before strutting out of the cage, head held high.

But no sooner had she stepped out, her feet barely touching the ground, than a small, powerful dog paw swung from behind and delivered a sharp slap to the back of her head!

In the next moment, she lost her balance and tumbled headfirst to the ground with a thud.

The tiny wings on her back had even unfurled from the impact!

This is outrageous! This is too much!

Jian Xin shakily stood up, ready to turn around and lash out, when she felt a sudden tug on her back and her feet lifted off the ground.

“Quack?” She instinctively twisted her head to look.

Yan Lu had grabbed her wings and pulled her into a hug.

Yan Lu patted the duck’s head. “What’s wrong, Cauliflower? Were you scared when you woke up and no one was home?”

“Quack—quack quack quack ah—” It wasn’t that she was scared, just frantic with worry.

“Don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid. I just took Xin Xin downstairs for a quick walk. We’re back now, see?”

“Quack quack uh uh ang, quack ah ah ah ah!” What good does it do that you’re back? The problem is I can’t get back!

“Are you hungry?” Yan Lu glanced at the duck feed on the ground. “The new food won’t arrive until tomorrow. Can you make do with this for one more day? Just eat a little?”

What “food”? Mealworms?

You call that “food”?

“Seriously, let’s just skip this.”

Even if you use cute, repetitive words, the duck will just turn its head away completely!

Seeing this, Yan Lu could only sigh. “Alright, alright, no eating then…”

Jian Xin breathed a small sigh of relief.

“Do you think our Cauliflower secretly became sentient?” Yan Lu poked Cauliflower’s white duck br3ast with a worried expression. “He’s suddenly become so picky.”

Jian Xin: “……”

I don’t know if your duck became sentient, but I’m definitely about to lose my mind.

Haha, the mind of a lunatic.

“His appetite’s been off these past few days. Could it be because it’s too hot?” Yan Lu gently stroked the duck’s wing, thought for a moment, and then asked softly, “Does Cauliflower want to play in the water?”

“Quack?” Jian Xin responded warily.

No, no, no! It’s not the heat!

We have air conditioning! I’m not hot! I don’t need to play in the water!

“He definitely wants to play in the water,” Yan Lu murmured, carrying the duck out of the study. “Mommy will take Cauliflower to play in the water right away.”

“Quack—!” Hey! What kind of chicken-and-duck, uh… duck-and-human conversation is this?!

Where are we going to play in the water? She’s terrified of water, you know!

Jian Xin flapped her wings weakly in Yan Lu’s arms, but her limited strength couldn’t break free from those hands.

Soon, Yan Lu placed her in a huge bathtub.

Terrified, Jian Xin stuck her rear in the air, flapped her wings, and craned her neck, trying to jump out of the tub.

But just as her wings began to flap, Yan Lu pressed them back down with one hand.

The next moment, cold water gurgled from the tub’s jets, instantly submerging her webbed feet and rising past her chest.

“Gahhh!” Let me go! I’m a landlubber!

Panicked, Jian Xin watched the water deepen and quickly stood upright, tilting her head as high as possible.

“Why are you standing so straight? Float!” Yan Lu chuckled, reaching into the water to gently lift the duckling’s round belly from below.

“Gah!” How am I supposed to float?!

Jian Xin felt like she was going crazy. Her instinct was to escape, but she realized the water was already too deep. Even a slight movement of her legs threw her off balance, and her wings were barely effective.

“Gahhhh! Help me, Yan Lu!!!”

In that moment, a fully grown Call Duck thrashed frantically in the half-filled bathtub, its wings beating wildly against the water.

But the person she was desperately calling for help from showed no intention of rescuing her. Instead, they picked up an enamel cup printed with a cartoon duck head and began scooping water, pouring it over her struggling form.

As she splashed water everywhere, the woman chuckled, “You’re so energetic today! I bet after your bath, you’ll be ready for ten more rounds of playtime with Xin Xin.”

Hearing her name, Xin Xin eagerly poked her head through the doorway, barking excitedly, “Woof! Awoo~ Woof woof woof!”

Jian Xin: “……”

This woman is here for revenge! She must be here for revenge!

It’s because I broke up with her first, all those years ago!

Even though she never truly cared about me, being dumped leaves a bitter taste in anyone’s mouth—I understand, I understand it all!

The car accident, turning into a duck—it’s all my karma!

As Jian Xin mentally spiraled, she continued to thrash desperately in the water.

But as she struggled, she realized she was floating steadily on the surface.

Jian Xin: “……”

The frantically struggling duck suddenly calmed down, blinked its bean-sized eyes, tilted its head, and gently flapped its wings.

A stream of water poured over her head.

She wiggled her feet, and her body smoothly rotated halfway across the surface. After a moment of surprise, she wiggled her feet again—propelling the entire duck forward a significant distance.

Jian Xin: “!!!”

Shocked! She had actually learned to swim!