Chapter 10: Trying to Connect a Basketball and a Chicken |
If you lost something when you were little, how would your parents handle it?
If it wasn''t particularly important, perhaps they would scold you for being careless and remind you to pay more attention next time?
If it was extremely important, like the house keys or a bank card, a severe thrashing with a bamboo switch or a combined beating from both parents would be inevitable.
Of course, every family''s situation was different. This was just how Yan Huan remembered it.
Regardless, it was absolutely impossible for them to drive all the way back to the Shopping Center just because of a lost keychain, and help their child find it without uttering a single word of reproach.
Yet, Ye Lan did exactly that.
After hearing Ye Shiyu''s request, she had the driver turn the car around and take them back to the Shopping Center where they had dined earlier.
The moment the car stopped, Ye Shiyu stepped out, completely forgetting to grab the coat she had taken off earlier due to the vehicle''s heating.
Yan Huan glanced at the coat, silently picked it up, and followed her out.
After a brief back-and-forth, the car finally drove away.
Although the Shopping Center at eight or nine o''clock on an early spring night remained brightly lit, it was inevitably tainted with a touch of chill.
Draped in a shawl and clicking her High Heels, Ye Lan offered a helpless smile to Yan Huan, who was walking ahead.
"Let''s go. I have to trouble you to help Shiyu look for it, Little Huan. She will probably retrace our route from today while trying to jog her memory, right?"
''Retracing today''s route, huh?''
Yan Huan blinked, looking at Ye Shiyu, who was walking far ahead.
She stood on the outskirts of the Shopping Center, gazing into the distance at the darkened Aquarium that had merged with the night, lost in thought.
"Sister Shiyu."
Hearing Yan Huan''s voice, she turned her expressionless face toward him and watched as he handed over her coat.
"It''s getting cold tonight. Put your coat on."
She looked at Yan Huan''s hand gripping the garment; his fingers were touching the exact spot where she had affixed her name tag.
"Thank you."
After a slight pause, she took the coat but did not put it on.
Yan Huan did not press the issue. He simply stepped to her side and analyzed the situation earnestly.
"Sister Shiyu, do you remember when you last opened your bag? Was it in the Aquarium or the Shopping Center?"
"I haven''t opened my bag since I bought the keychain today."
"Huh?"
Yan Huan raised an eyebrow, looking at Ye Shiyu, whose tone was incredibly certain after a moment of thought.
"Could there be a hole in your bag?"
Ye Shiyu picked up her handbag, inspected it, and shook her head.
"No."
''Then that''s weird...''
''A paranormal event?''
He had indeed seen her stick her name on the keychain and put it in her bag with his own eyes that morning. Or perhaps she had opened it at some point and simply forgotten?
"...The Aquarium is already closed. I''ll follow the path to the Shopping Center and look."
Ye Shiyu''s expression turned slightly chilly. Clutching her coat, she turned and walked away.
Seeing this, Yan Huan and Ye Lan had no choice but to follow her, retracing the route they took when they entered the Shopping Center at noon.
"Dear esteemed guests, the Shopping Center will close in twenty minutes. Visitors still lingering in the mall, excluding the Cinema Area, please exit as soon as possible."
"At that time, please use Elevator 7A located in the seventh-floor cinema to reach the first floor or the Underground Parking. All other elevators will be shut down."
The announcement echoed through the Shopping Center. The lights across the massive seven-story complex gradually dimmed, accompanied by the rising and falling clatter of rolling shutters as shops began to close.
Descending the Escalator from the second floor, Yan Huan saw Ye Lan sitting on a resting bench on the first floor. She had taken off her High Heels and was rubbing her ankles.
Her long dress spread out like flower petals, and a hint of exhaustion lingered in the depths of her eyes.
Seeing Yan Huan, she looked up and asked with a smile.
"How did it go, Little Huan? Did you find it?"
Yan Huan shook his head.
"I''ve searched several times. I even checked with the Lost and Found, but the staff haven''t seen it either. We split up to look afterwards, but still found nothing."
"Hmm, that really is strange..."
Ye Lan pouted slightly, moving the High Heels by her feet a bit further away, and patted the seat next to her.
"You must be tired. Sit down and rest for a bit. I''m sorry to trouble you, Little Huan. We came out to have fun, yet I have you running all over the place to help your sister find something."
"It''s no trouble at all, Auntie. Besides, we already had our fun."
Yan Huan walked over and sat beside Ye Lan, watching as she hugged her knees and massaged her calves and feet.
Her ankles were entirely flushed red at the moment. After all, she had been walking in High Heels all day. Otherwise, she wouldn''t have let the two of them do the searching while she rested here.
Yan Huan exhaled, his eyes shifting slightly as he observed the Shopping Center gradually falling quiet around them.
Beside him, Ye Lan studied his profile. Cupping her chin in her hands, she suddenly asked.
"Do you think this is all a bit too much, Little Huan?"
"Too much?"
Yan Huan snapped back to reality and looked at Ye Lan. Her smile remained unchanged.
"Driving all the way back here to spend an hour searching for a tiny keychain. It sounds a bit silly, doesn''t it?"
"It''s fine..."
Yan Huan blinked and replied.
"I actually thought you would dispatch a horde of subordinates, force the Aquarium to reopen if it was closed, and have a massive crowd of people search for Sister Shiyu''s item."
Ye Lan covered her mouth, finding it incredibly amusing.
"Now that is way too much!"
"Is it? That''s how it''s always written in the novels I read."
Yan Huan smiled faintly, then put on the cold, domineering facade of an overbearing CEO. Pointing a finger, he commanded.
"If you cannot find her item, I will have you all buried with it!"
"Hahahaha!"
Ye Lan laughed uproariously at the joke, clutching her stomach as the tips of her toes bobbed in the air.
"That was very stylish. You really should act in a movie, Little Huan."
Yan Huan simply smiled at Ye Lan. Then, she reached out and lightly tapped him on the head, scolding him playfully.
"Still, it''s just a keychain. How could I possibly waste so much manpower on it?"
Yan Huan covered his head, dodging Ye Lan''s feather-light, delicate fists.
"Like I said, it''s just a plot from a novel... But Auntie, you''re pretty similar to those CEOs from the books who make millions every hour. Isn''t your willingness to spend so much time searching for a cheap keychain essentially the same thing?"
Ye Lan''s smile deepened as she reached out and gently ruffled Yan Huan''s hair without messing it up.
"Shiyu rarely loses things. Unless someone moves her stuff, she is almost never careless. Even though it seems like a huge hassle, this kind of thing has barely happened a few times. Plus, you must have noticed by now—aside from Dolls, her absolute favorite things are jellyfish."
"Yeah, but we checked the surveillance footage earlier. Not a single stranger got close to her bag along the way."
"Exactly, which is why this time is so strange... Maybe she really was careless and dropped it in the Aquarium? However, I could never trouble others for something like this."
Ye Lan beamed, affectionately patting his head as she spoke to Yan Huan.
"The item she lost is very important. It''s something she cherishes, something with her name on it—it is ''her thing.'' I know that once she slaps her name on something, it can''t simply be replaced by buying another one. But that sentiment only applies to her and me.
"To anyone else, it''s nothing more than a cheap keychain.
"I am willing to come back and help her look for it because I am her mother. Therefore, whatever is special to her is also special to me. That kind of specialness cannot be measured by money. Besides, we didn''t have any other plans for tonight anyway.
"How could I possibly demand that other people rush over on a weekend night just to slave away over something that is only special to me? So, I genuinely feel apologetic for dragging you along so late to help us search, Little Huan."
Yan Huan didn''t really mind. Going back later meant he could avoid a sneak attack from Ye Shiyu''s Hypnosis anyway.
But at this moment, the ambient temperature felt gradually warmer. He didn''t know if it was because of Ye Lan''s radiant smile.
"No wonder you refused when Driver Liu offered to get out and help."
"Yes. She was supposed to get off work as soon as she dropped us off at home. When it''s time to clock out and rest, one should clock out and rest properly. So, let''s just take a taxi back later."
''Working this weekend already counted as overtime for the driver. In reality, she only needed to drop Ye Lan off in the morning and pick her up in the evening. She could earn a full day''s overtime pay without having to be on standby all day...''
For some reason, hearing Ye Lan say such things made Yan Huan feel a sudden urge to tear up.
Perhaps it was because he had literally died from sudden overwork in his previous life. Hearing a boss who refused to issue orders after normal working hours gave him an overwhelming, illusory feeling of having met the right leader too late in life.
"Auntie, if there''s ever a chance in the future, I absolutely must work under you."
Overcome by emotion, Yan Huan suddenly declared with complete solemnity.
''If Auntie does not forsake me, I, Huan, am willing to bow to you as my boss?''
"Hahahaha..."
Ye Lan was once again tickled by Yan Huan''s deadpan demeanor. She affectionately rubbed his head and said.
"Well, considering how outstanding you are, Little Huan, it shouldn''t be difficult. Just don''t regret it when the time comes! Because while Auntie is quite lenient in this regard, in other aspects... hehe."
"..."
Seeing Ye Lan''s suddenly eerie smile, Yan Huan wondered if he had spoken a bit too soon.
However, he was only a college freshman. It wasn''t time for him to urgently make career choices just yet, so it was fine to have his head filled with all sorts of future life paths.
It was a bit like saying, ''Grandpa, Grandma, I want to be an astronaut when I grow up!''
Just as Ye Lan was rubbing Yan Huan''s head, Ye Shiyu descended from the Escalator, expressionless, her complexion looking rather grim.
The outcome was obvious. She still hadn''t found it.
Seeing this, Yan Huan stood up and offered proactively.
"Sister Shiyu, how about I go up and look one more time?"
Ye Shiyu shot him a glance, her gaze then shifting slightly toward Ye Lan, who was massaging her feet.
Her mother had been walking in High Heels all day, and he had been following her around, searching multiple times.
''Besides, it''s just a keychain. Even though I really like it, even if I lose it and give it to someone else, it''s...''
At this thought, her brow suddenly furrowed slightly. She didn''t know why such an idea had abruptly popped into her head.
The thought was faint, merely a passing notion, yet she normally cherished everything she owned above all else.
In the past, when Ye Shiyu had lost things, she had also considered giving up the search out of consideration for her mother and a desire not to trouble her.
But!
She had never experienced this kind of diminishing Desire for her cherished possessions. On the contrary, losing them usually only intensified her sense of regret...
Because of that sudden thought springing into her mind, she now looked as if she were nauseated, her face becoming chillingly cold and furious.
The mobile phone clutched in her hand abruptly lit up. This time, it glowed with a bewitching, deep purple light.
Yan Huan raised an eyebrow at the sight.
''Is she angry?''
''Just because she couldn''t find that keychain?''
''But why did her Modifier light up too? You can''t find your stuff, so who are you going to Hypnotize over it?''
Seeing her gloomy expression, Ye Lan put her High Heels back on, buckled the straps, and stood up.
"The mall closes in twenty minutes. How about Little Huan and I help you search one more time?"
The frosty look on Ye Shiyu''s face slightly softened at the sound of her mother''s gentle voice. Then, she shook her head.
"Forget it, Mama. Let''s go home."
"Then Mama will buy you another one tomorrow."
"No need. Let''s go."
Ye Shiyu shook her head, preparing to leave. Ye Lan shot a helpless glance at Yan Huan beside her and murmured in confusion.
"Your sister''s temper is much worse today than before. In the past, even if she couldn''t find something, she wouldn''t get this angry..."
Yan Huan kept his eyes fixed on her retreating back, lost in thought.
It was inevitably a bit of a bummer to end an otherwise cheerful day with something like this. The atmosphere grew even more silent during the taxi ride.
Upon returning home, Ye Lan and Ye Shiyu went upstairs to rest. Chen Yi was in the laundry room on the first floor, preparing to wash the clothes the driver had brought back earlier.
Seeing this, Yan Huan felt a bit curious.
Ye Shiyu had already stuck her name on them, so how would they be washed? Observing for a moment, he noticed that Chen Yi would first peel off the name tags.
Seeing his interest, Chen Yi explained.
"These name tags are only temporary. Later, she will sew her name on them herself with a needle and thread. Shiyu is incredibly skilled at needlework. The Madam hired a highly skilled tailor to be her teacher in the past..."
As she sorted Ye Shiyu''s clothes, preparing to toss them into a separate washing machine, Chen Yi continued.
"She even makes all the clothes for those Dolls in her room herself. Oh, you haven''t seen them yet, have you, Little Huan? Tomorrow, we should have Shiyu show you around..."
"Sure, if there''s a chance."
Yan Huan brushed it off with a smile, though he inwardly felt the chances of Ye Shiyu agreeing were incredibly slim.
Earlier, she had refused to wear her shawl simply because he had touched it, and he didn''t see that particular piece among the laundry handed over to Chen Yi.
She absolutely despised having others touch her things.
At least, that was the case for an outsider like Yan Huan. But if it was Chen Yi or Ye Lan, she wouldn''t mind at all.
Chen Yi was allowed to wash her clothes, and the shawl Ye Lan had draped over her shoulders earlier also belonged to Ye Shiyu.
Pondering this, Yan Huan also prepared to return to his room to rest.
"There''s milk in the kitchen, Little Huan. Remember to take it upstairs and drink it."
"Got it. Thank you, Chen Yi."
Carrying the milk, Yan Huan headed up to his room on the second floor.
Flipping on the light switch, he spotted a Black Cat already sitting elegantly on the sofa.
"Meow~"
"Myau-chan."
"You''re back. How was today?"
Setting down the milk, Yan Huan threw his somewhat exhausted body onto the sofa, sending a jolt through the cushions. But because Myau-chan was rather plump, the cat remained completely unfazed.
"How else could it be? Just the usual."
Turning his head, he saw that Myau-chan had already jumped onto his lap. Looking up at him, the cat asked.
"Did something happen?"
"Yeah... how should I put it..."
Just as he was about to speak, Yan Huan''s expression suddenly shifted.
He hastily marched over to the door and locked it.
"Click."
Only after doing so did he relax a bit, walking back and lounging on the sofa once more.
Sipping his milk, he looked at the Black Cat tilting its head in front of him and asked.
"Myau-chan, what do you think the connection is between Dolls and jellyfish?"
"Is this a riddle?"
"It''s about Ye Shiyu. They are the two favorite things of that Modifier host. One is Dolls, and the other is surprisingly jellyfish. Is there any connection between them?"
Myau-chan tilted its head and asked.
"Is there?"
"Am I asking you or are you asking me?"
"But the things humans like are incredibly complex, right? There isn''t necessarily a logical connection between the different things a person likes."
Yan Huan downed the milk in one gulp and sighed.
"She''s not a normal person. Her affection for Dolls and jellyfish obviously far exceeds typical hobbies, so it feels like there has to be a reason behind it... Plus, things were weird when we went out today, like something supernatural was going on."
Ye Shiyu''s item vanished into thin air. Ye Lan mentioned that she was meticulous with her belongings and rarely lost anything. Ye Shiyu herself retraced her steps several times and was certain she never opened her bag.
Yet, that keychain had inexplicably disappeared just like that.
Although it was still possible that she dropped it in the Aquarium, something still felt off.
''What a day...''
''The Dolls and jellyfish that Ye Shiyu likes.''
''The inexplicably lost jellyfish keychain and her inexplicable fury.''
''The pair of elements feels just like a basketball and a chicken.''
''They seem completely unrelated, but if you try to force a connection, you somehow get this vague image of a bizarre silhouette wearing suspenders...''
''That''s roughly what it feels like.''
At this moment, Yan Huan suddenly thought of something. He grabbed his phone and snapped a picture of Myau-chan.
"Click."
The adorable Myau-chan materialized in the image, captured by the camera. Yan Huan opened Plane and sent it to Vice President Sakuramiya Hitomi, whose profile picture was a white cat.
He followed it up with a meme sticker that read, "Here is today''s friendship fee," and then typed out his question.
"Vice President Sakuramiya, are you free right now? I have something I want to ask you."
Vice President Sakuramiya loved cats and was incredibly knowledgeable about them. Asking her usually yielded good results.
After a few minutes of waiting, the name on the other end changed to "Typing...", and then Yan Huan''s screen went black, transitioning into an incoming call display.
Yan Huan pulled out his Bluetooth earphones, popped them in, and answered the call.
He smiled faintly and spoke into the phone.
"Is the kitten cute?"
"Yes, very cute. Is it the cat raised at your aunt''s house, President?"
The melodious female voice on the other end floated over faintly, smooth as silk.
"No, it''s a stray I picked up. I''ve been taking care of it lately. I call him Myau-chan."
Hearing this, Myau-chan, who was right next to him, let out a massive yawn.
"I see."
Sakuramiya Hitomi offered no comment on the brilliant name Yan Huan had come up with, and instead transitioned to guessing his true objective.
"Did you want to ask for advice on how to raise a cat, President?"
"Ah, not exactly."
Yan Huan chuckled, then asked.
"I wanted to ask... Sakuramiya, why exactly do you like cats?"
"..."
The other end suddenly went silent.
"Vice President Sakuramiya?"
"Because they''re cute, I suppose."
Just as Yan Huan was about to press further, Sakuramiya Hitomi answered instantaneously, catching him completely off guard.
"Umm..."
''Cats are indeed cute, but are jellyfish cute?''
''I suppose they are decent looking, but that definitely doesn''t feel like the right answer.''
''The illusory silhouette wearing suspenders before his eyes slowly faded away, seemingly telling Yan Huan that this was not the correct link between a basketball and a chicken.''
"What else, besides that?"
"President, you''re trying to ask what qualities cats possess beyond their appearance that make me like them, right?"
''Right! Is it possible it has to do with a certain quality inherent in jellyfish?''
"Right, exactly. What kind of qualities do you like about cats, Sakuramiya?"
"Hmm... because cats are very independent, yet they know how to act spoiled when their owner needs them to. They are both strong and fragile, much like a child—clearly an independent individual, yet forced to rely on their parents. Aside from them being cute, that is the only other reason."
Vice President Sakuramiya let out a sigh and explained.
"However, President, everyone''s reasons for liking something are completely different.
"Perhaps a certain object possesses a quality they deeply crave or lack, or perhaps the object itself is similar to them. Or maybe it just makes them feel safe and comfortable... and so on and so forth.
"So, there are a thousand Hamlets in a thousand people''s eyes. Rather than saying people like the object itself, it''s more accurate to say they like the reflection of themselves residing within that object."
Listening to Vice President Sakuramiya''s pleasant voice, a sudden spark of inspiration burst into Yan Huan''s mind.
''A quality they lack...''
The breathtakingly beautiful profile of Ye Shiyu gazing at the jellyfish today involuntarily surfaced in his mind.
She had stared blankly at the bioluminescent jellyfish in the tank, watching them expel currents of water to propel themselves.
''Movement... that vibrant, lively movement.''
''Her dark eyes reflecting the glowing jellyfish in the tank, looking just like shimmering tears...''
''It seems a vital clue has finally revealed itself.''
"Thank you so much, Sakuramiya."
Yan Huan sat up straight and spoke into his Bluetooth earphones.
Although it was just a hypothesis, he finally had a solid lead.
Of course, putting it into action was a task for tomorrow.
Hearing Yan Huan''s gratitude, the female voice on the other end fell silent instead.
Then, Sakuramiya Hitomi ventured another guess.
"President, why do I get the feeling that the real question you wanted to ask wasn''t about why I like cats?"
"I''ve memorized it, Sakuramiya."
Yan Huan was a copycat, instantly mimicking her earlier lightning-fast response.
"Huh?"
"I''ve memorized why you like cats..."
Sakuramiya Hitomi sighed helplessly.
"...Well, whatever. It probably has to do with your family affairs anyway, President, so I shouldn''t pry or offer opinions. Rest early, President. I''m glad I could help."
"You too. Goodnight."
"Mhm."
The call ended. He took off the Bluetooth earphones and glanced toward the door.
''Well, there''s no knocking on the door.''
''Looks like tonight is a peaceful night?''
''That doesn''t make sense. I really thought that since she lost her item and suffered a setback tonight, she would definitely take her frustrations out on me.''
''But nothing is happening?''
''It''s better this way. Who would actually enjoy being Hypnotized?''
Yan Huan shook his head, stood up, and stretched his limbs, preparing to wash up and go to sleep.
Meanwhile, out in the corridor, Ye Shiyu, who had changed into pajamas, was walking up the stairs from the floor below, holding her mobile phone and a glass of milk.
Upon reaching the second floor, she cast a fleeting glance in the direction of Yan Huan''s room.
"..."
She seemed to hesitate, but after a moment of silence, she turned away and headed up toward the third floor.
Because tonight, she had other matters to attend to.