CH 42

TL: Moonlit

However, at this moment, both the human and the dormouse felt incredibly content. Yu Jin felt like he was embracing a sturdy mouse leg, amazed by the fact that it could grow to be 1.8 meters tall. The feeling of holding onto such a powerful support was truly amazing. Unbeknownst to him, he had become wealthier than an entire base without realizing it.

Yu Jin returned to his bedroom and neatly arranged the eleven simulators on the table. He took one from the middle, twisted it, and a crisp sound of the cube turning could be heard. The simulator emitted a bright blue light, and simultaneously, a screen appeared in the air with a simple prompt: “Please place the simulator in a space of at least 3x3x3 dimensions or larger.”

Yu Jin took a few steps back, away from the bed, and found a suitable spot to place the simulator.

The screen on the simulator changed accordingly: “Keep a distance of at least 3x3x3 dimensions from the simulator.”

Once Yu Jin moved to the required distance, the cube-shaped simulator began to expand. Each small cube corresponded to its own position and function. In just a minute, the simulator returned to its normal size, revealing a simulation chamber large enough for an adult to lie in comfortably.

Eagerly, Yu Jin lay down inside. After six long months, the internet-addicted teenager finally experienced the sensation of being connected online again, although it was strictly limited. He could only passively browse the areas approved by the Star Alliance System.

Yu Jin closed his eyes, and the scanning process of the simulator was complete. It connected to his consciousness, and at the same time, a virtual screen appeared in his mind. In the top right corner of the screen, there was a string of numbers: 1199 “7186” 33200011.

Yu Jin quickly realized that this was the self-destruct countdown of the simulator, set for a duration of five hundred days.

Due to different production batches and deployment times, the self-destruct timers of the simulators varied. However, Yu Jin wasn’t concerned about the specific time anymore, as he had already experienced the simulators’ capabilities.

In his bedroom, Yu Jin tinkered with the simulator, while Shu Shuishui worked on his purification array. Shu Shuishui calculated the optimal purification quantity for each energy stone in the array, as well as the minimum amount of spirit stones required for each activation, and he estimated the time needed for purification.

Considering that they might depart in less than two days and that it would be inconvenient to move such a large array, Shu Shuishui ultimately decided to wait until they reached his designated spot to proceed with the purification.

However, Gu Langu, mentioning the option of bringing flowerpots during the journey, meant that Shu Shuishui could engage in planting. Thinking about the purple tree cake they had for breakfast, Shu Shuishui decided that planting purple sweet potatoes was a must. As for other crops, rice wouldn’t be suitable due to the bumpy road, and corn was too tall and unsuitable as well.

Shu Shuishui didn’t hesitate for long and decided that since he would be sitting in the co-pilot seat, they could bring three flowerpots in the back of the car. One pot for planting purple sweet potatoes, another for wheat, and one for chives. Although he would need to grind the wheat he grew into flour using his small grinding stone, Shu Shuishui suddenly had a craving for chive-filled pancakes.

With the planting plan finalized, the action-oriented dormouse grabbed his little shovel and headed out. The people in the base couldn’t help but glance at him, feeling somewhat lazy themselves and thinking that a mouse was more industrious than they were.

Shu Shuishui found a spot with good soil and threw the small shovel to the side before using his paws to dig into the ground. The small shovel wasn’t as effective as his own paws, and soon a small pile of loose soil had accumulated on the ground.

After carefully inspecting the soil and ensuring there were no insect eggs or weed seeds, Shu Shuishui took out three identical flowerpots from his spiritual storage and placed them in the dug holes. He then pushed the surrounding soil into the pots.

He repeated this process twice more until all three flowerpots were filled with soil. Satisfied, Shu Shuishui returned the flowerpots to his spiritual storage and picked up the small shovel again. Singing a joyful tune, he made his way back to the base.

When Shu Shuishui returned to the base, it was just around noon. Seeing the mouse carrying the shovel, some people praised him while others were curious, realizing that even mice needed shovels for digging.

Little did they know, the only reason Shu Shuishui brought a small shovel was for the ceremonial feeling of digging. Thus, he carried the shovel with him.

As he entered the gate, Gu Langu greeted him and lifted the soil-covered Shu Shuishui with his hands. It was Shu Shuishui who was careful, sitting quietly and obediently in Gu Langu’s palm, so as not to shake off any dirt. “I want to take a bath.”

Gu Langu carried Shu Shuishui upstairs and headed straight to the bathroom. Seeing Gu Langu about to turn on the faucet in the bathtub, Shu Shuishui stood up and stepped on Gu Langu’s palm with his little paws, pointing to the sink. “I’ll use that one. This bathtub wastes too much water!”

“It’s okay, I also want to take a bath.” Gu Langu rubbed Shu Shuishui’s small head. Shu Shuishui lifted his paw and lightly touched Gu Langu’s hand.

Thus, what was initially Shu Shuishui’s bath turned into a shared bath between the two of them.

Before jumping into the bathtub, Shu Shuishui stood on the edge and shook his fur vigorously, trying to shake off all the soil on his body. Although he could have taken a sand bath, Shu Shuishui, being an enlightened dormouse, had no fear of water and naturally enjoyed bathing.

Shaking off the soil, Shu Shuishui transformed into a fluffy ball and then leaped into the water in a parabolic motion with a splash.

Gu Langu rested his arms on the sides of the bathtub, appearing very relaxed. However, his gaze followed the warm brown mass in the water.

Underwater, propelled by inertia, the little dormouse swam a short distance before kicking his small feet and resurfacing. The fluffy ball of fur had visibly reduced in size.

Shu Shuishui turned his head to look around and realized that the sides of the bathtub were too high for him to dock. Eventually, he redirected his attention to Gu Langu’s knee, which he had propped up.

After a while, a small dormouse was sitting on Gu Langu’s knee, washing and creating bubbles. Once he finished washing, he looked down at Gu Langu’s knee and began washing it too.

Gu Langu: “…”

For Shu Shuishui, Gu Langu’s knee was like a small island. After creating bubbles around himself, Shu Shuishui, completely surrounded by white foam, was determined to take out his bathing companion from his spiritual storage, a special mini rubber duck.

Placing the rubber duck on the water’s surface, he used his paw to push it, attempting to bring the little duck closer to Gu Langu. However, due to the water’s disturbance, the rubber duck bobbed up and down, moving slowly.

Shu Shuishui decided to slide into the water and swam toward Gu Langu with the little rubber duck. “This is for Gu Gu. If Gu Gu ever feels scared bathing alone, you can use this to keep you company.”

The little rubber duck had been Shu Shuishui’s companion for a very long time, and he would always bring it out whenever he took a bath. However, as a responsible pet owner, Shu Shuishui believed that caring for his pet’s well-being was important too.

Gu Langu reached out and held the small rubber duck. It was really small, even smaller than Shu Shuishui. Gu Langu lowered his head and looked at the hazelnut necklace around his neck. In the end, he returned the little rubber duck to Shu Shuishui. “You keep it, Shui Shui. When I feel scared, having you with me is enough.”

Shu Shuishui felt that something wasn’t quite right, but upon further thought, it made sense. So he nodded his little head in agreement.

Life is about accumulating unlimited happiness within limited time. Neither Shu Shuishui nor Gu Langu were in a hurry, and even Yu Jin, who would usually call them for meals, didn’t appear today.

In the bathtub, from a floating yellow rubber duck to a floating fruit platter, on which sat a little dormouse peeling an orange. With his sharp little claws, he effortlessly opened the orange, and the peels he removed remained in perfect shape. Shu Shuishui didn’t waste them either—he simply cut some zigzag shapes and placed them on his own little head, turning them into a hat.

Shu Shuishui stared at his suddenly orange-yellow head on the plate and noticed that it had tilted backward. “Gu Gu, do you want it?”

Naturally, Gu Langu nodded.

Shu Shuishui looked at the other half of the orange peel in his paw, then looked at Gu Langu’s head, feeling a bit unsure. How big of an orange would be needed to fit? Suddenly, his little ears twitched, and he took out a round, rolling, emerald-green watermelon from his spiritual storage.

The watermelon sank but soon floated back up due to buoyancy, gently rolling in the water. Shu Shuishui tapped the watermelon with his paw. “This one is big enough! Wait, I’ll go cut the watermelon, and soon Gu Gu will have a fruit-scented hat to wear.”

Saying that, the little dormouse was about to push the watermelon toward Gu Langu’s knee.

Gu Langu: “…” Can he still back out now?

Gu Langu didn’t know the answer because, in the end, he couldn’t refuse. He wanted the hat, even if it meant wearing a watermelon peel.

Shu Shuishui and Gu Langu only ate half of the watermelon. The other half was put back into the spiritual storage. Shu Shuishui patted his round little belly, wearing the orange hat on his head, half lying on the fruit platter, satisfied and let out a belch.

As for Gu Langu, he wasn’t sure if it was his imagination, but he felt as if he could faintly smell the scent of watermelon peel. While eating the watermelon, he seemed to taste a hint of sweetness.

That’s how it went, one human and one dormouse, one with an orange peel on their head and the other with a watermelon peel. They lingered and frolicked in the bathroom for over an hour. Fortunately, neither of them were normal humans, otherwise, they probably wouldn’t have been able to endure such a long time.

After a relaxing bath, it was time for a nap.

Gu Langu closed the curtains and lay down on the bed, accompanied by Shu Shuishui’s voice wishing him a good nap. As for the watermelon and orange peel hats, since they couldn’t be preserved, they naturally had to be thrown away. Seeing Gu Langu’s reluctant expression before discarding them, Shu Shuishui comforted him, “It’s okay, Gu Gu, don’t be sad. I still have plenty of watermelons and seeds. When we arrive at the Fengshui treasure land, we can plant them.”

Gu Langu, perplexed by the fact that he had actually worn a watermelon peel while bathing, silently looked at the watermelon peels a few more times without saying a word.

They slept through the night and when Shu Shuishui woke up, he found himself the only one in the bedroom. It was only after going downstairs that he realized Nan Ge had returned, and he was injured. Standing beside him was Nan Di, who was explaining the situation to Yu Jin and Gu Langu with an indignant expression. Wait, it’s Nan Fang, not Nan Di. This time, there was no tabby cat by Nan Fang’s side, indicating that they had just arrived and hadn’t had a chance to join them.

According to Nan Fang, their squad didn’t come across any simulators, so theoretically, they shouldn’t have encountered any major danger. However, for some reason, they were suddenly attacked by unidentified individuals, and judging by their skills, those people were professionally trained. Nan Ge led a team of ten people, but only four of them returned.

“Their actions were more than just captured prisoners. They seemed like professional assassins. I’m afraid they were targeting the boss. We circled around for a couple more days to shake them off, and although it seems like we managed to lose them, I think it’s better to leave early,” Nan Ge keenly observed. This group of people was most likely after Gu Langu, and judging by their appearance, they had recently arrived on Cang Zhan Star.

Shu Shuishui had already moved over and climbed onto the table, watching Gu Langu bandaging Nan Ge’s wound. Gu Langu’s skills were impeccable, like the perfect surgeon, never making a single mistake. Although Shu Shuishui didn’t see the wound with his own eyes, he could tell it was quite serious from the bloodstains on the bandage. He reached out his paw and gently tapped Nan Ge’s fist. “Don’t be afraid, Gu Gu will protect you, and I’ll protect Gu Gu.”

Nan Ge, who had been tense for a long time, couldn’t help but smile upon hearing that. With his uninjured hand, he gently touched Shu Shuishui’s little head. “Okay.”

Shu Shuishui pointed at Nan Ge’s bandage. “Does it hurt? If it hurts, I’ll blow on it, and it won’t hurt anymore!” With that, the little dormouse bent over and gently blew air onto Nan Ge’s bandaged area. Everyone else… couldn’t help but find this posture of puffing up his little butt to blow air quite cute!

However, Shu Shuishui only blew twice before Gu Langu grabbed him by the back of his neck and lifted him up. “Shui Shui, you don’t need to do that anymore. He’s not in pain.”

Shu Shuishui looked at Nan Ge. “Really?”

Nan Ge stared at Gu Langu’s gaze, still wearing a gentle smile. “Not in pain.”

Nan Fang thought to himself, “…” He would bet a cat’s fur that his big brother was lying! His bones were misaligned, who would believe that he wasn’t in pain?

Shu Shuishui believed him. “Then let me know if it hurts, and I’ll blow on it.”

As Shu Shuishui was carried away by Gu Langu, his four little paws dangling in the air, he didn’t forget to shout, “I’ll make breakfast today and take care of the injured!”