Pats Little Shrike's Tail - Chapter 6

Chapter 6

The little fat sparrow tilted its fluffy little head and blinked its black eyes, seeming unaware that this was its new name.

Shen Qingyi looked at its clueless expression and smiled. She used her long, fair fingers to gently stroke the white feathers on Shan Ling’s cheek and said in a soft, calm voice, “From now on, you’ll be called Little Fatty. How does that sound?”

“Chirp?”

Shan Ling was shocked. In her mind, she was not fat. What did she do to make Shen Qingyi think she was fat?!

“Chirp, chirp, chirp!”

Shan Ling flapped its black and white wings, hopping on Shen Qingyi’s shoulder and shouting, “You’re the little fatty! I have a name! My name is Shan Ling, not Little Fatty!”

Shen Qingyi couldn’t understand its words. She thought Shan Ling really liked the name and her eyes were full of smiles.

“Then it’s settled,” Shen Qingyi said, patting Shan Ling’s little head. “From now on, you’ll stay with me.”

Shan Ling, who had been angrily hopping around, instantly quieted down when it heard it could stay. It even chirped twice, hopped over with its slender legs, and pecked at the stray hair near Shen Qingyi’s temple.

Okay, it’s a deal. I’m staying here. You can’t go back on your word.

For some reason, Shen Qingyi suddenly felt the emotions of the little bird in front of her. It was a very subtle feeling, as if the other party could really understand her words, comprehend her thoughts, and was willing to stay with her. This awareness made Shen Qingyi a little confused. She looked at the little fat bird on her shoulder with a calm gaze.

It must be a misconception.

Shen Qingyi lowered her eyes. How lonely was she to believe that a bird was willing to live with her forever? Since that incident, Shen Qingyi knew that no one could stay by her side forever. She was like a ticking time bomb that would harm everyone who loved her. Instead of regretting it later, it was better to cut off those feelings from the beginning. Living alone was hard, but it was better than everyone around her dying.

Shen Qingyi reached out and gently stroked Shan Ling’s back. The little creature shivered comfortably and then hopped over to her again.

Shen Qingyi spent the entire night restoring the book, and Shan Ling quietly sat on her shoulder, keeping her company.

As night fell, Shen Qingyi once again met the fair-skinned, delicate girl in her dream. This time, she didn’t panic. Instead, she let the other party get close to her with a clear conscience. Although she didn’t know why she kept dreaming of her recently, the girl seemed to have appeared out of thin air. She always nestled up to her and, even though she did nothing, made Shen Qingyi feel an ineffable emotion. It was like a well that had been dry for more than a decade suddenly welcoming a rainfall, nourishing the parched land again.

The dry well could only endure, waiting for the rain to stop.

…

The weekend was a day of clear weather. Shan Ling hopped around in her cage. Because the weather was so good, the warm autumn sun bathed the balcony in a golden glow. Shan Ling was excited early in the morning. She loved the sunshine, and she could also feel that she would be able to transform in two more days.

“Chirp~”

Shan Ling stepped on the perch in the cage and said to the flowers on the balcony, “Just wait two more days, and I’ll be able to water and fertilize you!” Although it would be cold winter after autumn, Shan Ling believed that if she put in a little more effort, these flowers would survive until next spring.

Shan Ling hopped around on the perch in a good mood. She was very happy that she was about to transform. She wondered if Shen Qingyi would be scared when she saw her transform. Shan Ling rubbed her little claws and thought about a plan. It would be bad if she scared her.

Just as Shan Ling was thinking about what to do, she heard a sound from the bedroom. Shen Qingyi was awake. Shen Qingyi, wearing a black nightgown, walked out of the room. As soon as she looked up, she saw the little fat bird hopping around in the cage, sparkling like a little sun under the golden morning light.

“Chirp~”

Good morning! What a beautiful day!

Shan Ling stood on the perch and greeted her. It’s the weekend, and the weather is so nice. Let’s do some spring cleaning together!

Being clean was a necessary skill for every little sparrow, and Shan Ling was no exception. She liked a clean and warm environment and loved to bask in the sun. She was a cute and clean little bird.

Shen Qingyi glanced at the time. It was only seven in the morning. Shen Qingyi had been busy with work last night and didn’t go to bed until after 1 a.m. In the early morning, she heard a little chatterbox on the balcony ‘chirping’ non-stop. This was the first time she had ever been woken up by a bird. She thought the little fatty was hungry, so she got up to check on it.

The little fat bird in the cage was happy to see Shen Qingyi come over, but it still obediently stayed on the perch, waiting for Shen Qingyi to open the cage.

“Chirp~”

As soon as the cage was opened, Shan Ling flapped her little wings and flew out, landing steadily on Shen Qingyi’s shoulder, then nudging her with her little head. Shen Qingyi couldn’t help but laugh. She thought this clingy little fat bird was too cute.

“Someone is coming to clean today. They’ll be here around nine.” Shen Qingyi looked at the little fat bird clinging to her like a puppy. She reached out and rubbed its little head, asking, “Do you want to stay in the cage or come to the study with me?”

Shan Ling was stunned. She raised her little head to look at her, tilting it. Someone is coming?

“Chirp, chirp.”

Can’t we clean together?

Shan Ling rubbed her little claws on Shen Qingyi’s shoulder uneasily. I’m very good at housework, and I want to clean with you.

Shen Qingyi rubbed the little fat bird’s head and said after thinking for a moment, “You should stay in the cage. There are too many things in the study. I’ll let you out after she leaves.”

So, Shan Ling, who had been out for less than five minutes, was locked back in the cage. Shan Ling held on to the cage, looking longingly at Shen Qingyi as she went to do other things. She couldn’t help but chirp twice, wanting her to come back, but Shen Qingyi had already gone into the bathroom to wash up.

Crying without tears while holding on to the cage, Shan Ling flew back to the perch in frustration, shrinking her little head and listlessly basking in the sun. She had thought she could stay with Shen Qingyi all weekend, but it turned out to be worse than a workday. The little fat bird let out a long sigh and decided to take a good look at who this “person” was.

After washing up, Shen Qingyi refilled Shan Ling’s food and water and even fed her some mealworms. Then she went back to her study to work. Only Shan Ling kept staring at the front door, waiting for the person who had ruined her weekend.

A few minutes after nine, there was a knock on the door. Shen Qingyi came out of her study, opened the door, and let the person in. Shan Ling quickly flew to the side of the cage and strained her neck to get a good look at the person.

“Aunt Jiang.”

“Yi Yi, why are you up so early today?”

Before the person even came in, Shan Ling heard a voice. The person seemed to be in her forties, and her voice was a little old but still very energetic.

Aunt Jiang walked in from the door, looked around the living room, and immediately saw the birdcage on the balcony and Shan Ling inside.

“Oh my, you have a bird now?” Aunt Jiang was a little surprised. She looked at Shen Qingyi and said with a gentle look in her eyes, “Your father was always worried that you would be lonely by yourself. I didn’t expect you to get a pet.”

Shen Qingyi didn’t want to say much, but Aunt Jiang had been the long-time housekeeper for her family and had taken care of her for a long time, so she went along with her words.

“Mhmm,” Shen Qingyi nodded. “It makes the house more lively to have a pet.”

“Yes, yes.” Aunt Jiang changed her shoes and walked to the balcony with a smile to look at Shan Ling. And Shan Ling looked down at her.

The “Aunt Jiang” in front of her was in her forties and a little plump, with a fair and chubby round face. Aunt Jiang was the kind of slightly overweight middle-aged woman you could see anywhere on the street, with a short, permed, curly hair. Because she was a little plump, she looked especially kind and friendly.

Shan Ling chirped twice at Aunt Jiang. Hello, Auntie~

Aunt Jiang listened to Shan Ling’s crisp chirps and couldn’t help but smile. She turned to Shen Qingyi and said, “Your little fat bird’s chirps are so nice. They sound like a song.”

Shan Ling was also very happy to be complimented by a stranger. She chirped twice again. Auntie, your voice is very nice too~

Shen Qingyi was also in a good mood. She looked up at the little white fatty in the cage and, for once, curled her lips into a smile. “Yes, it’s very cute.”

Then Shen Qingyi told Aunt Jiang how she found Shan Ling. After listening, Aunt Jiang liked the little fat bird even more.

“You two have a connection. Otherwise, how would you have found it?” Aunt Jiang said to Shen Qingyi, “You’ve been all alone for so many years. Now that you have a pet, it will be better.”

Shan Ling chirped twice in the cage. I’ll be fine once I can turn into a human, Auntie. You don’t have to worry~

Shen Qingyi seemed not to want to continue the conversation. She lowered her eyes and said calmly, “Aunt Jiang, I have some work to do today. I’m going to the study in a bit.”

Aunt Jiang knew Shen Qingyi didn’t like to hear her say these things. She sighed softly. “I’m getting old, always saying things you don’t like to hear. You go and be busy with your work. I’ll let you know when I’m done with the housework. I’ll make you some braised pork ribs for lunch, the kind you loved when you were a child, okay?”

Shen Qingyi looked at Aunt Jiang. In fact, she no longer liked braised pork ribs. Aunt Jiang still thought she had the same taste as when she was a child.

“Okay.” Shen Qingyi didn’t say anything more. She just said calmly, “You don’t have to clean around Little Fatty. I’ll do it myself.”

Aunt Jiang nodded, put down her things, and started doing housework. Shen Qingyi also went into her study. Shan Ling didn’t understand why the atmosphere had been so strange. She now stood on the perch, rubbing her claws. Sigh, I really want to go out and play!

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