vstars Chapter 74 An unexpected encounter with Xiao 9 at the beach
Chapter 74 An unexpected encounter with Xiao 9 at the beach
Yuan Bao pulled his mother toward the seafood table, saying as they walked, "Mom, we're having a seafood buffet today. Look, there are all kinds of fresh seafood. Take whatever you like and pick as much as you want."
Looking at the dazzling array of seafood, Aunt Yuan was a little overwhelmed and quickly waved her hand, saying, "I don't know anything about these things. You young people know what's good to eat, so just take what you want. I'll just try some of the fresh seafood."
Yuan Bao didn't refuse and moved between the food tables with Bao Guo.
Before long, their table was laden with a sumptuous feast: plump crabs with hard shells, thick legs, and tender, juicy meat inside, as if they contained the essence of the sea; fresh oysters with plump, meaty flesh, even more tempting under the lemon juice; bouncy, smooth shrimp, translucent and delicious whether boiled or dipped in sauce; and various exquisite sushi, colorful and appetizing.
After everyone had collected their food and returned to their seats, Yuan Bao poured each person a refreshing glass of juice, the air filled with steam and the aroma of fruit.
Looking at her family sitting together, Yuan Ma's eyes were full of love: "It's been a long time since our family has gathered together for a meal like this. Bao Ya is so successful now, and she even takes her older brother with her. Xiao Zhi is so sensible and obedient. My heart is sweeter than honey."
Bao Guo smiled and replied, "Mom, this is just the beginning. Our lives will definitely get better and better in the future. Once the vision recovery pill project is completed, we'll take you to travel all over the country and eat all the local delicacies."
Xiao Zhi chimed in from the side, "Yes, Grandma, I want to take you to ride a big airplane, see the sea, and catch crabs!" Yuan Ma smiled so hard her eyes narrowed into slits, praising Xiao Zhi for being so good.
As they were talking, everyone started eating and enjoying the delicious food.
Yuan Baogang picked up a crab and eagerly broke off a leg, his eyes shining with excitement as if he had discovered a treasure.
But she used too much force, and some crab roe splashed onto her face, making her look like a little kitten. She was completely unaware of this, and was only focused on stuffing crab meat into her mouth, chewing and praising indistinctly, "This crab meat is so fresh, Mom, Big Brother, Xiao Zhi, you should try it."
Xiao Zhi was just as impressive. He stared at a plate of sushi, his eyes wide like saucers. With lightning speed, he grabbed the biggest piece of sushi, opened his "blood-red mouth," and took a bite. The sushi was so big that his mouth was stuffed full, his cheeks puffed out like a little hamster. He swallowed hard a few times before managing to swallow it. Then he devoured several more, his mouth covered in rice grains, which he would occasionally stick out his little tongue to lick, making everyone laugh.
Yuan Bao would peel a shrimp for his mother every now and then, and Bao Guo would carefully help Xiao Zhi open the crab shell. The family was happy and harmonious.
Halfway through the meal, soft background music suddenly filled the restaurant; it turned out a customer had requested a song. The melodious singing added a touch of romance to the dining experience.
Ash looked around curiously, while happily munching on a crab leg.
Just as Yuan Bao was enjoying his meal, he heard Xiao Jiu's plaintive voice: "My lord, isn't it delicious?"
"Mmm, it's good, the crab meat and legs are especially delicious!" Yuan Bao hadn't yet noticed Xiao 9's dissatisfaction.
"My lady, when are you going to let me appear in front of your family? I want to eat too!" Little 9, the foodie, couldn't resist and made the request directly.
"Huh? Little 9, aren't all those fresh sea fishing trips in the space enough for you?" Yuan Bao asked, puzzled.
"My lady, do you know the best way to eat? It's when you're sharing with a group of like-minded people, and you're practically fighting over the food. That's when it feels the most special, you know?"
"Oh, it seems like that!" Yuan Bao continued to tease Xiao 9.
At this moment, with family, delicious food, and Xiao Jiu, time seemed to stand still. Yuan Bao felt all his worries were left behind, and the family was tightly united, enveloped in this strong sense of kinship and joy.
After the meal, Yuan Bao paid the bill, and the family left the restaurant satisfied.
A cool night breeze blew in, and Yuan Bao said, "Let's go for a drive." The new car started again and slowly drove into the city night.
Soon, the new car slowly moved along the coastal road. With the windows half open, the sea breeze, carrying the unique salty and humid scent of the ocean, slowly flowed in, gently caressing everyone's faces like a pair of gentle hands, sweeping away the heat and fatigue of the day.
Yuan Bao squinted contentedly, enjoying this moment of peace and comfort. After a while, she turned to her family and suggested, "How about we get out of the car and take a walk? The night view by the sea is so beautiful. Let's feel the breeze, take a stroll, and digest our food." Her family members all nodded in agreement.
Yuan Bao parked the car steadily in a nearby parking lot, and the family strolled slowly along the seaside path.
The moonlight spilled onto the sea, making it sparkle like countless tiny diamonds. The waves gently lapped against the shore, making a pleasant "whoosh" sound, as if they were softly singing a song of the sea.
As Yuan Bao walked, she casually tossed her hair with her hand, but unbeknownst to others, she was secretly plotting with Xiao 9 in her mind.
“Little 9, why don’t you show up somewhere where no one’s around, and let Xiao Zhi pick you up and take you back, okay?” Yuan Bao’s tone was sly.
"Should I make myself look dirty and miserable so that I look more like a pitiful abandoned child and can arouse Xiao Zhi's sympathy?" Xiao 9's voice rang in Yuan Bao's mind, with a hint of playfulness.
"Little 9, not bad, you really know how to do it. I didn't even think of that. Let's do it this way. Just improvise and don't give yourself away." Yuan Bao's lips curled up slightly, already envisioning the interesting scene that would follow.
The family strolled around for a while longer, and then Yuan Bao, seizing the opportunity, gave Xiao 9 a wink, signaling that it could move.
Little 9 understood immediately and quickly hid behind a pile of rocks not far away, beginning to carefully "dress up" itself.
A short while later, a small, dusty, and "scarred" little 9 appeared on the beach. Its body trembled slightly, and it made a weak sound, as if it was asking passersby for help.
At this moment, Ash was running happily ahead, trying to find treasure among the rocks.
Turning his head, his gaze was immediately drawn to the pitiful little 9 nestled among the rocks.
Xiao Zhi's eyes widened, his face filled with surprise and heartache. He quickly ran over, squatted down, and carefully cradled Little 9 in his hands, shouting loudly, "Mom, Mom, come quick! There's an injured little thing here!"
Yuan Bao feigned surprise and quickly walked over, a barely perceptible smile flashing in his eyes: "Oh dear, what is this? Xiao Zhi, be careful not to hurt it."
Xiao Zhi reached out and gently stroked Xiao 9, his eyes reddening: "Mom, it looks so pitiful. Does it have no home and can't find anything to eat? Let's save it and take it home."
Little 9 was quite clever; it responded to Ash with a few pitiful meows at just the right moment: "Meow, meow."
Bao Guo and Yuan Ma also came over. Bao Guo frowned and examined it carefully: "This little thing is all dirty. Could it have been abandoned? We can take it back and raise it. It's fate that we met it. But before we take it back, we should find a place to clean it up."
Aunt Yuan chimed in, "Yes, yes, poor little thing. We can't just stand by and watch it die. Let's clean it up first."
Little Nine meowed a few times at just the right moment, as a response.
Seeing that the time was right, Yuan Bao nodded in agreement: "Okay, let's take it back and see if we can cure it."
Then, she took out a wet wipe from her bag and started wiping Xiao Jiu. Xiao Jiu's cat-like panda appearance quickly appeared in front of the family. Yuan Bao then took out a towel that Xiao Zhi usually used, wrapped Xiao Jiu up, and handed it to Xiao Zhi.
Xiao Zhi immediately hugged Xiao 9 tightly in his arms as if he had found a treasure, and ran back to the car, saying all the while, "Little guy, don't be afraid, you'll stay with me from now on, I'll protect you."
Yuan Bao directly guided Xiao Zhi: "Xiao Zhi, let's give this little thing a name. Let's call it Xiao 9. 9 is a homophone for 'save', and Xiao 9 sounds affectionate too."
"Great! Great! Little Nine, I saved you! From now on, you're our Little Nine!" Xiao Zhi was very happy; he now had a playmate to keep him company.
Little 9, nestled in Xiao Zhi's arms, secretly winked at Yuan Bao. This "bitter trick" was a complete success, and Yuan Bao was secretly delighted, knowing that there would be even more joy in the house now.
After returning home, Xiao Zhi first asked Yuan Bao to give Xiao Jiu a good bath. Then he wiped and dried Xiao Jiu's fur before getting busy again.
His mind was filled with thoughts of providing a comfortable home for Little 9, and he kept muttering, "Little 9 is injured, it needs to sleep comfortably so it can recover quickly."
He first rushed into his room, rummaged through drawers and cabinets and found a small cardboard box that had been unused for a long time. The box originally contained some old toys, but now it had become the perfect material for building a cat bed.
Xiao Zhi dragged the cardboard box to the center of the living room and carefully cleaned out the clutter inside. He also repeatedly wiped away the dust with wet wipes, afraid that even the slightest bit of dirt would disturb Xiao 9.
Then, he ran to the wardrobe, struggled to open the door, and rummaged through a pile of clothes to find an old cotton-padded jacket that he had worn as a child.
The cotton-padded jacket was so soft and fluffy. Xiao Zhi hugged it to his chest with a grin, thinking: "This will definitely be a super warm mattress for Little 9." He laid the jacket flat on the bottom of the cardboard box and carefully pressed it down with his hands to make sure every corner was flat and comfortable enough.
Yuan Bao, Bao Guo, and Yuan's mother watched Xiao Zhi bustling around, their faces beaming with doting smiles.
Yuan's mother couldn't help but say, "Xiao Zhi is such a kind-hearted child, he cares so much about this little guy."
Bao Guo nodded in agreement, "Yeah, look how serious he is, he'll definitely be a sweet guy in the future."
Ash completely ignored his family's comments; at that moment, his world consisted only of Little Nine's cat bed.
He muttered to himself, "Little 9 must be happy every day living in such a soft little nest."
In no time, a cozy and adorable cat bed was completed. Ash carefully picked up Little Nine and gently placed it in the cat bed, whispering, "Little Nine, this is your home from now on. Rest well."
Little 9 curled up in its soft nest, blinked its eyes, seemingly expressing its gratitude to Ash. Ash looked at it and smiled even more brightly.
The day ended perfectly. Before going to bed, Yuan Bao was thinking to himself that he had bought a car today and didn't have much money left. He would need to exchange some money from the game.