IRDLZ Chapter 4

Chapter 4

And so, Ming Qingqing temporarily started keeping Dandan.

Because of the kumquat Dandan had brought her, her impression of the little ugly dog who had been so fierce and wary when they first met improved considerably.

Before going to bed, she even took out two steaks to thaw, planning to feed them to the dog the next day. She also ordered dog clothes, chew toys, and a rugby ball the dog might like from JD.com, intending to send them along with Dandan to the rescue center when the time came.

Xiao Fu knew it was utterly despicable of him to be pretending to be a dog.

But the warmth radiating from the black box Ming Qingqing had prepared wrapped around him like a cozy blanket from all sides. Greedily, he warmed his hands and feet, then his head, bubbling with happiness. Though ashamed, he simply couldn’t resist the temptation.

Ever since he had fallen onto Earth as an egg, slept for a long time, and emerged from the deep mountains, he hadn’t had such a warm, full, satisfying night in ages.

He wasn’t even that sad anymore about his nest being thrown away by Ming Qingqing’s staff. At least he had managed to retrieve a few things in the chaos.

Little aliens were easily contented.

Xiao Fu lay on the floor, reading a few more pages of The Complete Book of Literacy under the warm light. When he came across a fairy tale where the two protagonists held hands and had a happy ending, his gray-blue eyes sparkled, and he held his own hands together.

Then, wrapped in warmth, he fell asleep.

…

Just as oxygen was essential for Earthlings, the people of Kelafulin depended on Element No. 335, which was extremely scarce on Earth.

This was the main reason for Xiao Fu’s physical awkwardness and the loss of some of his superpowers.

Early morning was when Element No. 335 was at its lowest concentration.

Before going to sleep, Xiao Fu had adjusted his bodily functions as well as he could, but when he woke up, half of his strength had already drained away. It was similar to the grogginess and irritability humans felt upon waking except for a Kelafulin native, the symptoms manifested as severe uncoordination.

Xiao Fu woke up, his hair sticking up wildly, and immediately fell over again.

Bleary-eyed, remnants of a sweet dream still lingering in his mind, he propped himself up like a little robot—first bracing one hand on the floor to lift his upper body, then mechanically bending one knee to get his lower body upright.

Just then, the sound of cotton slippers padding down the stairs came from the third floor.

Xiao Fu: !

Instantly awake, Xiao Fu scrambled to his feet, grabbed the Complete Book of Literacy and the spoon scattered on the floor, and vanished on the spot.

Ming Qingqing pushed open the door, carrying the dog’s breakfast bowl, surprised. She had heard noises just a moment ago—why was the dog gone again as soon as she arrived?

“Dandan?”

No answer.

Could it be that after bringing her that kumquat last night, it had already left?

Not sure what to think, Ming Qingqing set the bowl down and searched through the nearby rooms.

Crouched on the windblown rooftop, Xiao Fu’s pale neck shivered as a chill ran through him.

It turned out that even aliens weren’t immune to the human saying: it’s hard to go back to a life of poverty after experiencing comfort. After just one night sleeping next to the heater, he was already struggling to endure the bitter cold outside.

He noticed Ming Qingqing seemed to be looking for the dog.

Xiao Fu pressed his lips together dryly, a pang of guilt flashing through his heart—if she couldn’t find the dog, would she get suspicious?

Immediately, Xiao Fu grew anxious.

The human saying was right: one lie requires a hundred more to cover it up.

Xiao Fu heard Ming Qingqing call out “Dandan” and felt deeply uneasy.

He hesitated on the rooftop for a moment. Taking advantage of the fact that Ming Qingqing was still inside the villa, he slowly turned his stiff neck, scanning the surroundings. Dawn had just broken, and no one was around. Quickly, he teleported to the lawn outside the villa and used the spoon to dig several small holes in the grass, creating the illusion of a dog’s traces.

Ming Qingqing didn’t find the dog inside the villa. She put on a down jacket and opened the front door to go outside.

Then, on the lawn outside the conservatory, she spotted a few paw prints in the dirt.

There was no dog urine or feces inside the villa.

So Dandan must have done its business outside.

That dog was pretty clever.

Ming Qingqing mentally added another point in Dandan’s favor.

From afar, Xiao Fu saw her approving smile and didn’t know whether to feel ashamed or proud.

Ming Qingqing went back inside and saw the small entrance she had purposely left for Dandan in the corner of the conservatory wall—there were two tiny muddy prints there, too.

Then, from somewhere outside, she heard the sound of barking.

Relieved, she assumed Dandan was just wandering around outside and didn’t worry further.

She unscrewed her bottle of water, added a little more to Dandan’s bowl in the room, then pulled her coat tighter and went back upstairs to the third floor.

Only after the responsible, caring owner had left did Xiao Fu’s anxious heart finally settle. He exhaled a puff of white breath into the cold morning air.

His cheeks felt a little warm from having to imitate a dog’s bark.

It felt like a game of guerrilla hide-and-seek. Once he was sure Ming Qingqing wouldn’t come back, Xiao Fu clutched his treasures to his chest and slipped back into the warm room.

He looked at the few items in his arms and realized there was an urgent problem to solve.

He needed to find a new nest.

—

Ming Qingqing finished her breakfast, drank a cup of coffee, and lounged in her warm, cozy knitwear by the floor-to-ceiling window, basking in the sunlight as she finished flipping through several scripts.

Good scripts were extremely rare these days—hard to come by.

Some scripts had deeply flawed characterizations. Ming Qingqing would never take on a role just for the money, nor was she willing to haggle with the production team—she wasn’t the type to force anyone to rewrite a script. She would simply and decisively remove such scripts from her list.

After flipping through them all, only that historical drama had solid overall quality.

Ming Qingqing’s role as the female lead wasn’t particularly heavy, but the character was very interesting.

Skilled in martial arts, expressionless, carrying a deep blood feud, powerful, with a cute contrast between her stoic exterior and her inner self—and beneath it all, a soft side.

Ming Qingqing was drawn to this character. The attraction even outweighed the hassle of being pursued by Ouyang Hao.

After weighing her options, she still sent a message to Sister Jin.

Given Ming Qingqing’s status, the production team was more than eager. Although they had been in talks with a few other up-and-coming actresses, as soon as they heard Ming Qingqing was interested, they sent over the contract immediately.

And just like that, the deal was sealed.

Sister Jin sent a text: “Tomorrow, go to the audition it’s just a formality. The director is Jiang Kai. He has a lot of quirks. They’ve arranged a scene on an ice lake. It’ll be very cold. Dress warmly. I’ll come pick you up.”

Tianyu Entertainment treated Ming Qingqing like a cash cow—from the board of directors to her agent, they all put on a good show.

—

Birds could easily build nests, but finding a new nest was hard for Xiao Fu.

He wasn’t sure if he should keep staying at Ming Qingqing’s house after three days. After all, no secret could be hidden forever. No matter how well he pretended, he could never truly become Dandan.

Sooner or later, he would be discovered.

Humans would be afraid of him, he thought with sadness. He didn’t want Ming Qingqing to one day look at him with that same fear and disgust.

For now, he hid his few remaining belongings in a corner of an empty room. He planned to wait for nightfall and then go outside to search for a forest where he could take shelter.

Ming Qingqing sat by the floor-to-ceiling window, soaking up the sun.

Xiao Fu had finished the breakfast she’d left out. He clutched a book to his chest and lay on the roof, about five meters directly above her, also basking in the sunlight, occasionally swinging his feet.

It was a quiet, pleasant afternoon.

—If only Feifei hadn’t been pacing on the lawn, craning her neck in anger, arching her back, and hissing at the roof.

Feifei was an old cat, about ten years old.

She was terrified of Xiao Fu, this foreign creature. She wanted to jump up and drive him away, but without her owner Ming Qingqing around, she was too much of a coward to get close. She could only express her hostility from a distance.

If a human appeared as a solid wall in the eyes of cats and dogs, then Xiao Fu—a being with naturally sharp, eagle-like vision, hearing, and smell, along with superhuman abilities—appeared to them like a towering tsunami. Beneath that deep, dark blue surface lay unknown dangers and mysteries.

Every animal, including humans, would instinctively feel a primal fear rising from the soles of their feet in his presence.

It wasn’t because of anything he did.

It was an instinctive, bone-deep chill in the face of a powerful, unknowable being—just as humans fear earthquakes, the unfathomable darkness of night, and the rage of mountains and seas.

Or perhaps, it could be described as instinctive submission.

—But Feifei was a cat!

Cats belonged to the same family as the king of beasts. How could she be such a coward?

And so, Feifei wavered between courage and fear.

She repeatedly tugged at Ming Qingqing’s pant leg, trying to drag her toward Xiao Fu, hoping her owner would drive this creature away. But her beautiful, oblivious owner thought she was just being playful and affectionate.

Feifei was absolutely furious.

That afternoon, Feifei’s pacing caught the attention of some stray dogs on the distant mountain.

Some desperate, vicious stray dogs would attack pet cats.

Especially in such a bitter winter.

There was no food anywhere. The birds nearby had seemingly been devoured by some larger, more powerful creature. Humans had also begun implementing garbage sorting, leaving nothing edible in the trash bins.

After going hungry for so long, the dogs had become little more than skin and bones. Their eyes were bloodshot with hunger.

And then there was that plump, well-fed cat strutting about on the lawn, flaunting all that fat.

When two massive stray dogs suddenly lunged at her, closing in at a sprint, the old cat Feifei who had been fixated on staring at the roof finally realized the danger.

She turned her flat-faced Persian features in terror. The two starving, giant mutts were already upon her. The stench of their breath, like rotting fish, hit her face. Feifei’s fur exploded on end.

She sprang into the air, her bristled, thick tail barely escaping a dog’s snapping jaws.

Fear flooded her round, fat head.

“Mew mew mew—woowoo—!!!”

Hearing such a frantic scream, Ming Qingqing shot to her feet in alarm.

She sprinted downstairs.

Feifei, utterly terrified, landed on her plump rear with a thud. Even the flesh on her white belly jiggled visibly from the impact. But the anticipated pain of tearing teeth never came.

A shadow appeared in front of her, casting itself over her body.

The foul stench of the two massive stray dogs stopped or rather, was suppressed by something.

The two vicious dogs stared up at the figure before them in terror. His eyes were gray-blue, like a deep, dark ocean—bottomless. He merely stood in front of the cat, looming over them. And yet, they felt an overwhelming sense of intimidation. These were dogs that would even attack humans, yet in his presence, they began to tremble uncontrollably, their courage shattered.

From head to toe, every cell submitted.

Just then, footsteps sounded.

Suddenly, the tall figure that had been standing between the two cats and the two dogs vanished with a whoosh.

Then, in the same spot, a scrawny mutt appeared out of thin air.

The two vicious dogs: ???

Feifei: “…”

The mutt had been sleeping in its nest when it was suddenly snatched away and plopped down here, face to face with two vicious dogs: “…”

It almost peed itself again.

When Ming Qingqing came running down in a panic, this was the scene that greeted her.

Dandan was trembling, its legs shaking, but it still bravely stood in front of Feifei, facing off against the two giant dogs.

The two vicious dogs could still feel that terrifying presence lingering nearby. Suddenly, they turned tail and bolted, fleeing for their lives.

They ran.

The lawn was empty.

Ming Qingqing, nearly breathless from running, sighed in relief. She walked over, crouched down, and scooped up the cat with one arm while pulling the dog close with the other.

“Good Dandan,” she praised, vigorously ruffling the dog’s head.

Feifei: “…”

Ming Qingqing had never owned a dog before. She had always thought dogs had a strong odor, were noisy, destructive, and far less likable than cats. She had been a firm cat person.

But after this incident, her fondness for Dandan had grown to a nine out of ten. If Dandan hadn’t protected Feifei, her elderly, chubby cat might have gotten hurt.

Ming Qingqing brought the two animals inside and cooked them a hearty meal as a reward.

Although the scruffy mutt was still frightened by being suddenly transported here again, the sight of the delicious food made it bark twice before eagerly pouncing on it.

Feifei, having recovered from her initial fright, lay off to the side, her emotions mixed.

That giant creature… maybe he wasn’t so bad after all.

She lifted her head and looked up at the roof.

After a moment’s thought, she quietly picked up a piece of meat in her mouth and stealthily made her way up to the fourth-floor terrace.

Xiao Fu hadn’t expected to be accepted by Feifei like this. He quickly crouched down, almost flattered.

Feifei dropped the meat at his feet with a “pfft,” but still wouldn’t let him pet her head. She turned around, her rear end raised in a proud, aloof posture, and waddled away.

Under the sunlight, the fat cat’s body jiggled with each step—a massive, bouncy lump of fluff.

But Xiao Fu had already been well fed by Ming Qingqing’s three daily meals. Besides, it was meat that had been thrown on the ground—he wasn’t actually Dandan, and he found the idea rather off-putting. With clumsy movements, he picked up the piece of meat and slowly tore it in half. Then he got to his feet and looked around in the distance, searching for any sign of the two vicious dogs.

He fed the meat to the dogs and lured them toward the vicinity of the rescue center.

The sun set.

By the time Xiao Fu finished his tasks and teleported back to the rooftop, Ming Qingqing was trying to play fetch with the scruffy mutt.

Just yesterday, the way she had looked at the mutt was somewhat reluctant. But today, her eyes were full of affection and reluctance to let it go.

The book she had brought down had been torn into shreds by the mutt, yet she didn’t mind at all.

She even brought down a few boring magazines for the mutt to play with.

She also brought a rugby ball. On the lawn, she tossed it out, signaling Dandan to fetch it—

But the scruffy mutt was clearly impatient with this game. It simply turned its head away and continued tearing up the book.

Come on, she wasn’t its owner.

Still, Ming Qingqing remained patient and gentle. She rubbed the dog’s head and encouraged it, “Good Dandan! Don’t be afraid. Try stretching your legs and running on the lawn?”

Xiao Fu crouched on the roof of the opposite villa, watching in a daze.

Once again, he felt a surge of envy toward a dog.

If her hand were to gently thread through his hair, that touch would surely be warm and soft…

Wait. Stop.

What was he thinking?

Kelafulins were not like Earthlings. Not just anyone could be a suitable mate.

To some extent, Kelafulin emotions were nearly indifferent. They rarely developed feelings for anyone.

For example, if a Kelafulin adult male stood there, and even if a hundred of the most beautiful women in the universe ran at him naked to embrace him, the only thought in his mind would be, “Why aren’t these people wearing any clothes? Has the Federation run a budget deficit this year? Are we going to war again?” He wouldn’t have any other emotions or thoughts.

But when it came to their destined person, Kelafulins would offer—as if in sacrifice—their utmost love, intense emotions, soul, life, and even their blood.

In short, a Kelafulin would have only one destined person in their entire lifetime. Besides that person, no one else would do.

For that person, they would guard them until death.

And the way to identify that person was through the onset of “fever.”

Kelafulin men and women would experience a susceptible period once a month.

This was a natural physiological state. During these few days, their abilities and physical condition would be somewhat weakened.

But only upon encountering their destined person would a Kelafulin “heat up” during their susceptible period—their pupils would turn deep blue, almost black, their entire body would grow hot and weak, and their blood, even every cell, would cry out to draw close to that person.

…Much like the effects of a love potion in human romance novels.

Xiao Fu quickly raised his less-than-agile hand and touched his chest.

Good. No fever.

Not that hot.

He breathed a sigh of relief.

At the same time, he felt a strange, inexplicable guilt about these small thoughts of his.

He couldn’t help but avoid glancing at Ming Qingqing anymore—the one playing with the dog on the lawn, dressed in a loose white knit, bathed in sunlight.

Dandan, for some reason, didn’t want to play with her. Ming Qingqing felt a bit disappointed.

It was as if her fondness for it had reached ninety percent, but its acceptance of her was still at zero.

Xiao Fu told himself not to look, but his eyes couldn’t help sneaking one last glance.

He saw the emotion in Ming Qingqing’s eyes.

Ming Qingqing stood up and tried tossing the rugby ball one last time.

But Dandan didn’t give her so much as a glance, burying its head in destroying the book.

Being ignored, Ming Qingqing scratched her head, let the dog play by itself, scooped up the napping Feifei, and turned to go back inside.

But after walking a few steps, nearly reaching the door…

Suddenly, she felt a gust of wind behind her.

Ming Qingqing turned around.

There, behind her, stood the scruffy mutt with the rugby ball in its mouth.

Ming Qingqing was overjoyed: ?

Was this the power of love and devotion?! Had Dandan finally decided to get a little closer to her?

Ming Qingqing felt that owning a dog was truly a joy.

Meanwhile, the scruffy mutt, with a ball mercilessly shoved into its mouth by the elusive young man and a look of utter terror on its face: “…%&%&”

Having grown closer to Dandan, Ming Qingqing was clearly delighted. When she cooked dinner, she made a large pot of ribs and beef. But when she brought the plate over for the evening meal, Dandan had vanished again.

Ming Qingqing had grown accustomed to this clever dog’s mysterious disappearances.

She brought a pile of old scripts into Dandan’s room. Her attitude had shifted from yesterday’s reluctance to “a grandmother’s doting indulgence.” Since the dog loved tearing up books, she’d let it tear them up. What bad intentions could a little dog have?

But the next morning, when Ming Qingqing got up early to deliver breakfast and collect the plates, she noticed something.

The food on the plate had been eaten, but the books on the floor showed only faint signs of being flipped through—and no signs of being torn at all.

Ming Qingqing looked at the books on the floor.

Logically, there was a simple explanation: maybe the dog had gotten tired of tearing up books.

But for some reason, she felt a vague sense that something was off—a subtle, woman’s intuition.

It was as if…

There were two Dandans. One tore up books and didn’t understand human speech, while the other didn’t tear up books and was incredibly intelligent.

—

AUTHOR’S NOTE: Xiao Fu: I’m the Dandan who doesn’t tear up books.