Love in Cthulhu

Chapter 24 Though the feelings may be feigned, the intentions must be genuine.

Both of them simultaneously went into a state of malfunction, and it was mentioned so casually, as if it were just something casually mentioned during a casual chat.

They all thought the affair was well hidden under the cover of their childhood sweethearts, but why did the other person speak with such unwavering conviction that they had seen through everything?
Zhou Nan suddenly realized that he had been overlooking a problem all along: yes, their two families were neighbors, and it was normal for the children to visit each other.

But whenever Jianxi's mother bought something for her, no matter how expensive it was, it was always two of everything. This was clearly beyond what a normal neighborly relationship should be like, especially since their family wasn't well-off back then.

So this is a child groom, quite a grand scheme, hidden for so many years, finally finding the right opportunity to reveal the truth.
"Don't argue with me about not having it. Do you think I don't know what you're up to?" Jian Xi's mother said with an aggressive tone.

"Mom, what nonsense are you talking about!" Jian Xi finally realized what was happening and lunged at her phone.

She is indeed with Zhou Nan, but that's between the two of them, okay? Whether they break up or stay together, whether it's good or bad, the final outcome should be written by them. When the parents get involved, it's like they're directly talking about marriage. She's not prepared at all; it's too early for her!

"Shut up. Did I talk to you? Let Zhou Nan speak."

"..." Jian Xi was completely dumbfounded. Who was the real daughter?
"Auntie..." Zhou Nan had no choice but to take the phone, feeling that it was suddenly getting a little too hot to handle.

“Zhou Nan, let me tell you, you know our family situation. Jian Xi has a sore throat and has to stay there alone, which has always worried us. You, on the other hand, grew up with her, and I've seen it all. You're more mature, more serious, and more responsible than her. I think it's great that you two can be together. It saves me from worrying about her bringing home some weirdo. To be honest, I've always been worried about her. With her personality, what boy would be interested in her?”

"What's wrong with my personality?" Jian Xi was about to explode with anger, leaning closer to the phone and yelling, "What's wrong with me? I'm so pretty! I'm so likable! I've had so many love letters to me since I was little!"

"Ha, just ordinary mortals."

Mom smiled dismissively. "Pretty girls never lack suitors, but once they get you, they'll find out within three days that you can't take care of the family or support them, and they'll start to dislike you. So what if you're pretty? Can being pretty put food on the table? Aren't I pretty? Back then, the number of men chasing me was so large it took a whole carload, okay? In the end, I still chose someone to settle down with."

"I..." Jian Xi wanted to argue further, but she suddenly couldn't find the words to retaliate and felt humiliated.

What's the big deal? She's always thought of herself as a princess, okay? Even a princess who's a bit of a jerk is still a princess, and she's liked by many people, both openly and secretly, but she can't be bothered to pay them any attention.

But in her own mother's eyes, she seemed to be a worthless good-for-nothing waiting to be married off, and she would be grateful if someone could take her in.

"I'm really not the one you switched at the maternity hospital back then... Zhou Nan is actually your son, isn't he?"

Frustrated, she stomped her feet, unable to find a way to vent her anger. The only thing she did was jump over and viciously pinch Zhou Nan's hand, as if she wanted to inflict the most severe revenge on this illegitimate child.

"I never imagined that you would discover the secret I've kept hidden for so many years—"

"Oh, my own mother!"

The woman on the other end of the phone was laughing very happily; Zhou Nan could practically picture her covering her mouth and trembling with joy.

"Alright, alright, why do you get so angry when I tease you?" After a moment, Mom regained her usual gentle tone.

Jian Xi rolled her eyes, thinking, "You're practically selling me out, and I'm already furious? It's one thing to say this in private, but to say it to his face like that? What are you trying to do?! I'm so embarrassed! The way he's looking at me is like he's already plotting how to make it a done deal! Maybe you two should just start preparing to have a grandchild when you come back for the New Year!"
She walked up behind Zhou Nan, grabbed his neck with both hands, gave him a fierce look, and pouted, meaning, "Go on the phone. If you dare to talk nonsense, I'll strangle you. Don't tell anyone about us, or my mom will smear me to death!"
Zhou Nan stared at the phone in front of him, somewhat lost in thought. The more nice things Jian Xi's mother said, the more uncomfortable he felt.

I'm sorry, I didn't keep a close eye on her. I'm sorry, madam, you don't know yet, your daughter is dead. I'm sorry, the person speaking to you now is actually a monster disguised as Jian Xi...

She ate your daughter.

He desperately wanted to speak his mind; he was going crazy from holding it in these past few days. But there was no one to listen to him, and he couldn't speak. He was tied to this monster's side; wherever he went, she would know.

"Auntie, actually we..."

In that instant, his mind was filled with memories of the past, when no one had died yet, when the grapevines in the yard grew well every year, when the adults picked grapes, and he and Jianxi would catch them together with a winnowing basket, when the old men on the stone bench would slam down the chess pieces and shout "Checkmate!", and when the little black dog with a speck of gray on its black tail would run around them barking.

Nearly ten years have passed, and it seems like everything has changed.

The meaning of growing up is to constantly lose what you have, experiencing pain again and again, shedding tears each time, until one day you stop crying loudly, and then you have truly grown up.

If that's the case, then it's better not to grow up at all.

He took a slow breath, those words lingering on his lips for a long time. He was already a liar, having lied to Zhou Lan, Jian Xi, and himself. Why should he be afraid to lie to someone who was good to him?
Even if it's a lie, it's good if it can make Jianxi's mother happy.

"We got together a couple of days ago."

The moment those words left his mouth, the hands on his neck tightened suddenly, and Jian Xi's grip made his back straighten, causing his knee to bounce up and slam into the bottom of the table.

"Wow! Really?" The exclamation on the other end of the phone revealed an undisguised joy.

"It's all fake! You believe his lies? He's just messing with you!" Jian Xi quickly jumped in to muddy the waters.

Being together is definitely a good thing, but she just doesn't want her parents to know. Otherwise, every time she calls, her lively parents will inevitably ask, "How's your relationship going?"

Please, youth! The most precious time of your life! After reading so many romance novels and witnessing countless lovers' passionate illicit affairs, it's finally my turn! She still has so many grand plans to implement. Even if you're eager to have five grandchildren, there's no need to be in such a hurry, is there? I'm only sixteen! Are you afraid he'll run away?

"I don't believe you, I believe Zhou Nan." Mom once again demonstrated her excellent quality of siding with outsiders. Sure enough, parents all over the world see their own kids as a mess, but see other people's kids as top-notch.

"They're really together now," Zhou Nan repeated, deciding to solidify the relationship.

He had to play the part completely, not only to protect every innocent person in the county, but also to protect Jian Xi's parents. The real Jian Xi was already dead, and he couldn't let anything happen to them. Only by playing the emotional card could he control the monster.

Jian Xi snatched the phone away: "Oh dear, the signal is bad here, I can't hear you, Mom, I'm hanging up now, I'll talk to you when you get back, bye-bye!"

Without waiting for her mother's permission, she hung up the phone and threw it on the sofa. She grabbed Zhou Nan's collar, pressed one knee on his thigh, and slowly approached him with a fierce look, like a tiger hunting a trapped lamb.

"Say your last words." She put the scarf around his neck and tightened it little by little. "Keep it short."

“Death can be heavier than Mount Tai, or lighter than a feather; to die for one’s mother is heavier than Mount Tai…” Zhou Nan declared vehemently. “Get lost! Is she your mother? You call her ‘mother’ so easily!”

"Get used to it beforehand, so you won't have trouble changing it later if you're used to it."

"How come I never realized you were so shameless?" Jian Xi was furious. Suddenly, she felt like an outsider in this family, and this guy was working with her mother to take her down.

“How could it not be thick? I learned it from you.” Zhou Nan suddenly leaned forward.

"What do you want?!" Jian Xi quickly backed away, crossing her arms over her chest, her eyes wary like a little rabbit ready to run away at any moment.

Her views on love were both naive and idealistic. When she was in junior high school, she read several obscene novels. The male and female protagonists had sex and said some very suggestive things, which made her feel terrified and blush. For a while, when she was with Zhou Nan, her eyes would always wander to some very ominous places.

Even now, it's still the same. She both expects Zhou Nansuo to break the agreement and become worse than a beast, and hopes that he will continue to be a proper gentleman. She wants him to have any thoughts for a couple of years when he's older, because it's really inappropriate now.

Girls are a species like this: they have skin that's both thin and thick; they're unhappy if they have big breasts, and even more troubled if they have small breasts; they crave both assertiveness and gentleness; when they're single, they want one, but when they have one, they wish they could strangle them...

God, the Creator, must have been insane to create something like this, right?

“I was thinking, maybe we could do something to strengthen our relationship next,” Zhou Nan said with a slight smile.

He thought of this because of a scene that had just flashed across the TV screen. Old Xing had been broke for the past two days, so he ordered a bowl of clear soup noodles, closed his eyes, and shook his head in a dream, telling himself that this wasn't clear soup noodles, this wasn't clear soup noodles, this was eel noodles, this was eel noodles.

Suddenly, he felt like his Ren and Du meridians had been opened. His political teacher said that the world is based on dialectical materialism, but in the face of something as extraordinary as a monster, if you want to fall in love with her, make her fall into a gentle embrace, and make her obediently listen to you, you should be a little more idealistic.

Although he confessed his feelings, he didn't do anything that would be appropriate for a couple. If things continue like this, Jian Xi will eventually realize what's going on after her initial daze.

In the past, when he lay in bed late at night with his hands under his head, he had thought about how he would conduct his relationship with Jian Xi if they were together. Too much familiarity often kills some romance, so the only way to create sweetness is to take the initiative. Now is a great opportunity.

"...What do you mean by activities that promote affection?" Jian Xi blushed, her mind filled with all sorts of embarrassing thoughts.

Two little figures popped into her mind. The angel one frantically twisted its shoulders, saying, "No, no, this is too early for me! I'm not ready yet!"
The devil chuckled and said, "Little beauty, why don't you just give in to him?"
"We can..."

As Zhou Nan drew closer, his imposing presence seemed to burst through her clothes, Jian Xi felt both nervous and shy.

It wasn't until this moment that she realized her younger brother, who was once so much younger than her, was becoming more and more manly. If he continued to grow, she wondered if he would really become a super man like Fist of the North Star. Only in this way could he live up to the heroic and sword-like eyebrows that were born to be a great hero.

"Let's watch a movie." Zhou Nan waved the disc in his hand, which read "Hachiko: A Dog's Tale (American Version)".

He specifically went to buy this film; there's a good reason for choosing it.

Firstly, Jian Xi doesn't dislike dogs; in fact, she likes them. There used to be a small black guard dog in Zhou Nan's old house, but the dog passed away not long after her grandfather.

The old folks only need to feed their dogs. They build a kennel next to the woodshed by the door, and when it rains, the dog curls up in its kennel and watches the misty rain. If Zhou Nan doesn't come, it can't even get into the house. Only Jian Xi will occasionally bring it to her house to play, holding it and spinning it around to teach it some commands.

Secondly, this is a tear-jerking and heartwarming film. Just like the talkative Tang Sanzang in A Chinese Odyssey who could talk monsters to death, Zhou Nan also hopes that this kind of warmth full of humanistic care can make Jian Xi like people, so that she won't suddenly have another episode in the future.

Seeing the guy's joyful expression, as if he were begging for praise, Jian Xi sighed inwardly. She had overestimated him. Expecting him to be a beast was less reliable than her stripping naked herself.

"Hey little guy, where are you from?"

"You are absolutely not allowed to keep a dog!"

"Your dad has successfully become the same species as a dog, and has learned to fetch balls with his mouth."

"Xiao Ba, have you been waiting for him here all this time?"

This is a film that is only a little over an hour long. On a winter day without the lights on, Zhou Nan and Jian Xi are curled up together on the sofa, covered with the same blanket. The warm light and shadows flicker ambiguously on their faces, and there is a cool, faint fragrance in Jian Xi's hair.

The story of Hachiko, a loyal dog, is very famous. He was an Akita dog from Japan whose owner was a university professor. Every day, the professor would take the train to the university to teach, and Hachiko would come out of his house on time every afternoon when the train arrived at the station to greet the professor.

But one day, the professor suddenly suffered a heart attack and died at the school. He never returned. From then on, Hachiko remained fearless through spring, summer, autumn and winter, faithfully standing guard in front of the station every day for nine years until he died.

Some people find this story boring because animals develop simple conditioned reflexes, especially dogs, which were domesticated very early on.

The professor and Hachiko were together for three years, and they saw each other every day during those three years. So for Hachiko, greeting the professor on time became something it remembered and something it had to do every day.

But what could be worth doing for nine years without a response? No one understands what the dog is thinking. Maybe it just can't understand that the professor is dead. Maybe it thinks the professor has just gone to a very far place and won't be back for a long, long time. Maybe it already knows that such waiting will never come to an end. But for the dog, waiting is the greatest meaning.

A thin layer of snow had accumulated on Hachiko's back; the old dog was nearing the end of its life.

Tears streamed silently down her cheeks. Jian Xi was crying very hard. Zhou Nan placed the box of tissues on his lap, and Jian Xi took out a tissue to wipe her tears before continuing to cry, as if the tears would flow endlessly.

Jian Xi is a rather sentimental girl, Zhou Nan knows that.

At this moment, two different Jian Xis intertwined, and he had some difficulty distinguishing whether it was Jian Xi crying or the monster crying.

The monster says she has no memory, no emotions, and even her personality is borrowed. So, is this heartfelt emotion because she truly understands the warmth conveyed in the film, or is it because Jianxi's personality prompts her to make a reasonable response under these circumstances?

Based on her behavior over the past few days, Zhou Nan was increasingly confused. She seemed unchanged, yet she had changed so much.

The phone in Zhou Nan's pocket vibrated slightly. He took it out and glanced at it. A QQ notification popped up; it was another message from Gan Tang, containing a string of addresses.

"Liar, I'll come straight to your house."

(End of this chapter)