Kappa ③ Steals Cat (6000 words)

  (Today is 6000 words all at once ~)

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  A loud scream from the next room suddenly awakened Meng Chuan from her confusion. Just now she had actually forgotten to keep an eye on that naughty kid in the fountain pool, was it him who came out to stir up trouble?

  If she really had an accident because of her distraction, it would be her fault.

  Misty's hand grasped the door handle and was about to rush out, when Jiang Yuanfeng's call came from behind, "Xiao Cui!"

  Misty cicada turned her head, unable to hide her fluster, "Far Fang, don't stop me! I have to go take a look - even if you still don't believe me, but I must go see if that bear kid has caused trouble again!"

  As expected, it wasn't that he didn't believe her, but rather she couldn't trust him.

  Jiang Yuan's face suddenly broke into a smile. "Xiao Chan, I'm not trying to stop you. What I want to say is, let me go with you."

  "Besides, your clothes are inconvenient for you now. Wear mine and go."

  Mo Yan's little dress was stained with ink, previously pulled to her waist by Jiang Yuanfeng, now it was disheveled. Mo Yan walked hastily and forgot to look at herself.

  Mò zhān took a deep breath and looked at Yuǎn Fēng, who had already regained his composure. "Yuǎn Fēng, I'm sorry."

  Jiang Yuan stepped forward, taking off his pure white suit as he walked, and draped it over Meng Yan's shoulders. He grasped her hand tightly and said, "Let's go, we'll go together."

  Misty cicada's nose suddenly felt sour, clutching the lapel of her suit tightly, only to feel a surge of heat in her eye sockets, "Farong..."

  Jiang Yuanhong gently shook his head, "Even if I don't know what that child you're talking about looks like, but I've said it before - I'll protect you for a lifetime. If that child really will harm people, then let me stand in front of you."

  Tears streaming down her face, she walked up and hugged Jiang Yuanfeng tightly. "Yuanfeng, thank you."

  Jiang Yuanfeng held onto Mochen's hand, and the two of them rushed to the neighboring room together. By the time they arrived, a large crowd had already gathered inside. In addition to the hotel's floor manager and security guard, there were also guests from surrounding rooms who had come over to see what was happening after hearing the commotion. They were all disheveled, wearing pajamas or bathrobes, and some of them even had on men's jackets like Mochen - when those people saw Mochen dressed in a similar way, their expressions visibly relaxed a great deal.

  Mò zhān didn't have the mood to find common ground with them, so she separated from the crowd to look at the woman who had just screamed.

  She was a good-looking woman, about 35 years old, but she didn't look old at all. Her cheeks looked like fine white porcelain in the lamplight.

  "What's going on?" asked Meng Chuan.

  The woman glanced at Mo Xian. Mo Xian was neither a hotel staff, nor a security guard, nor a police officer, so she was very unwilling to answer.

  Jiang Yuan saw it and walked up to pinch the woman's arm, "This lady, your arm is injured, I am a doctor."

  That woman also had a discerning eye, and she recognized Jiang Yuanfeng immediately. "You're the young master of Jiangning Hospital? Ah, I remember you! Once when our family's old man was ill, several doctors were discussing his case but couldn't agree on a diagnosis, and it was you who made the correct judgment with just one sentence."

  Jiang Yuan only faintly asked the hotel staff for a first-aid kit, and skillfully disinfected and bandaged the woman's wound. He lightly asked, "This injury is a scratch. Was it your cat that scratched you?"

  The woman finally burst into tears, "It's not my little snow's fault. It's all because of that thing, it suddenly jumped in from the window and snatched Little Snow away from me. My Little Snow was scared and wanted to grab onto my arm, that's why she left... I'm so frightened, what is that thing, ah?"

  Jiang Yuanheng slightly turned his head and glanced at Mochen, then continued to ask, "You slowly tell me everything from start to finish, so I can judge whether this wound has any traces left by 'that thing'."

  Mo Yan nodded in understanding and also squatted down beside the woman, helping Jiang Yuanfeng bandage her wound while carefully listening to her fragmented sobs.

  "At that time, I was holding Xiaoxue by the window. The courtyard had a late-night party and finally quieted down, so I wanted to take a look at the outside view. The weather was a bit dry and hot, and I didn't want to turn on the air conditioner, so I left the window open. I was talking to Xiaoxue when suddenly I saw something dart in from the window, snatch Xiaoxue from my arms and leave!"

  At this point, the woman collapsed, "That thing dragged my little Xue all the way into the water pool of the fountain!"

  She burst into tears and turned to the hotel manager, "Have you found my Xiaoxue? I lost her in your hotel. If you can't find her for me, I won't let it go. I'll sue your hotel!"

  The hotel manager frowned.

  The security guard in charge of salvage outside rushed in and reported, "Manager, we used a net to scoop the entire pool, but we didn't find the dead cat!"

  That woman jumped up at the words, "Who did you say is a dead cat? Who are you talking about?! Our Xiaoxue won't die, Xiaoxue absolutely won't die! If Xiaoxue leaves again, then I... what will I do..."

  The woman raised her bandaged hand and covered her face, bursting into loud sobs.

  The hotel manager carefully comforted her, and then staff members came up to report: "The front desk just checked this person's identity. She said she wants to sue our hotel, it's not just talk - her husband is a big shot..."

  Mò Zhān also heard, exchanged a look with Jiāng Yuǎn Fēng. Zēng Dà Zhuàng was a famous lawyer in D City, known for being both accurate and ruthless in court cases, and even more terrifying was his extreme patience - some cases, even if he lost the first trial, he had the ability to cling tightly until the second trial or even the retrial, turning defeat into victory. Therefore, anyone who went up against Zēng Dà Zhuàng in this city would be very worried.

  The manager stamped his foot, "Go and drain the water from the pool! We must help Mrs. Zeng find her cat! If it's alive, we'll see it alive; if it's dead, we'll see its corpse..."

  The manager was originally kind-hearted, but Zeng Tai heard "see a dead body" and became excited again.

  Misty cicada gazed out at the distant willows and said in a low voice, "I'll go take a look."

  Since Zeng Ta said the cat was dragged into the fountain pool, Mochen thought that it must be the work of that naughty kid in the water. She quietly went out to take a look and maybe she could find an answer.

  Jiang Yuan Feng didn't feel at ease and also got up to follow along. As a result, Zeng Tai became excited again, pulling Jiang Yuan Feng not to leave, "Doctor Jiang, you're leaving too? Don't go, if you leave too, no one will take care of my injury..."

  She was like a abandoned child, pulling Jiang Yuanfeng's hand and refusing to let go, crying loudly.

  Mò zhān pressed down on Jiāng Yuǎn Fēng's shoulder and slipped out herself.

  A crowd had gathered around the fountain, and staff from the hotel and the villa were working together to pump out water. Meng Xiang anxiously leaned in close to the edge - if the water was drained, would that bear cub rush out? Would it hurt someone then?

  The water pump hummed, the water level dropped sharply, and things under the water slowly emerged. The cicada held its breath, then - saw that child with four limbs as white as jade, staring at her with empty eyes across the water surface.

  The cicada is stunned - Is it fear in the eyes of that little bear?

  The cicada made eyes at him and waved his arm, secretly hinting that he should hurry up and leave.

  But the bear child stubbornly stayed underwater, staring at her with desperate eyes, and said in a voice that only she could hear, "I won't leave. This is my home, if I leave, I'll never have a home again."

  The cicada is stunned into stillness.

  Just now, that well-maintained Zeng Tai grabbed Jiang Yuanfeng's hand and said, "......If you leave too, no one will take care of me."

  At this time, the bear child said to her, "If I leave, there will be no home anymore."

  They were two completely different beings, with different genders and ages, even separated by yin and yang. Yet the gaze they revealed was so similar - both were so lonely, so fearful, and so unwilling to be abandoned...

  Misty took a deep breath and walked forward to say to the workers, "Brothers, please stop pumping water. I'll take care of finding that cat. I guarantee to find it for Mrs. Zeng."

  The cicada thought for a moment and repeated what the manager had just said: "When alive, see the cat; when dead, see the corpse."

  "What?" Those workers turned their heads to look at Meng Xiang, and laughed. "Little girl, what are you talking about? The water pump has stopped, can't you just go down there yourself to scoop it up? Even if the water isn't deep, who knows what's hidden inside!"

  "...I guarantee I'll definitely pull you out." Mo Ze bit her lip and stared at those people.

  "Alright, alright, don't cause any more trouble, little girl. It's the middle of the night and we want to finish up quickly and go back to sleep." The workers didn't give Mochen a chance.

  The water pump continued to hum, the water level dropping faster - Mochen saw that child's face filled with despair. Mochen clenched his fists, "There's something in there! Aren't you guys afraid?"

  "What was that?" Several workers were also startled.

  Meng closed her eyes - she had no other choice, it seemed that she could only tell the truth. Even if they would think she was talking nonsense, she could only tell them the facts...

  "What's in there..." Mazi hadn't finished speaking when her wrist was caught.

  A voice came from beside Jiang Yuan's ear, "There must be some corpses of small animals that were drowned to death inside. After the corpse rots, it will emit toxic gases. A few of you didn't take any precautions and are careful with your lives in danger."

  Several workers recognized Jiang Yuanfeng and gathered together, whispering, "This is a doctor, what he says should be reliable."

  "Boss glanced at Jiang Yuanfeng and said, 'Doctor Jiang, what do you think we should do now?'"

  Jiang Yuanfeng grasped Mozhen's hand tightly. His fingers were dry and warm, making Mozhen feel at ease. "Everyone, I'm a doctor, I know how to protect against toxic gases. Now that the water has been drained, leave the rest to me."

  It's a matter of life and death, so the doctor's words are authoritative. Several workers stopped working.

  Jiang Yuan nodded, "In order to prevent toxic gases from spreading, it's best for everyone to retreat to a safe distance."

  Misty cicada watched him quietly set up his formation, and her heart was filled with gratitude...

  As expected, after those people left, Jiang Yuanfeng turned his head and winked at her, "The rest is up to you, okay?"

  Mantou stared at the pale little face in the water and nodded vigorously, "Don't worry, I'll definitely persuade him!"

  Mò Zhān finished speaking and was about to jump into the water, but Jiāng Yuǎn Fēng quickly reached out and grabbed her, his eyes full of worry. "Xiǎo Chán, don't go. Let's just forget it, there are so many people here."

  Mò zhān turned her head and looked at him, trying hard to smile.

  Jiang Yuan Feng understood and nodded his head down, "I'll wait for you right here. If anything happens, be sure to call me at the first moment."

  "Hmm!" Meng Chuan's heart warmed up again, and he quickly turned his head back, lifted his legs and stepped into the water.

  The water was cool and calm, and suddenly everything came flooding in. The cicada looked down at the water with its head bowed, as if it were a reflection of the world, and the scenery around her, including herself, all had a replica in the water - the water seemed to be another world.

  The child in the water saw Mazi enter, as if he had been frightened. He suddenly retreated backwards, his back against the wall of the pool, looking at Mazi with terror, "You, what are you doing here!"

  Foam cicada crossed his waist, glared with his eyes wide open, "Where's the cat? Did you drown it in the water? Give it back to me - as long as you give it back to me, even if it's already drowned, I'll spare your life."

  Mò zhān had been patiently coaxing him with a soothing tone, but that bear child not only didn't show any gratitude, instead he bared his sharp teeth at Mò zhān and said, "Ah——you mortal fool, how dare you threaten me? Spare me? ——Haha, what qualifications do you have to say such things!"

  Foam cicada took a deep breath. She knew that the bear child was not wrong, what right did she have to forgive him? —— If the bear child rushed over at this time, what could she do to protect herself?

  The cicada didn't seem afraid.

  If she was afraid now, who could see this bear child? Who could rescue Zeng's cat from the bear child's hands?

  She knew her abilities were limited. But since this matter had caught up with her, she couldn't just stand by and do nothing. She would muster all the courage she had to see it through.

  Mengmeng slapped the kid's forehead, "You little brat, dare to talk back? Haven't your elders taught you that children shouldn't talk back to adults?"

  Mò Zhān was just pretending to be fierce, drawing on his past experience of intimidating the neighbor's kid and Mò Yē in Qīngyán. But unexpectedly, that bear child actually stopped in his tracks, staring blankly at Mò Zhān with empty black eyes, a hint of fear on his face.

  "...Give the cat back to your sister, okay? The cat belongs to someone else, and good kids shouldn't take other people's pets, right?"

  The cicada said, pointing to the window upstairs, "That aunt cried so miserably. She said that the cat was her only comfort now, and if the cat also left, she would be all alone... Do you think she's pitiful or not?"

  That little bear moved slightly, sat up straight and stared at the cicada, "...But I also want a cat to play with me. I'm so lonely."

  Mò tiān let out a sigh and crouched down in front of him, looking into his eyes. "Tell sister, what's your name, huh?"

  He seemed to have rolled his eyes. But in his dark, hollow eyes, there was no eyeball at all. "They all call me: Kappa."

  "Kappa." Mianmian nodded, "Listen to your sister's words, return the cat to Auntie. Sister will stay and play with you, okay?"

  Mantaro didn't know the depth of meaning his words would have for Kappa - she just couldn't bear to see the flash of loneliness in his almost eyeless eyes.

  Everyone in this world, regardless of age or sex, has had a moment when they were very afraid of being abandoned and left alone in the vast world. She would rather stay with him to talk than take her cat away.

  She knew he wasn't a living person, but she still treated him like a child.

  "Are you really willing to stay with me?" The kappa's dark eyes suddenly welled up with fervor.

  Foam cicada nodded, "As long as you promise me, return the cat to that aunt."

  The kappa laughed and swam over from the wall of the pool, stretching out a small white arm to Matsu, "Great, you're here. Give me your hand..."

  Mò tiān took a deep breath and also stretched out his hand towards the Kappa.

  "Kappa, you're such a naughty kid. Is the cat in your hands? How dare you deceive people like this?" Suddenly, a clear and cold voice came from behind.

  Although smiling, it's as if the cold blade has already been drawn out of its scabbard!

  The kappa heard this and suddenly shuddered, the cicada turned its head to look back - under the starry sky behind, a white-clothed young man was standing lazily. And in his arms, a pure white Persian cat lay obediently on his arm, allowing his fingers to caress it; not only did it not escape, but it also comfortably emitted a "hulu" sound.

  "What's wrong?" Meng Cui rubbed her eyes, "How can a cat be on your hand?"

  After finishing speaking, Meng Cui suddenly remembered that Jiang Yuanfeng was still standing at the side - if she let him hear her talking to Mo Xie like this, wouldn't he also find out that Mo Xie could see the River Children too?!

  Mò zhān nervously took a deep breath and turned around to look for Jiāng Yuǎn Fēng, but had already lost sight of him.

  "Where's Yuan Feng? What have you done to him?"

  Mo Ye sighed, "It wasn't me. It was Mo Yan. Mo Yan knocked him out for a while now, surprisingly you didn't hear any noise."

  "Is it Mo Yan?" Mei Cui's eyes narrowed, and she turned to gaze into the night-colored maple forest. Could Mo Yan be lurking there?

  Foam cicada turned around and was about to rush out of the water, "What did he do to Yuan Feng!"

  Mo Ye pulled her arm and said, "She just fainted, it's nothing."

  "What is he doing here again!" Ma Chuan was so angry that her teeth itched.

  Mo Ye gazed deeply at her, "...... Do you know how reckless you just were? You actually agreed to stay with the Kappa... it was only a moment's difference, and he could have dragged you into the water!"

  Misty cicada gasped, "You mean Mo Yan...?"

  Was it Mo Yan's intention to secretly protect her safety while also wanting to hunt her down?

  If the kappa had really pulled her in, wouldn't Mo Yan transform and pounce over, swallowing the kappa in one gulp?

  She didn't say it out loud, but Mo Xie seemed to have already heard. He nodded, "That's exactly right."

  The cicada let out a sigh, and couldn't help but turn its gaze towards the maple forest again - in that dark shadow, it seemed as though there was a flash of golden eyes, and then they were gone.

  Misty cicada covered her mouth and lowered her head, "Don't speak, except for you knocking out Yuan Feng... the rest, thanks."

  Mo Ye sighed, "He knocked out Jiang Yuanfeng for your sake too. You were talking to the river spirit there, if Jiang Yuanfeng saw that, he would have gone mad."

  He finished saying half of the good words and immediately added a sentence: "Of course, Mo Yan did this also because Jiang Yuanlin had done something excessive to you..."

  He narrowed his eyes and gazed at her, "You should be grateful that he fell into Mo Yan's hands first and was just knocked unconscious; if it were in my hands..." A glimmer of icy blue coldness flashed through his phoenix-like eyes.

  The cicada opens its big mouth.

  Mo Ye hummed softly, "Since I promised to help find the cat and bring it back, I'll go then."

  The wind has risen, and red maple leaves are flying all over the sky.

  At this time, even the group of workers in the courtyard or the people upstairs would have their line of sight disrupted by the maple leaves and couldn't see what had just happened in the fountain pool.

  Two people walked shoulder to shoulder on their way back, Mo Xiao turned her head and glared at Mò Xié, "How did the cat end up with you? Could it be that the one who stole the cat wasn't a Kappa, but you?"

  He shrugged and chuckled, "Who said that? Even if I wanted to borrow this cat for a while, of course, I couldn't do it myself, or else I'd lose face. —— I just watched as the Kappa went to snatch the cat, didn't stop him, and stood by with my arms crossed; when that bear child snatched the cat over, I reached out and took the cat back."

  "What?"

  He shrugged again, "What's with the look? Do you think I should stand here stupidly, perk up my ears and listen to you being intimate with Jiang Yuanfeng by the window?"

  Meng Meng's eyes widened in shock, and she almost jumped up to cover his ears. "Don't listen to such impolite words! Do you understand?!"

  "He turned his head and glared at her, 'Don't understand! This is your human rule, I don't care!'"

  Mo Yan didn't want to argue with him about this, so he reached out and snatched the white cat from his arms. "I'll take care of it myself. Where's Yuan Feng? Where did Mo Yan take him?"

  "He sighed and said, 'I had him carried back to his room.'"

  "Uh-huh." Meng Chuan hugged the white cat tightly, "Then I'll leave too."

  Misty cicada turned around, her heart beating rapidly in disorder, she quickened her pace and hurried towards the hotel.

  Behind her back, his call suddenly came again, "Xia Mochen——"

  "Huh?" She stopped in her tracks and turned around, "What's going on?"

  "Xia Mo Lian." He called out again with both name and surname, "Xia, Mo, Lian."

  Mantou was called by him and got goosebumps all over his body, unable to bear it, he scolded, "Are you sick? Forget it, I'm really leaving this time."

  She walked to the end of the maple forest, and heard his clear voice drifting in the night wind, "...... I know you are Xia Mengyan. Now, I don't take you as someone else. Did you hear that?"

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  This time I'm calling you, has nothing to do with the dance. Xia Menglian, did you hear me? - Are you ready with your heart, little evil one? (∩0∩) See you tomorrow morning.

  Thank you, Little Mei and Yi Chuang, for the 1888 red envelopes!

  Jiang Xin's sparkling diamond, Sheng 23's fresh flowers, Qing Xuan's godly brush

  1 sheet: hnlingi, butterfly dance, love like stars, hrr282018057

  Especially thank you for everyone's warm messages yesterday, love you all~~~~