"Are you settled?"
"All set, Gugu."
Little Carp and Gugu answered in unison.
"Take it slow on the road," Yu Huilan instructed.
She wasn't returning with Liu Nanfeng immediately. She planned to prepare a few chickens and ducks, collect some eggs from the village, and then head back to Jiangcheng.
"Got it, Mom. Call me when you've got your things ready, and I'll drive over to pick you up. Honestly, it's not really necessary. Jinxiu is just pregnant, she doesn't need anyone to look after her."
"Of course she does. Besides, I don't have anything to do at home anyway."
"Alright, as you wish. I'm leaving then." Liu Nanfeng started the car.
"Goodbye, Grandma," Little Carp suddenly waved her small hand at Yu Huilan.
Yu Huilan was taken aback for a moment, then her face lit up with a smile. "Oh my, I don't deserve such a title. Goodbye."
"Gugu," Gugu also waved her hand.
"And Gugu, goodbye to you too. Come play again next time."
"Okay, Grandma's cooking is so delicious." Little Carp was not shy about her appreciation.
They had lunch at home. Liu Zonghe had even gone to the village to buy some local specialty braised dishes to treat the two little ones. Yu Huilan had also prepared a chicken, which the children thoroughly enjoyed.
"Here, for the road." Liu Zonghe came out of the house, handing a bag to Little Carp.
Little Carp accepted it without hesitation.
"What is it?" Liu Nanfeng casually asked, glancing in the rearview mirror.
"Salted peanuts, homegrown. Let them try them."
Before Liu Zonghe could finish, Little Carp had already opened the bag, taking some for herself and some for Gugu, and they began eating.
The salted peanuts Liu Zonghe gave them were not wet, but rather soaked in brine and then re-dried. They were savory and very delicious.
Because they were salty, they made one thirsty if eaten too much.
Indeed, half an hour later, Little Carp said with a pout, "Big Brother, something's wrong. I can't blow bubbles anymore."
"Who told you to eat so many peanuts? Here's some water. You and Gugu should drink some. Don't eat any more peanuts, or you'll turn into a little salted fish."
Liu Nanfeng pulled the car over to the side of the road, took out two bottles of mineral water, opened them, and handed them to the two children.
The two little ones took them and drank them down greedily.
Liu Nanfeng didn't pay them any mind and started the car, continuing on their way.
After drinking the water, the little ones obediently stopped eating. Their little heads rested on either side of the car window, looking out.
"Wow, so many trees."
"And big watermelons, little ducks..."
Little Carp couldn't sit still and soon started chattering, exclaiming at everything she saw.
At this moment, Liu Nanfeng's phone rang. It was Su Jinxiu calling.
"Where are you now? Can you make it back for dinner?"
Before Liu Nanfeng could speak, Little Carp piped up, "We're rushing back! You have to wait for us to eat together."
"Haha, okay, we'll wait for you to eat together," Su Jinxiu said with a smile.
After a few more words, she hung up.
The reason Liu Nanfeng hadn't asked about Liu Zonghe's attitude was that at noon, as soon as they came out of [Guanshanhai], they had eagerly called Su Jinxiu.
Their words were like a stabilizing force, easing Su Jinxiu's worries.
After this call, Liu Nanfeng continued to focus on driving, but after a while, he felt something was amiss.
When he inadvertently glanced at the rearview mirror, he realized that Little Carp had been silent for a long time.
He quickly checked in the rearview mirror.
Gugu was sitting in the back seat, her little head bobbing, likely asleep.
Little Carp's eyes were still wide open, staring out the window.
"Why aren't you talking anymore?" Liu Nanfeng asked curiously.
"Gugu is sleeping," Little Carp replied softly.
Liu Nanfeng smiled warmly at this. Who wouldn't love such a gentle child?
"Alas..." Just then, Little Carp sighed suddenly.
"What's wrong?" Liu Nanfeng asked softly.
"This is so big..." Little Carp said, pointing out the window with a sense of wonder.
"It is quite big," Liu Nanfeng said, not quite understanding her meaning.
"It's so small in the water," Little Carp added.
Liu Nanfeng seemed to have a moment of realization, then smiled, "When you grow wings, you can fly out of the river. The sky is vast, and the sea is boundless; you can soar wherever you wish."
"Uh... I'm Little Carp. Little Carp don't have wings."
Little Carp looked at Liu Nanfeng in the rearview mirror with an expression that suggested he was an idiot.
"Who says fish can't fly? After you meet someone tomorrow, maybe you'll grow a pair of wings," Liu Nanfeng said with a smile.
The Kun had two forms: in the water, it was the Kun; out of the water, it was the Peng, hence the name Kunpeng.
Whether Kun or Peng, they were both considered overlords of the sea and the air.
Moreover, legend had it that the Kunpeng fed on dragons, making them natural enemies of the dragon race.
Who would have thought that Little Carp, who possessed dragon blood, also possessed the blood of the Kunpeng within her?
Little Carp clearly didn't believe it, but to avoid waking Gugu, she didn't say anything more and turned her gaze back to the window.
Everything outside the car window was astonishing to her, as many things were things she could never see while staying in the river.
Meanwhile, Zhu Yin'e in the Yangtze River Water Mansion noticed Little Carp slowly approaching Jiangcheng and couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief.
It was impossible not to worry at all. Thinking of the message Liu Nanfeng had asked Zhu Yuchan to relay that morning, she couldn't help but furrow her brow.
For a moment, she felt a sense of unease, wondering what County Magistrate Liu was discussing with her.
Had he recovered his memories? Remembered past events?
If he proposed any unreasonable requests, should she agree or refuse?
But their fated connection had ended; he was already someone else's husband.
Thinking of this, Zhu Yin'e couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness.
As the car entered Jiangcheng, Gugu finally woke up, rubbing her sleepy eyes and looking curiously at the "river of cars" outside the window.
Darkness had fallen, and the city lights were on. The car lights formed a dazzling long dragon, which was quite breathtaking, captivating even the little ones and making them forget to speak.
As Liu Nanfeng slowly steered the car off the main road towards the riverside, the two children finally withdrew their gaze.
When they reached the riverside, Little Carp looked at the rolling river water and suddenly said to Liu Nanfeng, "Big Brother, can you take me home?"
"What? Aren't you coming to my place for dinner tonight?" Liu Nanfeng asked with some surprise.
"I miss my mother a little," Little Carp said.
For some reason, the little one suddenly felt a bit melancholic.
"Alright, then. How about tomorrow... I'll come find you in the afternoon."
"Okay," Little Carp replied softly, looking at the flowing river.
Liu Nanfeng glanced in the rearview mirror, feeling even more puzzled. What was wrong with this little one?
"Gugu," Gugu chirped at this moment, taking Little Carp's hand, her eyes full of reluctance.
"Gugu, I miss my mom. I'm going home to find my mom. I'll play with you again tomorrow," Little Carp said.
In fact, she didn't know what was happening to her. At first, she just missed her a little, but after talking to Big Brother and Gugu, she suddenly missed her very, very much.
Liu Nanfeng parked the car by the bank, then got out with Gugu and escorted Little Carp to the river's edge.
"Goodbye, Big Brother. Goodbye, Gugu." Little Carp waved her hand, then leaped into the water, flicked her tail, and quickly disappeared.
"Gugu."
Gugu looked crestfallen as she left.
"You miss your mother too, don't you?" Liu Nanfeng asked, stroking her little head.
Gugu nodded gently.
"Then shall we go find your father and mother together?" Liu Nanfeng asked.
This wasn't the first time he had asked. The previous few times, Gugu had just remained silent.
But this time, Gugu looked up at Liu Nanfeng, her eyes glistening with moisture.
ps: My back is hurting badly today, so only one chapter. I'll make it up tomorrow with three chapters.