Chu Zhishui noticed her parents' bewildernt and knew this matter couldn't be digested imdiately, so she waited quietly for Xie Yan and Chu Xiaohe to recover.
After a mont, Chu Xiaohe asked in confusion, "What do you an by 'not human'?"
"Exactly what it sounds like," Chu Zhishui said softly. "Dad, didn't you take photos of the bamboo in my courtyard?"
"Yes, did he plant it?"
"No, that was his true form. He's a bamboo spirit who can take human form."
"..."
Seeing them both fall into silence, Chu Zhishui pursed her lips and softened her tone: "Do you rember when I was little, after Aunt Liu visited, I was upset for several days?"
Chu Xiaohe, though still dazed, responded automatically: "Yes, I rember."
Xie Yan added: "She told you we were going to give you a little brother, and you were unhappy for a long ti. You wouldn't tell us why. Is that what you're referring to?"
Chu Zhishui lowered her eyes: "Yes. You told then that no matter how selfish the thought or how difficult the situation, speaking honestly would allow for communication, at least preventing us from staying stuck in place. I know this is hard for ordinary people to accept, but I want you to know."
Back then, she thought wanting her parents to herself was selfish, but even understanding this reasoning, she remained sullen as a child. Xie Yan and Chu Xiaohe didn't understand her sudden moodiness, and after several failed attempts to ask, they gave her that advice.
She could have kept quiet about everything, but that would an either assuming her parents couldn't accept Xin Yunmao or harboring false hope that things would work themselves out. She wasn't ashad that he was a spirit, nor did she think her parents were so fragile.
She couldn't make the choice for them.
"This is about respecting both you and him. You're only connected because of , and I don't want to start with concealnt and deception, depriving you of your right to know and choose," she explained calmly. "You can accept it or not - we can discuss either way."
"It's fine if you need ti, or if you don't want to et him. I'll tell him the sa thing. If both sides are ready, we can discuss whether he should visit. The connection shouldn't be forced because of , but rather because you and he decide to have one."
After she finished speaking, the room fell silent.
After a long while, Chu Xiaohe scratched his head, still seeming confused, and spoke first: "Wait, sothing's not right..."
Chu Zhishui straightened her back and clenched her fingers, though maintaining a composed expression: "What is it?"
Chu Xiaohe said regretfully: "So I've already t him? He was in the courtyard, and I even took his picture? I didn't even greet him - that was quite rude for a first eting."
Chu Zhishui: "?"
Xie Yan smacked him in annoyance: "Oh co on, you obviously couldn't greet the bamboo in the courtyard - that's just like his extension or so kind of ability. Didn't you hear earlier that he can take human form? You can only greet him when he's in human form!"
"How was I supposed to know all this?" Chu Xiaohe felt wronged. "And how do you know about this stuff?"
"You're so old-fashioned, can't keep up with the tis. Haven't you watched TV dramas?" Xie Yan continued smacking him, irritated. "There was that popular drama recently, starring soone surnad Fu. The female lead could grow flowers and plants, but she could only communicate in human form - her other branches and leaves were just her superpowers!"
Chu Xiaohe was bewildered from the smacking: "When do I have ti to watch TV dramas? Isn't that just for young people? Besides, TV dramas aren't like reality, right?"
Chu Zhishui said weakly: "Actually, it's quite similar. He usually moves around in human form."
Xie Yan asked curiously: "What does he like to eat? Does he collect spirit stones like in the drama?"
"No, that's just TV drama design. He basically doesn't eat, he prefers drinking water and photosynthesizing," Chu Zhishui explained. "Actually, he doesn't even need to drink water."
Chu Xiaohe: "If he's a plant, wouldn't he lose hair when leaves fall every year?"
Chu Zhishui: "...Bamboo stays green all year round, leaves rarely fall."
Xie Yan said disdainfully: "God, everything you say is so stupid, I can't take it anymore."
Chu Xiaohe protested: "Well, I don't know about these things!"
What started as Chu Zhishui introducing Xin Yunmao sohow turned into an argunt between Xie Yan and Chu Xiaohe, with neither side backing down.
Xie Yan complained that Chu Xiaohe's questions were too basic and he'd soon develop senile dentia. Chu Xiaohe argued that he just didn't understand spirits, and Xie Yan's knowledge only ca from TV dramas, lacking any scientific basis.
Neither parent dwelled on the spirit issue, instead launching into an academic discussion about spirits, debating enthusiastically.
Though it's worth noting that after Chu Zhishui encountered the supernatural at work that first day, she still managed to go to work on ti the next day, showing remarkable psychological resilience.
Chu Zhishui looked back and forth between them, her expression troubled, and raised her hand to indicate: "Um... do you have any other questions for ...?"
She had been completely left out of the conversation, unable to join their discussion about whether all plants and animals could take human form, whether stones could beco human, and whether Sun Wukong counted as a monkey or a stone-turned-human.
Xie Yan finally ca back to her senses and asked tentatively: "Would he be willing to et us?"
Chu Xiaohe: "According to mythology, spirits are born from nature's essence. Since he's a plant rather than an animal, he might not understand human bloodlines. It would be understandable if he's unwilling to et."
If even so humans couldn't comprehend family bonds, how could they force a spirit to understand?
"I'll ask him and see what he thinks."
The next day, Chu Zhishui drove to her new ho, bringing not only various kitchen utensils but also a box of bottled coconut water. The community had an underground parking garage with direct elevator access to the building.
A mont later, Xin Yunmao heard her call and appeared in a spot without surveillance caras. Seeing the car, he asked curiously: "Why did you drive today?"
"There were too many things to carry otherwise," Chu Zhishui pointed to the back seat. "The kitchen utensils you wanted."
Xin Yunmao's fingers twitched slightly as he collected the items to transport to their new ho later.
Chu Zhishui locked the car, and they took the elevator up, quickly entering the apartnt and unloading everything.
Inside, Xin Yunmao snapped his fingers, and all the kitchen utensils sorted themselves neatly into categories in the kitchen area. Even the fabric bags that held the utensils were clean and folded into precise squares, tucked away in cabinet corners for future use.
Only the box of coconut water remained on the counter, its proper place uncertain.
Xin Yunmao curiously examined the packaging and asked: "Should this go in the refrigerator?"
"It can, or if you want to drink so now, you can open a bottle. I bought these for you."
Hearing this, he couldn't help but smile, saying happily: "You bought these specially for ?"
"No, my parents bought them specially for you. They said since you don't eat, you should drink more."
"..."
Xie Yan and Chu Xiaohe had asked nurous questions about Xin Yunmao's tastes and whether he needed anything. Although Chu Zhishui insisted he had no desires or needs, her parents felt it would be improper and show poor manners not to provide sothing.
Xin Yunmao stood frozen in place holding the box, seemingly at a loss.
"They also said if you're willing, you can co visit their ho," Chu Zhishui said softly in reassurance. "Of course, it's fine if you don't want to - it's entirely up to you."
Xin Yunmao was silent for several seconds, his eyelashes trembling as he said quietly: "Would I go as a human?"
He had seen human customs, where visiting soone's ho should be a joyous occasion, representing mutual acceptance and the rging of families. But he wasn't sure if he could respond to this goodwill - he wasn't human, just a spirit.
He used to look down on mortals, but now he hesitated because of his spirit identity, unsure if her parents could accept him.
He understood clearly what blood relations ant to her, just as he had learned divinity by imitating her, and she had learned human principles by imitating her parents.
Chu Zhishui said calmly: "No need - they know you're a spirit."
Xin Yunmao was startled: "And they can..."
"If that's what you're worried about, don't be. They've seed fine these past couple of days, though they've suddenly gotten very interested in studying plants," Chu Zhishui thought about her parents watching plant docuntaries but decided not to ntion it, continuing instead, "Besides, before I told them, I had a feeling they would be able to accept this."
"Why?" Xin Yunmao asked, puzzled. "Are they very brave?"
"No, it has nothing to do with courage. They're just like you," she said with a smile. "Just as you can accept all of , they can accept all of too, including you. I can't guarantee other things, but this is sothing I've been certain of since I was little."
Perhaps it was because in her pure white spiritual world she was still a child, like an innocent young girl who felt secure in being favored, always feeling like she would forever be her parents' precious treasure.
Xin Yunmao pressed his lips together and muttered, "Accepting doesn't an liking."
Chu Zhishui blinked: "They'll definitely like you."
He crossed his arms, showing signs of agitation as he frowned and questioned, "How would you know?"
She replied candidly, "Because I like you very much, so they will like you too. We're family."
"..."
This was her first direct confession, catching him completely off guard and unprepared.
Xin Yunmao was stunned, then turned red from head to toe. He instantly burned up, her words hitting him as powerfully as if she had touched him directly. A warm spring seed to flow through him, carefully clearing every blood vessel, lting even the accumulated snow that had frozen his heart, washing away all the pebbles and impurities from his past.
"Oh right, I forgot sothing today," Chu Zhishui noticed his tense posture and leaned forward to kiss him, saying casually, "I forgot to kiss you."
"It's okay, don't be so worried. If you don't want to go, you don't have to. It's not a big deal."
Xin Yunmao's ears were burning now, and he felt the moist sensation on his cheek. Far from being cooled by her slightly chilly kiss, his whole body grew even hotter. He felt heat building up in his chest, making his heart race wildly, urging him to dispel the burning sensation before the overwhelming joy made him explode.
Watching as she finished kissing him and turned to go to the courtyard, he couldn't help but reach out and pull her back.
Xin Yunmao leaned slightly against the refrigerator door, lowering his heated face into her neck, rubbing his cheek against her delicate skin as if trying to cool himself with ice. He took a deep breath, repeatedly inhaling her scent until he finally cald down sowhat and whispered, "I want to go."
Chu Zhishui, feeling the heat from his body, remained still for a mont, allowing him to lean against her.
Aliali: 674b8135c4f3f33ac4a362ec
Hearing her silence, he continued, "I want to et them."
"Alright then."
At ho, when Chu Xiaohe and Xie Yan learned that Xin Yunmao was willing to co, they began making preparations in earnest, alternating between asking what dishes to prepare and whether they should buy plant nutrients. Chu Xiaohe was a good cook, but he now faced a new challenge – their guest wasn't human and might have different tastes.
Chu Zhishui sighed helplessly: "Dad, Mom, he usually lives in human form, just treat him like a person. I told you the truth because I wanted to respect you, there's no need for special preparations."
"That thinking of yours needs correction," Chu Xiaohe said seriously. "This isn't just about you and him anymore, or even simply about him and our family. We need to consider the broader implications."
Chu Zhishui looked puzzled: "What implications?"
"Whether you two end up together or not, we must show proper etiquette at our first eting. Our attitude must be sufficiently proper – we can't embarrass humanity. Even if things don't work out in the end, we should leave him with a good impression of humans. We can't be casual about this. Think bigger picture – we don't want supernatural beings speaking ill of humans or having a bad impression of us."
"Why is there regional discrimination? Why do people say Huaijiang isn't good enough? It's because so people embarrass us abroad, making other Huaijiang residents hang their heads in sha. We need to take these issues seriously and address them, starting with establishing a good human image in front of supernatural beings."
Xie Yan quipped: "Your father's been a leader for too long. He talks like an official, always going on about vision and perspective."
Chu Zhishui: "..."
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