thefictionvixens Chapter 69 Chen Duo: A Luxury Item Called "Normal"
Chapter 69 Chen Duo: A Luxury Item Called "Normal"
Biyou City, 6:30 a.m., sunny.
The sun is just right, the breeze is not dry.
"Beep beep beep—"
The alarm clock rang on time.
Chen Duo groggily reached out from under the covers and turned off the alarm clock.
There were no cold isolation rooms, and no pungent smell of disinfectant.
Only the warm sunlight filtering through the floral curtains and the faint aroma of fried eggs in the air.
This is Chen Duo's dream life.
She rubbed her eyes and sat up.
There was a framed photo on the bedside table. In the photo, she was smiling sweetly, and next to her stood a man with a fierce look on his face, but making a peace sign.
"It's time to go to school."
Chen Duo muttered to herself as she skillfully put on a white shirt and pleated skirt with the school badge printed on it.
It's not a protective suit, it's a school uniform.
Yes, it's a school uniform.
......
7:15, bus stop.
It was during the morning rush hour.
In Chen Duo's eyes.
The No. 3 bus is like a can stuffed full of sardines.
It also looks like a steamer basket filled with steamed buns.
In short, it's very crowded.
Chen Duo, carrying her schoolbag, squeezed her way up with difficulty.
"Move in! Don't block the entrance!" the driver shouted.
"There's so much space in the middle, don't block the entrance! People are getting on from behind!"
The surrounding area was crowded with people, and the smells of sweat and breakfast mingled together.
Someone even accidentally stepped on her foot and then hurriedly apologized.
In the past, these people would have died if they got within three meters of her.
But now, Chen Duo gripped the handrail tightly, feeling the body temperature and the crowd around her.
Instead of avoiding it, she pressed herself even closer to the crowd.
She can now interact with people without any restraint.
This was a life she had never experienced before.
Even when Master Su was around, he showed her the life he wanted her to experience.
It was also far inferior to what it is now.
This is true freedom.
It's crowded and noisy.
But it's warm.
Is this... what it feels like to be alive?
......
10:00, Classroom of Grade 1 (3).
"Chen Duo, can you answer this question? What are the monotonic intervals of the function f(x)?"
The math teacher adjusted his glasses and called on students to ask questions.
Chen Duo suddenly stood up, her mind blank.
The formulas on the blackboard looked like gibberish.
She can kill, cast spells, and even plays King of Glory, but she really doesn't know how to do functions.
"I......"
Chen Duo's face instantly turned red to the roots of her neck, her fingers tightly twisting the hem of her clothes, her heart pounding like a drum.
This sense of tension is more terrifying than facing dozens of fully armed enemies.
"Cough cough."
My chubby classmate quietly pushed her textbook over; it had the words "(-∞, 0)" written in pencil on it.
Chen Duo felt like she'd been granted a pardon and whispered, "Parentheses... twisted dough sticks... and zero."
"Hahahaha..."
When Chen Duo heard her answer, her classmates burst into laughter.
Chen Duo lowered her head even further.
Even the teacher couldn't help but smile.
"Okay, students, stop laughing."
"Chen Duo's foundation is weak, everyone should help her!"
"Okay, sit down. Pay attention in class." The teacher nodded.
Chen Duo sat down and let out a long sigh.
Her deskmate winked at her and handed her a White Rabbit milk candy.
Chen Duo unwrapped the candy and put it in her mouth.
Very sweet.
So this is what my classmate is like.
The teacher is also very good.
I haven't been blamed for not being able to answer the question.
very nice.
......
At 17:30 PM, the school bell rang.
The setting sun painted the streets red.
Students poured out of the school gate in twos and threes, some to buy fried skewers, others discussing where to go for the weekend.
Chen Duo, carrying her schoolbag, stood in the crowd at the school gate, tiptoeing to look around.
She is looking for someone.
"Beep—!"
A crisp motorcycle horn sounded.
Across the street, there was a somewhat dilapidated heavy motorcycle parked.
A middle-aged man wearing a leather jacket, with a buzz cut and a fierce look, was straddling the car, an unlit cigarette dangling from his mouth, waving impatiently in this direction.
—Liao Zhong.
"Look there! Here!"
In Chen Duo's perfect dream, he was neither the head of the South China region nor the leader who had to be ruthless for the sake of the mission.
He was just a single father who owned a car repair shop, had a bad temper, but doted on his daughter.
Chen Duo's eyes lit up, and she quickly ran over.
"Slow down! Why are you running? You'll fall and cry again!"
Liao Zhong cursed in a gruff voice, but his hands honestly took Chen Duo's heavy schoolbag and hung it on the handlebars:
"Are you hungry? What do you want to eat tonight? If you dare say 'burger' again, I'll break your legs!"
"That stuff is completely unhealthy, eat something healthier!"
"You're not allowed to eat braised chicken either, it's been on the news, saying it's pre-made. If you want some, I'll buy some and make it for you!"
Chen Duo shook her head.
"I want to eat fish."
Chen Duo sat in the back seat, naturally hugging Liao Zhong's strong waist and pressing her face against his broad back:
"Braised in soy sauce."
"Fish again? You want to become a fish too?"
"Okay, I knew you wanted to eat fish. I just bought two wild crucian carp, I'll braise them for you when we get back!"
Liao Zhong started the car while cursing:
"Hold on tight! Hold on! We're going!"
boom--
The motorcycle engine roared to life as it merged into the traffic and headed home.
The wind ruffled Chen Duo's hair. She closed her eyes and smiled slightly.
If this really is a dream.
She hoped that, if possible, she would never wake up.
......
In the alley across the street.
Su Wuxian and his group stood quietly.
Old Meng appeared beside Su Wuxian at some point.
Now she was sobbing uncontrollably, covering her mouth and squatting on the ground, crying like a child.
"Chen Duo... Chen Duo..."
Zhang Chulan's eyes were red, and he turned his head away, unable to look.
Even Wang Zhenqiu, who is usually carefree, silently put away his playful smile.
just perfect.
It's so beautiful that you can't bear to touch it, as if the slightest touch would shatter it into pieces of glass.
"Master..."
Zhang Chulan's voice was hoarse:
"Should we... really go and wake her up?"
"For her, even if it's fake, it's still a million times happier than reality, right?"
"Chen Duo has already suffered enough..."
Su Wuxian stared at the direction the motorcycle had gone, remaining silent for a long time.
After a long silence, he finally spoke softly:
"Yes, I'm very happy."
"But dreams eventually end."
"If we don't wake her up, when Ma Xianhong's inner world collapses, she will be scattered along with this world... her soul will be destroyed."
Su Wuxian turned around, his eyes becoming firm and cold:
"Let's go."
"Go take a look."
"No matter how wonderful a dream is, it is still just a dream."
"She should wake up."
......
(How's the writing going these past few chapters? How about a free little gift to cheer me up? The Inner World arc is almost over, and tomorrow I'll probably be beating up the world's ruler, Old Ma. Get the comments coming up, like urging me to update!)