After a day’s work, Jiang Songshi pinched the bridge of his nose, fatigued.
An intern in his group diluted the fungi needed for the experiment with water, causing many to burst due to osmotic pressure, forcing them to recultivate.
With the experiment delayed, Jiang Songshi took off his white lab coat.
His phone chimed with a notification. Jiang Songshi took out his phone.
His friends were chatting in the group, either arranging to go to the newly opened bar in the South City or asking if he wanted to go for a ride.
A ride?
Jiang Songshi thought of his newly modified motorcycle, eager to try it out.
But he had no interest in going out with that group.
Jiang Songshi’s fingertips swiped across the chat interface, opening the pinned conversation and sending a voice message.
“Little Mushroom, want to go for a ride?”
Soon, his phone lit up with a meaningless character in the white chat box.
Jiang Songshi guessed this meant he wanted to go.
Little Mushroom was someone Jiang Songshi had picked up a month ago.
A month ago, Jiang Songshi was still diligently cultivating fungi.
Divided into three sections, shaken on time, temperature precisely controlled…
Then, unexpectedly, the mushrooms went bad.
Unable to proceed with the experimental data, Jiang Songshi decided to go out and clear his mind.
“Vroom!”
On the deserted mountain road, a motorcycle roared past, kicking up a trail of wind.
Jiang Songshi’s expression remained unchanged as he maneuvered the motorcycle, executing a smooth sharp turn at the fork in the mountain road.
The clang of metal rang out crisply as Jiang Songshi casually removed his helmet. His long, straight legs rested casually, one foot on the ground, the other still on the pedal.
Shrugging off his jacket and holding it carelessly, the deep gray shirt clashed with the motorcycle. Jiang Songshi clicked his tongue and unbuttoned the top button of his shirt.
Rolling up his sleeves to his elbows, Jiang Songshi finally felt a sense of relaxation and freedom. He hadn’t rested properly for days, staring at experimental data, but now, gazing at the greenery outside, he felt alive again.
The wind on the mountainside was cool and breezy, a few disheveled strands of hair fell messily over his eyebrows.
Ahead lay a stretch of dense forest, no longer part of the safe zone. Jiang Songshi didn’t mind, finding a rock to sit cross-legged on.
“Rustle rustle–”
The leaves shook.
“Rustle rustle–”
Jiang Songshi finally opened his eyes.
“Rustle rustle–”
A mushroom emerged from under the rock.
One? A giant mushroom?
Little Mushroom, or rather, Big Mushroom, wobbled foolishly towards him, seemingly pleased.
Jiang Songshi doubted his eyes, seeing the mushroom gradually transform into a young man before his eyes.
But Jiang Songshi confirmed that his eyes were fine, as the previously massive mushroom had turned into a small one on the young man’s head.
The young man blinked and tilted his head towards Jiang Songshi.
Young Man: *&%$@
Jiang Songshi: ?
Young Man: %##$&$%#%#&$&
Jiang Songshi didn’t understand.
Then the young man took matters into his own hands.
Yes, into his own hands, his soft hands covering Jiang Songshi’s eyes.
Little Mushroom, having covered the strange man’s eyes, let out a small breath of relief.
The mushroom was scared! How could he run into someone after just transforming!
Little Mushroom pulled out a ‘Mushroom Survival Guide’ from under the rock, looking at the crooked mushroom letters, the small mushroom on his head swaying in the wind.
Rule one of the ‘Mushroom Survival Guide’: upon arriving in the human world, one must wear clothes.
Little Mushroom had asked other mushrooms who went to human society, and they all said not wearing clothes was unacceptable for others to see.
Little Mushroom glanced at the human beside him, thankfully he had the sense to cover this human’s eyes.
But this human couldn’t understand mushroom language, how stupid.
Little Mushroom frowned, unsure how to convey his desire for clothes, and could only slightly part his fingers to expose a slit for one of Jiang Songshi’s eyes.
Half-hidden in the lush grass, Little Mushroom pointed at himself, then at the silly human in front of him, and finally at the clothes the silly human was wearing.
Jiang Songshi finally snapped out of his shock, his first reaction blinking, then handing over the jacket he was holding.
Fortunately, there was always a spare set of clothes in the motorcycle, and Jiang Songshi quickly got some for Little Mushroom.
After some back-and-forth charade-like communication, considering mushrooms are also fungi, Jiang Songshi took Little Mushroom home.
Back to the present, Jiang Songshi looked at the message Little Mushroom sent, and he could almost imagine what Little Mushroom looked like when sending the message.
Little Mushroom was a bit silly, holding the smartphone and tapping out one symbol at a time when typing.
No, perhaps it shouldn’t be called typing, as the silly mushroom couldn’t read at all, though he could understand some simple words. Otherwise, communication would be impossible.
Jiang Songshi was a little worried, but fortunately, the silly mushroom had encountered him. Thinking of the quiet Little Mushroom at home, Jiang Songshi’s heart softened.
Switching chat windows, Jiang Songshi replied to his friend’s message in the group.
[Shi]: Not going to the bar, going home.
What’s so good about a bar? Noisy and endless, his silly little mushroom at home was better.
Author’s Note:
Little Mushroom: This human is so stupid! He doesn’t even understand mushroom language!
Jiang Songshi: I picked up a silly little mushroom!
Leave a Reply