Little Mushroom was currently sitting by the bay window at home.
He didn’t know what was up with this human, bringing him all sorts of nutrient solutions every day. The young man shook the little mushroom on his head, a bit unhappy as he tapped on a food delivery app on his phone.
He had finally arrived in human society! Who wanted to just absorb nutrient solutions?
Little Mushroom was not too pleased. This stupid human really didn’t understand mushrooms – not only did he not understand the mushroom language, he also didn’t know a mushroom’s preferences. Fortunately, he had encountered Little Mushroom, who was so good at understanding “mushroom” intentions. Oh, no, that’s not right – understanding “human” intentions.
“Ding dong” – the phone screen lit up.
Little Mushroom opened the phone the stupid human had prepared for him.
It was a voice message.
Jiang Songshi: “Little Mushroom, want to go for a ride?”
A ride?
At the same time, another app on the phone sent a notification.
Little Mushroom’s attention was diverted as he looked towards another blue and white app.
[The night falls upon you and me, notes and nicotine in perfect harmony]
The image showed two clinking glasses, translucent ice cubes complementing the amber liquid, swirling, the glass walls refracting the chaotic lights of the bar, dim yet dazzling.
Little Mushroom’s DNA stirred.
Reluctantly switching interfaces, Little Mushroom saw Jiang Songshi’s voice message again.
Just as Little Mushroom was about to reply “okay1好 hǎo“, having typed an “h”, the other app started pushing notifications again.
It was the same bar.
But this time it was a job posting.
[Hiring: DJ for South City Bar]
Little Mushroom glanced around the empty house, thinking of the stupid human who brought him nutrient solutions from 9 to 5 every day. Although the solutions didn’t quite suit his tastes, there was no way he could keep being supported by this stupid human all the time.
Little Mushroom reviewed the DJ hiring requirements and felt confident he could handle it.
The young man swayed the little mushroom on his head in front of the mirror, recalling his glorious past in the mushroom band.
Hmph, he was nothing like that stupid human.
Little Mushroom was a multi-talented little mushroom!
Switching back to the chat with the stupid human, Little Mushroom cleanly deleted the “h” he had just typed. Little Mushroom didn’t like to reject people, but not replying also seemed impolite. Thinking for a bit, he randomly tapped a symbol on the keyboard to indicate he had read it but wouldn’t be going.
Little Mushroom: &
Little Mushroom changed into light casual clothes and slowly followed the map out the door.
When Jiang Songshi returned home, he was indeed carrying two bottles of nutrient solution.
–Special supply from the laboratory.
Jiang Songshi didn’t know what flavors the two nutrient solutions were, as he had never tried them himself, but he did have some experience in cultivating fungi.
Mushrooms could easily go bad if not careful, Jiang Songshi understood this well. Since bringing Little Mushroom home, Jiang Songshi never let the young man eat anything unclean.
Little Mushroom’s clothes had to be the softest, his food the greenest. He was kept in the mouth for fear of melting and cradled in the palm for fear of dropping—Jiang Songshi raised Little Mushroom with the utmost care.
After all…what if he accidentally got contaminated?
Although Little Mushroom was a fungus, that wasn’t important.
Passing by a bookstore, Jiang Songshi also picked up two books on the way home.
His friends were still clustered in the group chat, inviting him to the bar in the South City.
Message after message talked about all the hot dancing boys and girls there. Jiang Songshi simply muted the group notifications.
What did dancing have to do with him?
Thinking about the symbol Little Mushroom had sent him, Jiang Songshi was even more convinced of his thoughts.
His naive silly little mushroom was still the cutest.
The young man’s eyes were big, his gaze clear when looking at people. Perhaps because mushrooms preferred shade and mostly grew in backlit areas, Little Mushroom’s skin was overly pale, always giving off a sense of fragility.
Delicate.
The bar was a diverse crowd. What if the smell of smoke or something else clung to him and he brought it home, making Little Mushroom sick? Laboratory mushrooms hated contamination the most.
Jiang Songshi decided he had to protect Little Mushroom well.
Finally arriving at the door, Jiang Songshi called out Little Mushroom’s name a couple times.
“Yiyi?”
What a strange name? If not for Jiang Songshi’s intervention, Little Mushroom wouldn’t have been called that.
Little Mushroom said his name was Mushroom Overlord.
Mushroom…Overlord…
Yes, Little Mushroom said he was the first little mushroom to transform in the rainforest this year, so he had to take the most powerful name.
Little Mushroom said it proudly, the young man puffing out his chest and shouting those two words arrogantly.
Jiang Songshi: …
After much coaxing, Little Mushroom finally agreed to change his name.
But Little Mushroom still pouted, only acknowledging “Yiyi” as his nickname.
“Yiyi?”
Jiang Songshi called out a few times but received no answer.
Strange, usually when he got home, Little Mushroom would come greet him.
His phone notified him of another message. Jiang Songshi picked it up.
Jiang Songshi had muted the group chat, so there were no group notifications, but his best friend kept sending him private messages one after another.
LiBuli2This is like a question: to pay attention or to ignore? I’m not sure how to translate that into a contact name or whatever, so I’m just keeping the pinyin.: Oh my god!!
LiBuli: Today’s DJ is so awesome!!
LiBuli: Image.jpg
LiBuli: Image.jpg
LiBuli: Image.jpg
LiBuli: Image.jpg
Author’s Note:
Jiang Songshi: What’s your name? [Such a cute little mushroom must have an adorable name right? (✿ﾟ▽ﾟ)]
Little Mushroom: My name is Mushroom! Overlord! [Smug, super cool, impressive (￣ヘ￣)]
TL Notes
- 1好 hǎo
- 2This is like a question: to pay attention or to ignore? I’m not sure how to translate that into a contact name or whatever, so I’m just keeping the pinyin.
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