Little Mushroom tilted his head, the tiny mushroom on top of his head tilting as well.
Jiang Songshi’s heart suddenly beat rapidly, as if he had just finished a motorcycle race, his heart rate accelerating. No, not just that, Jiang Songshi thought, his current heartbeat was probably faster than after completing a series of high-difficulty moves.
Jiang Songshi was lost in thought, not answering Little Mushroom for a moment.
Little Mushroom had initially leaned in rather close, and after waiting for two or three minutes without hearing Jiang Songshi’s answer, he slowly retracted his hand.
The stupid human doesn’t like me, Little Mushroom thought.
The tiny mushroom on top of his head had drooped down.
Little Mushroom felt a bit sad.
Well, actually more than just a bit, the tiny mushroom on Little Mushroom’s head had wilted further, its cap folded in, each mycelial thread expressing a sense of loss.
Little Mushroom began to wonder aimlessly: Was he too much trouble, was that why the stupid human didn’t like him?
Little mushrooms are easy to care for, and wild little mushrooms are even easier; Little Mushroom really isn’t troublesome!
Little Mushroom: It’s not… troublesome to care for me, Jiang Songshi, can you like Little Mushroom?
Little Mushroom: “Not… troublesome, Shi… like me…?”
Without waiting for Jiang Songshi’s answer, Little Mushroom became anxious.
Little Mushroom: “I can also earn money, a lot of money, to buy gifts for Jiang Songshi.”
Little Mushroom: “I can stop drinking nutrient solution too.”
Little Mushroom: “I won’t bully the stupid cat anymore either.”
…
The more Little Mushroom spoke, the more anxious he became, and the more anxious he became, the less fluent he became. Unable to speak fluently, Little Mushroom tried to gesture, becoming even more flustered.
Little Mushroom: “Mushroom… conquer the world… money!”
Little Mushroom: “Shi… gift…”
Little Mushroom: “Not eat… cat…”
Jiang Songshi looked at Little Mushroom in confusion: “Conquer the world, want money?”
Jiang Songshi thought Little Mushroom wanted to order a drink. Since ordering a drink naturally required money, Jiang Songshi considered that if Little Mushroom felt it was fine, he could go along and let Little Mushroom order a drink.
Since Little Mushroom likes it, as long as it’s safe, if it can make Little Mushroom happy, Jiang Songshi can compromise.
Of course, the alcohol content of the drink must be the lowest. Jägermeister and the like are absolutely impossible, but sparkling wine can be considered.
Jiang Songshi felt he was an open-minded “parent.” So, as he was thinking, he handed the money Little Mushroom had given him back to Little Mushroom.
Little did he know that at this moment, his action was seen by Little Mushroom as the stupid human not only disliking him but also rejecting his reward and gift.
The stupid human… is he trying to cut ties with me?
Jiang Songshi had no idea what Little Mushroom was thinking. When he saw Little Mushroom’s eyes gradually turn red, he thought Little Mushroom was touched by him, so he simply returned all the money Little Mushroom had given him.
Jiang Songshi: “This is what you earned yourself, keep it.”
Jiang Songshi: “I don’t need it.”
Little Mushroom’s eyes turned even redder as he looked at Jiang Songshi: “Shi… don’t want… Mushroom?”
Jiang Songshi, immersed in his own understanding of being touched, began to modestly decline.
“Give it to you.”
“No, no.”
“Keep it.”
“Take it back.”
…
Just like the “polite” back-and-forth when visiting relatives during holidays.
Jiang Songshi: “No, no.”
Little Mushroom froze for a moment, repeating a phrase in Mushroom language that Jiang Songshi didn’t understand. Before Jiang Songshi could respond, Little Mushroom blinked, and a tear escaped past his eyelids, wetting Little Mushroom’s eyelashes.
Jiang Songshi: Wait, this isn’t quite going as expected.
Little Mushroom’s eyes were red, and the flustered one had become Jiang Songshi.
Jiang Songshi: “What’s wrong?”
Jiang Songshi: “Yiyi?”
Jiang Songshi: “Tiantian1Mr. Overlord is Mr. Batian, Tiantian is a nickname.?”
Little Mushroom: “Shi… why… don’t like… Mushroom?”
Jiang Songshi finally heard Little Mushroom’s words clearly and, after understanding, couldn’t help but feel heartbroken.
In Jiang Songshi’s understanding, if a person knew another person did not like them, at most they would just ignore each other. Who would offer up their own things and ask that person if they could like them a little bit, when they knew the other person did not like them?
But the silly mushroom would.
Little Mushroom didn’t want money, Little Mushroom said he could give the money to Jiang Songshi, to buy gifts for Jiang Songshi.
Little Mushroom wanted Jiang Songshi to like him.
So, instead of getting an answer to “why”, Little Mushroom received an embrace.
Jiang Songshi hugged Little Mushroom, his hand on the back of Little Mushroom’s neck, making Little Mushroom raise his head.
Their lips intertwined, Jiang Songshi’s kiss no longer the brief, clumsy one from before. Jiang Songshi took control, beginning his offensive.
“Mmph–” Little Mushroom was forced to tilt his head back, kneeling on the sofa to receive it.
Little Mushroom was almost out of breath, the hands supporting himself on Jiang Songshi’s shoulders trembling slightly, even the tiny mushroom on top of Little Mushroom’s head tinged with a light blush at the tip.
“Enough… Shi… stop…” Little Mushroom’s words came out disjointed.
Jiang Songshi’s kiss was fierce, as if to reassure Little Mushroom, yet also to mark him, Jiang Songshi said: “Not enough.”
Jiang Songshi also said, “Shi likes Mushroom.”
Jiang Songshi likes the silly mushroom.
Kissing is something that could only happen between people who liked each other.
Jiang Songshi likes Little Mushroom, and Little Mushroom also likes the stupid human.
Author’s Note:
Little Mushroom: “Shi… likes… Mushroom?”
Xixi (throwing hands up/very loudly): “He loves him!!”
TL Notes
- 1Mr. Overlord is Mr. Batian, Tiantian is a nickname.
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