In the laboratory.
Jiang Songshi was verifying a set of data, with the newest cultured bacteria beside him. A researcher was staring at the newly grown bacteriophages1Bacteriophages, also known as phages, are viruses that infect and replicate only in bacterial cells. Source: National Library of Medicine in the culture dish, crying loudly.
Little Mushroom blinked curiously, looking around.
Jiang Songshi glanced over, thinking the distraught researcher had scared Little Mushroom. After considering it, he told the researcher to go cry at the smoking area.
Jiang Songshi approached the researcher and glanced at the culture dish where he had grown the bacteriophages.
“Feeling sad?” Jiang Songshi asked.
The researcher hugged the culture dish, eyes brimming with tears: “Wah wah Team Leader, my…hic…bacteria…” It was evident he was truly upset, hiccupping through his sobs.
“Stop crying for now,” Jiang Songshi said.
The researcher looked at Jiang Songshi. “Are you trying to console me, Team Leader? Or will you help me re-culture it?”
Jiang Songshi coldly replied, “No, I mean go straight out, and close the door before you cry.”
“Also, keep your voice down so you don’t scare my Tiantian.”
Researcher: ???
After the researcher left with the culture dish, Jiang Songshi pulled Little Mushroom into his embrace.
“What’s wrong?” Jiang Songshi asked. “You’re not scared, are you?”
Little Mushroom obediently shook his head.
Previously, Little Mushroom hadn’t noticed, but now he could hear constant chatter around him.
It was in the mushroom language, but very quiet, and slightly different from what Little Mushroom spoke. It was like different dialects in different regions.
Bacteria 1: “The researcher cried!”
Bacteria 2: “He just looked at me, and now I don’t want to live!”
Bacteria 3: “The temperature dropped 0.01 degrees Celsius today, let’s shiver a bit!”
Bacteria 4: ##……
Bacteria 5: ##……#
Little Mushroom: !!!
Little Mushroom was shocked.
Jiang Songshi noticed Little Mushroom’s expression and followed his gaze to the culture dishes across from them.
“Can you hear them talking?” Jiang Songshi asked tentatively.
Little Mushroom nodded.
“What did they say?” Jiang Songshi asked.
Bacteria 1: “That human seems to be looking at us?”
Bacteria 2: “The researcher, ah, ignore him.”
Bacteria 3: “Let me tell you, Fifth Bro said he saw some bread crumbs the other day, hehe, Fifth Bro said he’d randomly grow a bit.”
Little Mushroom tilted his head and seriously translated for the stupid human.
Little Mushroom pointed at the culture dish Jiang Songshi had just processed: “Dead.”
He then pointed at Jiang Songshi’s feet, where there were some bread crumbs likely left behind by a researcher working late: “Grow randomly.”
Jiang Songshi: ……
Jiang Songshi: Can’t argue with that, it’s possible.
After Jiang Songshi finished recording the data, the man and mushroom left the research institute. The researcher from before had started believing in mysticism, holding two oranges in front of the culture dish and giving a slight bow.
Jiang Songshi: ……
That’s not one of his team members, he doesn’t know them.2This is sarcastic, jic the tone got lost in translation lol
In the afternoon, the two finally went for that ride. The midpoint of the mountain offered a view of the sunset, the warm yellow glow tinting half the sky as the sun dipped below the horizon.
From here, one could see the forest where Little Mushroom was born. In the distance, the outline of Grandpa Tree was faintly visible. Little Mushroom excitedly pointed out the treeline to Jiang Songshi.
Jiang Songshi let Little Mushroom hold his hand, listening to his animated chatter.
As night fell, lights suddenly came on in the distance. At first, just a small point of light illuminated the distance, then strings of lights illuminated one after another. Little Mushroom curiously approached, only to see researchers who they had seen in the institute that morning gradually coming up.
Some carried flowers, others balloons, which they handed to the Little Mushroom when he neared.
Little Mushroom turned his head curiously to find Jiang Songshi standing behind him.
Those around began singing a strange folk song Little Mushroom had heard from the rectangular human screens – a song of blessings and celebration.
Amidst the singing, Jiang Songshi held flowers and awkwardly expressed his feelings to Little Mushroom in Mushroom language.
Jiang Songshi: “###……###*###……”
Jiang Songshi said he wanted to be Little Mushroom’s family, asking if he would give him this chance. Jiang Songshi said he would love Little Mushroom for the rest of his life; as long as Jiang Songshi existed, he would be the Little Mushroom’s “Shi.”
Jiang Songshi’s friends would be Little Mushroom’s friends. Jiang Songshi’s home would be his home. Little Mushroom would never be alone again.
However long Jiang Songshi lived, he would spend that time with Little Mushroom. The length of Jiang Songshi’s life would be how long he walked with Little Mushroom.
Finally, Jiang Songshi asked: “Mr. Mushroom Overlord, are you willing?”
Little Mushroom’s eyes widened as he gazed at Jiang Songshi, uncertain.
The wind picked up on the hillside, the small mushroom on Little Mushroom’s head swaying until he finally nodded. Jiang Songshi then slid the ring onto Little Mushroom’s ring finger.
At that moment, brilliant fireworks bloomed behind them.
The distant treeline seemed to sway, a cool breeze wafting through the valley, carrying a dandelion seed that landed on the Little Mushroom’s ring finger – a blessing from afar.
Author’s Note:
And that’s the end of the main story! Hehe, thank you to every reader who made it this far~
Xixi always felt this little story wasn’t written well; every time I read it, I want to revise it X﹏X (only to find the revisions not as good as the original, tears). But! Xixi will keep working hard!
Xixi reads every comment, they are really interesting, hehe!
As for extra chapters: Xixi owes a few…if you have any ideas, let me know~ (You can also leave a message if there’s anything specific you’d like to see!)
TLN: There are no extra chapter TAT
TL Notes
- 1Bacteriophages, also known as phages, are viruses that infect and replicate only in bacterial cells. Source: National Library of Medicine
- 2This is sarcastic, jic the tone got lost in translation lol
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