Chapter 32: Strange Humans Are Peeking at You

Cao Laoting's family of three had been driven to the brink of madness by the rats and birds.

Having finished watching the show, Deng Rui hummed a little tune as she headed home.

Downstairs, Jiang Dashan was chatting away with his neighbors.

Jiang Yuan took Fu Xiaoxiao to buy food for the little mouse and the little bird, as a thank you for their performance tonight.

"I didn't know what you guys liked, so I just bought a bit of everything."

Jack, the little mouse, had very high emotional intelligence: "Yuan Yuan, we love whatever you buy!"

Jiang Yuan was amused. "Jack, do you have a lot of female mice who like you?"

Jack the little mouse suddenly became shy. "Yuan Yuan, how did you know? I'm the most popular among our mice."

Jiang Yuan raised an eyebrow. "I see."

Mary, the little sparrow, circled above their heads. "Yuan Yuan, Bird discovered a strange human."

"A strange human?" Jiang Yuan reached out, and Mary the little sparrow landed in her palm.

"Yes, that human seems to be peeking at you."

"Peeking at me?"

"When you went to buy things just now, he was peeking at you."

Jiang Yuan frowned, thinking of the silhouette she had seen earlier when she went to buy sunflower seeds.

"What does he look like?"

Mary the little sparrow: "Can't tell. He's wearing a hat, and his face is covered."

Jiang Yuan: "I understand."

"Yuan Yuan, do you want to go get some BBQ?" Fu Xiaoxiao had seen BBQ on her social media feed and was craving it.

Jiang Yuan nodded. "Sure."

The two found a nearby BBQ stall.

It was Fu Xiaoxiao's suggestion, and she was the one who ordered, but while eating, she only had a tiny bit before claiming she was full.

Jiang Yuan: "You eat even less than Mary."

Fu Xiaoxiao: "No way! You're exaggerating."

As soon as Mary was mentioned, Mary the little sparrow appeared.

Flapping its wings, it landed on the table. "Yuan Yuan, that strange human is peeking at you again."

Jiang Yuan knit her slender brows. "Where is he?"

Mary the little sparrow: "At that grilled oyster stall."

Jiang Yuan's gaze drifted toward the grilled oyster stall, feigning indifference.

Aside from the owner, only one person was sitting in front of the stall. He was wearing a black jacket, a black baseball cap, and a face mask.

It was the same person she had seen when buying sunflower seeds.

Jiang Yuan felt he looked somewhat familiar, but she couldn't place him for the moment.

After a moment's thought, she said to Mary the little sparrow, "Keep a close eye on him for me."

"Bird will!" Mary the little sparrow said seriously. "Even if Yuan Yuan doesn't say it, Bird will help! Because Yuan Yuan is Bird's friend!"

Jiang Yuan curled her lips into a smile. "You're wonderful, my friend."

She wouldn't have even dared to dream of this; she never expected that one day she would be friends with so many animals.

**

The following afternoon.

Jiang Yuan went to the pet hospital to see Xiaobai. The nurse said it had recovered well and could be discharged to go home.

Separated by the cage, the little Samoyed gazed at her expectantly with its dark, bead-like eyes.

"Yuan Yuan, Xiaobai is already very healthy!"

Jiang Yuan pursed her lips, feeling somewhat hesitant.

There were already two cats at home; if she added a dog, would Ms. Deng be able to accept it?

But if she didn't take Xiaobai home, where should she take it?

Jiang Yuan's slender fingers rubbed her chin. After a moment of thought, her eyes flickered with an idea.

She took out her phone, dialed Jiang Die's number, and called out sweetly, "Sis~"

Jiang Die laughed. "What is it, Yuan Yuan?"

"Sis, can you do me a favor?"

"What kind of favor?"

An hour later.

Jiang Yuan arrived at Xingfu Garden with Xiaobai.

Before she could even go upstairs, she was intercepted by the local stray dogs.

"Yuan Yuan, that human you mentioned last time comes every day!"

"Did he come today?" Jiang Yuan asked with a frown.

Upon learning that Xiaobai was coming, Zhanzhan and Momo were extremely expectant, staring eagerly at the front door.

"Mama, why hasn't Auntie arrived yet?" Zhanzhan furrowed his little brows.

Momo also said distressedly, "It's been many, many minutes. Did Auntie get lost? Should we go out to meet her?"

Jiang Die was preparing dessert. Hearing the children, she raised an eyebrow and asked, "Weren't you guys very scared when you heard Auntie was coming before?"

The siblings looked at each other and fell silent, pursing their pink, chubby lips.

Looking at the two children, Jiang Die said softly, "It's Auntie's first time being an aunt. She didn't know how to get along with you before, so she might not have done very well."

"Just like how it was Mama's first time being a mother, and many times I didn't take good care of you."

"You gave Mama many chances, so you should give Auntie a chance too, right?"

After hearing this, Zhanzhan and Momo lowered their little heads in serious thought.

They were afraid of Auntie before because she was mean and always bullied them.

Now that Auntie wasn't bullying them, they weren't as afraid.

Moreover, since Auntie was bringing Xiaobai today, they were even less afraid.

They just didn't know if one day, Auntie would suddenly turn back into the mean Auntie from before.

Zhanzhan and Momo had actually discussed this privately.

It seemed like Auntie had become a different person.

Before the two little ones could speak, the doorbell suddenly rang.

They looked up abruptly, their childish faces lighting up with surprise and anticipation.

Auntie is here with Xiaobai!

Zhanzhan ran to the front, trying his best to stand on his tiptoes to open the door.

But to his surprise, the person standing outside was not Auntie and Xiaobai, but a strange, large man with a big mole on his nose.

"It's not Auntie!" Momo's little face fell in deep disappointment.

Seeing the visitor, Jiang Die's expression darkened instantly, and she snapped, "What are you doing here again?"

The man with the fleshy mole squeezed his way in and closed the door, chuckling. "Jiang Die, what's the meaning of this? You haven't gone to work for so many days?"

"Open the door! Get out!" Jiang Die shielded the two children behind her, her voice filled with anger. "I've already resigned!"

Zhanzhan furrowed his little brows. Looking back at his mother's angry expression, he felt that his mother must really hate this strange man.

He pursed his lips, his voice soft and sweet yet full of authority: "Uncle, our home doesn't welcome you. Please get out!"

"Shut your mouth, kid!" the man with the fleshy mole barked. "Stay out of adult business!"

His voice was so loud that it scared Momo into tears.

"Waaa, Mama, this uncle is so scary..."

Zhanzhan was also startled, his eyes turning slightly red.

Jiang Die pulled the two children close to her and comforted them softly, "Don't be afraid, Mama will protect you."

"Ooh, ooh, ooh." The man with the fleshy mole wore a wicked smirk. "Such a charming voice. Why don't you call me 'big brother' and let me hear it?"

"Get out!" Jiang Die warned in a low, heavy voice. "If you don't leave right now, believe it or not, I'll call the police!"

"Go ahead and try." The man acted as if he didn't care at all.

Jiang Die picked up the phone on the coffee table, preparing to make the call.

Seeing this, the man's expression shifted. He lunged forward to grab the phone. "You actually dare!"

"Give me back my phone!" Jiang Die was not strong enough to fight him off.

The man with the fleshy mole said triumphantly, "Play with big brother first."

Jiang Die's expression turned grim. She tried to rush toward the door with the two children, but her path was blocked by the man's bloated body.

Her heart raced wildly, filled with both shock and rage. "Get out of my way!"

"What's the rush? Once big brother is done playing, I'll naturally leave." The man rubbed his hands together and reached for the woman's slender waist.