In the morning, after buying the carrot seeds for sowing, I also stopped by at “Seabird” on the way.
Seabird is the only coffee shop on the island, run by a loving elderly couple. This coffee shop has apparently been around for forty to fifty years.
As I pushed the door open, the wind chime by the entrance jingled. The old man, who was wiping a plate, looked up and said, “Whoa, An, Ai.
It’s still before opening hours, so there aren’t many customers. I sat at the counter, and the kind old lady served me a honey cake and freshly squeezed orange juice.
“Thank you, Grandma~”
“How is it? Are you used to island life yet?”
“Yeah, at first I couldn’t imagine life without the internet, but I got used to it faster than I thought.”
Honestly, when my mother first said she was tired of the hustle and bustle of the city and wanted to live a self-sufficient rural life, and decided to move to a remote island I’d never even heard of, I thought she was crazy.
It’s 2019, and there are still places without internet, it’s unimaginable.
I even thought I might have to live like a primitive person from now on.
But after actually moving here, I found it wasn’t as bad as I imagined.
While it is less convenient, there are many advantages. The environment and air are excellent, and every corner of the island is a beautiful landscape, something I could never have imagined in my previous living environment.
There were no traces of artificial intervention, and I never thought such a paradise existed in this world.
I can kind of understand my mother’s thinking now.
“Haha, I wish we had a child like Ai at home.”
“What about Grandpa and Grandma’s children?”
“They left many years ago.”
“Is that so? -”
Did they leave the island?
There are indeed few young people on the island, probably because they all flocked to the big cities.
It’s nice to live on this island, though. Perhaps it’s human nature to not cherish what we have and only realize its value when it’s gone.
The old lady handed me a boxed cake and said,
“Well then, I’ll have to trouble you again, Ai.”
…
I naturally had no reason to refuse. I had already eaten the honey cake, so how could I not help with such a small favor?
It wasn’t a complicated matter, just acting as a courier to deliver something.
“Hehe, doesn’t Ai like that person a lot? You always go to see him.”
“I do not!”
“Hoho, I understand, I understand. A young girl’s first love is just beginning.”
“I SAID I DON’T!”
It’s just taking care of a neighbor – that’s right! Just because he’s the only neighbor, that’s all!
“Alright, alright. That person doesn’t come to our shop anymore, so I’m grateful you can go see him for us.”
…
My mother and I were able to settle down on this island so quickly thanks to the help of the old couple, who sold us their old house at a very cheap price.
The reason the old couple took such good care of us, a mother and daughter from out of town, was probably because of ‘him.’
The old man, who had finished washing the dishes,
with his usual kind smile, entrusted me with a serious request with a slightly stern expression.
“Please give him a message from us: ‘That’s enough. Thank you for your care. See you again.'”
The old man held the old lady’s hand and said with a smile.
“Isn’t it about time?”
The old lady smiled back.
“…Yes, it’s about time.”
The two elders looked at me together and said,
“Then we’ll be counting on you, Ai. It’s been wonderful having you with us during this last period.”
“Huh? Don’t say such ominous things, it sounds like you’re leaving soon…”
The old lady didn’t say anything more, but added,
“Please take care of that person from now on. He’s very lonely, so I hope Ai can spend more time with him.”
The old man and woman exchanged glances and then smiled together.
“The master of this island? Then why do so few people on the island seem to know him?”
If he didn’t live so close to our house, I wouldn’t have even met him.
That somewhat mysterious man.
The old man gazed into the distance and said earnestly.
“Besides us old folks, not many people have seen that person. That person dislikes-”
“Dislikes goodbyes?”
“Yes. So, if that person is willing to see you, it means Ai must be special.”
“Is that so?”
I don’t feel special at all…
“Well, it’s about time, I should be going home.”
“Yes, be careful on your way.”
“Bye,”
I waved my hand at the door and looked back. They smiled back, and for some reason, the distance felt so far.
At that moment, I didn’t realize that the old lady, who always said ‘Goodbye,’ today said ‘Bye-bye.’ What message did it contain?
In any case, after leaving the Seabird coffee shop, I walked uphill all the way back home.
I put the seed bag on the table when I got home. Mom wasn’t up yet. I felt like my mom had gotten lazier and lazier since we moved to the island.
Then, after thinking for a moment, I took out some homemade iced fruit tea from the refrigerator, poured it into a portable thermos, and with the cake box, I headed back up the hill.
Mom’s house was far from the village, but strangely enough, there was a ‘neighbor’ nearby-
a young man who looked to be in his early twenties. However, based on what the old man said, he seems to be a middle-aged uncle.
And he’s the island’s master… it’s probably something passed down from his ancestors, and no one probably recognizes him.
He lives alone by the cliff, I’ve never seen him go out, and he sleeps all day…. anyway, he’s surely sleeping today.
Huh? He’s not sleeping?
The uncle seemed to be talking to someone, a woman. I couldn’t see her clearly. What were they talking about?
“…It’s been a long time, a rare visitor. I never expected to see you again. I thought you had left this world.”
“I have left, I am just looking at my ‘hometown.'”, Novel
“Is that so? Have you found the answers on your journey of self-discovery?”
“Not yet.”
“I just wanted to see you. It’s not as lively around you as it used to be.”
“I’m all alone now…”
“What cycle is this?”
“The sixth loop.”
“So much time has passed…”
“Heh, I originally wanted to keep you company, but it seems I won’t be needed.”
“Are you leaving again?”
“Just as you gave me my name, existing in the cycle is my purpose for living.”
“Heh, haven’t you already found it?”
“I’m leaving now. See you again if fate allows.”
“…See you again if fate allows.”
In an instant, the person disappeared.
The uncle wasn’t awake, he was sleeping as usual. What’s going on?
Was it an illusion?
I rubbed my eyes and looked again. There was indeed no one else, and the uncle was lying in the rocking chair, fast asleep.
Could I have seen a ghost by the sea or something?
A chill ran down my spine, and I quickly ran to the uncle.
Seeing his lazy appearance, I got angry. He’s just like my mother, why are they both so lazy!
Even if there’s nothing to do on the island, you can’t just be idle!
I approached the rocking chair, placed the cake and fruit tea on the porch, and pinched the uncle’s nose.
“Get up, you lazy bum. How much sleep do you need from morning till night?”
Due to difficulty breathing, the uncle frowned and rubbed his sleepy eyes.
“….Ai…”
“Zi’ai? Are you talking about…? ”
Suddenly, I was hugged.
W-w-w-what?!
His strength is immense! I’m being hugged tightly!
…Why is he mistaking me for someone else?
I couldn’t break free, and feeling his warmth up close, my cheeks started to burn.
“I’m Ai! My name is Lou Ai! Not Zi’ai! Uncle, wake up!”
But the uncle showed no signs of waking up. In the end, I had no choice but to forcibly pinch his nose.
*Phew*, he finally let go of me.
“Ugh, domestic violence.”
“What domestic violence! Why did you suddenly hug me?!”
“Oh dear, as I get older, I often get confused. Ahaha…”
What a laugh!
Honestly, why is this person always like this…
But the Zi’ai he mentioned earlier – was that his wife? Did he have a wife? I don’t even know his name.
“What’s wrong? Ai?”
“N-nothing. Um, Grandma asked me to bring you a cake…”
“Oh, Grandma from Seabird? I told her not to bother anymore…”
“Then let’s eat together. I still have some at home.”
As I watched the uncle walk inside, I hugged myself. It was warm.
“I’m back. The watermelon is cut. Don’t just stand there, sit down.”
I sat with the uncle in the courtyard, from where we could overlook the sunflower fields below. It was the season when sunflowers were in full bloom, a dazzling, brilliant sight.
“Ah, right. Grandpa also asked me to give you a message: ‘That’s enough. Thank you for your care. See you again.'”
“Is that so… I see.”
The uncle looked into the distance with a deep, meaningful expression, as if he had more to say but held back.
Why did I feel so sad?
“By the way, Uncle, what’s your name?”
“Eh? Ai, you don’t know my name? Didn’t Grandma from Seabird tell you my name?”
“Grandma always calls you (That Person)…”
“…It’s like… well, even though I feel like ‘it’s come to this,’ I’ll introduce myself anyway.”
Juncheng An. Juncheng An. I tried to repeat the name in my mind several times to remember it, but I quickly memorized it.
It felt strange, as if I had always known his name.
“Then can I call you by your name from now on?”
“Yes, you can.”
“Okay, then… Jun-”
As I tried calling him that, the uncle froze. Then I went back to calling him Uncle, and he came back to his senses.
“Ah, sorry. It’s just that no one has called me by my name for a very, very long time, so I’m not used to it.”
So that’s why he almost forgot his own name.
How long has he been living here alone?
Why does this person live here all alone?
Grandpa said he’s afraid of loneliness and hates goodbyes, which is quite contradictory.
“Never mind, then I’ll just call you Uncle.”
“Uncle, is it really okay for you to sleep like this every day?”
“Because there’s nothing else to do… Hmm, and it’s not that I like sleeping, but rather I like dreaming.”
“Like dreaming?”
“Yes, because you can have anything in your dreams.”
“Pfft, what’s that supposed to mean? Isn’t that just daydreaming? Don’t you have any other serious dreams, Uncle?”
“Yes, I want a happy family.”
Even someone as lazy as Uncle wants to get married…
Who will I marry in the future?
I tilted my head up, my heart beating faster as I gazed at the uncle’s profile against the backdrop of flowers covering the hills.
This wasn’t the first time I’d sat beside him like this, looking out at the flower fields and the sea.
“Ai.”
The sunlight warmed the air gently. This sleepy-eyed, yawning person beside me, who gently called my name, was he the one I had been looking for?
“…Can I marry Uncle?”
“Eh? E-e-eh?! Zi’ai, no, Ai, what did you say?”
Who is she? Does she look like me? Why does he keep calling her name?
“But! But I just like… My heart races when I’m with Uncle. I…”
I actually started crying, throwing a tantrum like a child. How could Uncle possibly accept me like this?
“I’m serious! So-”
“You perverted freak, stay away from my daughter.”
An arm suddenly appeared before me, and the uncle was sent flying.
I turned around and saw my mother with her hair disheveled, wearing only a slip dress and underwear!
“Mom?! Why are you out dressed like this!”
But Mom ignored me and rubbed her neck as she spoke to the uncle lying on the ground.
“You’re still the same old you.”
The uncle clutched his cheek and got up from the ground, looking at Mom with a shocked expression, then pointing at me and exclaiming.
“Wait! She’s your daughter?! I thought ‘it can’t be’ when I heard the surname Lou, but I never expected it to be true!”
“Yes, what about it? My biological daughter.”
“No, Mom adopted me… Mom is only twenty-three, how could she be my biological mother?”
“…Wait, why do you still remember me!”
“…You lecher, stop coming near my daughter.”
The two of them talking at once created a mess.
Ugh, what is going on?
Does Mom know Uncle?
“Let’s go home, Ai. Remember not to come see this man again, or you might get pregnant unexpectedly.”
“He’s a married man with countless wives, a real scumbag.”
“And, he’s also my ex-husband.”
“E-eh?!”
I thought it was just a story about a young girl falling for an older man, but now my mother is involved, and the man she likes is a scumbag!
This story has taken a wrong turn!
What will happen in the future?
That is another story.
[The End]
A Very Short Postscript
Ah, the dangerous girl is finished.
A total of 2.4 million characters. From March 3, 2017, to today, exactly two years.
How should I put it… It feels like a relief.
Before writing this postscript, I thought of many things I wanted to say, but now that I’m actually writing, nothing comes out. Heh…
To be honest, “Dangerous Girl” isn’t written very well. There are many shortcomings and deficiencies… I’m well aware of that.
So, I sincerely thank all readers for following me this far (kneels).
If this book has left any impression on you, that would be truly wonderful.
I, Ye Gui, have also thought and reflected a lot during this time… It’s about time I made a decision.
A thousand words can be summed up in one sentence.
See you again, if fate allows.
