Chapter 114: The Rat

At six in the morning, the gymnasium was filled with a faint, delicate fragrance.

Gorgeous purple plants grew wantonly across the ground, dominating the entire field of vision. Amidst this dense foliage stood a variety of amusement park rides, many only half-constructed: a carousel, a slide, a roller coaster, and spinning teacups. These rides, with their paint shining brightly as if freshly applied, sat waiting for visitors in the midst of this dreamy, purple landscape.

"It seems this gymnasium was intended to be renovated into an amusement park," Ji Linmo said, gesturing toward a banner hanging from a tree. Printed neatly on the red cloth was a row of large characters: "Happiness Amusement Park, Opening July 25th!"

Ji Linmo checked his phone. It was already September; the meteor had struck in August. "It looks like work stopped here before the meteor fell..."

He glanced at a hazard sign pasted on the wall and looked up. A massive meteor hung in mid-air, embedded directly into the half-demolished gymnasium, appearing like a gray pearl set into the structure, strikingly conspicuous.

Did the meteor cause the plant mutation here?

Ji Linmo reached out to stroke a patch of purple mock strawberries. Suddenly, to his surprise, one of the barren plants seemed to twitch. Was it just his imagination? He reached out again and tapped the plant. It truly seemed drawn to his touch, its tip curling and reaching persistently toward his finger.

This discovery caught his attention. He crouched down and prodded the plant firmly several times, but it suddenly acted shy, refusing to move no matter how much he poked it.

"Mr. Ji, how childlike of you, playing by poking leaves~" Qin Feng crouched down as well, lining up beside the man and watching him with amusement.

"No... I just discovered that this barren mock strawberry plant seems to move." Ji Linmo gave it a few more prods, but the leaves refused to cooperate.

Just as he was about to stand up, Liu Xiaoxiao, who was also crouched nearby examining the leaves, suddenly shrieked. "Ah! This mock strawberry! It tried to bite me!" She pointed an indignant finger at a barren purple plant near her feet.

A mock strawberry plant trying to bite? Ji Linmo looked at her, skeptical.

"It's true! It tried to bite me; I was just fast enough to dodge!" Liu Xiaoxiao flicked the plant angrily, but it now looked perfectly ordinary, showing no signs of abnormality.

"I know! It must be that we're too big, so it didn't dare. If we find a smaller animal, it will definitely bite!" She brightened up. "Right! Mice! Do you think there are mice here? These plants look so fresh, they must eat plenty of mice!"

Ji Linmo watched her confidence, said nothing, and stood up to leave. He truly wished she would listen to herself. But Liu Xiaoxiao was on a roll, insisting that he watch her.

"What do you plan to do?" Ji Linmo asked, trying to be understanding despite his skepticism.

"I can mimic mice! Once I call to them and tell them there's food, they'll come." She patted her chest, radiating extraordinary confidence.

After a brief silence, Ji Linmo spoke slowly. "Liu Xiaoxiao, do you want to listen to what you're actually saying?"

She ignored him, puckering her lips and emitting a rustling, squeaking sound, like a trapped mouse on a cutting board. There, in the field of purple plants, the woman in her tattered, sack-like coat crouched intently, focused on her mouse calls.

Finding the scene a bit too much to bear, Ji Linmo stood up and expressionlessly moved away. *Surround yourself with fools, and you'll eventually turn into one yourself.*

"Mr. Ji, have you ever been to an amusement park?" Qin Feng asked suddenly. The boy, dressed in a white shirt, stood on a swing set and began to sway with the breeze.

"..." Ji Linmo looked down, lost in thought, and remained silent.

"Mr. Ji, I haven't been to one yet~" the boy continued. "And I don't know if I ever will, so I really want to know: are amusement parks fun?" His voice was as clear as a mountain spring reflecting sunlight, yet his tone held an indescribable regret.

"They're fun if you have money... otherwise, you wait in line forever," Ji Linmo replied honestly, watching the boy swing higher and higher. "The food is expensive and doesn't taste good either... but if you go with companions, it can be quite interesting. When on the roller coaster, I've seen many people taking unflattering photos of their friends..."

The man's sincere words made the boy laugh. As the swing climbed higher, the boy spoke again. "Mr. Ji, it sounds like you really hate spending money when you go out~ But, our esteemed 'Miracle-Maker,' it sounds like you went alone?"

The man fell silent. This time, the silence seemed to please Qin Feng. The boy curled his lips into a smile, swinging happily and looking radiant.

"Mice! The mice are here!"

At the shout, Ji Linmo turned to look. It was Liu Xiaoxiao, pointing at the ground with glee. Ji Linmo stared in disbelief. Beside the woman's shoe was a thin, small mouse. She had actually lured one!

Ji Linmo leaned in cautiously. The small creature was wary, sniffing around as it slowly approached the mock strawberries. But faced with the crystalline fruit, the mouse didn't eat; instead, it sniffed them one by one, as if weighing its options.

Just then, a barren plant twitched. Tendril-like branches sprouted from it, slowly reaching toward the mouse.

"Squeak!"

The soft purple vine whipped out like a snake, tightly binding the mouse's head. The mouse realized too late and struggled violently, but no matter how it clawed, it could not escape. It was strangled to death on the spot.

Ji Linmo watched as the plant extended countless purple vines, wrapping the mouse and hoisting it up. Blood dripped down the leaves; when the foliage receded, a fresh, vibrant, and succulent mock strawberry had appeared on the previously barren branch.

"Wow! I wasn't wrong! They really do eat mice! And the mice turn into mock strawberries!" Liu Xiaoxiao raised her hands in triumph.