Chapter 139: The Useless Umbrella
Everything here was so familiar.
Yet, it also felt foreign.
Chen Yin got out of bed and gently traced his finger across the dusty surface of his computer desk. He looked around the small, cramped apartment.
The date on the computer was from years ago.
He had just opened the door when a large, furry body barreled into him, knocking him to the floor.
A wet, warm tongue licked his face. Chen Yin didn’t even open his eyes. He simply wrapped his arms around the furry creature and smiled.
“Wutang, stop it.”
Wutang was his golden retriever.
And his only family in this world.
It had been a while since he had given it a bath. It smelled a bit, and its fur was shedding everywhere. But Chen Yin still held it close.
Wutang wagged its tail excitedly for a while, then settled down on top of him.
“…I know this isn’t real.”
“But it’s good to see you again.” Chen Yin gently patted its head.
Wutang didn’t understand what he was saying. Its eyes, like black pearls, were bright and clear.
“Let’s go. I’m a little hungry. Let’s get something to eat.”
As he stood up, Chen Yin noticed a notification on his computer screen.
He clicked on it. It was a message from his author’s page on Soshu.com.
Someone had commented on his novel.
“Author, your story is so good! Please don’t drop it, keep writing!”
Chen Yin stared at the username, then chuckled softly after a long silence.
“Haha. So it’s you.”
This was one of his few loyal readers.
He had thought she was just an ordinary reader. But later, he learned what a kind and resilient girl she was.
At this moment, she was probably sitting behind her screen, eagerly awaiting his reply.
Chen Yin started typing, “I will,” but his fingers froze mid-air.
After a long pause, he deleted the words.
“…Never mind.”
He knew he wouldn’t be able to finish this novel.
He thought for a moment, then replied to the comment, “Thank you for reading my story. Can I add you as a friend and chat about it?”
The wait for her reply felt longer than usual. Wutang lay at his feet, its large head resting on the floor, looking peaceful and content.
Finally, the screen lit up. She had replied with a QQ number.
Chen Yin could almost picture her sitting there, her face flushed, her fingers fumbling as she typed, her mind racing with anticipation. He couldn’t help but smile.
After adding her on QQ, she sent a tentative message: “Hello?”
“Hello, Shen Shuangshuang.”
A long silence followed his reply.
Chen Yin waited patiently.
Finally, she replied timidly, “Brother Chen Yin… do you still remember me?”
“Of course I do.”
Chen Yin smiled and typed, “Are you on summer break? Want to grab a bite? My treat.”
Another long silence, then a simple “Okay.”
Chen Yin sent her the address of a restaurant, then started cleaning his apartment.
It was a mess. But this time, he wasn’t in a hurry. He meticulously cleaned every corner, every surface.
He took out the trash, made his bed, and tidied up his desk.
He gave Wutang a bath and cleaned its bed.
Then, he took the dog and left the apartment.
The early autumn air was crisp and cool. Chen Yin wore a light jacket, but it wasn’t too cold.
They had agreed to meet at a restaurant in the city center.
When Chen Yin arrived, he saw a cute girl sitting by the window.
…Shen Shuangshuang was still in high school.
She had long hair with bangs, and she was wearing a white Japanese-style school uniform with a pleated skirt and leggings that hugged her shapely legs. She held a cup of coffee in her hands, her eyes fixed on the street outside, her expression filled with a nervous anticipation.
Wutang, seeing her, rushed over and nudged her leg with its nose, wagging its tail excitedly. As Shen Shuangshuang looked down in surprise, Chen Yin sat down opposite her.
“Long time no see, Senior—I mean, Shuangshuang.”
Shen Shuangshuang stared at him for a long moment, her face gradually turning crimson. She lowered her head shyly.
“B-Brother Chen Yin…”
“You’ve grown into a beautiful young lady.” Chen Yin looked at her with a smile, his eyes filled with warmth and affection.
Shen Shuangshuang nodded silently, her body tense.
Chen Yin wasn’t in a hurry. He started a conversation, and at first, she was a little shy and reserved. But as he gently guided the conversation, she gradually opened up, excitedly sharing stories about her life, her youthful innocence and charm shining through.
“Brother Chen Yin, what’s your dog’s name?”
“Wutang.”
“Why that name?”
“Because life is bitter, so I named him ‘No Sugar’.”
Shen Shuangshuang tilted her head, her eyes blinking.
“I haven’t seen you since you moved away, Brother Chen Yin. How have you been?”
Chen Yin hesitated, unsure how to answer.
He didn’t want to tell her that he hadn’t been doing well.
He didn’t want to tell her that he couldn’t make a living from writing. He didn’t want to tell her that he was barely holding on.
He didn’t want to tell her that in a month, he would simply disappear.
He had kept all his struggles and pain bottled up inside, unable to share them with anyone.
So, in the end, he simply shook his head. “I’m working on a new novel. If it does well, things should get better.”
“Really? What’s it about?” Shen Shuangshuang’s eyes lit up.
“Well…”
Chen Yin thought for a moment, then chuckled.
“…It’s about a struggling novelist who transmigrates to another world.”
It was cliché and unoriginal.
Even now, it still felt surreal. He even had a nagging feeling that it had all been a dream.
But he knew that if he truly believed it was a dream…
…He would never be able to go back.
Shen Shuangshuang listened intently as he told her about the Mist Yu flowers on Mount Yu, about his eccentric loli Master and his sweet and shy Junior Sister.
About his quiet and gentle Senior Sister. And about his playful and adorable fox demon servant.
After listening to his stories for a long time, she sighed softly. “That sounds wonderful.”
“It’s like a whole different world.”
Chen Yin smiled at her, saying nothing.
Time passed slowly as they chatted, from afternoon to evening.
After dinner, they left the restaurant and strolled along the bustling street, Wutang trotting happily beside them.
Shen Shuangshuang walked slowly, her head lowered, her hands clasped behind her back, stealing glances at Chen Yin from time to time.
Chen Yin looked at the familiar yet foreign city, a melancholic expression in his eyes.
“Did you run away from home, Brother Chen Yin?”
“Yeah, you could say that.”
“Do you… want to contact your family?”
Chen Yin paused.
Although he knew this was just an illusion, he still couldn’t bring himself to see his family.
He wasn’t the same impulsive sixteen-year-old who had run away from home with nothing but a backpack.
He didn’t hate his parents as much anymore. Many of the emotions he had struggled with had faded with time.
But he was still afraid to see them. Perhaps he was afraid he wouldn’t be able to leave.
If he became attached to this place, it would be difficult to go back.
“…I don’t think so.”
“But your parents must be worried.” Shen Shuangshuang said sadly, pouting slightly.
“Maybe.” Chen Yin didn’t answer, his gaze fixed on the passing cars.
He was surrounded by people, but he didn’t belong here.
The person who belonged here wasn’t him.
Chen Yin was already dead.
Shen Shuangshuang suddenly stopped, her eyes glistening with tears, her lips trembling.
“Are you… leaving?”
“Yes.” Chen Yin nodded.
“Where are you going? Home?”
“To where I belong.”
He shook his head slowly. “I don’t have a home here anymore.”
Shen Shuangshuang didn’t speak, just lowered her head and kicked a pebble on the sidewalk.
She felt a pang of sadness. She had finally met the person she had admired for so long, but their brief encounter was already coming to an end.
She couldn’t bear for it to end so soon. She gathered her courage and looked up at him.
“Brother Chen Yin, I have something to tell you! I’ve always—”
Her eyes widened slightly.
Chen Yin gently placed a hand on her shoulder and kissed her forehead softly.
His other hand gently covered her lips.
“Don’t say it.”
He looked at her with a gentle smile.
But his eyes were filled with sadness.
“…I’ll take it seriously.”
You should always carry an umbrella when it rains.
But when the rain has stopped, there’s no need to open the umbrella anymore.
Shen Shuangshuang stared at his profile, her heart aching.
“If you can, please take care of Wutang for me, okay?”
He said softly, “You don’t have to buy expensive dog food. Even leftovers are fine, he’s not picky.”
“Give him a bath once or twice a week. You can do it yourself, he’s very well-behaved.”
“And…” Chen Yin’s gaze lowered.
“Don’t… let him eat chocolate.”
Not even if someone else offers it to him.
Shen Shuangshuang nodded blankly.
“And you,”
Chen Yin turned to her and ruffled her hair gently.
“If you can, I hope you’ll live a good life.”
A life without me.
Even if you don’t transmigrate to that world.
Even if we never meet again.
I hope you can live like a normal girl.
From school uniform to wedding dress. Find someone you love, and who loves you back. Live a peaceful and happy life.
Chen Yin had thought he could say those words naturally.
But his lips moved silently, and he swallowed them back.
“…Hah. I’ve lost everything in this world.”
“But now that I’m leaving…” He glanced at Wutang, wagging its tail at his feet.
He looked at Shen Shuangshuang, her eyes red-rimmed and glistening with tears.
“I’m… a little reluctant to leave.”
The next moment, he opened his eyes. He looked at the dimly lit underwater palace before him, his expression calm.
He looked at the woman in the flowing black dress, Fuyu, who was watching him with a smile.
“Congratulations.”
“You have passed the trial.”
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