Chapter 320: Chapter 320: Cage of Fools (14)_1
A talking rabbit?
Just a moment ago I was wondering if things from fairy tales could seep into this world. It seems the situation isn’t optimistic.
“What if we accidentally encounter one?”
Fu Qian continued to ask.
“Then don’t pay any attention to them, especially don’t listen to what they say.”
Hani warned with unusual determination.
...
“Otherwise, they’ll take you into the fairy tale.”
“Got it.”
Fu Qian looked at her.
“Actually, I did meet a talking rabbit in my dream just now.”
…
“Did you talk to them?”
As soon as Fu Qian said this, Hani jerked her hand away as if electrocuted.
“Mhm.”
Fu Qian took out the green apple from his pocket.
“I even gave them an apple to eat, but unfortunately, they didn’t seem to like it much.”
After taking control of Violetta’s body, he quickly realized his pocket was heavy, and later he noticed it was the spoils of war from earlier.
It was unexpected that the apple, even the candy with a strange taste was brought out, despite his own body having vanished.
“No matter where you are, it’s best not to talk to them.”
Hani glanced at the apple in Fu Qian’s hand, swallowing reflexively.
“Souffle said, they’ll make you forget the way home, as well as what your mother looks like.”
“Actually, I’ve started to forget some of it.”
Fu Qian caressed the apple in his hand.
The apple certainly looked appealing, but he definitely couldn’t let Hani eat it.
“It’s okay, you’ll remember it.”
Hani hesitated for a moment, but still took his hand.
“We’ve all forgotten before, as long as we’re careful not to fall back in, it’ll slowly come back to us.”
“Have we been here a long time?”
“Yes, a very long time.”
Hani looked at Fu Qian with eyes full of pity.
“You’ve been sleeping more and more lately, that’s not good… We’ll go back early in a bit, they can’t get into the red house.”
Yeah.
“But before that, let’s go play!”
True to being a child, her mood switched in a second.
From worrying just now, she became excited the next moment.
“It’s beautiful here, come on!”
Dragged by Hani, Fu Qian observed his surroundings as they ran.
The weather was clear, a gentle breeze blowing, and the occasional passersby looked over with very kind eyes.
Disregarding the strange dangers, it felt like a nice place.
“Hani’s here!”
Eventually, the two stopped in front of a shop. Under a green sign, a familiar face smiled warmly in greeting, even looking somewhat surprised when seeing Fu Qian.
“Violetta is here too, it’s rare to see you!”
It was indeed Mrs. Torrance.
Fu Qian casually responded and began to look around what seemed to be a general store.
Toys, clothes, spices, and in a corner, there was even a cake baked to a caramel color.
The style was the simplest kind, but it smelled quite good.
And it seems these people aren’t afraid of falling asleep.
Fu Qian observed the brown recliner underneath Mrs. Torrance.
She seemed to have been napping there just moments ago.
“They can’t see the rabbits, and they aren’t afraid of dreaming.”
Realizing Fu Qian’s confusion, Hani explained quietly by his side.
So that was it.
Fu Qian nodded silently, while the latter was already excitedly playing with the items in the store.
…
Hani had a blast and a long time had passed without incident, and as expected, she hadn’t bought a single thing.
Mrs. Torrance seemed not to mind at all, watching her frolic with a beaming smile throughout.
In the end, she even disclosed an important piece of information—Bella had also visited before, and had purchased a cake.
“That’s so cunning!”
Upon hearing this, Hani almost jumped up.
It was evident that she was very interested in the cake, but since she was short on cash, she could only look on longingly.
Now, suddenly learning that Bella had kept a treat to herself, Hani was instantly filled with righteous indignation.
After confirming the direction with Mrs. Torrance, she cast aside her earlier plan to head back soon and, together with Fu Qian, chased after her.
Before long, the path veered farther and farther from the red house, until at last, they could see the azure sea.
And Fu Qian finally realized that the town actually sat on an island.
“Bella!”
At this moment, Hani finally found her second sister, who sat on a rock, leaning against a tree and gazing into the distance, unhearing of her calls.
But Hani was not about to let her off easily; she ran up to her, and her eyes gleamed at the sight of the half-eaten cake beside her.
“This is too much, sneaking off to such a place to hog it all to yourself—”
Hani stopped abruptly, staring at Bella with a look of horror.
The latter was comfortably leaning against the tree, with her eyes slightly open, peering over.
“You were sleeping… how could you sleep!”
Hani’s voice became shrill from shock.
“What’s all the fuss about!”
Bella covered her mouth as she sat up and yawned.
“I was sleeping, so what?”
“But you can’t sleep, you’ll be trapped inside a fairy tale and won’t be able to get out.”
Seemingly intimidated by Bella’s presence, Hani’s retort sounded more like a murmur to herself.
“It won’t necessarily happen, and it’s very distressing to stay awake all the time.”
Bella glanced at her indifferently, then turned her head to look at the distant sea, her demeanor serene.
“What is real, and what is not?”
“Maybe fairy tales are the real world, and it’s us who are lost here?”
Who knew she was a philosophical girl!
Fu Qian felt a wave of emotion listening to her.
But it wasn’t surprising; at his age, he too was filled with thoughts of meaning, existence, doubting everything, life and death, and so on.
“But… but Souffle said, we must never sleep.”
Obviously shaken, Hani still clung to her stance, quietly invoking the authority of her older sister.
“Souffle… she worries too much.”
Bella murmured, head bowed, then snorted.
“Actually, come to think of it, it might not be bad to be trapped in a fairy tale world.”
“Maybe I could even see Mom again, so what’s there to worry about.”
She pointed at Fu Qian.
“Look, Violetta is calmer than you, even after having so many dreams.”
“It’s not dangerous, is it, Violetta?”
She stared intently at Fu Qian.
“Actually, it’s a bit dangerous.”
Fu Qian responded casually, his gaze fixed on the distance.
He had little interest in discussing the meaning of life with a melodramatic girl, even if she had stumbled upon a bit of truth by accident.
If the sea surrounded the island like this, physically escaping would undoubtedly be quite difficult.
“Violetta talked to a rabbit before!”
It was at this point that Hani suddenly spoke up from beside him.
“Really?”
Bella looked at Fu Qian in surprise, then turned her head aside.
“I told you it’s no big deal, next time I can talk to animals too.”
“But—”
Before Hani could finish her sentence, she stared blankly behind Bella, her whole body going rigid.
“What’s wrong?”
Sensing something amiss, Bella turned her head.
An animal that resembled a crocodile was emerging from behind a boulder, its gray-black body covered with eight densely packed legs.