Er Ming's Story

It was a sunny afternoon. Dappled light filtered through the forest as a bright-eyed young girl skipped along, humming a nursery rhyme she had learned from who knew where.

"Little girl picking mushrooms, carrying a little basket on her back..."

From time to time, she lowered her head to search for mushrooms beneath tree roots and amid the grass, letting out delighted little cries whenever she found one, her smile as radiant as a flower.

As she rounded a patch of woods, she suddenly stopped beneath a towering tree.

"Huh?"

The girl blinked. Beneath the tree lay a monkey covered in jet-black fur, its coat sleek and glossy.

—No, to be precise, it was a chubby little monkey.

It lay sprawled on its back, a trace of drool even hanging from the corner of its mouth. It looked as though it were sleeping soundly.

"Wow! What an adorable little monkey!" The girl looked at it, her eyes brimming with delight.

She crouched down gently and could not resist reaching out to stroke its fur. It felt incredibly smooth.

"Hehe, it really is adorable!"

The monkey was sleeping deeply. Perhaps sensing the pleasant touch, it lazily turned over, seeming to enjoy itself even more.

"Hmph, let's see if you wake up!" The girl smiled even more happily. Her eyes darted mischievously as she reached out and pinched the monkey's nose.

This time, the monkey finally could not stand it. Its body twisted, and it swatted her hand away with a paw before opening its bleary eyes.

Their gazes met. The monkey's eyes were confused at first, but then a hint of ferocity immediately surfaced.

"Did you just swat me? Oh my, you really are so cute!" Yet the girl failed to notice the danger at all and instead laughed excitedly.

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