Chen Shouyi jumped.
Rats weren't exactly docile animals. When they got riled up and started biting, they could be vicious, and they carried all kinds of germs.
He hurriedly looked under the bed, only to realize he'd imagined the whole thing.
He'd completely overestimated Shell Girl's courage.
He saw her warily watching the rat in the corner, sneaking backward one careful step at a time.
When she noticed Chen Shouyi's feet, it was as if she'd spotted a lifeline. She scurried over and grabbed his trouser leg, clinging to it tightly as her whole body trembled.
Chen Shouyi scooped Shell Girl up and put her back on the bed, teasing her. "Didn't you want to see a rat just now?"
"You liar! That's not a rat?" She looked shaken, and tears of grievance welled in her eyes.
"Rats don't look like that!"
Chen Shouyi froze for a moment.
Once he understood, he couldn't help laughing ruefully.
Were the cute, harmless rats in cartoons really the same thing as rats in real life?
Early the next morning, the family quickly packed their things and prepared to make a trip to Dongning.
First, they wanted to get back the money they'd invested in the underground lending company. Second, they wanted to see if they could sell the old house.
Chen Shouyi had been against the idea, but his parents insisted on going. Since Dongning was under lockdown and public order hadn't deteriorated much, he had no choice but to let them have their way.
As they reached the gate, he saw Zhou Xue again.
She was practicing her sword in the courtyard.
"Uncle, Auntie, are you going out?" Zhou Xue called, stopping to glance at Chen Shouyi.
Chen Shouyi smiled and nodded.
"Oh, it's you, Xiaoxue. We're going back to our old