Travel · Imperial Capital Arc (Sixteen): Birdwatching Little Orange's Protector
Imperial Capital, Yanqing, Wild Duck Lake.
The mornings here seem like they haven't woken up yet. A thin mist floats on the water in the distance, as if seeping from the roots of the reeds. The wind blowing from the reservoir carries the scent of cattails and mudflats, cool and refreshing, so comfortable that it almost makes you forget that it is the height of summer.
In this atmosphere, a bicycle carrying a handsome young man and a beautiful young woman began to travel around, the crisp sound of the bell falling into every inch of flowers, grass and soil along the way.
"Mmm~ Choosing to come here for birdwatching in the morning was definitely the right decision!" Sigrika stretched comfortably in the back seat. "Even the air is so fresh!"
"Of course, you're an indispensable part of this birdwatching trip! I'll be your protector today!"
"No problem, I guarantee I'll complete the mission!" Xiao Ling grinned.
As for why Xiao Ling and Sigrika suddenly came here to birdwatch, that story begins after dinner yesterday.
At that moment, Xiao Ling was dominating the game at her computer desk, effortlessly defeating her opponent with ease as she navigated the keyboard and mouse. Suddenly, her room door opened from the outside, and a little Little Orange darted in.
Sigrika was quite an extraordinary woman. Seeing her senior playing a game, she couldn't bear to disturb him, so she stealthily crept up to his side and watched him navigate through the hail of bullets.
As a result, when Xiao Ling finished the game and was about to stretch, he looked up and met Little Orange's gaze. He was so startled that he almost fell off his gaming chair.
"Sigrika, when did you arrive?"
"I've been here since just now, senpai~" Sigrika smiled and took off his headphones for him. "I wanted to talk to you about something, but you seemed very busy, so I didn't bother you right away."
"You startled me." Xiao Ling lightly flicked the tip of her nose. "So, what brings you here?"
"Of course it's very important." Sigrika said with a beaming smile, "Here, senior, this is for you!"
Upon seeing the senior's voucher handed to him, Xiao Ling immediately understood.
"Are you planning to claim the prize?"
"That's right!" Sigrika nodded. "I found an amazing birdwatching spot, but I don't want to go alone, so..."
"No problem, I'll make time." Before she could finish speaking, Xiao Ling accepted the voucher and then patted Sigrika's head. "What time do we leave tomorrow?"
Back to the present.
On Wild Duck Lake, the Great Reed Warbler calls urgently from the deepest part of the reeds, as if urging an answer. The Little Grebe's trill drifts across the water, a thin line that breaks off mid-twitch. The Common Moorhen creates a ripple on the calm lake before leisurely disappearing into the reeds. Looking further afield, the Grey Heron stands motionless on the shallows like a withered gray-brown branch, patiently waiting for an unlucky fish to come to it.
And all of this was captured by Sigrika's camera.
"Great! We definitely came to the right place this time!" Sigrika's voice was filled with the delight of discovering a treasure. "I never expected to find so many different kinds of birds here!"
"This wetland park has seen the observation of 372 species of migratory birds, many of which are nationally protected animals, ranging from birds of prey to the Reed Parrotbill peeking out from the reeds," Xiao Ling added casually. "Congratulations, Sigrika, you're going to get some great photos today."
"Yes! We need to work harder, senior! Let's try to record all the birds here!" Sigrika with great enthusiasm.
Just as they were about to head to their next destination, they were suddenly blocked by Gu Gu Gu, who flew towards them.
Sigrika and Xiao Ling were both taken aback, preparing to see what this ancient Gugu was going to do.
Then, Gu Gugu began his performance.
He kept bowing towards Sigrika, making "gugu" sounds.
"Uh..." Sigrika gave an awkward smile, looking a little flustered, "Is he trying to woo me?"
Xiao Ling was furious; this Gu Gu Gu was clearly up to no good.
Xiao Ling: I'm telling you, you can't beat me, do you believe that?
So, the man and the dove began to use the Ancient Gu Gu to launch magical attacks on each other, and the scene was so amazing that passersby couldn't help but stop and watch.
And so, after an unknown amount of time, until the dove was completely annoyed by Hajiling, it flapped its wings and flew away to find its next victim.
"Pfft, hahaha!" Sigrika laughed like a silver bell. "Your imitation of a turtledove courting was hilarious!"
"This is called using magic to fight magic," Xiao Ling said smugly, hands on his hips.
After this brief incident, the two continued their bird-chasing journey.
"This one, this one, and this one! They're all great photos!"
At noon, the weather began to get hot, so Xiao Ling and Sigrika naturally found a cool place to have lunch.
"Let me take a look." Xiao Ling said, glancing at the photo, but in his hand, he used his chopsticks to pick up a fried meatball and stuff it into Sigrika's mouth. "Not bad, I feel like the image could be further optimized—that is, photoshopped."
"You can even use Photoshop?" Sigrika asked the other person after casually eating the fried takoyaki.
"It's alright, a little light processing should be fine, after all, your photo is already good enough."
"Then I'll have to trouble you, senior~" Sigrika picked up a piece of fried chicken from her bento and brought it to Xiao Ling's mouth, "Here, come on~"
Xiao Ling ate the chicken cutlet in one bite with a "Mmm~", and then couldn't help but praise, "Delicious!"
Seeing her senior enjoying the meal so much, Sigrika's face also broke into a joyful smile.
"By the way, how did you manage to film the scene of me and Gu Gugu exchanging magical attacks?" Xiao Ling's tone sounded rather helpless.
After a day of birdwatching, Sigrika and Xiao Ling returned home, and Hajiling responsibly helped Sigrika process the bird photos she had taken.
"I won't show these two photos to anyone, and of course I won't show them to Yaya and the others. I'm keeping them for myself!" Sigrika playfully stuck out her tongue.
"I'm glad you like it." Xiao Ling casually tidied a few strands of orange hair from her forehead.
Afterwards, Xiao Ling focused on editing the photos, while Little Orange watched attentively and offered suggestions.
But most of the time, Sigrika's attention wasn't on the pictures; her gaze would inevitably drift to her senior's sharply defined profile.
Hmm... since there's no one around now, maybe... I should take the initiative?
Suddenly, while Xiao Ling was editing a photo, a little Little Orange snuggled into his arms and hugged him in a rather ambiguous way.
Before he could ask why, Sigrika kissed his lips.
Xiao Ling was shocked. When did this Little Orange become so proactive?!
You know, when Sigrika first arrived here, she would blush even if you just touched hands, but now she's starting to take the initiative.
"This is... a reward for you, senior!" Sigrika blushed and said shyly after their lips parted.
Xiao Ling: Let me put it bluntly, if a lone man and woman are alone together, and a beautiful woman throws herself into their arms, what are we waiting for?
We can put the pictures aside for now; if we don't take advantage of this Little Orange, who knows when we'll get another chance?
So, amidst Sigrika's gasp, Xiao Ling grabbed her and threw her onto the bed.
"Senior! What are you doing?!" Sigrika immediately sensed something was wrong; she felt like she had walked into the lion's den.
"Aren't you asking a question you already know the answer to?" Xiao Ling said with a lecherous smile.
"But we'll be eating soon..."
"I'll just give you special treatment then~"
"Senior... um~" Sigrika wanted to use delaying tactics, but the sudden tingling sensation interrupted all her thoughts.
The two kissed again, but this time it wasn't a fleeting, superficial kiss.
Finally, having been bullied so badly, Little Orange could only whimper in Xiao Ling's arms, a mixture of shame and anger.
"Senior... you big bad guy... I hate you the most!"