Chapter 48: Catching Up and a Few Quick Stabs

Chapter 48: Chapter 48: Catching Up and a Few Quick Stabs

When Lin Zhenxiang, who was rushing toward Luoxing Port, saw the video from Zhang Xiaoxiao, she didn’t know whether to laugh or gag.

’Figures a dog would go back to eating shit!’

’Trash belongs with trash!’

’People like her are just polluting the Federation. She should be sent back to the junkyards of the Lower Star District where she belongs!’

The transparent bag Shu Yao had dragged out of the dumpster was filled to the brim with fish maws.

Or as they’re more commonly known, fish swim bladders.

Each one was thicker than a Russian-style sausage.

"Why would anyone throw away something this good?"

"This... is good stuff?" Shu Chao Yu’s lip twitched.

More and more people were starting to stare.

Right now, he wished the ground would open up and swallow him whole.

He stopped Shu Yao from rummaging through the dumpster again, hissing, "That’s enough! Everyone’s staring! Let’s just go!"

Shu Yao stood on her tiptoes and craned her neck to peer into the dumpster one last time, but she didn’t see anything else worthwhile.

With a disappointed look, she pulled back and started dragging the transparent bag away.

Shu Chao Yu grew frantic. "It’s fishy and it stinks. Can we please not take it with us?"

"You think it’s gross? Fine. Don’t eat any when I cook it."

Shu Yao simply dragged the bag away, completely ignoring the stares of others.

Shu Chao Yu hung his head and trailed far behind her.

Xiao Juzi, annoyed by his dawdling, leaped from his shoulders. His little feet went PITTER-PATTER as he ran to catch up with Shu Yao.

"Mama, I’ll help you!"

"You’re such a good boy, looking out for your mama! When we get home, I’ll make you something delicious!"

"Yay!" Xiao Juzi cheered.

Watching the heartwarming scene of mother and son from behind, Shu Chao Yu felt a pang of... something. He couldn’t quite put his finger on it.

As they passed a fish tank, Xiao Juzi’s attention was captured by the small fish swimming inside.

The fish were red, with large heads, bulbous eyes, and butterfly-like tails. They were quite lovely to look at.

The little guy pressed his face against the glass. "Mama, can I have them?"

Shu Yao shut him down without mercy. "We’ll talk when you can take care of yourself."

Xiao Juzi’s face fell. He stuck his lower lip out in a high pout, and his bright, dark eyes looked incredibly hurt. But, being a sensible boy, he didn’t cry or throw a tantrum.

Shu Yao ruffled his hair. "Come on, let’s see what’s up ahead."

Xiao Juzi reluctantly waved goodbye to the little fish in the tank.

"Bye-bye~"

"Wow, the butterfly-tail dwarf fish here are so cute! Hey everyone, don’t you just want to scoop them all up and take them home?"

A cheerful, energetic young woman approached them with a camera, apparently doing an outdoor live stream.

"Oh, Sister Shu, what a coincidence!"

The wide smile on the girl’s face vanished the moment she saw Shu Yao, replaced by a hurt expression.

’First Zhang Xiaoxiao, now Lin Zhenxiang.’ Shu Yao thought, ’This is no coincidence.’

"Sweetie, go find your uncle," she told Xiao Juzi, sending him off to find Shu Chao Yu. The child needed to be kept away from the impending battlefield.

Xiao Juzi didn’t want to go.

"If you don’t listen, you’re sleeping by yourself tonight!" Shu Yao threatened.

"Okay, okay..." Xiao Juzi finally trudged away reluctantly.

"Sister Shu, your son is so adorable!" Lin Zhenxiang gushed, acting as if she were completely charmed by Xiao Juzi.

Noticing the live broadcast, Shu Yao said coldly, "Please don’t point your camera at my son."

"Oh, I’m so sorry, Sister Shu! I didn’t think you’d mind!" Lin Zhenxiang stammered, putting on a frantic show of apology.

"If we end up going viral, don’t you dare say we were riding your coattails," Shu Yao said flatly.

Lin Zhenxiang didn’t quite understand what she meant, but she could tell her tone was anything but friendly.

"Sister Shu, are you still mad at me about what happened?" Lin Zhenxiang called out, chasing after Shu Yao as she started to walk away, dragging the bag. "But I thought we cleared up that misunderstanding!"

Shu Yao shot her a strange look.

’I had no desire to listen to her crap, but she just had to chase me down and start spouting it.’ She thought. ’How disgusting!’