Chapter 346: Across the Ocean
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Because of his fixed body clock, Zhang Zian had always gotten up before the alarm rang, but today was an exception. His cell phone rang when it was still pitch black and silent outside.
He got to bed very early last night, but was too excited to fall asleep, and when he got up, he still felt very sleepy.
But today, no one could afford to stay in bed, whether it was Zhang Zian or Fina, because the flight wouldn’t wait for humans nor cats.
Apart from him, the alarm also woke the elves up. They opened their mouths and yawned in their own ways.
"Get up now, have a quick bite and we will leave." Zhang Zian jumped off the bed.
He had prepared everything he needed. Although he liked putting everything off until the last minute, he was better than packing things up right before catching a flight.
The elves also began to prepare. They heard from him that today was going to be a very long journey, so they must feed themselves first. There were barbecue skewers delivered last night in the refrigerator that would be made edible by heating them up in the microwave. Although Fina felt disgusted food that was not freshly made, she had to settle for that or she would be starving the entire trip. Zhang Zian had to have some food too, for he would be the only one carrying all the luggages. How was he going to do that without the energy provided by food?
Everybody finished their breakfasts quickly and gradually trickled down to the first floor. Zhang Zian stayed on the second floor alone to conduct security checks by making sure all the windows, natural gas stoves, water pipes had been turned off. He would be leaving his pet shop for a few days; these protection measures were necessary.
Galaxy wasn't fond of crowded places, while Old Time Tea and Snowy Lionet didn't have the certificates to prove their values for scientific research, which meant they were not able to ride on public transportation normally. Although they were able to travel in invisible states, considering Old Time Tea's advanced age, Zhang Zian advised it to stay in the phone for the time being, and come out when they had arrived in the United States. Old Time Tea agreed to this arrangement pleasantly. As for the troublemaker Snowy Lionet, no way could it be left outside.
Putting Galaxy, Old Time Tea and Snowy Lionet inside the game, Zhang Zian pulled open the shutter door.
Silence reigned everywhere. It was always the darkest before dawn. The chilling wind was blowing, and there was some residue of the snow that had fallen two days ago in the shady corners of the walls. A few stars were still seen on the night sky, yet no one was seen walking on the streets.
Zhang Zian exhaled smoky air, turned around and looked at his pet shop. After contemplating for a few seconds, and making sure that he had attended to every detail, he turned off the electric switch. The shop became pitch-black and nothing could be seen. Although he was only leaving for a few days, he had begun to miss it already.
Richard had already hidden in his hood, cuddling itself for warmth. Fina was not as lazy as she always was — she was pacing back and forth, striving to gain extra heat from the movement of its muscles.
Zhang Zian pulled down the door and locked it.
"Let's go."
He put his hand on the handle of the luggage.
This old luggage was the one he used when he rushed back from another city. He thought that after dealing with his parents’ funerals and selling this pet shop, he would leave this place with this luggage. However, it had been lying in the corner of the storage room till now.
Fina did not move, but instead kept staring into the darkness.
"Ah-choo!" someone sneezed.
"Who's there?" Zhang Zian subconsciously reached for his cell phone. Could it be the Rainbow Fighters who were seeking trouble with him again?
Two men appeared from the darkness while blowing their noses. When they came closer, he recognized they were Wang Qian and Li Kun.
"Master! It's us!"
Their faces appeared pale. They had obviously been waiting outside for quite a long time.
"What are you doing here?" asked Zhang Zian confusingly.
"We are here to see you off and help you!" explained Li Kun, while Wang Qian took over the luggage from Zhang Zian.
"You guys just have nothing better to do?! You think I'm weak or something? Why would I need you to see me off..." Zhang Zian shook his head but didn't turn down their kindness, "Go stop a taxi."
"Ok!" answered Li Kun. "Master, are you going to the airport or train station?"
"Train station."
The airline companies in China had ambiguous attitudes on the matter of whether pets were allowed in the passenger cabins. Since such companies normally observed the regulations, even with the scientific research certificates issued by Professor Wei Kang, Zhang Zian’s pets still might not be permitted there. Instead of taking the risk to challenge their rules, he decided to take the high-speed train to Shanghai and take the international flight from United Airlines.
Li Kun stopped a vacant taxi, and Wang Qian stuffed the luggage into the trunk. Three men and a cat got into the car at the same time, while Fina unreservedly occupied the front seat, leaving the three of them crowded in the back row. Jumping out from the hood and seeing that three men were sitting in a row, Richard quacked excitedly, "Three butt-buddies in a row!"
Startled, the taxi driver almost drove his car onto the sidewalk!
Zhang Zian turned around to look at the sign of Amazing Fate Pet Shop. He smiled.
He might be alone when he returned from another city, but this time, when he left, he was not alone…
...
At the entrance of the departure hall, Zhang Zian painstakingly tried to explain why he didn't carry a bird cage or a cat carrier to the security inspection officer and presented the certificates issued by Professor Wei Kang. After calling his supervisor for instructions and calling Binhai University for confirmation, the security officer finally and reluctantly allowed him to go into the hall.
It was relatively easier getting aboard. It seemed that the flight attendants of United Airlines had greeted similar passengers before, for they didn’t appear to be surprised by him. After checking the certificates presented by Zhang Zian, they allowed him to get on the plane.
But the passengers were very astonished upon seeing him, especially the children, who were gazing enviously at Richard and Fina, and asking their own parents why this person could bring his pets on the plane. Some curious adults even came to inquire him too, but he just answered vaguely without giving any detailed explanation. After all, he had pulled some strings to let this happen.
Luckily, when the plane was about to take off, and under the advice by the flight attendants, these curious passengers went back to their own seats.
Zhang Zian happened to be arranged in a three-seat row. He sat in the middle, while Fina set inside close to the window and Richard close to the aisle.
When the flight attendant walked by pulling a meal cart, Richard exclaimed excitedly, "Fruit salad! Fruit salad!"
Before this trip, Zhang Zian had fantasized that he would have a romantic relationship with a young and beautiful blonde stewardess. However, the cruel world disillusioned him—maybe the young and beautiful blonde stewardesses indeed existed, but they were serving the first-class cabin or business cabin rather than the economy cabin he was currently sitting in, for the stewardess pushing the cart was a middle-aged woman over 40 years old.
This auntie was quite nice and was fond of Richard, this talking parrot. She looked at Zhang Zian and inquired him with her eyes.
Zhang Zian nodded and said in English, "Please give it a dish of fruit salad, thank you."
Humming pop songs from the 1990s, Richard pecked at the fruit salad leisurely as if it had been transported back to the times it and his previous lady owner had traveled by plane. At that time, she also ran into many troubles for taking it on the plane, and it was only allowed in the cabin after scientific research certificates had been granted to it. Therefore, Zhang Zian was not a complete idiot, for he had thought of such a method—maybe he was still not as good as her, but at least he was not a hopeless moron.
Zhang Zian's cell phone had been turned off and put into his bag when he got on the plane, so he didn't know that the cell phone had automatically turned on and accessed the game.
[Game Hint]: Congratulations! The likability of your Apprehensive Bird has been promoted to the trust level, and it has gained the ability of freedom of actions!
The message vanished in a blink of an eye, and the cell phone turned off quietly, as if nothing had happened.
...
The plane was flying smoothly, and beneath it was the ocean that had no boundaries. Most of the passengers had fallen asleep, with only a few people concentrated on minding their own business. Some were doing work on their laptops, and some were reading newspaper or books. The cabin became very quiet. After finishing its meal, Richard started to feel drowsy.
It was the first time that Zhang Zian had ever seen the Pacific Ocean. He was intrigued by it at the beginning, but the monotonous scenery had made him sleepy very soon.
He had gotten up too early this morning. He yawned and was about to take a nap, but then he noticed that since getting on the plane, Fina had been extremely focused on looking outside through the porthole. However, nothing was outside except the clouds in the sky and the ocean below.
Zhang Zian felt something was wrong. This was not the normal Fina who liked sleeping all the time — why was she fond of traveling by plane so much?
Seeing that the passengers around him were sleeping, he said in a low voice, "Aren't you sleepy? It's still a long way before we arrive in America. You can take a nap on the seat."
Fina turned her head to face him reluctantly. There was confusion in her green eyes, as she asked, "When will we fly above the Black Land?"
Zhang Zian’s heart sank. He was not sleepy anymore.
This was what she had been waiting for. Fina was hoping to see Egypt once again. The pyramids, the magnificent Sphinx, the expansive Black Land, the hometown she missed very much…
Zhang Zian didn't know how to answer her, but Fina kept staring at him, waiting for his reply.
Although the truth was cruel, he decided to tell her anyways. "This plane won’t fly above Egypt, for it is flying in another direction—the opposite direction. Don’t wait anymore, for you won’t be able to see it no matter how long you wait."
Fina kept looking at him for a while, as if she was wondering whether he was lying.
Zhang Zian had never been afraid of looking at Fina in her eyes, but for some unknown reason, he couldn’t look directly in her eyes right now. If possible, he wanted to pretend that he didn't see the disappointment in her eyes.
Moments later, she replied with an "oh", quietly laid down on the seat and closed her eyes.