Chu Zhishui noticed her parents' bewilderment and knew this matter couldn't be digested immediately, so she waited quietly for Xie Yan and Chu Xiaohe to recover.
After a moment, Chu Xiaohe asked in confusion, "What do you mean by 'not human'?"
"Exactly what it sounds like," Chu Zhishui said softly. "Dad, didn't you take photos of the bamboo in my courtyard?"
"Yes, did he plant it?"
"No, that was his true form. He's a bamboo spirit who can take human form."
"..."
Seeing them both fall into silence, Chu Zhishui pursed her lips and softened her tone: "Do you remember when I was little, after Aunt Liu visited, I was upset for several days?"
Chu Xiaohe, though still dazed, responded automatically: "Yes, I remember."
Xie Yan added: "She told you we were going to give you a little brother, and you were unhappy for a long time. You wouldn't tell us why. Is that what you're referring to?"
Chu Zhishui lowered her eyes: "Yes. You told me then that no matter how selfish the thought or how difficult the situation, speaking honestly would allow for communication, at least preventing us from staying stuck in place. I know this is hard for ordinary people to accept, but I want you to know."
Back then, she thought wanting her parents to herself was selfish, but even understanding this reasoning, she remained sullen as a child. Xie Yan and Chu Xiaohe didn't understand her sudden moodiness, and after several failed attempts to ask, they gave her that advice.
She could have kept quiet about everything, but that would mean either assuming her parents couldn't accept Xin Yunmao or harboring false hope that things would work themselves out. She wasn't ashamed that he was a spirit, nor did she think her parents were so fragile.
She couldn't make the choice for them.
"This is about respecting both you and him. You're only connected because of me, and I don't want to start with concealment and deception, depriving you of your right to know and choose," she explained calmly. "You can accept it or not - we can discuss either way."
"It's fine if you need time, or if you don't want to meet him. I'll tell him the same thing. If both sides are ready, we can discuss whether he should visit. The connection shouldn't be forced because of me, but rather because you and he decide to have one."
After she finished speaking, the room fell silent.
After a long while, Chu Xiaohe scratched his head, still seeming confused, and spoke first: "Wait, something's not right..."
Chu Zhishui straightened her back and clenched her fingers, though maintaining a composed expression: "What is it?"
Chu Xiaohe said regretfully: "So I've already met him? He was in the courtyard, and I even took his picture? I didn't even greet him - that was quite rude for a first meeting."
Chu Zhishui: "?"
Xie Yan smacked him in annoyance: "Oh come on, you obviously couldn't greet the bamboo in the courtyard - that's just like his extension or some kind of ability. Didn't you hear earlier that he can take human form? You can only greet him when he's in human form!"
"How was I supposed to know all this?" Chu Xiaohe felt wronged. "And how do you know about this stuff?"
"You're so old-fashioned, can't keep up with the times. Haven't you watched TV dramas?" Xie Yan continued smacking him, irritated. "There was that popular drama recently, starring someone surnamed Fu. The female lead could grow flowers and plants, but she could only communicate in human form - her other branches and leaves were just her superpowers!"
Chu Xiaohe was bewildered from the smacking: "When do I have time to watch TV dramas? Isn't that just for young people? Besides, TV dramas aren't like reality, right?"
Chu Zhishui said weakly: "Actually, it's quite similar. He usually moves around in human form."
Xie Yan asked curiously: "What does he like to eat? Does he collect spirit stones like in the drama?"
"No, that's just TV drama design. He basically doesn't eat, he prefers drinking water and photosynthesizing," Chu Zhishui explained. "Actually, he doesn't even need to drink water."
Chu Xiaohe: "If he's a plant, wouldn't he lose hair when leaves fall every year?"
Chu Zhishui: "...Bamboo stays green all year round, leaves rarely fall."
Xie Yan said disdainfully: "God, everything you say is so stupid, I can't take it anymore."
Chu Xiaohe protested: "Well, I don't know about these things!"
What started as Chu Zhishui introducing Xin Yunmao somehow turned into an argument between Xie Yan and Chu Xiaohe, with neither side backing down.
Xie Yan complained that Chu Xiaohe's questions were too basic and he'd soon develop senile dementia. Chu Xiaohe argued that he just didn't understand spirits, and Xie Yan's knowledge only came from TV dramas, lacking any scientific basis.
Neither parent dwelled on the spirit issue, instead launching into an academic discussion about spirits, debating enthusiastically.
Though it's worth noting that after Chu Zhishui encountered the supernatural at work that first day, she still managed to go to work on time the next day, showing remarkable psychological resilience.
Chu Zhishui looked back and forth between them, her expression troubled, and raised her hand to indicate: "Um... do you have any other questions for me...?"
She had been completely left out of the conversation, unable to join their discussion about whether all plants and animals could take human form, whether stones could become human, and whether Sun Wukong counted as a monkey or a stone-turned-human.
Xie Yan finally came back to her senses and asked tentatively: "Would he be willing to meet us?"
Chu Xiaohe: "According to mythology, spirits are born from nature's essence. Since he's a plant rather than an animal, he might not understand human bloodlines. It would be understandable if he's unwilling to meet."
If even some humans couldn't comprehend family bonds, how could they force a spirit to understand?
"I'll ask him and see what he thinks."
The next day, Chu Zhishui drove to her new home, bringing not only various kitchen utensils but also a box of bottled coconut water. The community had an underground parking garage with direct elevator access to the building.
A moment later, Xin Yunmao heard her call and appeared in a spot without surveillance cameras. Seeing the car, he asked curiously: "Why did you drive today?"
"There were too many things to carry otherwise," Chu Zhishui pointed to the back seat. "The kitchen utensils you wanted."
Xin Yunmao's fingers twitched slightly as he collected the items to transport to their new home later.
Chu Zhishui locked the car, and they took the elevator up, quickly entering the apartment and unloading everything.
Inside, Xin Yunmao snapped his fingers, and all the kitchen utensils sorted themselves neatly into categories in the kitchen area. Even the fabric bags that held the utensils were clean and folded into precise squares, tucked away in cabinet corners for future use.
Only the box of coconut water remained on the counter, its proper place uncertain.
Xin Yunmao curiously examined the packaging and asked: "Should this go in the refrigerator?"
"It can, or if you want to drink some now, you can open a bottle. I bought these for you."
Hearing this, he couldn't help but smile, saying happily: "You bought these specially for me?"
"No, my parents bought them specially for you. They said since you don't eat, you should drink more."
"..."
Xie Yan and Chu Xiaohe had asked numerous questions about Xin Yunmao's tastes and whether he needed anything. Although Chu Zhishui insisted he had no desires or needs, her parents felt it would be improper and show poor manners not to provide something.
Xin Yunmao stood frozen in place holding the box, seemingly at a loss.
"They also said if you're willing, you can come visit their home," Chu Zhishui said softly in reassurance. "Of course, it's fine if you don't want to - it's entirely up to you."
Xin Yunmao was silent for several seconds, his eyelashes trembling as he said quietly: "Would I go as a human?"
He had seen human customs, where visiting someone's home should be a joyous occasion, representing mutual acceptance and the merging of families. But he wasn't sure if he could respond to this goodwill - he wasn't human, just a spirit.
He used to look down on mortals, but now he hesitated because of his spirit identity, unsure if her parents could accept him.
He understood clearly what blood relations meant to her, just as he had learned divinity by imitating her, and she had learned human principles by imitating her parents.
Chu Zhishui said calmly: "No need - they know you're a spirit."
Xin Yunmao was startled: "And they can..."
"If that's what you're worried about, don't be. They've seemed fine these past couple of days, though they've suddenly gotten very interested in studying plants," Chu Zhishui thought about her parents watching plant documentaries but decided not to mention it, continuing instead, "Besides, before I told them, I had a feeling they would be able to accept this."
"Why?" Xin Yunmao asked, puzzled. "Are they very brave?"
"No, it has nothing to do with courage. They're just like you," she said with a smile. "Just as you can accept all of me, they can accept all of me too, including you. I can't guarantee other things, but this is something I've been certain of since I was little."
Perhaps it was because in her pure white spiritual world she was still a child, like an innocent young girl who felt secure in being favored, always feeling like she would forever be her parents' precious treasure.
Xin Yunmao pressed his lips together and muttered, "Accepting doesn't mean liking."
Chu Zhishui blinked: "They'll definitely like you."
He crossed his arms, showing signs of agitation as he frowned and questioned, "How would you know?"
She replied candidly, "Because I like you very much, so they will like you too. We're family."
"..."
This was her first direct confession, catching him completely off guard and unprepared.
Xin Yunmao was stunned, then turned red from head to toe. He instantly burned up, her words hitting him as powerfully as if she had touched him directly. A warm spring seemed to flow through him, carefully clearing every blood vessel, melting even the accumulated snow that had frozen his heart, washing away all the pebbles and impurities from his past.
"Oh right, I forgot something today," Chu Zhishui noticed his tense posture and leaned forward to kiss him, saying casually, "I forgot to kiss you."
"It's okay, don't be so worried. If you don't want to go, you don't have to. It's not a big deal."
Xin Yunmao's ears were burning now, and he felt the moist sensation on his cheek. Far from being cooled by her slightly chilly kiss, his whole body grew even hotter. He felt heat building up in his chest, making his heart race wildly, urging him to dispel the burning sensation before the overwhelming joy made him explode.
Watching as she finished kissing him and turned to go to the courtyard, he couldn't help but reach out and pull her back.
Xin Yunmao leaned slightly against the refrigerator door, lowering his heated face into her neck, rubbing his cheek against her delicate skin as if trying to cool himself with ice. He took a deep breath, repeatedly inhaling her scent until he finally calmed down somewhat and whispered, "I want to go."
Chu Zhishui, feeling the heat from his body, remained still for a moment, allowing him to lean against her.
Hearing her silence, he continued, "I want to meet them."
"Alright then."
At home, when Chu Xiaohe and Xie Yan learned that Xin Yunmao was willing to come, they began making preparations in earnest, alternating between asking what dishes to prepare and whether they should buy plant nutrients. Chu Xiaohe was a good cook, but he now faced a new challenge – their guest wasn't human and might have different tastes.
Chu Zhishui sighed helplessly: "Dad, Mom, he usually lives in human form, just treat him like a person. I told you the truth because I wanted to respect you, there's no need for special preparations."
"That thinking of yours needs correction," Chu Xiaohe said seriously. "This isn't just about you and him anymore, or even simply about him and our family. We need to consider the broader implications."
Chu Zhishui looked puzzled: "What implications?"
"Whether you two end up together or not, we must show proper etiquette at our first meeting. Our attitude must be sufficiently proper – we can't embarrass humanity. Even if things don't work out in the end, we should leave him with a good impression of humans. We can't be casual about this. Think bigger picture – we don't want supernatural beings speaking ill of humans or having a bad impression of us."
"Why is there regional discrimination? Why do people say Huaijiang isn't good enough? It's because some people embarrass us abroad, making other Huaijiang residents hang their heads in shame. We need to take these issues seriously and address them, starting with establishing a good human image in front of supernatural beings."
Xie Yan quipped: "Your father's been a leader for too long. He talks like an official, always going on about vision and perspective."
Chu Zhishui: "..."
