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墨書 Inktalez
Bai Yujing followed Totoro around the room, watching it bounce up and down in its familiar manner. It must live here; sure enough, Bai Yujing found its little bed in the storage room, along with the food it had stored in the Cabinet.
Bai Yujing climbed down the rope ladder from the tree and immediately noticed a swing on the other side. Sitting on it, she found it quite sturdy. Totoro then jumped down directly from the wooden house, landing silently on its thick paws.
It held a small basin by the pond, washing fruits. Aside from not being able to speak, it really resembled a person. Bai Yujing wondered who its original owner was while taking several photos of it with her camera.
The towering Banyan Tree, the wooden house built on it, the swing beneath, and the massive roots exposed on the ground gradually transformed in Bai Yujing's hands into a beautiful dreamlike world—ponds, Rhododendron Trees, vibrant red petals everywhere, and the stunning Mountain Valley. Everything was picturesque; a simple snapshot could serve as wallpaper.
Totoro sat foolishly by the pond eating fruit. Bai Yujing wanted to pick it up but saw Totoro jump again, disappearing into thin air, leaving only impressions on the lawn as it moved away.
"Stealth?" Bai Yujing didn't expect it to have such a trick. It seemed this Totoro was not willing to be touched casually, so she had to give up some of her small plans.
Watching Totoro climb back up the tree with its little basin and settle at the treetop making comfortable Dudu sounds, it looked very relaxed, harmonious, and peaceful. Bai Yujing even felt a desire to live there with it forever.
After satisfying her desire for photos, Bai Yujing approached Totoro but was surprised that this time it didn't run away. She gently touched it as a farewell before reluctantly leaving Mountain Valley and retracing her steps.
On her way back, Bai Yujing realized how far she had strayed from her original path. She had been searching and chasing so much that she lost track of how far she had gone. After finally returning to the main road, she reached Pegasus Pool just before dark.
It turned out Pegasus Pool was just a reservoir with no one around; it seemed still under construction. After walking around and finding that it wasn't as described in the introduction, she realized that indeed the scenery along the way was the most beautiful, and many attractions couldn't be reached completely.
However, Bai Yujing didn't feel too disappointed; perhaps because she had encountered Totoro and discovered that little Mountain Valley, she felt refreshed looking out at the distance after climbing up. After taking some good photos from various angles, nightfall was approaching.
Bai Yujing then realized she had spent too much time in Mountain Valley; thus, her return time was limited. As she walked halfway back, darkness enveloped everything. She could only hold up her flashlight while navigating through the path.
Before she knew it, Bai Yujing found herself back at the spot where she discovered Totoro. She paused for a moment before quickly turning to leave.
However, not long after, Bai Yujing ran back again, dashing into the woods with her flashlight in hand until she reached Little Gorge covered by vines once more and entered Mountain Valley again.
Arriving under the wooden house, Bai Yujing saw Totoro sitting on the steps of the balcony door, staring at her wide-eyed as if asking why she had returned again.
Bai Yujing immediately said, "It's too dark. Can I stay for one night? But I'm not staying for free; I'll pay for it."
Bai Yujing climbed up the rope ladder and took out two bags of peanuts from his backpack. "Here, two bags, the cost for one night's stay. How about that?"
Totoro looked curiously at the bags of peanuts, as if he had never eaten such a thing before. Bai Yujing helped him open the bag and took out a peanut, demonstrating how to crack it open and eat the nut inside.
Totoro tried to imitate Bai Yujing, holding the peanut in his hands. He squeezed it but couldn't crack it open; instead, he broke it into two pieces. After rubbing it with his claws, he finally managed to open it, revealing the red peanut inside.
Totoro stuffed it into his mouth, squinting his eyes in delight, then made a "Dudu" sound before repeating the action. He hugged the bag to his chest and sat on the balcony to enjoy his snack.
Bai Yujing rummaged through the bag and found beef jerky, plums, and even discovered two cans of beer. "Hey, this looks good."
He immediately opened one can and poured it into his mouth. Totoro leaned over, watching Bai Yujing's beer can with great curiosity. Bai Yujing quickly took out another can and handed it to him. Totoro mimicked Bai Yujing by trying to pull the tab but was startled by the foam that erupted.
Watching the foam spill out, Totoro continued to observe while Bai Yujing exclaimed, "Don't waste it!"
Bai Yujing made a drinking gesture, and Totoro immediately tilted the beer can towards his mouth. After taking a sip, his eyes widened in surprise. He took another sip and then several more until he finished the can. He then looked at Bai Yujing's beer can.
Bai Yujing promptly handed him his can as well. "That's all there is; once it's gone, it's gone. If you want more, you'll have to wait until I come back next time. Maybe you can come with me, and then you'll have everything you want to eat."
Totoro didn't say anything and quickly finished Bai Yujing's can too. His gaze became dazed as if he were drunk. He leaned against the stairs at the door and fell asleep, dropping the bag of peanuts which scattered all over the floor.
The moon rose in the sky; it was just past mid-month, so the moon was still quite large and round. Bai Yujing sat in the treehouse, listening to the sounds of insects while enjoying snacks and admiring the moonlight. He began to feel drowsy.
Bai Yujing picked up the snoring Totoro and placed him in his little nest inside the storage room. Totoro's nest resembled a small basket made of dry grass. It must be said that Totoro felt nice to hold; his soft fur combined with his plump body made him very comfortable to cuddle with—everyone who touched him said so.
Bai Yujing then lay down on the wooden bed in the main bedroom nearby. There was nothing on top of it, but since it was summer, he opened the window to let in a gentle breeze that felt incredibly refreshing in Mountain Valley. Listening to the sounds of insects, Bai Yujing soon fell asleep.
The next morning, before Bai Yujing woke up, he felt an itch on his nose that made him sneeze. Opening his eyes, he saw Totoro standing at the head of the bed looking at him with one chubby hand gently touching his face—no wonder he felt itchy!
Looking out the window, it was already bright outside. Although it was a wooden bed, Bai Yujing felt very comfortable sleeping on it. As Bai Yujing sat up, he saw that Totoro was carrying a large bag on its back, bigger than its own body.
Bai Yujing took a look and noticed that not only were there snacks inside, but also the peanuts from yesterday and Totoro's small bowl. "Are you planning to move?"
Bai Yujing laughed, then immediately realized, "You’re not planning to leave with me, are you?"
Bai Yujing looked at Totoro expectantly, ready to see it nod, but unexpectedly it only said "Dudu." However, the meaning was the same; it indicated that it was willing to go with him. It seemed that his sincerity from yesterday had indeed moved it.
That said, Totoro took out a beer can and shook it. Bai Yujing immediately nodded, "I know, I know. There’s enough beer; drink as much as you want."
Bai Yujing tidied up a bit, washed his face in the spring water, and after fixing his appearance, set off with Totoro. He placed Totoro and its bag into his backpack, leaving it open as he hit the road.
The scenery of Mountain Valley was pleasant and truly made one reluctant to leave. Bai Yujing decided that he could come here every year to relax. Totoro continued to squint its little eyes, seemingly lost in thought.
"Let’s go! You keep saying 'Dudu,' so I’ll just call you Dudu from now on. How does that sound?"
"Dudu!"
Totoro made the same sound again, and Bai Yujing could only take it as agreement: "Alright, from now on you’ll be called Dudu. Don’t worry; follow me and I guarantee you’ll have delicious meals every day."
Bai Yujing jogged along with Totoro on his back, full of energy and feeling much faster than when he came up yesterday.
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