Till The End Of The Moon [SEASON- 2]

14. Look at me!

While Li Susu was gathering dry wood from the forest, a sharp thorn suddenly jabbed into her foot-deep and vicious.

Li Susu:
"Ahhh! What the-ahhh...!"

She sat down on a nearby rock, gritting her teeth, and yanked the thorn out. Blood began to ooze from the wound, but she didn't pay it much attention. After all, she had wood to collect and mouths to feed. That little prick? Nothing she couldn't handle.

(Although-let's be real-it was a vicious thorn. But madam here clearly believed she was tougher than nature.)

She gathered the wood, stood up with some effort, and made her way back to Miang Tao's house.

Inside, she found him and Jiang laughing, playing together like they'd been family forever. Tantai Jiang's eyes sparkled with joy, and Miang Tao was smiling more openly than she'd ever seen. That sight alone made her chest ache in the best way. It was everything she had hoped for-her child with her father, even if he didn't remember.

But then she remembered-everyone was still hungry. That pulled her right back to reality.

(Now our dear Li Susu stepped into the kitchen. Once upon a time, she was infamous for burning food into charcoal. But not anymore. This was a new Li Susu. She had evolved. Because hey, people change. That's the law of the universe. Anyway...)

In no time, the meal was ready. She laid it out neatly on the table and turned to call them.

Li Susu:
"The food's ready-come and eat."

All three of them sat together at the table.

(And now, friends, don't even ask what they were eating. These Chinese characters might be eating who-knows-what-maybe dumplings, noodles, or dragonflies for all we know. I, your narrator, am a proud vegetarian, so let's not get into the details. Use your imagination. Thank you.)

As they settled down, Miang Tao gave a surprised smile at the sight of the food, and Li Susu noticed it. That small smile warmed her more than the fire in the hearth. She served Jiang first, then Miang Tao, and finally took her own plate.

The food vanished quickly-maybe because everyone was starving, or maybe because it was actually good (yes, even her cooking!).

After the meal, while Li Susu began picking up the dishes, Miang Tao stood to help. Jiang played nearby, humming to herself with a wooden toy in her hands.

But just as Li Susu took a few steps with the dishes, her vision blurred. The walls seemed to spin around her. She staggered slightly, blinking, confused.

And Miang Tao noticed immediately.

Miang Tao:
"Hey-what's wrong?"

Before she could answer, the plates slipped from her hands and crashed to the floor.

Miang Tao rushed forward just in time to catch her as her knees buckled. He held her firmly in his arms.

Miang Tao (panic rising in his voice):
"Li Susu! What happened to you? Open your eyes-look at me! Tell me what's wrong!"

She hadn't fully passed out yet. Through the fog in her head, she could still hear him. And despite the chaos, the worry in his voice made her lips curl into a soft, dazed smile.

Li Susu (weakly):
"I... don't... know what... happened to me..."

And then her body went limp in his arms.

Without wasting a second, Miang Tao lifted her and laid her carefully on the bed. Meanwhile, Jiang, who had seen everything, ran over, terrified.

Tantai Jiang (voice trembling):
"Uncle... what happened to Mumma?! Why isn't she getting up? Why isn't she talking? Mumma... Mumma!"

Miang Tao (gently, trying to calm her):
"Shh... baby, it's okay. Nothing happened. Mumma just got tired and fell asleep. She worked a little too hard, that's all."

But Jiang wasn't having it.

Tantai Jiang (tears brimming):
"No! You're lying! You made Mumma do too much work! That's why she fell! You're bad! You're very bad!"

Miang Tao blinked, caught completely off-guard by her outburst. He opened his mouth to respond-but had no idea what to say.

Meanwhile, Li Susu lay unconscious, her breath shallow... unaware that the poison from the thorn was beginning to spread slowly through her blood.

___________________________

Chapter ended.
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