"It's an old lady!"
"I can't hold it in anymore. Elderly people really get lonely easily and lose their sense of purpose."
"They say the elderly live a life of comfort in their old age, but most things in this society are designed for the young."
The viewers in the live stream watched these scenes.
Their hearts grew cold.
Listening to the streamer's music, their sorrow deepened.
Everyone will grow old,
But the helplessness of old age cannot be erased.
As times progress, the older generation can easily be left behind if they aren't careful.
They don't understand smartphones, complicated remote controls, or what QR codes are.
They don't understand why they can't pay for groceries with cash anymore.
They also don't understand why they can't take public transport without a QR code.
What is a QR code?
"When we get old, will we be like this too?"
"I searched online for elderly entertainment options, and it turns out it's just square dancing."
"The old lady never liked pets, but in the end, she willingly became one..."
What kind of feelings would make someone become something they once disliked?
What would make them believe they could be a good pet dog?
And that they would be more useful and valuable than they are now?
The viewers didn't know.
But their hearts ached.
Everyone will grow old.
...
*Pat*
Tears dripped onto the screen.
In the office.
Liu Qin held her phone, watching the live stream.
With one hand, she covered her mouth, tears streaming down uncontrollably.
So this was how her mother lived while they were at work.
Going out to buy groceries alone every day, coming home alone.
Cooking and eating alone.
So, when her mother mentioned their constipation to people in the neighborhood, it was because she wanted to help them get better.
So, when they didn't know, her mother had forgotten the way home...
That loneliness and helplessness seemed to overflow from the screen.
And they, they knew nothing about it.
No, perhaps they did know. But due to the various aspects of life, they hadn't paid attention.
Liu Qin choked, unable to speak.
She tapped her phone screen, trying several times to message her husband.
Her trembling fingers couldn't manage it.
...
...
"Chu Sheng!"
Chu Yuan's father was writing an editing document at his computer.
Suddenly, he heard his boss shout from the office.
"Ah?"
Chu Yuan's father looked up, a little bewildered.
Listening to the boss's voice...
It sounded like something bad was about to happen.
Did he know he had been late three times this month?
He saw his boss standing at the office door, covering his face with one hand, pointing at the door with the other.
Suppressing his grief and indignation, he said, "You! You! Go back quickly!"
Chu Yuan's father: "???"
It couldn't be, could it? He was only late three times...
He was going to be fired?
Boss: "You have three days of leave!"
Chu Yuan's father was a bit confused, "Me? Boss?"
Why the sudden leave?
Was he going to dock his salary?
"Hurry home to see your mother!"
The boss couldn't hold back any longer, tears escaping through his fingers.
He said this, then turned and went back into his office, closing the door with a 'bang'.
"Wuwuwuwu... Mom—"
Chu Yuan's father was still stunned when suddenly another colleague started crying loudly.
It seemed he was reminded of his deceased mother.
While crying, he walked over and patted Chu Yuan's father on the shoulder.
"Go home."
"???"
Just then, Chu Yuan's father's phone rang.
"Hello, darling."
As soon as the call connected, Liu Qin on the other end gave a sob.
"Husband— let's go home."
...
...
The soul-driving melody had not yet ended.
The scene in the live stream continued.
...
When the old lady opened her eyes again, she felt that something was different.
She had paws, pointed ears, and fluffy black fur.
Her sense of smell was exceptionally keen.
"Woof~?"
"Mom, Da Hei barked!" Chu Yuan stood in front of Da Hei.
At this moment, Da Hei was still a tiny ball of fluff.
Furry.
Extremely cute.
"Da Hei, this will be your home from now on. I'll be able to play with you every day after school."
"Woof~"
The old lady realized her wish had come true.
For a moment, her heart was filled with mixed emotions.
She couldn't tell if it was joy or sadness.
Liu Qin stroked her son's head, "You promised Grandma you'd take good care of it. You can't break your word."
"Okay!"
...
From their words, the old lady learned.
Her original body had been buried.
No one else moved into her room, and her photo was placed inside.
A black and white one.
She turned her small head.
Looking at her son, daughter-in-law, and grandson, she thought: This will do.
...
Days passed one by one.
In the beginning, because she was too small, she was always kept at home.
And Chu Yuan did keep his promise of companionship.
Every day after school, he would hold Da Hei and tell it about his day.
He would brush Da Hei's fur and change its dog food.
But children are still children, and they would sometimes do things improperly.
Fortunately, the old lady could still find ways to ensure she wouldn't go hungry or thirsty.
"Mom, Da Hei is so smart."
"It actually knows how to use the toilet by itself and can even pour its own dog food!"
"Dad, is Da Hei going to become a spirit?"
"Da Hei, could it be that you were sent from heaven to be my friend?"
Chu Yuan's perception of Da Hei was constantly being refreshed every day.
There were new surprises every day.
Once, when he was tired from doing homework, he found himself half-asleep, and it seemed Da Hei was helping him with his homework!
"Huh?"
When he woke up, Chu Yuan looked at his homework.
It was still in the same state as before, and he thought he had dreamt it.
The old lady really wanted to help her grandson, who was working so hard.
However, she hadn't had the opportunity to study much in her younger days, and when she tried to pick up a pen, she felt lost.
Furthermore, holding a pen with paws was truly inconvenient.
...
The first time the old lady went out alone as Da Hei was when Chu Yuan's father forgot to bring his document bag.
He had already placed it by the shoe rack, but turned around and forgot about it.
After the old lady discovered this, she quickly grabbed the document bag and chased after him.
She followed the scent all the way to the bus stop.
"Woof!"
Chu Yuan's father was waiting for the bus when he heard the sound and looked down.
He saw a completely black dog with a document bag at its feet.
He slapped his forehead, "Damn it! I forgot the document bag!"
"Woof~!"
"Is... is that Da Hei?" Chu Yuan's father asked hesitantly.
"Woof!"
Da Hei wagged its tail and pushed the document bag closer to him.
It could help.
Chu Yuan's father tentatively picked up the document bag and looked at it, "It really is mine."
Then he looked at Da Hei.
Just as he was about to say something, the bus suddenly arrived.
Everyone around was rushing to get on the bus.
Chu Yuan's father couldn't bother anymore. He left a sentence and quickly got on the bus.
"Go back and close the door properly, don't run around."
"Woof~!"
When the old lady returned to the residential area, she remembered that she had closed the door when she left.
She squatted by the door for a while, with nothing to do.
Thinking about it, she got up and walked towards the primary school.
Slipping past the gatekeeper's notice, she secretly crawled in through the lower part of the window.
...