Chapter 47: Exclusive to Jinjiang 2/2

After framing the specimen, a label would typically include detailed information such as species, collection time, location, topography, and so on.

This time was no exception.

Shi Zhang took a label, wrote a date on it, followed by “Bedroom,” and added a small note, “First Time.”

In the afternoon, with no classes, Shi Zhang drove back to his solitary home with the finished specimen.

Since getting married, Shi Zhang has rarely returned to his previous home.

Upon opening the door, a long-unused dampness specific to an uninhabited place greeted him.

Outside the window, birds chirped; the surrounding environment was as good as ever.

Everything inside the house was arranged as usual, but it felt strangely unfamiliar.

After a brief cleaning, though there wasn’t much to clean, the house was very clean.

Shi Zhang took the lily flower specimen out of the bag and looked at it for a while before walking to a tightly closed door and pushing it open.

With a crisp sound, lights gradually lit up from near to far. Inside, there were four or five rows of wardrobes, all filled with clothes.

This was originally a spacious bedroom, but Shi Zhang had turned it into a private collection room.

The wardrobes were filled with cosplay costumes.

From the first character Shi Zhang ever portrayed in his life to the final work before he retired from the circle, every piece was here.

Shi Zhang walked through the tall wardrobes to the end of the room.

On the wall at the end of the room hung a whole wall of plant specimens, varying in size, like a museum.

Many of the plants had turned somewhat yellow, and the writing on the labels was not very clear.

If you started from the topmost one, the date on the label was probably more than twenty years ago.

More specimens were stored in the cabinets; there was no space left to hang them.

Shi Zhang stood in front of the wall of specimens, admiring them for a long time. He ran his fingertips over a few specimen frames, finally making a decision.

He took down the first specimen in the middle of that row, placed it back in the cabinet in chronological order, and hung the lily flower in his hand in its place.

Among a row of structurally intact and perfectly poised specimens, the lily, composed of fragments, exuded a unique sense of beauty.

Shi Zhang squinted his eyes; this row would be the most unique.

After hanging the specimen, Shi Zhang stayed in the room for a long time.

Like the plant specimens, the cosplay costumes were also hung in chronological order.

In the place closest to the door, there was the first character Shi Zhang attempted during high school.

He remembered it very clearly. Clothes were hard to buy back then, and when they bought them, they found the size was wrong. He and Zhong Ziyan awkwardly spent a long time modifying the clothes. Finally, they patched together a poorly-made outfit, even making the props themselves. It looked very shabby.

But at that time, they felt very happy, as if they were gradually bringing the character into this three-dimensional world.

Although the first attempt at cosplaying resulted in a pitiful appearance, Shi Zhang would always remember that sense of satisfaction.

Shi Zhang slowly walked through the entire wardrobe area, deeply impressed by some costumes and almost forgetting others.

When encountering those he didn’t remember well, Shi Zhang would open the hanging tag to check. It displayed the date, character name, and occasion when he cosplayed. With these clues, Shi Zhang could usually recall.

Zhong Ziyan and Ouyang Xi had visited Shi Zhang’s collection room. Their first reaction was shock, and their second reaction was to say that Shi Zhang was truly abnormal.

Only someone abnormal would use a rigorous scientific method to number and store cosplay costumes. Only someone abnormal would not be willing to sell even one second-hand cosplay outfit and insisted on keeping them all in their own home.

There was still space in the wardrobe. The number of costumes in this room wouldn’t increase anymore, Shi Zhang learned several months ago.

After touring the entire room, Shi Zhang felt quite emotional.

Looking at it this way, he had indeed come a long way.

This was a memory he would remember forever.

Shi Zhang gently closed the door, which contained the things he loved most in his life.

Before preparing to leave, Shi Zhang suddenly stopped in his tracks.

He listened for a while, feeling something strange.

Since he entered the house until now, the sound of birds has been playing continuously. Moreover, it was the chirping of young birds, tender and clear. Shi Zhang thought of the “no way” three words and followed the sound towards the window. Suddenly, he remembered that he had a potted rose. He hadn’t watered it since getting married.

Quickly walking to the window, the bird’s chirping grew louder.

Shi Zhang focused his mind, gently pulled back the curtain, and suddenly locked eyes with several pairs of round, shiny little black beans.

The rose had long since met its heroic end, with withered branches and fallen leaves. However, in the spacious flowerpot, several fluffy little creatures were crowded together, sporting sharp beaks, chirping, and waiting to be fed.

Obviously, their parents hadn’t returned yet. Upon seeing Shi Zhang, regardless of anything, they chirped even louder.

Shi Zhang’s emotions surged, and she stood there in a daze.

Just then, a plant biologist could still speculate. It wasn’t the breeding season now, but due to the lingering warm weather, perhaps some migratory bird parents, deeply in love, were reluctant to part, unable to control their passion, resulting in these chicks.

And coincidentally, they chose his doorstep.

The chicks were fluffy, with grayish feathers, each very small, round, and cute when squeezed together.

Shi Zhang didn’t know if he smiled, but subconsciously, he took out his phone and recorded a short video, then opened the chat with Song Fuzhi.

Shi Zhang: Teacher Song, have you ever taught kindergarten children?

Song Fuzhi was probably on a break and quickly replied:?

Shi Zhang: I returned to my old home, and my window sill has become a nursery for little chicks.

Song Fuzhi:??

Shi Zhang: [Video]

Shi Zhang: The kindergarten kids are begging for food.

Song Fuzhi: Oh my, I can’t believe it. Ah!

Song Fuzhi: So cute! Ah!

Shi Zhang: I’ll ask the professor from the adjacent department and see how to handle this.

Song Fuzhi: Feed them something; don’t let the kids go hungry.

Shi Zhang: If they were ordinary birds, I’d let them fend for themselves. Their parents should return.

Song Fuzhi: What kind of birds are they?

Shi Zhang looked: I’m face-blind when it comes to kids. I’ll ask.

Shi Zhang was about to ask the bird expert from the adjacent department when a flutter of wings suddenly sounded in front of him.

An adult bird, with sharp eyes, full wings, and brick-red feathers on its wings, glided in with a powerful presence, like a celestial being descending to earth.

Shi Zhang didn’t know if it saw him, but it immediately sheltered the chicks under its feathers.

Shi Zhang stood still for a long time, stiffly typing with his fingers: No need to ask; their parents are back, and I’ve recognized them.

Shi Zhang: Peregrine Falcon, a nationally protected animal at level two.

Song Fuzhi:…

Shi Zhang: The survival rate of young birds is not high, so having one more is a good thing.

Shi Zhang: It looks like we need to open a canteen.