A purple octopus with a round, bulbous head wriggled violently, its eight thick tentacles clamped tightly around a chubby boy's head. From a distance, it looked like a bizarre two-headed monster.
Ye Jiujiu froze for a split second before rushing over. "How did an octopus get on your head?!"
"It escaped! I was going to catch it!"
Lele's chubby face was painfully squashed by the octopus's tentacles, her features distorted as she wailed and flailed. "Hurry and save me! I'm being strangled to death!"
"Son, hold on, Mommy's coming!"
Lele's mother, Zhou Jie, charged forward and grabbed the octopus by its round head, yanking upward with all her strength. She thought it would rip free—but instead, the octopus's powerful suction held firm, lifting Lele right off the ground along with it.
Dangling in midair, Lele froze for a beat. Then her chubby legs kicked happily.
"Mommy, this is so fun! Can you lift me higher?"
Seeing that the child wasn't frightened at all, Ye Jiujiu couldn't help laughing. "You're not scared anymore?"
"It's really fun!" Lele reached up and grabbed one of the sticky tentacles, tugging at it. "It's bouncy!"
"Don't play with it," Ye Jiujiu warned. "If it gets scared, it might spray ink—"
Before she finished speaking, the octopus released a cloud of black ink straight onto Lele's head. The liquid trickled down his hair and cheeks.
Lele didn't notice yet. He only felt something wet on his face.
"Mommy, why is my face wet? Did someone splash water on me?"
"No."
Zhou Jie wiped his face without thinking—only to smear the ink across his cheeks. When she saw her son's face, now completely charcoal-black, she burst out laughing.
Ye Jiujiu pressed her lips together, chuckling softly.
Lele blinked in confusion. "Mom, what are you laughing at?"
"Nothing, nothing." Zhou Jie turned helplessly to Ye Jiujiu. "Boss, what do I do now?"
"I'll take care of it."
Ye Jiujiu reached out, pinched two fingers together, and pressed firmly on the octopus's eyes. The octopus recoiled instantly, releasing its grip.
Zhou Jie finally exhaled in relief. "Boss, you're amazing."
Just then, Lele noticed something dripping onto his hand. He stared at the black ink on the back of his palm, then touched his damp cheek. When he saw his hand completely stained black, his eyes widened in horror.
"Mom! Am I poisoned?!"
Zhou Jie casually answered, "Mm," clearly teasing him.
"Waaaah! Am I going to die?"
Lele burst into tears. He had seen cartoons—people always died when they were poisoned!
"I haven't eaten the ice cream Grandma bought me yet! I haven't spent all my allowance! I don't want to die—!"
As he cried, he wiped his face wildly, smearing the ink even more.
"I haven't eaten a big hamburger! I haven't had fried chicken! I haven't gotten married or had kids yet—"
Ye Jiujiu was thoroughly amused and quickly explained, "Don't worry. It's just ink the octopus sprays when it's scared. It's harmless. Just wash it off."
Lele sniffed, his lips trembling. "Really?"
"Really," Ye Jiujiu said patiently. "You'll be fine once you're clean."
Relief washed over Lele's face instantly. The tears vanished as if they'd never been there.
"That's good! That's good! I can't die yet—I haven't gotten married!"
"..."
Ye Jiujiu never imagined a child could be this dramatic.
Zhou Jie smiled awkwardly and pulled Lele toward the sink to wash his hands and face, feeling utterly embarrassed.
Ye Jiujiu turned back and tossed the giant octopus into the bucket, then quickly secured the other escapees as well.
Once their faces were clean, Lele and Yueyue crouched by the tub again, peering cautiously at the giant octopus wriggling inside.
"That's the one that climbed on my head," Lele said solemnly.
"You big bad guy!" He planted his hands on his chubby waist and yelled at the octopus. "If you're so brave, come out and climb on my head again!"
"Coward! Ugly gossip octopus! You don't even dare come out!"
Still unsatisfied, Lele carefully stretched out a finger and poked the octopus's head. It was slippery and sticky—and strangely fun.
Ye Jiujiu returned after putting a pot of water on the stove. "Be careful," she reminded them. "It might lash out again."
"It won't dare," Lele declared confidently.
The moment he finished speaking, one thick tentacle shot toward him.
"Ahhh!"
Lele screamed and spun around, bolting away. "It's going to bite me again!"
Yueyue squealed and ran after him, her sweet voice echoing through the restaurant.
"Why does it only pick on me?!" Lele cried, diving into his mother's arms. "Is it jealous because I'm too handsome?"
Zhou Jie burst out laughing, and soon everyone else joined in, laughing until tears streamed down their faces.
Even Ye Jiujiu couldn't hold it in anymore. Her lingering annoyance vanished completely.
"Well, little friend," she said with a smile, "it might not look pretty, but it tastes wonderful. Would you like to try it?"
"Yes!" Lele shouted without hesitation.
"I want to eat that big squid that bullied me!"