I May Be Dumb, But Not an Idiot
Chapter 24: parents acting weird
Zian Hausi woke up with a very rare feeling.
A very dangerous feeling.
A very suspicious feeling.
Peace.
Her eyes opened slowly, her face calm, her body completely still, as if she was trying to confirm whether this peace was real or just another trap set by her extremely problematic life.
No noise.
No shouting.
No Sterling.
Pause.
Too quiet.
She sat up slowly.
This is not normal.
She looked around her room.
Everything was in place.
Nothing broken.
Nothing unusual.
This is definitely not normal.
Her thoughts immediately shifted.
Yesterday: shadow inside house.
Conclusion: problem still active.
Secondary conclusion: shadow knows me.
Final conclusion: very annoying situation.
She stared at the wall.
It said I'm like it.
Pause.
Incorrect.
She stood up.
I am clearly better.
She walked to the door and opened it.
The hallway was quiet.
Too quiet.
Where is Sterling.
She stepped out slowly.
Usually there is noise.
Unnecessary noise.
Loud noise.
She took a few steps.
Still nothing.
Did he finally evolve?
Before she could continue analyzing this miracle—
"KNOCK KNOCK."
Zian froze.
No.
She turned slowly.
They knocked.
Her brain paused for a full second.
They never knock.
"…Come in," she said.
The door opened.
Shengling entered.
Followed by Fiang Huo.
Zian blinked.
Once.
Twice.
Both.
Together.
At the same time.
This is worse.
"…Sit," Shengling said calmly.
Zian stared at her.
I just woke up.
I did not apply for this meeting.
"…No," Zian replied.
Fiang Huo stepped forward slightly.
"…Sit."
Zian slowly sat down.
I have lost control of my life.
Silence filled the room.
Both of them were looking at her.
Not casually.
Not normally.
Seriously.
This is definitely a meeting.
Zian leaned back slightly.
Remain calm.
Say minimal words.
Escape quickly.
"…You've been different," Shengling said.
Zian blinked.
Incorrect.
"…Define different," she said.
Fiang Huo crossed his arms slightly.
"…You notice things others don't."
Zian nodded.
"…Yes."
That is called basic awareness.
Shengling continued.
"…You stay calm when others panic."
Zian nodded again.
"…Yes."
That is called not being useless.
Fiang Huo looked at her more closely.
"…And you protect people."
Zian paused.
That…
"…Yes," she said.
Silence.
Then—
Something unexpected happened.
Shengling's expression softened.
Not fully.
Not obviously.
But enough.
"…Thank you," she said.
Zian blinked.
…What.
Her brain paused again.
They are thanking me.
Fiang Huo added quietly,
"…For protecting them."
Zian stared at both of them.
This is new.
Very new.
Extremely new.
Her thoughts started moving faster now.
They didn't question me.
They didn't doubt me.
They didn't ask how.
Pause.
They trusted the result.
"…It was unnecessary," Zian said.
I didn't do it for this.
Shengling shook her head.
"…It was important."
Fiang Huo nodded.
"…To us."
Zian looked away slightly.
This is uncomfortable.
Her mind continued analyzing.
Why does this feel strange.
Why does this feel… heavy.
Shengling stepped closer.
"…You don't have to do everything alone," she said.
Zian's eyes shifted.
Incorrect.
"…Yes, I do," she replied calmly.
Fiang Huo shook his head.
"…No."
Silence.
Zian looked at them again.
They are serious.
They actually mean this.
Her thoughts slowed slightly.
They're not treating me like a problem.
They're not trying to control me.
Pause.
They're… accepting me?
That—
Was unfamiliar.
Very unfamiliar.
"…We trust you," Shengling said.
Zian froze for a second.
Trust.
That word again.
She looked at them carefully.
No hesitation.
No doubt.
Real.
Zian leaned back slightly.
This is dangerous.
Trust leads to attachment.
Attachment leads to weakness.
Pause.
…But…
Something inside her shifted.
Very slightly.
"…Do what you want," she said quietly.
Shengling smiled faintly.
Fiang Huo nodded once.
"…We already are," he said.
Zian blinked.
That was… confident.
Before she could process that further—
The door BURST open.
"BREAKING NEWS—"
Zian closed her eyes immediately.
Peace lasted exactly six minutes.
"…There is no news," she said.
Sterling pointed dramatically.
"…I FOUND THE CAT AGAIN."
Zian opened her eyes slowly.
Of course.
"…Congratulations," she said.
Huo Lou walked in behind him.
"…It's still just a cat."
Sterling shook his head.
"…No. This time it blinked."
Zian stared at him.
"…Cats blink."
Sterling leaned closer.
"…Suspicious blinking."
Zian blinked once.
"…I just blinked."
Sterling froze.
"…You're also suspicious."
Huo Lou burst out laughing.
Fiang Huo turned his head slightly.
Trying not to smile.
Shengling actually smiled.
Zian noticed.
They're laughing.
Pause.
Because of him.
Pause.
Good.
She looked away.
I am not part of this.
But inside—
That strange feeling returned.
Warm.
Light.
Unfamiliar.
This is… new.
Sterling continued arguing with the cat outside through the window.
"I KNOW YOU'RE PLANNING SOMETHING."
Zian stared at him.
If the shadow sees this, it will leave out of embarrassment.
But then—
Her eyes shifted.
Window.
There.
For a split second—
The shadow appeared again.
Closer this time.
Watching.
Zian's expression didn't change.
Still here.
Still observing.
Her thoughts sharpened instantly.
It saw everything.
It heard everything.
Pause.
Including Sterling.
Zian almost felt—
Second-hand embarrassment.
But something was different now.
The shadow didn't move away immediately.
It stayed.
Longer.
Watching not just her—
But everyone.
Zian's mind calculated quickly.
It's learning.
It's studying.
Pause.
That's bad.
But then—
Sterling shouted again,
"IF YOU'RE A GHOST CAT, JUST ADMIT IT—"
The shadow flickered.
Paused.
And then—
Disappeared instantly.
Gone.
Zian blinked.
…
Pause.
Did Sterling just scare a shadow away.
She looked at him.
Still arguing with nothing.
Impossible.
Huo Lou laughed again.
Shengling shook her head.
Smiling.
Fiang Huo exhaled quietly.
Zian leaned back.
Conclusion:
Shadow = dangerous.
Sterling = more dangerous.
She took a sip of tea.
New problem.
But this time—
Her gaze shifted slightly toward her parents.
Still there.
Still calm.
Still… on her side.
This is different.
And I don't hate it.
Outside—
The rain continued.
And somewhere in the distance—
The shadow watched again.
More carefully this time.
Because Zian Hausi—
Was no longer alone.
And somehow—
That made her even more dangerous. 😈🔥