Mr. Lizard Outside the Window - Chapter 4
Chapter 4: Beautiful and Clingy
In a Rongcheng taxi, the driver, a veteran of over a decade, glanced at his latest passenger through the rearview mirror.
The young woman, picked up near the university town, was carefully cupping a frozen lizard in her hands, trying to warm it up. She looked anxious and was muttering to herself, apparently on her way to a pet hospital.
My, how times have changed, the taxi driver thought. Cats and dogs are nothing new, but now people are treating these common lizards like precious pets, even taking them to the hospital when they're sick.
Banxia, sitting in the taxi, was too preoccupied to care about the driver's thoughts. Holding the lizard, which she wasn't sure was dead or alive, in one hand, she frantically scrolled through a lizard forum she had just found on her phone.
She had just posted: 【Help! Experts, please take a look. What's wrong with it? /picture//picture/】
Replies quickly appeared on the forum:
【OP, this is a gecko (a type of lizard). With such a dark color, it's probably a Black Night.1 Black Nights aren't cheap this year. How did you let it get so dirty and injured?】
【Geckos are reptiles, cold-blooded animals. The ideal temperature for them is 28-32°C. OP, are you a newbie? I don't even see a heating pad in the picture. You think you can keep a gecko alive in this weather with just a towel?】
【Forget it, everyone. She doesn't even have a heating pad, let alone a proper terrarium.2 What's there to ask? It's frozen to death, that's what. Newbies are so irresponsible. Such a beautiful Black Night too, a pure black one.】
Banxia was stunned by the barrage of criticism. Frozen…frozen to death?
She had been careless. The lizard had managed to climb in from the window in such cold weather, so she assumed it could adapt to the indoor temperature. She hadn't considered that geckos are ectothermic and could freeze to death in this weather.
【╥﹏╥…What should I do now, experts? /anxious/anxious//Waiting online.】
【Only one thing you can do.】
【Please tell me!】
【Bury it in a flowerpot. ╮(╯＿╰)╭】
【Bury it in a flowerpot +1】
【Bury it in a flowerpot +100863】
【(╯°Д°)╯︵┻━┻ Bury it in a flowerpot!!! It's not dead! It's in my hand, and I can feel its body is still warm!!!!】
【Don't listen to them, miss. If you really want to try and save it, take it to a vet.】
【Think carefully, OP. Exotic pet vets aren't cheap. One visit might cost you the price of several geckos like that one.】
【And it's probably not going to make it.】
【Not going to make it +1】
【Not going to make it +2】
【Not going to make it + my ID number】
【Use the money to buy a new one and take proper care of it. You can put this one out of its misery and use it as fertilizer. Don't bother.】
Banxia: 【I'm going to try the vet. I'm already in a taxi.】
【Where are you located, miss? You need to go to a specialist reptile vet. Tell us your location, and maybe local reptile keepers can recommend a reliable one.】
The conflicting advice online made Banxia extremely anxious. Just as she wished she could teleport to the hospital, she felt a tickling sensation in her palm.
She looked down and saw that the gecko, which had been declared ready for a flowerpot burial, had slightly opened its eyes, glancing at her weakly.
Overjoyed, Banxia cupped it in her hands. "That's great! You're awake! They said you were just frozen stiff," she stammered.
"I'm sorry, I didn't know you needed a heating pad."
"How are you feeling now? Are you uncomfortable anywhere?"
"Do you want to eat or drink something? Some warm water, perhaps?"
The midday sun streamed through the car window, but the jet-black gecko in Banxia's hands seemed to absorb all light, its blackness deepening. It lay listlessly in her palm, only giving an almost imperceptible nod when she asked about water.
Banxia took out her thermos from her backpack, unscrewed the cap, and poured a small amount of water into it.
"This water is from this morning, so it's not very warm anymore. Just have a little, okay?"
The black gecko raised its neck, its patterned eyes fixed on the thermos cap.
From its perspective, both the small pool of water and the human fingers holding the cap seemed enormous. The cap was old and worn, clearly the girl's own everyday item. The fingertips holding it were pale and calloused from years of playing the violin.
Fragmented memories flashed through its mind.
A dimly lit room with tightly drawn curtains. Stagnant water in a corner that hadn't been changed for days. The smell of rotting food scraps.
A hand occasionally reaching in through the crack in the door, quickly retracting like it had touched a snake after leaving some food.
And the whispers from outside the room.
"Take it away! Don't bring it in here. That's the bowl it used! Throw it away!"
"I don't want to take it food. I'm scared!"
"God, why me? A monster in our house! If anyone finds out, where will I put my face?"
"What sin have we committed? Why must we endure this?"
The black gecko stared at the water in silence for a long time. Just as Banxia was about to speak, it slowly lowered its head, flicked out its pale tongue, and lapped the water from her hand.
Perhaps it was the reflection of the water, but a faint glimmer appeared in its downcast eyes.
Meng Chong Exotic Pet Hospital was widely recognized in Rongcheng's reptile community as a professional establishment. With its stylish decor, clean environment, and complete facilities, it also came with hefty fees. Therefore, most of its clients brought in high-value, pedigreed reptiles.
Each person carried delicate, professional reptile boxes, exchanging jargon that Banxia couldn't understand at all.
"What do you think of my new Demon White?"
"Wow, impressive. Big eyes, high nose bridge,4 and so white! Gorgeous. Prettier than my Ghost Snow White Knight."
"My Super Platinum has been refusing to eat for several days. I'm worried, so I brought him in for a checkup. I've got my eye on a Tangerine Tremper albino, but the seller's asking price is too high. I'm still on the fence."
"Tangerine Tremper prices have come down. Tangerine albino is the hot one right now. Black Nights are still holding their value. But I've fallen for the Tangerine and White Pied."
Banxia had no time to listen to their conversations. She went straight to the consultation room with the gecko in her hand, attracting curious glances.
"What the…? Where did this girl come from? Holding a gecko directly in her hand."
"What morph is that? It's so dirty; I can't even tell."
"Completely black. Is that a Black Night? Quite unique. I'll go take a closer look."
The doctor in the consultation room was experienced. Taking the patient from Banxia without much ado, he expertly gripped its tail and spine, flipping it over to reveal its pale belly. "Already an adult, male," the doctor said, pushing his glasses up his nose. "How did it get so filthy? And there are scratches on its back. You haven't been keeping it with a cat, have you? Right, let's start with gas anesthesia, clean the wounds, and take an X-ray to see what's going on."
The little black gecko tensed its limbs and claws, struggling desperately in the doctor's grip. While the doctor was writing notes, it wriggled free and darted back to Banxia's hand, trying to hide in her sleeve.
Banxia soothed its panicked head. "It's okay, it's okay. We're just here to get you better. Be patient."
As if understanding her words, the frightened lizard gradually calmed down and lay still in her palm.
"Oh, your gecko is actually affectionate towards its owner. That's rare," the doctor chuckled, fetching cotton balls and saline solution. As he cleaned the dirt from its scales, he explained, "Generally speaking, even after a long time, geckos rarely show affection to people. I haven't seen such a docile one in all my years."
"Mine is very obedient, just a bit timid," Banxia said tentatively. "Can I hold him while you examine him?"
"Alright. Put on some gloves, and hold him securely. Be careful not to get bitten."
As the damp cotton balls wiped away the dirt, revealing the jet-black scales like polished gemstones, the doctor paused and let out a soft "Hmm."
Another client, who had just entered the room, gasped and called back to his companions, "Come and see this! What morph is this?"
"So beautiful! Black is rare enough as it is. I've never seen such a pure black, without a single other color."
"It must be a Black Night, right?"
"Nonsense. Do Black Nights have eyes like that? And I've never seen a Black Night this dark."
"Maybe a Black Pearl or a Midnight Blizzard?"
"Doesn't look like any of those. Probably a new morph bred overseas. I heard they've developed a new all-black one called 'Youlian'."
"So beautiful. Such a deep, rich black. Like a black gemstone. I'm tempted."
The gecko, black as a gemstone, allowed Banxia's fingers to hold it. Amidst the buzzing discussion, it didn't resist at all, its black head resting motionless on her wrist.
It wasn't until the doctor tried to take it from her to administer the gas anesthetic, placing an oxygen mask over its face, that it suddenly clung tightly to Banxia's sleeve with its slender claws, refusing to let go.
"It's okay, it's okay. I'm right here. It'll be over soon," Banxia reassured it.
Under the effects of the anesthetic, the gecko, held down on the operating table, struggled for a long time before finally closing its eyes, its claws loosening their grip on Banxia's sleeve.
The reptile enthusiasts gathered outside the consultation room, all burly men, started to let out a chorus of "Awwws."
"So cute! So beautiful and clingy. My heart is melting."
"It's like it understands human emotions. That look in its eyes makes me sad."
"I've never seen such an affectionate gecko. My little emperor still won't let me handle him."
"Waaah, where did she get it? I want one too!"
"I wonder if she'd be willing to sell it. I want to ask her later."
"If she's not selling, I'd be happy to breed it with mine."
The examination and treatment continued until evening, with wound cleaning, injections, and ultrasounds. Banxia watched anxiously. When it was finally over, the doctor handed her a bill that almost gave her a heart attack.
"Over two thousand?!" Banxia's face fell. It was almost all the money she had. "Can't you give me a discount?"
"Wound cleaning, ultrasound, anesthesia, and we also performed a minimally invasive procedure to drain fluid from its abdomen. I've already given you the lowest possible discount," the doctor explained. "Also, it's somewhat malnourished. Given that it's just had surgery, I recommend keeping it hospitalized for observation. The daily hospitalization fee is 300 yuan."
Banxia grimaced, feeling torn. Her monthly rent was only 300 yuan. She couldn't afford the hospitalization fees. More importantly, she still didn't understand the situation with this talking lizard, which might transform into a human at night. She didn't dare leave it at the hospital.
The hospital's observation room had rows of clean, transparent terrariums housing all sorts of tiny reptiles. Banxia couldn't imagine what would happen if a naked human suddenly appeared in such a small enclosure at midnight.
The black gecko, having just recovered from the anesthesia, was tugging at her sleeve and shaking its head. Receiving the clear message, Banxia made up her mind. "Um… we won't be hospitalizing him. If anything happens when we get back, I'll come back and trouble you again, doctor."
The doctor didn't insist, handing Banxia a gecko care guide.
It was the group of reptile enthusiasts who had been watching the whole time that stopped her.
"Don't go yet, miss! Why not hospitalize it? Such a beautiful and rare morph needs extra care. Geckos are delicate creatures," said a tall, burly man, carefully holding his own ornate terrarium with huge hands. Inside, a golden gecko held its little head high with an air of arrogance. "Look at my Tangerine. Just a little stuck shed on his eye had me worried sick."
"If it's a financial issue, I can cover the hospitalization fees," another person chimed in. "Heh heh, as long as you let me breed it with mine a few times after it recovers."
"Breed it… with what?" Banxia hadn't even processed the meaning when the black lizard in her hand began frantically shaking its head, tugging at her sleeve.
"Yours is a male, right?" The man pushed closer, rubbing his hands excitedly. "I have a female Black Night at home, a real beauty. She definitely wouldn't disgrace yours."
"I have a Midnight Blizzard. I can even give you a few eggs for free if they have offspring."
"Hey, don't go yet, miss! Name your price. We're all reptile lovers here. Everything is negotiable!"
1. ^ Black Night: A popular color morph of the leopard gecko (Eublepharis macularius) characterized by its dark coloration.
2. ^ 人渣盒 (rén zhā hé): This is slang for a poorly maintained or inadequately equipped terrarium, implying neglect towards the animal inside. A more appropriate translation would be "substandard enclosure" or "inadequate terrarium."
3. ^ +10086: This is internet slang used to express strong agreement or emphasis, similar to "+1" but amplified. The number 10086 is the customer service hotline for China Mobile, a major telecommunications company, and its frequent appearance in everyday life has led to its adoption as an online intensifier.
4. ^ High nose bridge: In the context of reptile breeding, particularly with leopard geckos, a "high nose bridge" refers to a desirable facial feature where the area between the eyes is raised, giving a more defined and aesthetically pleasing look.
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