Bai Yun wrapped his hand securely around Lu Jiu’s, guiding him as he cast the fishing rod with a smooth, practiced motion.
The fishing line flew through the bright air like a long white ribbon, cutting across the sky before falling gracefully into the vast blue sea below. Something small dropped into the water with a soft splash, sending ripples shimmering beneath the sunlight.
For a brief moment, Lu Jiu felt as though he himself had been thrown forward with the line, his whole body turning light and unburdened, as if the wind had lifted him away from every weight on his shoulders.
“Do you go sea fishing often?” he asked, curiosity rising.
“When I was studying in the country, I sometimes went with my father,” Bai Yun replied, his voice calm and touched with quiet nostalgia. “During my first year of high school, we went almost every weekend. It was our little tradition.”
“How skilled are you at it exactly?” Lu Jiu looked sideways at him, a faint challenge in his tone. “Can you truly catch anything, or are you just putting on a show?”
“If I came home empty handed each time, that would be quite dull, would it not, Jiu?” Bai Yun teased lightly, as though he already knew what Lu Jiu was thinking.
Lu Jiu turned away, pretending he had not heard him.
“So what do you usually catch then? Tuna?”
“There are no tuna in this sea region,” Bai Yun explained, voice smooth as rolling waves. “But if you really want to catch one, I can take you abroad someday.”
Abroad.
The word landed softly, yet it made Lu Jiu pause. He had never been abroad in his previous life, nor in this one. The idea felt distant, unreal, almost like a dream that floated just out of reach.
Something flickered faintly in his mind, a half formed feeling or memory that escaped before he could grasp it.
Bai Yun did not press. He simply looked at him quietly for a few moments.
When Lu Jiu finally turned, he saw Bai Yun watching him with a gentle, steady gaze.
“What are you staring at?” he asked, confused.
Bai Yun did not answer. He simply reached out and brushed away the strands of hair that had been blown across Lu Jiu’s face by the wind. The touch was soft and natural, almost intimate without meaning to be.
>Then he nodded toward the sea and murmured, “You are lucky today.”
The fishing rod suddenly jerked, pulled by a force beneath the water.
Lu Jiu blinked. “Wait, is that a bite?”
Bai Yun guided his hands patiently. “Reel it in slowly. Do not pull too hard.”
The line tightened and trembled with energy. It did not seem like a large fish, small but lively. Soon, a silver fish burst free of the surface, flapping wildly as it landed on the deck, glittering under the sun like scattered shards of glass.
Lu Jiu crouched, poking the fish gently. “It is kind of small. Should we maybe let it go?”
“That is your choice,” Bai Yun replied, calm and relaxed. “Fish this size can still be eaten.”
Lu Jiu compared the fish against his palm. It was barely longer than his hand. After thinking for a moment, he lifted the small creature carefully and released it back into the sea.
When it disappeared beneath the waves, he straightened up and said with a serious expression, “It is not that I am being merciful. I am simply letting it grow bigger before I catch it again. That way there will be more meat.”
Bai Yun laughed quietly.
A gust of wind rolled over the water, making the boat sway gently. The horizon rose and fell, the world shifting with the tide.
Lu Jiu grabbed the railing, frowning slightly.
Bai Yun noticed immediately. He steadied him by wrapping an arm around his waist. “Are you getting seasick?”
“Technically, I should not,” Lu Jiu muttered, rubbing his stomach.
He had been on boats before without any issue. The nausea now was more likely related to what he was carrying inside him, not the sea at all.
Bai Yun’s gaze lowered briefly to Lu Jiu’s abdomen, a shadow flickering in his eyes. “Still having stomach discomfort?”
Lu Jiu gave an evasive reply and attempted to step away, but Bai Yun caught him gently. This time, his hand slipped beneath Lu Jiu’s sweater, pressing lightly through the thin shirt as he began massaging his stomach.
Lu Jiu froze.
Bai Yun’s palm was warm, his touch firm and steady, moving in slow, soothing circles. With one hand, he continued holding the fishing rod with ease, while the other worked rhythmically over Lu Jiu’s abdomen.
After a moment, he frowned softly. “Jiu, has your stomach gotten softer lately?”
Lu Jiu stared, speechless.
He caught Bai Yun’s wrist, maintaining a perfectly composed expression. “I am fine now.”
Bai Yun looked back at him with equal calm.
“Really, I am fine. You are just tickling me.”
“Oh? You were not this sensitive the night we slept together.”
Lu Jiu sucked in a breath. For two full seconds his mind went blank. Then he exploded. “Can you not say things like that out of nowhere?”
Bai Yun chuckled and gave a subtle squeeze to his stomach.
Lu Jiu hissed, slapped his hand away, and glared furiously. Heaven help him, what kind of man teased his future child by poking the one carrying it?
Bai Yun was still laughing when he suddenly said, “Jiu, if you were not a man, I would honestly think the way you have been avoiding me lately means you are pregnant.”
Lu Jiu’s body went rigid.
It felt like a jolt of electricity shot through him. Goosebumps rose across his skin.
He turned slowly, staring wide eyed.
Bai Yun calmly cast the line again, voice casual. “Though that seems less likely than the theory that you and that old classmate of yours have some special connection.”
“What kind of connection?” Lu Jiu’s voice felt dry.
“Perhaps you accidentally got her pregnant,” Bai Yun said mildly, as though discussing the weather.
Lu Jiu could not respond for a moment. He honestly did not know whether to laugh, curse, or throw him straight into the ocean.
Finally he exhaled and smiled thinly. “And even if you think that, you still want to be with me?”
Bai Yun’s lips curved. “I do not mind.”
His eyes remained on the fishing line, calm and deep as the endless sea.
Lu Jiu nearly asked, “Are you being serious?” but he held the words back. He did not wish to know what lay behind that steady answer. Certain truths could never be unspoken once revealed.
Bai Yun spoke gently. “If you feel unwell, you can go rest inside.”
“…Alright,” Lu Jiu murmured absentmindedly. After a moment he added, “I want grilled fish for lunch.”
“Very well,” Bai Yun replied with a soft laugh.
The captain brought him a glass of juice. Lu Jiu only sipped lightly, afraid too much liquid would worsen his nausea.
He set the cup aside and watched Bai Yun standing at the edge of the deck, his figure steady against the rolling waves.
Somewhere in the rhythm of the sea, Lu Jiu drifted into thought again, about Bai Yun, about the future, and the quiet, delicate sense of calm that had begun to settle in his heart.
“Does he not look handsome when he is fishing?” the captain said suddenly, sitting down beside him. His skin was deeply tanned from years at sea. “He is even more handsome when he dives.”
A realization clicked in Lu Jiu’s mind. “So you followed him even when he was abroad?”
“Yes. I am the one who pilots all his boats.”
Lu Jiu looked at Bai Yun again. After a long moment, he whispered, “He really has a farmer’s temperament.”
The captain burst out laughing. “All businessmen are farmers in their hearts. Plant melons and you get melons. Plant beans and you get beans.”
If only every capitalist was that practical, Lu Jiu thought, lips twitching. But Bai Yun was different. He was not someone who could be described with a single word. Lu Jiu knew clearly that Bai Yun was a dangerous person, yet that danger was never directed at him.
He lowered his gaze.
Bai Yun’s skill proved itself again quickly. Within a short time, he caught three large, energetic fish. He handled the messy cleaning himself with serene precision, as though performing a refined task rather than something bloody.
The captain grilled the fish while Lu Jiu seasoned them. When they finished cooking, crispy and golden, the fragrance made Lu Jiu’s mouth water. In the end, he ended up eating the most.
After lunch, the yacht headed toward a nearby island. Lu Jiu recognized the name. It had been under gradual development for tourism, yet still kept much of its untouched natural beauty.
Bai Yun did not lead him too far inland. They both changed into slippers and strolled along the shoreline. The tide had already retreated, and the sand held only a scattering of shells.
Lu Jiu scanned the beach like a vigilant hawk and quickly collected a handful of faintly shining seashells.
“These would look nice in a fish tank,” he said joyfully.
“You have a fish tank at your rental?” Bai Yun asked calmly.
“No,” Lu Jiu rolled his eyes, half amused. “But when I buy my own house one day, I could have one.”
“I have a fish tank at my place,” Bai Yun said with a tiny smile.
Lu Jiu froze. “…Ha.”
Always finding new excuses to drag him home. He ignored him and marched ahead through the sand.
It felt peaceful walking beside Bai Yun. The sea breeze brushed against them gently, and the sky was a serene blue without a single cloud. Lu Jiu breathed deeply, enjoying the air. After a while, he stopped and turned.
Bai Yun was a few steps behind, and when he saw Lu Jiu pause, he naturally walked faster to meet him. When he reached him, Lu Jiu felt something subtle and hard to explain stir in his chest.
It felt as though anything he asked of Bai Yun, the man would quietly fulfill. Bai Yun was like a kite whose string rested in Lu Jiu’s hand. If Lu Jiu wanted him to fly farther, he would. If he wanted him to stay close, he would. Yet Lu Jiu could sense another invisible thread pulling in the opposite direction, tugging him gently toward Bai Yun.
He knew he was being drawn in, and yet his soul felt oddly free. It was frightening, and incredibly alluring.
He stared at Bai Yun with a thoughtful expression. “So… what do you plan for our second date?”
“You are already thinking about the second one?” Bai Yun asked, lips curling slightly.
“Just curious.”
“What would you like to do?”
Lu Jiu considered. “I am curious about the movies you enjoy.”
Bai Yun smiled. “And?”
“I enjoy hiking,” Lu Jiu continued softly. “I like standing on a mountain peak.”
“Alright,” Bai Yun murmured, brushing his fingers lightly against Lu Jiu’s cheek. “We will do what you like.”
Their yacht, called Stalker, stopped near a reef. For some reason, it refused to move. The captain called Bai Yun helplessly. “Those young people jumped into the water and swam away.”
For the first time, Lu Jiu clearly saw exasperation on Bai Yun’s refined face. Amused, Lu Jiu crossed his arms and grinned. When Bai Yun ended the call, Lu Jiu said calmly, “You enjoy seeing me troubled, do you not?”
Lu Jiu burst out laughing.
They waited two hours before boarding another yacht. Bai Yun simply ordered a new one to come over. Clearly, he had no intention of chasing after those carefree swimmers.
As he stepped onto the deck, Lu Jiu sighed dramatically and declared, “Ah, the evils of capitalism.”
This time, Bai Yun laughed too, low and warm, his tone filled with effortless grace.
The return trip was quiet. Everyone rested. Lu Jiu went upstairs to wash his face in the bathroom.
He had forgotten sunscreen earlier. His face was fine because Bai Yun had given him a hat, but the back of his neck stung faintly, definitely sunburn. Served him right for being lazy.
In the mirror, Bai Yun appeared suddenly. His upper body was bare, a towel in his hand as he dried his damp hair while walking past.
Lu Jiu’s eyes dropped almost instinctively, landing on the defined lines of Bai Yun’s abdomen. He might have stared too obviously, because Bai Yun looked up and met his gaze in the mirror.
Then, as though it were the most natural thing, Bai Yun walked toward him. He placed both hands on the counter beside him, trapping Lu Jiu between his arms.
Leaning down, he pressed a light kiss to the back of Lu Jiu’s neck. Lu Jiu’s mind spun. Lately, their interactions felt far too much like those of newlyweds. How did Bai Yun kiss him so casually, so naturally, as though they had been doing this forever?
“You need ointment,” Bai Yun murmured between soft kisses. “Come to my room?”
Lu Jiu lazily tilted his head. “How many rooms are there on this yacht?”
Bai Yun laughed quietly. “Only one. Mine.”
✦ ✧ ✦
Cressilia
[Translator]
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ChaptersChapter 1 · After Breaking into the Big Boss’s Room (1)Chapter 2 · After Breaking into the Big Boss’s Room (2)Chapter 3 · After Breaking into the Big Boss’s Room (3)Chapter 4 · After Breaking into the Big Boss’s Room (4)Chapter 5 · After Breaking into the Big Boss’s Room (5)Chapter 6 · After Breaking into the Big Boss’s Room (6)Chapter 7 · After Breaking into the Big Boss’s Room (7)Chapter 8 · After Breaking into the Big Boss’s Room (8)Chapter 9 · After Breaking into the Big Boss’s Room (9)Chapter 10 · After Breaking into the Big Boss’s Room (10)Chapter 11 · After Breaking into the Big Boss’s Room (11)Chapter 12 · After Breaking into the Big Boss’s Room (12)Chapter 13 · After Breaking into the Big Boss’s Room (13)Chapter 14 · After Breaking into the Big Boss’s room (14)Chapter 15 · After Breaking into the Big Boss’s Room (15)Chapter 16 · After Breaking into the Big Boss’s Room (16)Chapter 17 · After Breaking into the Big Boss’s Room (17)Chapter 18 · After Breaking into the Big Boss’s Room (18)Chapter 19 · After Breaking into the Big Boss’s Room (19)Chapter 20 · After Breaking into the Big Boss’s Room (20)Chapter 21 · After Breaking into the Big Boss’s Room (21)Chapter 22 Part 1 · After Breaking into the Big Boss’s Room (22)Chapter 22 Part 2 · After Breaking into the Big Boss’s Room (22)Chapter 23 · After Breaking into the Big Boss’s Room (23)Chapter 24 · After Breaking into the Big Boss’s Room (24)Chapter 25 · After Breaking into the Big Boss’s Room (25)Chapter 26 · After Breaking into the Big Boss’s Room (26)Chapter 27 · After Breaking into the Big Boss’s Room (27)Chapter 28 · After Breaking into the Big Boss’s Room (28)Chapter 29 · After Breaking into the Big Boss’s Room (29)Chapter 30 · After Breaking into the Big Boss’s Room (30)Chapter 31 Part 1 · After Breaking into the Big Boss’s Room (31)Chapter 31 Part 2 · After Breaking into the Big Boss’s Room (31)Chapter 32 · The Empire’s Number One Beta Crown Prince (1)Chapter 33 · The Empire’s Number One Beta Crown Prince (2)Chapter 34 · The Empire’s Number One Beta Crown Prince (3)Chapter 35 · The Empire’s Number One Beta Crown Prince (4)Chapter 36 · The Empire’s Number One Beta Crown Prince (5)Chapter 37 · The Empire’s Number One Beta Crown Prince (6)Chapter 38 · The Empire’s Number One Beta Crown Prince (7)Chapter 39 · The Empire’s Number One Beta Crown Prince (8)Chapter 40 · The Empire’s Number One Beta Crown Prince (9)Chapter 41 · The Empire’s Number One Beta Crown Prince (10)Chapter 42 · The Empire’s Number One Beta Crown Prince (11)Chapter 43 · The Empire’s Number One Beta Crown Prince (12)Chapter 44 · The Empire’s Number One Beta Crown Prince (13)Chapter 45 · The Empire’s Number One Beta Crown Prince (14)Chapter 46 · The Empire’s Number One Beta Crown Prince (15)Chapter 47 · The Empire’s Number One Beta Crown Prince (16)Chapter 48 · The Empire’s Number One Beta Crown Prince (17)Chapter 49 · The Empire’s Number One Beta Crown Prince (18)Chapter 50 · The Empire’s Number One Beta Crown Prince (19)Chapter 51 · The Empire’s Number One Beta Crown Prince (20)Chapter 52 · The Empire’s Number One Beta Crown Prince (21)Chapter 53 · The Empire’s Number One Beta Crown Prince (22)Chapter 54 · The Empire’s Number One Beta Crown Prince (23)Chapter 55 · The Empire’s Number One Beta Crown Prince (24)Chapter 56 · The Empire’s Number One Beta Crown Prince (25)Chapter 57 · The Empire’s Number One Beta Crown Prince (26)Chapter 58 · The Empire’s Number One Beta Crown Prince (27)Chapter 59 · Hatching Baby Zombies (1)Chapter 60 · Hatching Baby Zombies (2)Chapter 61 · Hatching Baby Zombies (3)Chapter 62 · Hatching Baby Zombies (4)Chapter 63 · Hatching Baby Zombies (5)Chapter 64 · Hatching Baby Zombies (6)Chapter 65 · Hatching Baby Zombies (7)Chapter 66 · Hatching Baby Zombies (8)Chapter 67 · Hatching Baby Zombies (9)Chapter 68 · Hatching Baby Zombies (10)Chapter 69 · Hatching Baby Zombies (11)Chapter 70 · Hatching Baby Zombies (12)Chapter 71 · Hatching Baby Zombies (13)Chapter 72 · Hatching Baby Zombies (14)Chapter 73 · Hatching Baby Zombies (15)Chapter 74 · Hatching Baby Zombies (16)Chapter 75 · Hatching Baby Zombies (17)Chapter 76 · Hatching Baby Zombies (18)Chapter 77 · Hatching Baby Zombies (19)Chapter 78 · Hatching Baby Zombies (20)Chapter 79 · The Mermaid on the Shore (1)Chapter 80 · The Mermaid on the Shore (2)Chapter 81 · The Mermaid on the Shore (3)Chapter 82 · The Mermaid on the Shore (4)Chapter 83 · The Mermaid on the Shore (5)Chapter 84 · The Mermaid on the Shore (6)Chapter 85 · The Mermaid on the Shore (7)Chapter 86 · The Mermaid on the Shore (8)Chapter 87 · The Mermaid on the Shore (9)Chapter 88 · The Mermaid on the Shore (10)Chapter 89 · The Mermaid on the Shore (11)Chapter 90 · The Mermaid on the Shore (12)Chapter 91 · The Mermaid on the Shore (13)Chapter 92 · The Mermaid on the Shore (14)Chapter 93 · The Mermaid on the Shore (15)Chapter 94 · The Mermaid on the Shore (16)Chapter 95 · The Mermaid on the Shore (17)Chapter 96 Part 1 · The Mermaid on the Shore (18)Chapter 96 Part 2 · The Mermaid on the Shore (18)Chapter 97 · The Mermaid on the Shore (19)Chapter 98 · Give me a drop of blood (1)Chapter 99 · Give me a drop of blood (2)Chapter 100 · Give me a drop of blood (3)Chapter 101 · Give Me a Drop of Blood (4)Chapter 102 · Give Me a Drop of Blood (5)Chapter 103 · Give Me a Drop of Blood (6)Chapter 104 · Give Me a Drop of Blood (7)Chapter 105 · Give Me a Drop of Blood (8)Chapter 106 · Give Me a Drop of Blood (9)Chapter 107 · Give Me a Drop of Blood (10)Chapter 108 · Give Me a Drop of Blood (11)Chapter 109 · Give Me a Drop of Blood (12)Chapter 110 · Give Me a Drop of Blood (13)Chapter 111 · Give Me a Drop of Blood (14)Chapter 112 · Give Me a Drop of Blood (15)Chapter 113 · Give Me a Drop of Blood (16)Chapter 114 · Give Me a Drop of Blood (17)Chapter 115 · Extra 1: A Little Conversation After Drinking (1)Chapter 116 · Extra: A Little Conversation After Drinking (2)Chapter 117 · Extra: A Little Conversation After Drinking (3)