“Are we going to fish here, too?”

Making their way down to the platform, the three of them were extremely careful. Even so, Jiang Yao still stumbled on the way down, but thankfully, Chen Yuan was right beside her to catch her.

Chen Yuan was taken aback for a moment, looking at the anglers before him who seemed like a crowd at a morning market—all jostling for position, their shouts mingling with the roar of waves crashing against the shore.

Long fishing rods extended from the platform one after another, twitching and pulling in a highly synchronized rhythm.

They were arranged in neat rows, with just enough space for a person to pass between them.

All sorts of bait attached to nylon lines were constantly being cast into the deep waters around the reef. Some used live bait like mushy shrimp or fat worms, while other anglers simply used metal jigs.

Some had simple white plastic buckets, some just a single net that could hold water, and others were so well-equipped that their gear was spread out all behind them.

In comparison, the gear Chi Yu had brought for them seemed a little sparse.

“No, we’re going to the side. There’s a private fishing spot over there, so we don’t have to compete with them,” Chi Yu said, shaking her head.

Nearby, Jiang Yao took small steps forward, her eyes sparkling. She peered into an angler’s plastic bucket, then excitedly waved Chen Yuan over.

“There are really fish in here!”

“Oh yeah? Let me see.”

His interest piqued, Chen Yuan went over and glanced at the catch inside the bucket. A dozen or so fish of various sizes were darting back and forth, full of life, their tails wagging.

The biggest one was the size of his palm.

“Well now, so many barred knifejaws. Looks like the fishing is really good today,” Chi Yu remarked, a faint smile playing on her lips.

“This is called a barred knifejaw? It’s so ugly. It really does look like a spotted rock. If I catch one later, I’m just going to throw it back,” Jiang Yao whispered to Chen Yuan with an air of inexplicable confidence.

“Who cares if it’s ugly? As long as it’s tasty.”

Chen Yuan wrapped an arm around Jiang Yao’s neck and, ignoring her soft protests, followed Chi Yu toward their fishing spot.

「Once they arrived.」

Before them lay a wide, open expanse of water, and there weren’t many people nearby.

However, this spot happened to be a wind tunnel. The waves were especially large, and even in her windproof jacket, Yaoyao could feel a powerful gust pushing her back, instantly tangling her hair.

Gazing into the distance, the view was exceptionally beautiful—countless times better than the one from the previous platform.

Countless seabirds circled here as well; a glance upward revealed a sky full of tiny black dots. Of course, there were also plenty of bird droppings underfoot.

This was clearly a professional fishing spot for Yilu Fishing.

As soon as Chi Yu walked over, several people greeted her warmly, though Chen Yuan couldn’t quite understand them because they spoke with a thick local accent.

The three of them set down their gear.

Chi Yu started pulling out all sorts of things one after another from the heavy backpack she was wearing.

With practiced ease, she first threaded the lines for both of them. “Mr. Chen, let me show you. There are a few ways to tie this jig. I’ll teach you the most common one. Just follow my steps.”

“Okay.”

Chen Yuan crouched down, holding the diamond-shaped, shiny lure in his hand and carefully watching Chi Yu’s movements to learn.

He had some fishing experience, but he hadn’t done lure fishing before.

So it wasn’t particularly difficult for him to learn.

Jiang Yao, on the other hand, watched for a long time without understanding. She asked, “Can you really catch fish with this thing? Don’t you usually use live bait, like little shrimp or half a crab?”

“I have live bait too. Would you like to use it, miss?”

Chi Yu reached into her gear and pulled out several small boxes. Not only were there smelly shrimp and crabs, but there was even a full box of frantically squirming worms.

Each one looked fat-bodied and was crawling all over the others. If the lid were opened, they would spill out in less than half a second.

Jiang Yao stared for half a second before her expression turned to one of utter shock.

She was completely dumbfounded.

Then, she shrieked and scrambled back, hiding in Chen Yuan’s arms. “W-worms! Disgusting worms!”

The fat worms squirmed against each other, secreting a slimy fluid. They looked both disgusting and terrifying. Just looking at them was enough to make Jiang Yao’s face turn pale with fright, let alone the thought of grabbing one to put on a hook.

While holding her soft, delicate body, Chen Yuan didn’t stop what he was doing with his other hand. Without even looking up, he comforted her, “It’s okay. We can just use the jig. Live bait is too much trouble anyway. We can switch if we don’t catch anything.”

“No, no, no!” Jiang Yao shook her head frantically, her terrified eyes like those of a startled fawn.

“What’s there to be afraid of? They’re just worms. You could crush them with one stomp. It’s not like they’re going to bite you.”

Seeing her act like such a “scaredy-cat,” Chen Yuan found it hilarious. ‘Didn’t she just say she was going to catch a shark on the way here? How could she be so terrified by a box of worms?’

A mischievous grin spread across his face as he took the box of fat worms from Chi Yu.

He even dangled it in front of Jiang Yao.

“See? Nothing to be afraid of. How about I open it, pick one up, and show you? They’re actually pretty cute.”

“AHHH!!!” Jiang Yao’s eyes flew wide open. She shot to her feet, knocking Chen Yuan over with a THUD. His butt made intimate contact with the wooden planks.

She scrambled to her feet and shot several meters away, almost crashing into a nearby pillar. Still shaken, she turned her head back.

Only to find Chen Yuan, who had also fallen, pointing at her and laughing uncontrollably.

“You’re dead! You stupid Chen Yuan!”

Jiang Yao marched over and started “strangling” him, gritting her teeth and muttering things like, “That’s what you get for scaring me!”

Chen Yuan deliberately stuck his tongue out, pretending to be suffocated by her grip.

This only made Yaoyao angrier. She pinched his cheek hard. “I’m not even using any strength! Stop faking it, you little punk!”

Watching the two of them flirt so innocently and sweetly, Chi Yu, who was tying a hook nearby, paused her movements. She seemed lost in thought for a moment, as if recalling a memory, before lowering her head to continue her work.

The beautiful scene had stirred something in her, likely reminding her of her own past romances.

‘How wonderful…’ she thought to herself with a sigh.

…

Jiang Yao was incapable of such delicate work. She had zero experience and absolutely no idea how to fish.

When he got the fully prepared fishing rod, Chen Yuan couldn’t stand the eager, ready-to-pounce look in her eyes, so he gave it to her.

It was like little flames were dancing in her eyes as she stared at it expectantly.

He just couldn’t ignore her.

“Yay!”

Grabbing the heavy fishing rod, Jiang Yao beamed, very pleased with the young master’s indulgence. She tilted her face up, pouting her lips at him. If there weren’t other people around,

she definitely would have rewarded Chen Yuan with a sweet, fragrant kiss.

Seeing her so happy, Chen Yuan gave up on the idea of starting to fish right away and walked over to stand behind her.

“You know how to fish, right?”

“Huh? You just throw the line in the water and wait for a fish to bite, right?”

“Go on, try.”

“Okay then, I’m ready! Sharks—here I come!”

Yaoyao rushed to the very edge of the platform and, facing the whistling wind, rested the rod horizontally on the railing. However, the scene she’d imagined of the nylon line sliding down didn’t happen. Instead, it stayed firmly stuck to the tip of the rod, swaying in the breeze.

“The bail. Open it. Let me help you.”

Chen Yuan went over and flipped the bail arm next to her finger. Then, he let go of the nylon line, and with a ZZZT, the reel began to spin, the long line flowing down like a stream of water.

“Oh, so that’s how it works! I get it, I get it! Let me do it!” Jiang Yao pushed at Chen Yuan’s shoulders, her hands itching to try. She felt like she would die if she didn’t get to do it right away.

“It’s all yours. Reel the line back in.”

“Okay!”

Jiang Yao mimicked his actions, turning the handle to reel the line back in, then closed the bail.

“Open… open the bail, then let go…” she repeated what Chen Yuan had taught her, then flipped the bail arm.

But the line still hung stubbornly from the tip of the rod.

Jiang Yao stared for a moment, her cheeks blushing slightly. She glanced at her young master and puffed up her cheeks in a cute, deliberate way.

“You have to let go of the line…”

“Oh, right! I haven’t let go yet!”

‘I was just repeating it to myself, and I still forgot.’

Jiang Yao scratched her head, embarrassed. She then released her grip, and sure enough, the long line went zipping out and disappeared into the water in no time.

“It’s in the sea! I did it! I learned it in one try!” Her face was filled with incomparable joy, so happy she looked like she was about to jump. A smile that was impossible to look away from bloomed on her rosy cheeks.

The sight of Yaoyao smiling with her lips pressed together was even more beautiful than the view of the reef-strewn beach that evening.

“Amazing. That’s my Yaoyao, all right. But you won’t catch any fish like that.”

Chen Yuan recalled what Chi Yu had just taught them. He helped Jiang Yao reel in her line, and because the wind was a bit loud, he had to lean close to her ear and say, “You have to cast the line really far!”

“Huh? How do I cast it?”

“Like this!”

Chen Yuan took hold of Yaoyao’s hand. Tall and slender, he stood behind her, completely enveloping her small frame, then took her other hand as well.

Feeling the close sense of security as their bodies touched, Jiang Yao’s heart hammered like a frightened deer, and she was overcome with happiness.

This was the exact scene she had always fantasized about: spending simple, happy moments with her most, most, most favorite young master.

“Follow my movements. Swing it back, rest the rod on your shoulder, create an arc… Your core! Remember to use your core!” Chen Yuan taught her earnestly, guiding her body to execute each step with precision.

Jiang Yao was completely focused, feeling the firm strength of his grip on her hands.

“Release your finger!”

A steady, powerful shout rang out by her ear.

Jiang Yao followed the command reflexively!

Then, the long line with the lure attached drew a beautiful arc through the air, soaring toward the distant water. The reel whirred, ZZZT-ZZZT, spinning nonstop as the shiny lure, glinting in the daylight, plunged into the cold sea in an instant and sank rapidly!

CLICK—

Chen Yuan closed the bail, and, still holding Yaoyao’s hands, raised the rod high. He tugged the nylon line again and again while turning the reel!

“Just like that. Feel the line tighten, then pull it up into the air. Do it every few seconds until you’ve reeled the line all the way back in.”

“Whoa! You’re so amazing, young master! I get it now!” Jiang Yao said, mimicking Chen Yuan’s movements as she watched the line tighten. She instantly felt like an absolute pro.

Just like one of those professional anglers.

It made Jiang Yao feel like she’d suddenly become a master fisher.

She lowered her voice and said quietly,

“I can’t believe you even know how to do this. I admire you so much~ Master, you just got even more handsome in my eyes!” Jiang Yao turned her face, blinking a few times at him with a hint of shyness in her eyes, though her praise was completely sincere. “Mwah~”

‘The serious Chen Yuan from just now was so handsome!’ she thought.

‘And he had such boyfriend power, too.’

“It’s nothing, it’s nothing.” Chen Yuan was grinning from ear to ear but still tried to act modest. “Why don’t you practice a few more times? I’ll go get the other rod and fish with you.”

“Okay—huh!?”

Before Jiang Yao could finish her sentence, she let out a sudden cry of surprise, her eyes gradually widening.

“What’s wrong?”

“S-something seems to be pulling my line!” Jiang Yao said, her body stiff as she stared intently at the constantly twitching rod tip.

“Huh?”

‘Don’t tell me she’s got a fish already!?’

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep