Translator: Lynn
Being an office worker, it’s often challenging to stay up until the weekend, and he had originally planned to sleep in. However, he was rudely awakened by a merciless phone call early in the morning.
When Li Weidu, with a cold and determined attitude, asked, “Are you… available to meet my friend today?”
Ji Kai was inundated with a rollercoaster of emotions, feeling utterly crushed.
“Mr. Li! It’s 6:15 AM!”
“…”
“You suffer from insomnia and neurasthenia; please don’t inflict that on others.”
Li Weidu: “I sent you a message last night, but you didn’t respond.”
…He quickly checked the messages and found an unread one lying in the inbox!
What a wake-up call!
Ji Kai genuinely wanted to come up with various excuses, but he couldn’t help but get up. Moreover, Mr. Li’s next sentence was, “Let’s go fishing together, shall we?”
Now, he didn’t particularly have a fishing hobby.
But one must understand that the primal hunting instinct inherited from ancient times is deeply engraved in the genes of all men. An activity like “catching food” is instinctively irresistible!
Of course, as he got dressed, Ji Kai couldn’t help but wonder about the true purpose of this outing.
…Is it really about fishing?
Mr. Li, do you genuinely want to fish, or are you looking to “catch” me?
If it’s the latter, that’s fine. He can politely and firmly decline Mr. Li in person if he starts acting out.
Of course, he chose to decline.
“A wealthy and handsome guy who can cook delicious food, even if he’s a bit crazy, doesn’t matter?”
No, no, even Ye Yin knows he can’t handle an endless stream of affection from a madman. Am I that foolish?
When they headed out, Mr. Li drove his Land Rover straight to my community. Initially, he was unwilling and fully prepared—most of Mr. Li’s friends tended to be as eccentric as he was.
Qi Yang, once considered Zhu Ling’s career rival, was mentioned many times over the years as hypocritical, sly, and malicious.
However, as he entered the back seat and sat next to the “new A-list actor,” Qi Yang, for about two minutes, Ji Kai was pleasantly surprised. It completely shattered his preconceived notions!
Not hypocritical at all! Incredibly enjoyable! They hit it off instantly and regretted not meeting each other sooner!
It’s destiny. With just one glance, words become unnecessary—Qi Yang, the television heartthrob more sophisticated and deceptive than Zhu Ling, wore baggy pants and flip-flops for fishing, not bothering to exude sexiness or style his hair. He sat in the back seat like a carefree socialite.
The entire outfit couldn’t have cost more than a hundred yuan, and his shirt even had a hole!
Both of them noticed the similarity in their attire at first sight. Then, with remarkably synchronized movements, the two shot disgusted glances at Mr. Li in the driver’s seat, who was dressed in a suit and impeccably groomed for a fishing expedition.
Ji Kai and Qi Yang connected instantly, their hearts understanding each other’s spirit and feeling like old friends upon first meeting.
Ji Kai hadn’t had such an enjoyable experience in a long time. Throughout the morning, the new friend Qi Yang was engaged in enthusiastic conversations, sharing fishing tips and playfully poking fun at Mr. Li, as if no one else were present. Additionally, he heard some juicy gossip from Qi Yang regarding Mr. Li’s dark and scandalous past.
Li Weidu trailed behind us like a lost soul, wearing a disgruntled expression and not knowing what to do—
Ji Kai presumed it was because he only had two friends after all.
Qi Yang directly occupied half the country, and if he inadvertently upset him, his circle of friends would be reduced by half, which would be truly unfortunate.
…
On that sunny Saturday morning, the sun cast a radiant glow and the warm air enveloped the coastal area. The clear blue sea was dotted with numerous beautiful yachts available for rent.
To the surprise of Qi Yang and Ji Kai, they shared an entirely unanimous perspective. Besides the yachts, the beach also hosted a collection of dilapidated fishing boats. These rusty vessels painted in shades of red exuded the pungent aroma of seafood. They looked significantly more rugged, manly, and appealing than the luxurious yachts.
Mr. Li found himself unable to sway these two individuals, and he watched helplessly as they embarked on their fishing adventure. They gleefully fished by the side of a rusty red boat, their bodies adorned with oil stains but lacking any trace of germophobia. Mr. Li, who was grappling with his fear of germs, couldn’t remain still. He stayed on the deck, bewildered and uncertain about what to do.
Around noon, for some inexplicable reason, the once-bright sky seemed to cloud over.
The crafty Qi Yang even answered his phone, waving and shouting, “I’m sorry, I’ll reschedule,” before swiftly paddling a small kayak to the shore.
“Ah, I’m really sorry~~ There was an emergency at Wei Xuan’s store. He can’t drive, so I have to go back to pick him up!”
Ji Kai: “…”
Ji Kai: Hello!
Ji Kai: If you don’t know how to drive, can’t you just take a taxi?
Couldn’t you come up with a more reasonable excuse? After driving 40 kilometers to this remote seaside location, you left me stranded on this vast sea, awkwardly alone with this Mr. Li?
Could it be intentional?
Was this all designed to create an opportunity for Mr. Li to cultivate a relationship with him on this isolated sea, far from prying eyes?
Perhaps, in case their plan failed, they would go mad and push him into the sea, with no one to witness the deed.
Ji Kai realized he might be letting his imagination run wild.
However, no matter how imaginative he was, his mind was no match for divine intervention. He had merely entertained these thoughts for a few minutes and was awaiting the next catch when he noticed a few raindrops falling on him.
…It was raining.
In fact, it was really raining!
It was quite absurd that none of the three of them had checked the weather forecast before setting out for the day’s outing. But that wasn’t the most absurd aspect.
The most absurd part was that, as the raindrops fell, the previously clear view of the coast suddenly disappeared, shrouded in a fine drizzle and mist.
Ji Kai remained fairly composed, saying, “It’s alright! I distinctly remember the shore is in that direction. Let’s navigate the boat over there!”
However, Li Weidu furrowed his brow and pointed in the opposite direction, saying, “I recall the shore is over there, isn’t it?”
Ji Kai: “…”
Li Weidu: “…”
Ji Kai contemplated, “Shouldn’t we follow a set route instead of driving randomly? It would be quite tragic if we end up heading in the wrong direction, plunging into the open sea. The search and rescue team would have a hard time finding us in such a vast expanse.”
…Never did I imagine that a simple fishing trip would lead to this.
With Li Weidu’s extreme aversion to the outdoors, surviving a fishing excursion was no small feat.
Simultaneously, Ji Kai began to experience profound regret. He had opted for the rickety fishing boat simply to maintain an air of ruggedness.
He’d heard that luxury yachts were fully equipped to endure any weather, with amenities such as a computer TV, comfy sofas, high-end speakers, champagne, and imported chocolates in the cabin. Even if they got stranded at sea, they could eat, sing, relax, and have no worries.
In contrast, what did the “rugged” broken fishing boat have to offer?
A partially burnt coal stove from the 1970s, a large black pot, a few chipped bowls, a couple of battered oil drums, and a few sizable containers of fresh water. After the rain, the sea temperature plummeted. The sole large blanket in the boat, meant to ward off the chill, was so dirty that even a shivering Mr. Li declined to use it.
Otherwise, there was next to nothing.
It wouldn’t be accurate to say there was no mobile phone signal at sea.
But it was just as accurate to say there was none at all. They had bars, but no connectivity.
Haha, this is life…
In the following hours, even Ji Kai, a fierce man who could usually chat non-stop, began to feel despondent. Li Weidu, on the other hand, had descended into a deep trance. The two grown men sat silently across from each other in the cabin, which was starting to leak water.
There was nothing left to say, leaving Ji Kai wishing he could swap lives with the boy who’d been marooned at the end of the world—
In truth, let Mr. Li handle everything, and Ji Kai would take on the tiger himself.
A win-win solution for both parties.
As time passed, everything faded into darkness. No stars, no discernible objects.
Ji Kai was fortunate to have cigarettes with him.
He retrieved a lighter and managed to ignite the tiny, worn-out coal stove, providing a modest source of light.
Then it struck him—he was hungry.
It was dinnertime, and his stomach was grumbling.
Ji Kai wasn’t particularly fond of eating fish. However, on the entire boat, only two potential food sources remained. Both seemed to fall into the same category—the fish caught earlier with Qi Yang, and the man, Mr. Li, sitting in front of him.
He resolved not to resort to eating Mr. Li just yet.
After all, Mr. Li could prove helpful with the work, such as scaling the fish and other tasks. Ji Kai’s deft fingers worked on a small Swiss Army knife he kept on his keychain, deftly removing the scales from the fish.
He set up a small black pot, kindled the last bit of charcoal on the small stove, and began to simmer the fish soup.
After some time, a delicious aroma filled the air.
“…There’s no salt.”
Li Weidu furrowed his brow and tasted a spoonful of the broth from the bottom of the bowl. The unsalted fish soup was indeed rather bland, no matter how fresh the fish might be. Then, as if inspired, he pulled a glass pendant from around his neck, opened it, and allowed the crystal-white powder to tumble into the soup.
From Ji Kai’s perspective, it had a rather eerie and sinister quality, almost like saying, ‘Take this and let everyone stop living.’
“Mr. Li! Mr. Li, would you like to be more open-minded?”
“…”
“We’re not too far from the coastline. Let’s spend the night here and wait for the rain to stop tomorrow. Maybe we can find our way back without needing a rescue. Please don’t lose hope so quickly,” Ji Kai implored.
Li Weidu replied, “This pendant contains Mediterranean sea salt.”
“Ah?”
“I bought it as a souvenir on the Mediterranean beach when I was traveling.”
Ji Kai quipped, “Is it really okay to just consume a tourist souvenir like this?”
Li Weidu glanced at him and responded, “I can visit the Mediterranean again, can’t I? Do you want to consume tasteless fish soup?”
At that moment, Ji Kai found himself appreciating Mr. Li’s peculiar mindset.
…
After consuming the soup, their bodies finally warmed up.
However, Ji Kai was the only one experiencing the warmth. He couldn’t comprehend why Li Weidu’s hands and feet remained cold, and why he shivered even at a relatively normal temperature.
But Ji Kai had previous experience with Li Weidu’s peculiar physiology. If they left him alone, the issue would likely resolve itself in due time.
With no hospital in sight in this vast expanse, Ji Kai couldn’t help but worry. He feared they might end up with another sea horror story.
The charcoal fire in the furnace was on the verge of extinguishing.
Ji Kai called out, “Come over here.”
Li Weidu asked, “What are you doing?”
In the darkness, Mr. Li’s breathing was faint.
Wrapped in a large, slightly rough, and tattered blanket, Ji Kai felt comfortably warm. He urged, “Come here! You’ll freeze if you stay there all night!”
Li Weidu protested, “I’m fine; I’m by the stove…”
In the next moment, sparks flickered, and the furnace’s charcoal fire was extinguished, showing no mercy.
Li Weidu fell into silence.
An intoxicating masculine scent filled the air in the darkness, accompanied by scorching warmth. It felt as if he was pounced upon by a tiger and swept away, leaving his chest with a tremor.
His mind raced. It was as though he’d been trampled by a carriage driven by thousands of people, his bones crushed to dust, rendering the world surreal. His entire body tingled with a lingering sensation. He found it unbelievable—no, it was all wrong! Men’s chests shouldn’t feel this way when they touch each other!
How could it feel like this? Strong, soft, taut, and elastic… an indescribable sensation! This isn’t right! What is this?
A touch between men should merely involve bone contact, shouldn’t it? How could normal, everyday human beings exude such warmth? Let alone be so smooth and springy!
His cold legs and feet appeared to be pulled toward the source of warmth by an invisible force.
Li Weidu was unaware.
But he did realize that he had raised his hand. It felt dreamlike. He randomly found another spot and pinched it… and it retained that same springy feel.
He withdrew his hand as if shocked. How could the human body feel like this?
Ji Kai, on the other hand, was quite exasperated. He’d extended a helping hand out of kindness, and Li Weidu had taken advantage of the confusion to pinch the flesh between his waist and buttocks.
“Damn, you’re quite audacious, Mr. Li! Please be more careful! Don’t think that I won’t reprimand you just because of our current circumstances!”
Please let me know if there are typos/mistakes in the chapter.
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