Shangguan Yao was startled by something and ran towards me in a panic. Before she could take two steps, she fell face-first with a crunch.
Was Shangguan Yao here to be funny?
I was a bit speechless, but she was still my superior, and I should help when needed.
I calmly walked beside her, preparing to help her up.
To my surprise, Shangguan Yao refused my help and slapped my hand away.
"I don't need your help, I can get up myself!"
Shangguan Yao snapped coldly, got up from the ground herself, and even carefully brushed the dirt off her clothes.
Damn it, Shangguan Yao really had the temperament of a spoiled young lady!
Even in this situation, she still cared about whether her clothes were dirty?
I ignored her.
Since she had such a bad impression of me, I didn't need to force myself on her.
I turned back to the makeshift shelter I had made, sat down with my legs crossed, and basked in the fire. Shangguan Yao glanced at me, grunted, picked up a branch, and began writing SOS on the beach.
Shangguan Yao struggled to finish her writing for a long time. Seeing me watching from the side, she yelled at me indignantly.
"Lu Ziye, are you even a man! Just watching me work alone!"
I didn't want to deal with her, so I pretended to cover my stomach with both hands, "Your kick earlier really hurt my stomach, I can't muster any strength."
Shangguan Yao was rendered speechless by my retort. She just glared at me resentfully, then turned back to her signal. I also got busy, finding a branch to turn over the stones on the beach.
The immediate priority was to fill my stomach.
I had observed earlier that the tide had just receded, so there should be some fish, shrimp, and shellfish. Indeed, after turning over a few stones, I found some shells and clams washed ashore, as well as two small fish.
Although they didn't look like fish that grew in tropical regions.
Who cares, as long as it could fill my stomach!
Excitedly, I picked up the fish and used my clothes to scoop up the shells. I ran back to the bonfire and tossed them into the fire. Then, with practiced ease, I scaled and gutted the fish, and found a wooden stick to skewer it by the fire.
As I finished skewering the fish, Shangguan Yao had finally finished writing her distress signal. At her feet, three giant SOS symbols, each as tall as a person, appeared.
"Country bumpkin, all you know is how to eat, you don't even know how to write a distress signal!"
Shangguan Yao sneered at me and hobbled away. However, fate seemed to be against her. As soon as she moved, the tide surged in. White waves rolled in and instantly washed away the SOS.
The tide receded, leaving Shangguan Yao standing stiffly, her face ashen!
I couldn't help but laugh.
"Ah! My distress signal!"
"What are you laughing at, stop laughing!"
Shangguan Yao's face turned from red to green, as if she had a whole palette of colors. Hearing my laughter, she yelled at me in embarrassment and rage.
"Lu Ziye, you scoundrel! Have you no gentlemanly manners!"
"How am I a scoundrel, have I done anything to you?"
I restrained my smile and retorted directly.
Shangguan Yao was furious and pointed at me, scolding me. Even her ample chest heaved with her owner's anger.
Go ahead and scold, there will be a time when you'll have to bow down to me.
I usually ignore women in this state.
After all, an angry woman has no reason.
I leisurely poked at the bonfire.
This fish was so fatty. The oil dripped from the wooden stick into the fire, sizzling and filling the air with a delicious aroma.
It was cooked!
Impatiently, I picked up one and devoured it.
"Lu Ziye, how much is this fish, I'll buy it from you?"
At some point, Shangguan Yao was standing in front of me.
She looked at the roasted fish in my hand, her expression still proud, but her stomach audibly rumbled.
Even now, she was still putting on airs like a spoiled young lady?
Did she really think money was still useful on this island?
Let's see how I teach you a lesson.
My eyes gleamed, and I feigned greed. "This fish was something I painstakingly pulled from the sea. How much are you prepared to pay?"
"I'll pay five hundred, is that enough!"
"What did you say, I didn't hear you clearly?"
I pretended not to hear Shangguan Yao and slowly tore off a piece, putting it in my mouth.
And surprisingly, although this fish looked peculiar, it tasted excellent!
"One thousand, I'll pay a thousand! Lu Ziye, don't push your luck!"
Shangguan Yao, unable to contain herself, quickly increased her offer.
"Oh my, why are you just opening your mouth but not speaking? I still can't hear you!"
I have to admit, I'm starting to admire my own cooking skills. The fish meat melted in my mouth, sweet and tender, truly divine. I couldn't stop eating it.
Seeing that the roasted fish was reduced to bones in just a few bites, Shangguan Yao's eyes welled up with tears.
"Lu Ziye, you're bullying me!"
Having been doted on since childhood, Shangguan Yao had never experienced the hardship of hunger. Her legs hurt, and her stomach was empty, so tears began to stream down her face uncontrollably.
"Hey... no, why are you crying already!"
I, Lu Ziye, have always been soft on those who are gentle and resistant to those who are harsh. I didn't actually intend to pick on a woman, I just wanted to curb Shangguan Yao's spoiled temper.
"Alright, stop crying, here, have some!"
I picked up another fish from beside the bonfire and handed it to Shangguan Yao.
"Lu Ziye, you're a bastard!"
Shangguan Yao's words were harsh, but her actions were honest as she took the roasted fish. With red-rimmed eyes, she ate it in small bites.
"Damn it, you insult me after getting food, I should have let you starve!"
Seeing Shangguan Yao finish the fish in a few bites, I couldn't help but grumble inwardly.
After eating and drinking my fill, and regaining my strength, I began to ponder our current situation.
Sitting around and waiting to die was not an option. The reason I ignored Shangguan Yao's attempt to write a rescue signal was that I noticed the tide here rose too quickly, and no marks could be left on the beach.
We could only hope that rescue would arrive in time.
As Shangguan Yao ate, her eyes reddened again, and she couldn't help but start a conversation with me. "Do you think... the others survived?"
"I don't know. I'll explore the jungle later and see if there are any other survivors."
However, just as things couldn't get any worse, it began to rain.
Shangguan Yao was extremely disappointed. She hugged her shoulders and shrunk back, unwilling to get close to me.
I ignored her and leaned against a large rock, resting my eyes.
I'll use this time to conserve my energy, so I can look for food after the rain stops.
At some point, I drifted off to sleep.
When I woke up again, the rain had stopped, and a few stars were scattered across the sky.
My shoulder felt heavy.
Shangguan Yao had moved closer at some point and was sleeping soundly, leaning on my shoulder. Her delicate face showed a hint of unease and fear.
Her clothes were still not completely dry, and she shivered in the wind, instinctively moving closer to me, like a small bird seeking warmth.
To be honest, when Shangguan Yao wasn't speaking, she looked rather pitiable.
Making one's heart ache...