Chapter 549

The setting sun dyed the entire surface of the sea a golden red.

Fang Qi sat on a little stool at the edge of the raft, resting his chin in his hands as he stared blankly at the motionless fishhook.

Ever since he had killed that shark, the sea had not offered up another catch of any real size.

And now…

He had already caught twelve finger-length fish and shrimp in a row!

Adding those twelve little things to the three points he had gotten for killing the shark…

That made twenty-two in total.

The corner of Fang Qi’s mouth twitched.

He was still so far from the target of one hundred that Liguang had set for him…

But at least he was getting closer, right?

He consoled himself.

The fishhook swayed… then sank!

Here it comes!

Fang Qi’s eyes sharpened, and he immediately snatched up the fishing rod!

…But it felt incredibly light.

He pulled it up with ease and took a look—

Another tiny shrimp, desperately flicking its tail on the hook!

It was not even as long as his pinky!

Fang Qi: “…”

He rolled his eyes.

Seriously, why did he keep catching things this tiny?!

Fang Qi removed the little shrimp from the hook and held it between his fingers. Then he glanced at the fish bucket beside him.

The small fish and shrimp inside were swimming around in the shallow water. The largest one…

Wasn’t even as big as his palm!

“Ugh…”

He stared at his “spoils of war” and sighed.

Then he turned his head, raised the tiny shrimp in his hand, and shouted toward the wooden house:

“Liguang, look! Another one!”

At least it still counted as one!

At that moment, on the deck of the raft…

The silver-haired girl, who looked incredibly delicate in her cream-colored swimsuit, was carrying several large planks of wood—each one bigger than she was!

Barefoot, she hummed a tune as she cheerfully carried them into the wooden house.

Her long silver ponytail swayed from side to side behind her little head.

When she heard Fang Qi’s shout, she stopped and poked half her face out from behind the planks, her eyes curving into a smile.

“Okay, Master! That makes twenty-three now!”

With that, she turned around and carried the planks into the house.

Her ponytail flicked past the doorframe, and then she disappeared inside.

Fang Qi stared at the wooden door, which was still gently swaying. He raised a hand and rubbed his nose a little sheepishly.

My wife is the best. Even tiny fish and shrimp count…

Then he turned around, tossed the shrimp he had just caught into the bucket, baited the hook again, and cast with all his strength.

The hook landed in the distant sea.

Fang Qi sat at the edge of the raft, resting his chin in his hands as he watched the sunset over the ocean.

He continued with his great fishing endeavor!

He had to make sure the next catch ended this thirteen-catch streak…!

“Bang, bang, bang.”

The sound of hammering came from the second floor.

Oh, she had started again.

He tilted his head back and looked toward the open window on the second floor of the wooden house.

The slender figure of the silver-haired girl moved busily behind the window.

Fang Qi rested his chin in his hand and watched her graceful silhouette.

My wife is working hard…

But what about me?

Fishing.

He was sitting here fishing leisurely while watching his sweet, delicate wife sweat away as she worked.

“Ahem…”

He coughed lightly, his face turning a little red.

…Was this really okay?

“Bang, bang, bang.”

Another series of hammering sounds came from upstairs, heavier than before.

This time, Fang Qi finally couldn’t hold back.

“Liguang!”

He tilted his head up and shouted toward the second floor.

“Want me to help?”

The hammering stopped.

The silver-haired girl poked her little head out of the window.

Tiny beads of sweat glistened at her temples, and her pretty face was flushed…

“No need, Master!”

She called down from above, her expression utterly serious.

“Master, focus on fishing! Don’t you want to learn the truth as soon as possible?”

The corner of Fang Qi’s mouth twitched.

This Little Yandere really had him completely wrapped around her finger.

But he wasn’t going to admit defeat just like that!

If she wouldn’t let him help, then…

“Then you stop working too!”

Fang Qi crossed his arms and looked up at her in the second-floor window.

“Come down and fish with me!”

A flicker of crimson passed through Liguang’s scarlet eye.

“Huh?”

Fang Qi was completely justified in his demand.

“It’s too boring sitting here alone!”

“And besides…”

He pointed emphatically at the already sizable raft beneath them.

“We’re supposed to build this home at sea together! How can I let you do all the building yourself?”

“Don’t build my share too!”

He glared at the little head in the second-floor window.

The silver-haired girl blinked, and then…

Whoosh!

She pulled her head back inside.

A moment later, the sound of materials being set down came from upstairs.

Then she stepped out through the door onto the second-floor balcony.

Leaning forward, she rested herself against the wooden railing and looked at Fang Qi with a bright smile.

“Master, do you really want Liguang to keep you company that badly?”

The sunset cast her in a warm orange glow. Her phoenix-like eyes curved into crescent moons, and the skirt of her cream-colored swimsuit fluttered lightly in the sea breeze.

Fang Qi stared for a moment.

She really was beautiful…

With such a beautiful Little Yandere, of course…

He wanted her to keep him company while he fished forever!

“That’s right!”

Fang Qi waved his hand grandly.

“Come over here and fish with me!”

“Don’t go and build our home all by yourself!”

The silver-haired girl leaned on the railing and tilted her head at him, the corners of her lips curling slightly upward.

“Then…”

She suddenly giggled and winked at Fang Qi.

“Master, be sure to catch Liguang!”

Fang Qi froze.

What…?

Before he could figure out what she meant…

She planted both hands on the railing and pushed off!

She vaulted directly over the second-floor balcony!

The cream-colored skirt of her swimsuit blossomed in the setting sun!

“Hey—!”

Fang Qi’s eyes widened!

He instinctively threw down his fishing rod, spread his arms, and rushed forward to catch her!

Silver-white hair flew toward him.

A soft, warm body fell into his arms!

The raft was wet, and his feet slipped. His entire body lurched backward.

“Bang!”

His back slammed heavily against the wooden deck.

Fang Qi lay flat on his back on the raft, tightly holding that soft, warm body in his arms.

The silver-haired girl was sprawled across his chest, her loosened silver hair spilling all over him.

Her mismatched eyes were close enough to touch, gazing down at him with a delighted smile.

The amber eye shimmered with moisture, while the scarlet eye sparkled merrily.

Then Fang Qi noticed…

Her other hand was raised high in the air.

In it was the fishing rod he had just thrown away!

The silver-haired girl pulled her little hand back and looked at him reproachfully, her lips pursed into a slight pout.

“Master, you failed.”

Her expression was completely serious as she complained in a tiny voice:

“A professional angler would never let go of his fishing rod, even if a fish dragged him into the sea!”

Fang Qi: “…”

He lay on the deck and looked at her serious yet smug little face, feeling utterly speechless.

…Since when did I become a professional angler?!

Then he raised his hand—

Smack!

He gave her a solid slap on her little bottom!

The sound rang out crisply across the deck!

“Your master was never a professional angler to begin with!”

He said it grumpily.

But the silver-haired girl only blinked once before giggling again.

Fang Qi looked at her utterly shameless reaction and sighed helplessly.

Sigh… I really don’t know how I’m supposed to discipline my wife.

It felt as though anything he did would just end up rewarding her!

This silver-haired little rascal!

He reached out and pinched the tip of her pert little nose. Then, holding her, he rolled over and sat up, looking out across the boundless surface of the sea.

His arms suddenly felt lighter.

The silver-haired girl slipped gracefully from his embrace and knelt beside him.

“Then keep fishing, Master.”

She placed the fishing rod back into Fang Qi’s hands, then rested her little head against his shoulder.

“Liguang will just watch Master fish.”

She rubbed her soft cheek against his shoulder.

Fang Qi took a deep breath.

…Keep fishing!

Fishing with his wife in his arms!

He set up the fishing rod and adjusted his posture again.

Liguang, meanwhile, leaned lightly against his shoulder.

The two of them sat side by side at the edge of the raft, watching the distant sunset together.

The sun had already sunk just a little above the horizon, and the orange surface of the sea shimmered with rippling light.

A gentle sea breeze blew past.

The scenery was beautiful.

Liguang quietly rested against his shoulder.

Everything was beautiful.

But…

Fang Qi still couldn’t quite calm down.

His thoughts drifted.

What was the situation outside right now…?

The authorities definitely weren’t going to let things end here.

Would there be more armed forces coming?

Had the apartment building been breached?

And…

How was things going for Gu Xi?

What about Lin Xiaoyou?

And Sister An Lian?

Fang Qi turned his head slightly to look at the pretty face resting on his shoulder.

She looked completely content.

When she noticed him looking, she even gave him a beaming smile before gently rubbing her cheek against his shoulder again.

Fang Qi pursed his lips.

This Little Yandere really had plenty of leisure to sit here and watch the sunset with him!

But your master can’t calm down!

He immediately raised a hand and pinched Liguang’s soft, puffy cheek.

“Liguang.”

“Hmm?”

“How about… you fish too?”

Fang Qi blinked at her.

“Let’s see who can catch more!”

As he spoke, he helplessly spread his hands.

Fishing by himself was just too boring!

“I’ve been fishing alone all day. This is way too dull!”

Fine…

Actually, it was because he kept catching tiny fish and shrimp, and the negative feedback was getting overwhelming!

Had that shark scared away all the big fish in the area?

Ever since he killed the shark, the bucket had been filled with nothing but little minnows!

If he hadn’t needed to catch a hundred fish before this Little Yandere would tell him the truth, he would have given up fishing long ago!

He pinched Liguang’s cheek again.

“So come fish with me, Liguang. That way, Master will have more motivation!”

The silver-haired girl blinked as he squeezed her cheeks.

Then she raised a hand, brought her fingertip close to his nose, and lightly tapped it.

“Master, you’re being way too impatient!”

She pouted unhappily.

“The most important thing about fishing is patience, and besides…”

She lifted her little chin and crossed her arms over her chest as she looked at Fang Qi.

“Liguang already counted the little fish too. Master isn’t allowed to complain. Fishing is so much fun!”

Hey!

Now you’re blaming me?

“Fine, fine, fine!”

Fang Qi grabbed her little hand in one swift motion.

“Since it’s so much fun, then come fish with me!”

He raised an eyebrow at her.

“Let’s have a competition!”

The silver-haired girl stared blankly at him.

The sea breeze brushed past, lifting the loose strands of hair beside her ears.

Something flickered gently in those mismatched eyes.

“Hehe!”

She suddenly grinned at Fang Qi, baring her little teeth slightly.

“Really, Master? You’ve thought this through?”

“There are only so many fish here!”

“If Liguang catches them, Master won’t have anything left to catch…”

She lightly pointed at the fishing rod beside them.

“The fish Liguang catches can’t count toward Master’s total!”

Fang Qi raised an eyebrow.

What was there to worry about?

The little fish and shrimp counted too. It wasn’t as if they could fish the entire ocean empty!

Fang Qi tapped the tip of her nose as well. It was cool to the touch.

“It’s fine. Since Liguang isn’t in a hurry, Master isn’t in a hurry either!”

He raised an eyebrow at her.

“Master just wants Liguang to keep him company.”

The silver-haired girl’s crimson eye froze slightly.

She looked at the sea, then back at Fang Qi…

Then she pursed her lips and waved her little hand.

“Forget it, Master.”

Fang Qi was instantly stunned.

…Huh?

His wife had just rejected him…?

Liguang had already leaned back against Fang Qi’s shoulder again.

“Liguang will still watch Master…”

Before she could finish, the fishing float suddenly plunged beneath the surface!

Oh!

Fang Qi’s eyes sharpened, and he instantly snatched up the fishing rod!

It was happening again!

And this time, the rod immediately bent into a deep arc, while the fishing line hummed under the strain!

Beneath the surface, that dark shape thrashed wildly, its strength astonishing!

Fang Qi instantly held his breath!

It was a big fish!

Fang Qi instinctively prepared to tire it out, but then he blinked.

He immediately turned his head toward the silver-haired girl leaning against his shoulder!

Wife, you really are my lucky goddess!

The moment you sat down beside me, I caught a big fish!

So…!

“Liguang, it’s a big one!”

He shoved the fishing rod straight into Liguang’s little hands.

“Quick! Hurry!”

This time, he was going to give his wife—who had been busy building their home—the chance to catch a big fish!

After all, big fish and little fish only counted as one each. He might as well let his wife experience the thrill of landing a big one!

“Eh? Wait, Master—!”

The silver-haired girl was instantly dumbfounded, but instinctively grabbed hold of the fishing rod.

“Waaah—!”

Her entire body suddenly lurched toward the sea!

The dark shape beneath the water gave the fishing rod a violent yank!

Fang Qi: “?!”

What the heck…?!

Seeing that his wife was about to fly straight into the sea, he instinctively wrapped an arm around Liguang’s waist.

“Ah!”

Liguang’s little feet scraped hard against the edge of the raft, and she nearly went overboard!

Fortunately, Fang Qi reacted quickly and dragged her back into his arms!

The two of them staggered backward several steps before finally regaining their balance.

Fang Qi held her tightly, still looking rather bewildered.

Huh? What was going on…?

“Mm… Master…!”

Liguang’s gritted voice came from his arms.

…?

Fang Qi looked down.

The silver-haired girl’s little face was flushed red from exertion!

She gripped the fishing rod with both hands, squeezing so tightly that her arms trembled faintly!

Her mismatched eyes were fixed on the surface of the sea, and in her amber eye…

Streams of ghostly blue data flashed past at incredible speed, one after another!

Line after line!

They moved so quickly that it was impossible to make out what they said!

Fang Qi: “?!”

“Master…!”

The silver-haired girl gritted her teeth, her voice trembling.

“Liguang… can’t hold on much longer…! Master, pull it back…!”

…What?!

Fang Qi was stunned!

Damn, he really had hooked a monster!

He immediately reached out, seized the fishing rod tightly, and gave it a hard pull…!

…Huh?

He froze.

It definitely wasn’t small. It certainly wasn’t some tiny shrimp.

But…

He blinked.

It wasn’t quite that outrageous either, was it?

The force felt…

About the same as that grouper he had caught before?

He had fought that one alone for ten minutes and hadn’t found it particularly tiring. So how was his wife…

He instinctively exerted some strength, and the fishing rod came firmly under his control.

The creature beneath the water continued to struggle, but for him…

It was completely within his grasp.

As for Liguang…

She suddenly let go!

Her entire body pitched backward, and she landed hard on the deck with a thud!

“Mm…!”

She even let out a little groan!

…Huh?

Fang Qi turned his head toward her in confusion.

She was gritting her teeth, and in her amber eye, the violent streams of ghostly blue data suddenly flared brightly!

And the expression on her face, at that very moment…

Had actually turned somewhat gloomy!

Fang Qi: “?!”

Hey? Wife, what’s wrong…?

But that trace of gloom lasted only for an instant.

When the silver-haired girl raised her head again, her amber eye was already brimming with tears!

The ghostly blue data streams had vanished as well.

She sat there with her legs folded beneath her, looking utterly aggrieved, both hands braced behind her as she tilted her little face up at Fang Qi…

“Master!”

Chitong’s eyes began to flicker pitifully. Her little mouth quivered as she glared at Fang Qi with teary eyes!

“I already told you, Liguang doesn’t want to fish anymore…!”

Fang Qi: “...?”

Was this my fault?

Me…?

Suddenly, the fishing rod dipped again!

The huge creature beneath the water was still struggling desperately!

He quickly pulled back in the opposite direction once more.

And this time, he was even more certain.

The fish was indeed quite strong, but…

It definitely wasn’t strong enough to pull a person into the water!

So, while struggling against it, he turned his head slightly and narrowed his eyes at the silver-haired girl sitting by his feet.

The silver-haired girl’s phoenix eyes narrowed as she stared at the creature in the water.

That expression…

Fang Qi’s eyes trembled.

It was a little frightening.