Chapter 1: Golden Rock Island

Chapter 1: Golden Rock Island

Since June, heatwave warnings have been issued nationwide, with cities vying to claim the title of one of Huaguo's three furnaces.

Golden Rock Island, nestled by the East Sea, seems to have been overlooked by the scorching summer. For half a month, it has remained overcast without a break, the temperature steadily at 20 degrees Celsius, accompanied by gentle sea breezes. It's even a bit chilly in the early mornings and late evenings.

Returning after two years, Xiong Zhaozhao finds that this isolated island off the coast has changed little.

Unlike the rapidly evolving world outside, time appears to have forgotten this place.

For her, the only change was... that she would no longer see the old man who, with his rickety sampan and an ever-present smile, would always come to fetch her from Changshan Island.

The wooden house on the island, left unattended for two years, accumulated dust beyond imagination.

Xiong Zhaozhao changed the water several times, meticulously wiping the sign her grandfather had made by hand. She let it dry under the sea breeze, and only felt at ease after applying three layers of protective clear varnish.

After finishing the cleaning, she sprawled out on the first floor, feeling the heat of her sweat dissipate quickly into a slight chill. Rising, she closed the window, shutting out the sea breeze.

Running her fingers over the bracelet on her wrist, her mind was awhirl with thoughts...

The dilapidated sampan, the small inn, Big Lin Zi, the sea beloved by the old man... she has returned nonetheless.

After another long spell of lost in thought, Xiong Zhaozhao finally roused herself, sitting up straight.

[Bistro Zhaozhao], bathed in the soft glow of the setting sun, brought a gradual calm to Xiong Zhaozhao's heart.

She ventured out alone, making her way to the island's tiny dock. The sun was about to set, and against the backdrop of the sunset, several boats of varying sizes approached from afar, the island's fishermen returning while there was still light in the sky.

At first glance, most were metal-hulled boats, interspersed with a few sampans. On the entire island, not a single proper fishing vessel could be found. This was a familiar sight, one she had seen since childhood—the return of the fishing families.

Most of the uncles and brothers coming down from the small dock looked gloomy, clearly having had little luck in their hauls, yet they greeted her warmly at the sight, inviting her over for a meal when she had the time.

A tall man, tanned dark by the sun, slammed his box onto the ground with a loud "clang," cursing, "Damn it, didn't even make back the fuel money!"

The middle-aged fisherman beside him didn't hesitate to slap him on the back with a resounding "pia," a solid hit that sounded painful even to hear. He yelled, "Good-for-nothing! If you break that box again, you'll owe me even more!"

This familiar scene nearly made Xiong Zhaozhao laugh as she stepped forward to greet them, "Elder Brother Two, Big Lin Zi!"

The father and son who turned around were equally tanned, revealing identical looks of pleasant surprise. The middle-aged one exclaimed, "Zhaozhao! Why have you come back?"

Big Lin Zi leaped over directly, "Zhaozhao! You've graduated?"

His father showed no mercy and slapped his back again. "Call her Sister. Do you think you can call her by her name, Zhaozhao?"

Seeing the big guy's aggrieved little eyes, Xiong Zhaozhao genuinely smiled this time.

After graduation, she had spent another half a year aimlessly in the capital. Apart from cultivation, she didn't know what else to do. She always felt that it was the same anywhere without her grandfather, not wanting to return to the island without the old man.

It was as if as long as she didn't come back, the old man would still be waiting for her on the island.

Reflecting on it now, she should have returned earlier; after all, there's still Big Lin Zi and her grandfather waiting for her on the island.

When Xiong Zhaozhao was two years old, her father encountered a storm at sea and never came back. Her mother, Qin Qing, quickly abandoned her to remarry.

From the age of two, she was raised by the old man, rocking in his sampan boat, the grandfather and granddaughter relying on each other for survival.

The old man had three sons and one daughter. Her father was the youngest, while the eldest son, Xiong Haichao, lived permanently in Chang Mountain Town and rarely returned to the island. The second son was Big Lin Zi's father, Xiong Haitao, and her aunt, Xiong Shulan, married into another province.

Big Lin Zi was an overly honest child when he was young. This simpleton has always been under Xiong Zhaozhao's protection since childhood. Compared to his brother, Xiong Jin, both Zhaozhao and the old man have an infinite bias towards Big Lin Zi.

It was perfect timing running into them, they had arranged to have dinner at the second branch's house that evening, and Xiong Zhaozhao asked Big Lin Zi to take her to see Old Man's sampan first.

Ever since Big Lin Zi saw Zhaozhao, his grin wouldn't fade, joyfully saying, "I'll do as you say, I've been keeping a good eye on Grandpa's boat! I give it maintenance and a fresh coat of paint every six months, but the outboard motor broke down, so it's rowing only now. I wanted to replace it long ago, but my mom didn't agree... she said you wouldn't come back."

His voice dwindled as he spoke, casting a furtive glance at her, thinking he was being subtle.

Xiong Zhaozhao, emulating her second uncle, gave him a slap on the back, "I'm still here, my home is here too, where else would I go if not back?"

Grandpa is also here.

"Sis will keep watching your back!"

Big Lin Zi, reassured and elated, leaped high in joy, leading the way ahead with zest.

Zhaozhao was pleased with the small sampan; Big Lin Zi had taken good care of it over these three years. As they walked, Xiong Zhaozhao bestowed the highest commendation upon her younger brother: "Well done! The organization is highly satisfied with the completion of this task and has decided to reward you. Tell me what gift you desire, be bold in your request, and the organization will do its best to fulfill it."

"Really?" The large black dog's eyes sparkled with excitement.

"I want one of those sea aquariums for the table! I want to keep all the pretty little fish, starfish, and shells I catch at sea inside! Every time I find something beautiful, I have nowhere to keep them. I've wanted one for ages, but my mom wouldn't buy it, and my brother said they wouldn't survive. Zhaozhao, I want to give it a try!"

Tsk tsk, Qin Yunmei was as stingy as ever.

Zhaozhao felt that this little brother would have a tough time without her protection: "The kind I know, is it the electric glass cabinet that costs a few hundred?"

Big Lin Zi nodded excitedly: "Yes! The one I saw last time in town at Liu Hong's shop was selling for 199. Will you buy it for me, Zhaozhao?"

Not even 199?

"May I ask how much wealth does the young lad possess?"

Big Lin Zi pulled out his phone, its screen all scratched up, and opened the micro wallet, showing a balance of 54.2 yuan.

He scratched his head in embarrassment: "My mom said that as long as I have enough money to buy water when I go out, there's no need to spend at home for food and drinks. I've been saving for a long time, but it's still not enough."

Upon hearing this, Xiong Zhaozhao took another careful look at his attire.

The T-shirt was the type sold at stalls in town for 15 yuan a piece. The sneakers and track pants were what she had brought back for him during her sophomore year. The sneakers were so worn they had changed color, and he had rolled up the legs of the track pants, which hid the fact that they were now too short.

"Big Lin Zi, I feel like you've grown taller?" Xiong Zhaozhao quickly changed the subject.

"I'm now a head taller than my brother!" The simple-minded lad promptly forgot his momentary embarrassment and began to cheerfully show off.

As the sun vanished beyond the horizon, darkness swiftly descended, and her happy, simple-minded lad with his big white teeth stood out remarkably in the twilight.

Taking Big Lin Zi back to the small inn first, it wouldn't do to return empty-handed after such a long absence.

Dragging out the prepared gifts from the storeroom, she handed them over to the laborer younger brother, "This wine is for your dad, and this box is the gift I've prepared for you. Go on, open it and see."

"So big, and it's in foreign letters?...I don't recognize them, it's really bought for me?"

Muttering to himself with a bounce in his step, he eagerly unpacks the box. Upon discovering a complete set of diving gear inside, he jumps up in excitement! Whirling around the box twice in elation, he triple-checks to make sure it's really for him.

"I purchased two sets of this gear; in a couple of days, I'll take you scuba diving. Or we could leave it here for now—it's quite heavy to lug back."

At Big Lin Zi's words, he promptly shut the lid of the chest and said, "Not heavy! Not heavy at all! I've got my diving suit now; I can hug it to sleep every day!" With that, he hoisted the chest onto his shoulder and dashed out in a hurry, fearful they might be separated.

Xiong Zhaozhao had no choice but to pick up the white wine and follow along. Before she could even close the door, she saw the laborer brother returning with another box on his shoulder. He snatched the white wine from her hands and stood by the door, grinning foolishly.