Chapter 405

Chapter 405

◎A Debt of Wishes Must Be Repaid◎

Ji Nanxing knew Xiao Ye's family home in Haicheng intimately. Though he'd never visited, Xiao Ye would video-call him every winter, enthusiastically showing him every corner—down to where they kept the brooms.

Old Man Xiao had been waiting at the entrance pavilion since morning. When the car pulled in, he couldn't help a gruff huff. That rascal actually won him over—the brat really lucked out.

Xiao Ye spotted his grandfather immediately and waved. "Grandpa! We're back!"

The old man smiled while mentally cursing—what a lovable idiot.

Ji Nanxing approached with gifts. "Hello Grandpa. My father sent this tea for you."

As Grandpa Xiao started to smile his thanks, Xiao Ye boomed: "Grandpa, official introduction—Ji Nanxing, my boyfriend!"

Grandpa Xiao acted as if it pained him to look at his grandson, turning sympathetic eyes to Ji Nanxing instead. "You poor thing. I've no idea what you see in him, but since you're together now, make each other happy. If this punk misbehaves, give him a whack. If he fights back, tell me—I'll take care of him for you."

Xiao Ye protested, "Violence isn't the answer, Grandpa!"

Even if they fought—forget whether he'd dare touch a hair on Ji Naonao's head—ability-wise he stood no chance. One talisman from Ji Naonao could freeze him in place before he could blink.

Grandpa Xiao rolled his eyes. "Then behave. Talk things through with Nanxing. 'For your own good' secrets poison relationships. Your grandma and I stayed happy because we shared everything."

Xiao Ye nodded. "Don't worry, I'll be good."

Ji Nanxing smiled. "We'll make it work, Grandpa."

The old man waved them off. "You must be tired from the flight. Go get settled."

Xiao Ye dragged Ji Nanxing upstairs to his massive bedroom with its sea-view balcony. "This is where I called you on video! You can watch sunrise right here—see where the sea meets the sky? Beautiful, isn't it?"

Ji Nanxing's phone held dozens of Xiao Ye's photos, but reality surpassed them all. "Gorgeous."

Xiao Ye gazed at him, eyes full of wonder. "'Facing the sea, spring blossoms'—every sunset, every dawn, I'd wish you were here."

Ji Nanxing met his eyes. "I am now."

Xiao Ye pulled him close. "Now isn't enough. I want forever."

Ji Nanxing smiled. "Then forever it is."

Xiao Ye burrowed into him, unable to resist kissing those lips.

He'd never confessed how often he'd dreamed of this during his secret crush—this balcony, this view, their bodies pressed together beneath painted skies.

Even now, each morning began with reaching blindly for Ji Nanxing's sleeping form. Only that warmth anchored him. Yulan's winters were best—Naonao tolerated cuddling. Summers? Not a chance, saying Xiao Ye ran too hot.

Haicheng winters were perfect—temps in the low 30s, never below 25°C. Chillier folks wore light sweaters; fiery Xiao Ye thrived in shorts.

The city offered endless fun: wake surfing, speedboats, snorkeling, beachcombing, even deep-sea fishing. Xiao Ye planned a full schedule—maximum fun without exhausting his little Celestial Master.

Their fishing boat rode gentle swells steadily. Ji Nanxing lounged in sun-protective gear, savoring sea breezes while Xiao Ye wrestled with his catch. Rumor said someone caught wild moray eel today—far superior to farmed. Determined to make eel rice, Xiao Ye dug in his heels.

Two hours later, all he'd caught were two tiny squids.

Wiping sweat, he turned to his relaxed partner. "Naonao...how about squid instead of eel?"

Here’s the refined translation incorporating the expert suggestions:

Ji Nanxing opened his eyes with a smile, tilting his head to look at him: "But I have a feeling we'll get to eat unagi don today."

Xiao Ye immediately pushed up his sleeves. For Naonao’s unagi don, he was determined to take on this patch of ocean today!

After another hour or so, the boat not far from them erupted in excited cheers. Xiao Ye looked up curiously and asked the fishing guide beside him, "What did they catch to get so worked up?"

The guide took out a small telescope and glanced over. "They pulled up a lobster, as thick as an adult’s forearm. That one must weigh at least three pounds."

A fresh, wild lobster of that size, with intact antennae and good condition, could easily sell for 10,000 to 20,000 yuan. If it weighed over three pounds, the price could double. That single catch alone would cover the fuel cost for the trip, and everything else would be clear profit—no wonder the whole boat was cheering.

Xiao Ye felt a pang of envy. Now that’s a monster lobster! If only he had caught it. A lobster that big would have Naonao over the moon if he made lobster rice for him.

With that thought, Xiao Ye asked the guide, "Do you know the people on that boat? Ask if they’re willing to sell that lobster."

If he couldn’t catch it, buying it works too.

The guide said he’d ask, but just as he finished speaking, a shadow darted through the water. Xiao Ye’s attention snapped back. "An eel! It's an eel! Quick, get the net, the scoop, the hook!"

A massive eel like this required real strength to haul in. The guide, an experienced fisherman, hooked it straight through, but the still-living eel thrashed violently. The two of them struggled with it, getting drenched before finally dragging it onto the boat.

Seeing Ji Nanxing standing nearby watching, Xiao Ye grinned, his teeth gleaming. "Unagi don—we’re in business!"

Ji Nanxing looked at him, soaked from head to toe, his carefully styled hair now a wet, curly mess. Amused, he said, "You’re practically a local at this point."

A little more sun, and he’d pass for a career fisherman.

The boat was well-equipped with aerators and other gear, ensuring their catch stayed fresh until they disembarked. A single eel wasn’t enough for a meal, though. After getting off the boat, they passed through a small market where fishermen sold their fresh catches while they were still alive. Restaurants and dried seafood vendors often came here to buy.

Xiao Ye traded a bag of small yellow croakers and squid he’d caught for a dozen sea urchins. Free-diving for urchins wasn’t feasible where they’d been fishing, so swapping the squid Naonao doesn’t care for was a good deal.

Along the way, he also grabbed some crabs and sea cucumbers, already planning to make a pot of spicy crab for a late-night snack.

Holding Ji Nanxing’s hand as they weaved through the crowd, Xiao Ye noticed him glancing at some stalls. "Want anything else? I’ve been learning to cook seafood from chefs every year—I can make anything delicious."

Ji Nanxing shook his head. "This is enough. Let’s head back. We live nearby anyway—we can always come back for fresh stuff if we want more."

Just then, the guide jogged over to Xiao Ye. "Do you still want that lobster from earlier? They weighed it—it’s over four pounds."

Xiao Ye asked, "How much are they asking?"

The guide held up five fingers. That definitely wasn’t five thousand—even farmed lobsters that size cost more than that, let alone wild-caught ones. But 50K was fair, especially given how fresh it was.

Just as Xiao Ye was about to nod in agreement, Ji Nanxing glanced at the group unloading their catch and said, "No need. We don’t want that lobster. Also, could you remind the man who caught it that it’s time to repay what he owes? If he delays any longer, it’ll be too late."

The guide was confused. "You know Xiao Song? Did you have a falling out? Does he owe you money?"

Ji Nanxing replied, "We don’t know him. Just pass along the words—he’ll understand."

After Ji Nanxing had Xiao Ye pay the guide’s fee, they hauled their catch back home.

The guide, Old Song, was some kind of cousin to Song Wen, the man who’d caught the lobster. Their ancestors shared the same lineage, and though they weren’t close now, Song Wen would technically call him "uncle."

Old Song was a lifelong fisherman who’d spent his life at sea. Now older, his family worried about him going out to fish, and the work was hard on his body. So he’d switched to guiding, helping tourists experience the fun of fishing while bringing in good money.

When young visitors struggled to catch anything or wanted to buy seafood before leaving, Old Song naturally recommended his relatives’ boats. Seeing these two young men were generous and straightforward, he’d approached Song Wen about the lobster, offering a reasonable price for an easy sale.

But things had taken a weird twist.

Old Song pulled Song Wen aside and relayed Ji Nanxing’s words before asking, "Did you get into trouble somewhere? Do you owe money? Or did you borrow from loan sharks? Listen, that stuff’s dangerous. How much do you owe? Maybe I can help figure something out."

Song Wen was totally lost. "I don’t owe anyone. I don’t even know them. My business has been doing great these past two years—why would I be in debt?"

Old Song thought about it and agreed. The guy had been riding a hot streak lately, catching rare hauls regularly. Just last month, he’d paid cash for a new place. There was no way he was in financial trouble. But then what was that guy talking about?

Xiao Ye was just as puzzled. Once they’d left the market, he asked, "What’s wrong with the lobster? What’s up with the guy who caught it? Is he haunted by a drowned spirit?" Ji Nanxing shook his head. "Not a drowned spirit. He once made a deal with someone. He got what he wanted but forgot to hold up his end of the deal."