Chapter 60: Fishing

Chapter 60: Fishing

Jiang Xun paused, "It's... fine?"

"It's fine," the Seal King said magnanimously. "I lie sometimes, and I can be quite cowardly in certain aspects."

"Jiang Xun isn't entirely straightforward either."

"Everyone has their flaws—that's perfectly normal!"

Even for him, the exceptionally gifted Seal King who had attained sentience, a few minor imperfections were to be expected, let alone for humans.

Everyone is unique, and that's what makes things more interesting.

"Everyone?" Jiang Xun deliberately probed, "Then... what are Xiao Jin and A Yu's flaws?"

Liu Hai ticked them off on his fingers: "Xiao Jin can be a bit careless sometimes, especially when she's emotional—she tends to overlook details. As for A Yu, he tends to overthink and can be pessimistic. He's very meticulous and more sensitive than most, occasionally getting lost in his own thoughts."

Jiang Xun's interest was piqued: "What about Kontra?"

"He's probably not very straightforward either?"

"He's far more upfront than you!" Liu Hai tilted his head, looking at him. "He appreciates that you can express yourself directly, and you don't care about the response when you want to be friends with someone. He's much better than you in that regard!"

"But sometimes, he doesn't watch his words, and even good intentions can come out sounding bad..."

"I see," Jiang Xun mused, a thoughtful expression on his face. "That makes a lot of sense. And..."

Liu Hai continued without prompting: "Then there's Feng Yan. His problem is that his inner world is too rich, too self-absorbed. All 'common sense' and 'social rules' have to yield to his 'self' in his world."

"Oh, and Jian Yu! Hmm, it might not be obvious, but she always appears very professional and confident, yet her self-esteem is actually quite low. Constantly interacting with geniuses must put a lot of pressure on her."

"Huan Hai goes without saying, right? He eventually realized it too—he overthinks and cares too much about everything. Hopefully, he's lightened up a little now."

"Mr. Lauren just likes to put on a stern facade, I guess." Liu Hai shook his head. "He's essentially the boss of the Northern Company, right? He probably feels that a king should act like one, so he hides some of his less 'regal' interests when in public."

"It's not a bad thing to like fluffy things, cooking, or crafts!"

Liu Hai looked earnestly into Jiang Xun's eyes, "I've met a lot of people, you know, so I understand."

"Humans are always flawed, self-contradictory, and quite adorable."

Jiang Xun repeated the word: "Adorable?"

Liu Hai nodded seriously: "Yes, adorable!"

Jiang Xun asked again: "Everyone is... adorable?"

Liu Hai curved his lips, splashing water in delight: "Jiang Xun is the most adorable!"

Jiang Xun chuckled and shook his head: "That's not necessary."

"I'm not just humoring you," Liu Hai said earnestly. "Being a bit awkward, a bit aloof—that's also part of Jiang Xun's charm."

Jiang Xun: "...I still don't think that word suits me."

"Hehe." Liu Hai propped himself on the edge of the pool. "Alright, hurry up and go shower and change. We can chat more later; don't catch a cold!"

"Are we going swimming today?"

"Yeah, let's go in the afternoon." Jiang Xun hesitated. "Do you want me to join you in the water?"

Liu Hai's eyes lit up: "You're coming? Let's go collect sea urchins! It's so hard to pick them up without hands—sometimes even Xiao Jin can't see them..."

He paused suspiciously, then added, trying to cover his tracks, "I meant the time before last."

Jiang Xun: "..."

He didn't expose the Seal King's slip of the tongue, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Alright, then let's collect more this time."

"And..."

He asked, "That little guy you mentioned—has he left? Will we see him again?"

"We will," Liu Hai said with certainty. "Next time."

Jiang Xun smiled. This was probably a promise—that he would tell them the truth, someday.

So whether that day came sooner or later didn't matter as much.

"Achoo!" Jiang Xun sneezed.

"Ah!" Liu Hai cried out, "I told you to go shower already!"

"Wait here, I'm going to tell on you to Xiao Jin and have her make you drink bitter medicine!"

"No use running, Jiang Xun!"

...

Afternoon.

The weather was exceptionally cooperative, with bright sunshine and comfortable temperatures.

Jiang Xun forewent the full-body wetsuit and swam with Liu Hai in the shallow waters.

Xiao Jin, holding binoculars on the boat, couldn't help but exclaim, "I never thought I'd see the boss in swimwear one day..."

A Yu nearly choked on water: "Cough, cough!"

"What's wrong?" Xiao Jin turned back, righteous. "Don't you think the boss is usually the type to button his shirt all the way up, like some ascetic? I thought he'd wear a full professional diving suit, but he's actually so... refreshing."

She mused, "Do you think I can ask the boss to take a photo with me?"

A Yu asked cautiously: "What for?"

Xiao Jin gestured with her fingers, framing a shot: "Hmm—this scene is perfect. Just a shot of Liu Hai and the boss playing together."

"Oh, I've been lurking in their fan groups for ages, feasting on all that fanfic. I feel like I should give back... Ah, but then my identity might be exposed, right? Would anyone believe it if I said I just 'happened to run into them' in the North?"

A Yu: "...Perhaps."

"Oh, and the school forum." Xiao Jin turned back, winking. "You have no idea—if I post this photo, even alumni who graduated years ago would probably be 'blown out' of hiding!"

"Who's ever seen the boss like this?"

"He might not refuse a photo with Liu Hai," A Yu said, looking at Xiao Jin with a complex expression. "But after reading so much fanfiction, haven't you realized something?"

Xiao Jin tilted her head in confusion: "What?"

A Yu pointed at the two in the water: "The boss wasn't stripping for *their* benefit."

Xiao Jin looked blankly at the boss, then at A Yu.

A Yu sighed heavily: "There's no saving you."

Xiao Jin stared at the two and spoke up: "Actually, I also find it a bit strange."

A Yu was surprised: "Huh? You actually found it strange?"

"Mm." Xiao Jin nodded solemnly. "You know... the boss usually has so much work. How does he still maintain that kind of physique? He clearly works out, right?"

She turned her head in disbelief, "You mean, while I'm dragging myself home every day feeling like my brain's been squeezed dry, the boss can still be sweating it out at the gym after work? That's terrifying. Does he not need sleep?"

A Yu: "..."

"And this trip to the North, we've been eating and drinking way more freely than usual!" Xiao Jin was even more shocked. "I'm already getting a little belly, but he hasn't been affected at all?"

A Yu was at a loss for words.

After a long silence, he asked: "Do you know there's a gym right next to your room?"

Xiao Jin quickly replied: "Sorry, since I've never once considered working out, I had no idea. But given how luxurious the boss's house is, I guessed there'd be one."

A Yu: "...I occasionally run into the boss at the gym."

Xiao Jin turned her head in even greater shock: "What?! You go to the gym too?!"

A Yu: "For your information, I'm quite disciplined too."

"Though next to the boss, it doesn't show as much."

Xiao Jin made a heart shape with her hands: "Bestie, let's see those abs."

A Yu flatly refused: "No."

"Stingy—" Xiao Jin raised her camera. "Want me to take a sexy photoshoot of you instead?"

A Yu crossed his arms, his face a picture of refusal.

"Oh—this expression is perfect too." Xiao Jin lifted the camera. "The title could be—'A Yu: The Aloof Ghost-Repeller'."

A Yu: "..."

Liu Hai burst out of the water with a splash: "Xiao Jin! So many sea urchins! Help me open them, help me open them!"

"And A Yu, is this enough? The donburi you wanted to make."

"Mm, enough for one bowl." A Yu inspected the sea urchins Liu Hai had gathered. "I'll start preparing it. You..."

Liu Hai patted his chest: "I'll go get more! Everyone's having sea urchin donburi today!"

"Yay! Thanks, Liu Hai!" Xiao Jin grinned, leaning against the boat's edge. "I'm going to fish here, see if we can add to the meal."

"Mm!" Liu Hai nodded solemnly. "Eat up! Jiang Xun said we're heading back to headquarters in a couple of days, so we won't have such easy access to sea urchins there."

"Ah—" Xiao Jin suddenly let out a wail. "Liu Hai! Don't remind me that our happy workcation is almost over! I don't want to face reality yet!"

Liu Hai turned innocently to Jiang Xun.

Jiang Xun met his gaze, a mischievous smile playing on his lips: "It's fine. She'll have to face it eventually."

Liu Hai looked a little guilty: "But she looks so sad..."

Glancing at Xiao Jin, who was sniffling as she turned to cast her fishing line, he waved Liu Hai over and whispered, "Want to cheer her up? I have an idea."

Liu Hai quickly leaned in: "What is it, what is it?!"

Not long after, Xiao Jin, humming a tune while helping A Yu open sea urchins, suddenly felt her fishing rod jerk violently. She quickly tossed the sea urchin aside: "Big movement! A big fish!"

She gripped the rod with both hands, took a deep breath, and pulled with all her might—

With a splash, a huge spray of water erupted as Liu Hai leaped out of the sea.

Xiao Jin's expression was blank: "..."

Liu Hai, with a solemn expression, held up two still-flapping fish, one in each hand, and lifted his chin: "Young fisher—"

"Did you catch this grouper, or this snapper?"

Xiao Jin couldn't help but laugh, reaching out to pinch his cheek: "Neither. I clearly caught this cute little mermaid—"

Jiang Xun surfaced from behind Liu Hai, meeting Xiao Jin's gaze.

Xiao Jin choked: "Ahaha, the boss doesn't seem to agree."

She awkwardly took the two fish from Liu Hai. "Then I'll choose to take both!"

Liu Hai nodded approvingly: "Mm-hmm! No problem!"

He turned excitedly to Jiang Xun, holding out his hand for a high-five. "Did the plan work? She's smiling!"

"Very successful." Jiang Xun high-fived him, gently holding his hand. "But next time, remember not to throw yourself into it."

Author's Note:

Liu Hai (Seal God ver.)