Jiang Si slept soundly until midnight before lazily opening her eyes.

Honestly, sleeping next to Qin Shen gave her an overwhelming sense of security.

The vigilance she’d honed in her past life was being eroded by him, bit by bit.

Qin Shen kissed her forehead. "Should I go make some instant noodles?"

Jiang Si glanced at him. Her gaze fell on the straight bridge of his nose, traveled down, and settled on his soft lips. A sudden impulse stirred within her.

"Hm?"

Qin Shen prompted.

A smile suddenly played on Jiang Si’s lips. She wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned in, her eyes fixed on his.

Qin Shen watched her, his gaze intense.

After a quick kiss, Jiang Si pulled back and sat up, a triumphant smile on her face.

’It’s only polite to return the favor.’

Suddenly, Qin Shen yanked her back down, pinning her beneath him. His deep voice was impossibly husky. "Let’s go a little later..."

Jiang Si knew Qin Shen was a quick study, but she never expected him to be *this* good...

’Just one kiss, and it nearly did me in.’

She lay limp in his arms and shot him a glare. "You went too far!"

Qin Shen laughed. In the dim room, his dark eyes sparkled with a brilliant light.

’This man... is ridiculously handsome.’

’So really... I came out ahead.’

Jiang Si and Qin Shen got dressed and left their room. In the main hall, the corridor lights were still on.

Jiang Si heard a commotion coming from the direction of the greenhouse. She and Qin Shen walked over to find everyone gathered around the incubator.

Hearing their footsteps, the group looked up in unison.

Niu Niu pointed excitedly at the incubator. "Big Sister, the ducklings are hatching!"

They had started incubating chicks and ducklings as soon as they got on the yacht.

Chicks have a shorter incubation period than ducklings. By the time the chicks were already hopping and running around, the ducklings had yet to break out of their shells.

Jiang Si leaned in for a closer look. Sure enough, she could see that many of the duck eggs now had small holes pecked through them.

Even though the eggs were pipped and the shells looked fragile, for the ducklings inside, it was a life-or-death struggle.

If they couldn’t break through on their own, they would have a hard time surviving, even with human help.

Lu Zhifeng used the ducklings as a teaching moment for Niu Niu. "This is the meaning of life," he said. "To live, you have to fight for it."

Niu Niu said, her heart aching for them, "They’re trying so hard!"

Shen Baoying smiled. "It’s the same for people. Being born is always a struggle."

As everyone watched patiently, the first duckling soon broke free from its shell.

It was wet all over and shakily pulled itself to its feet.

They had incubated a total of thirty duck eggs, but only twenty-six ducklings successfully hatched.

They wouldn’t be able to eat for another twenty-four hours.

Jiang Linhai laughed. "Now we can have roast duck whenever we want."

Shen Baoying added, "And duck soup, spicy duck heads... once they start laying, we can make salted duck eggs and century eggs, too."

Niu Niu was about to say how pitiful the ducklings were, but then she swallowed hard. The salted duck eggs Aunt Shen made were a brilliant, glistening gold and absolutely delicious.

Speaking of food, Shen Baoying remembered and asked Jiang Si, "Did you two eat your instant noodles? Mom can go make them for you."

Jiang Si looked at Niu Niu. "Do you guys want some? If so, we can all have a little something to eat."

Jiang Linhai rubbed his stomach. "Sure, I could eat a little."

Since everyone was up for a snack, Jiang Si, who had been about to make the noodles herself, gladly ceded the kitchen to Shen Baoying.

The kitchen was Shen Baoying’s domain.

With the addition of a fried egg and a few slices of braised beef, a simple packet of instant noodles was transformed into something surprisingly delicious.

Jiang Si took a big gulp of the broth, then slurped up a mouthful of noodles. She took a bite of pickled vegetables, then bit into the runny-yolk egg, her eyes closing in enjoyment. "Mom," she praised, "this is so delicious."

Shen Baoying chuckled. "Your dad loves his food just like this. You’re just like him."

Jiang Linhai slurped down his noodles and drank every last drop of the soup. "Well, it’s your fault for making it so good."

Shen Baoying blushed and couldn’t help but smile. "There’s still more in the pot. I’ll get you another serving."

Qin Shen and Jiang Si’s eyes met, and they couldn’t help but smile as well.

By the time they finished the noodles, it was already two in the morning.

Everyone went back to their rooms to sleep. Suddenly, Qin Shen asked Jiang Si, "Are you sleepy?"

Having just woken up and eaten a large bowl of noodles, Jiang Si wasn’t the least bit sleepy.

She shook her head. Qin Shen said, "There’s a moose about to give birth. Do you want it?"

Jiang Si’s eyes shot wide. "Really?"

"Mhm."

’A moose!’

’A real moose!’

’The largest deer in the world, and the best form of transport in the snow.’

Jiang Si was tempted. She nodded at Qin Shen.

"Then let’s go."

"Okay, let me tell my dad first so they don’t worry."

Jiang Si knocked on Jiang Linhai and Shen Baoying’s door. They were just about to lie down when they heard the knock. "Who is it?"

"It’s me."

Jiang Linhai opened the door. "What’s wrong?" 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

Jiang Si said, "Qin Shen and I are going to get a moose. We’ll be back soon. You two be careful."

As soon as he heard Jiang Si was going after a moose, Jiang Linhai immediately said, "I’m going with you. How are you going to get it back with just the two of you?"

Jiang Si shook her head. "We have a cart, it’ll be fine. The temperature is too low at night. You should stay here and watch the boat."

Jiang Linhai relented. "Fine. But bundle up, and if you run into any trouble, you have to fire a warning shot."

"Okay."

After informing her parents, Jiang Si and Qin Shen stepped out of the cabin. The cold air that hit them felt like it was freezing a layer of ice onto their masks.

The warmth from inside vanished in an instant, and Jiang Si’s legs started to tremble.

The nighttime temperature, combined with the strong wind, was simply too cold.

Qin Shen suddenly crouched down. "Get on. I’ll carry you."

Jiang Si froze for a second, then shook her head in refusal. "The snow is slippery and difficult to walk on. I can manage on my own."

’The heavy leather clothes I’m wearing weigh over a hundred pounds.’

Qin Shen’s tone left no room for argument. "Don’t worry. I can carry you."

When she didn’t move, he simply remained crouched.

Left with no choice, Jiang Si had to climb onto his back.

Qin Shen’s shoulders were broad and strong. He straightened up easily, supporting her with steady strength.

’This was the first time a man other than her father had ever carried her on his back.’

Jiang Si turned on her headlamp. Staring at his fluffy hair, she gradually leaned her weight against him.

Carrying her on his back, Qin Shen moved across the snow with light taps of his feet, as if he were weightless.

WHOOSH. Jiang Si felt a rush of wind, and before she could even get a clear look at the passing snowscape, they had already traveled half a kilometer.

’Compared to a moose,’ Jiang Si suddenly thought, ’he’s the ultimate mount.’

’But Qin Shen’s true form is a White Tiger. He can’t ever let that be exposed. If it is, there will be endless trouble.’

’Remembering the cruel methods of the organizations that hunted superpower users in her past life, Jiang Si broke into a cold sweat worrying about her and Qin Shen.’

Soon, Qin Shen carried her to the base of a small, snowy hill. He gestured with his eyes, indicating that the moose was hidden in a snow drift not far ahead.

Jiang Si asked Qin Shen, "Has she given birth yet?"

Qin Shen shook his head. "Not yet."

’Since she hasn’t given birth yet, I’d rather bring her back to the boat to deliver there,’ Jiang Si thought.