Jiang Si stared at Qin Shen, stunned, wondering if she was hallucinating.

For Qin Shen to come out of his room in the middle of the night to ask her for a massage was just too strange.

Seeing Jiang Si frozen in place, Qin Shen realized he might have given her the wrong idea. He closed his bedroom door. "The living room is fine."

’So he meant in the living room. He wasn’t planning anything improper.’

’He must have really strained his neck. It must be so uncomfortable that he’d come looking for me at this hour.’

Jiang Si followed him to the living room. Qin Shen turned around on his own accord, completely exposing his broad shoulders, long neck, and perfect jawline to her view.

It had to be said, a handsome person looked good from any angle.

Jiang Si took a deep breath and slowly reached out, her hands pressing into his thick shoulders and neck.

Qin Shen had already given her two massages. Now that he was asking for her help, it was only right that she not refuse.

Jiang Si applied a bit of pressure with her hands and asked him, "Does this feel okay?"

’She’d never even given Jiang Linhai a massage. This was her first time.’

Qin Shen was so still he seemed to have fallen asleep. After a good while, he let out a soft "Mmm." His low, slightly lazy voice was magnetic and pleasant to the ear.

Jiang Si couldn’t help but think, ’If he weren’t a surgeon, he could probably be a very popular voice actor or announcer.’

Qin Shen said nothing, silently accepting Jiang Si’s shoulder and neck massage for a full half hour without any sign of telling her to stop.

’Jiang Si’s hands were starting to ache. Don’t tell me he expects me to massage him for as long as he massaged me?’

’I mean, I can keep going, but if I keep pressing the same spot over and over, can his cervical spine even take it?’

Just as Jiang Si was about to speak, Jiang Linhai, who had come out to take his turn on night watch, saw them. He rubbed his eyes and asked in shock, "You two...?"

Jiang Si was a bit dazed. Qin Shen stood up, his expression perfectly composed. "I strained my neck. I had to ask Jiang Si to help me with it."

’A massage for a strained neck? And he had to find Sisi in the middle of the night!?’

’Damn it... If this guy didn’t have ulterior motives, Jiang Linhai would eat his own hat.’

Jiang Linhai’s gaze was like an X-ray, trying to bore a hole through them as he looked them up and down.

Jiang Si hadn’t thought anything of it at first, but now she started to feel a little awkward.

’A massage is just a massage. It’s not a big deal.’

Jiang Si raised an eyebrow and reminded him, "Dad, Uncle Lu is still waiting for you!"

Jiang Linhai’s gaze, full of meaning, fell on Qin Shen’s face. He cleared his throat and said with a stiff air, "Well, it’s getting late. You two should get some rest, too."

Qin Shen glanced at Jiang Si. "Alright."

’Jiang Si couldn’t shake the feeling that he still wasn’t satisfied.’

「The next day」

Jiang Si was immediately cornered by Shen Baoying. "Are you two dating?"

Jiang Si laughed. "What are you thinking? It was just a massage. He was totally open about it and had me do it in the living room. What could have happened?"

Shen Baoying wasn’t convinced. "Then why didn’t he ask your dad? Why did he ask you? Xiao Shen’s feelings for you are so obvious. If you don’t like him, then you should reject him decisively."

In truth, Jiang Si wasn’t sure about Qin Shen’s feelings either. To say he liked her... he always acted so polite and distant.

But to say he didn’t like her... he would often do thoughtful things that could easily be misinterpreted.

Jiang Si rolled her eyes. "Telling Qin Shen directly that I don’t like him would be so awkward! What if he just says I misunderstood? How could we even face each other after that?"

Shen Baoying was taken aback. "No way. Mom thinks he’s definitely interested in you."

"Wait, you’re not interested in him?"

’She gave him a massage late at night, and she’s not even interested?’

Shen Baoying didn’t believe it.

Jiang Si sighed. "Why talk about romance? Isn’t being single great?"

"Don’t worry, the human race isn’t going extinct anytime soon. I still have options."

’She couldn’t see through a person like Qin Shen. Dating him was out of the question.’

Shen Baoying huffed out a laugh. "We’ll see who you end up choosing!"

She had scared off all those guys from yesterday with her gun.

* * *

While Lu Zhifeng was collecting his ground traps, he came across some cattails.

Like reeds, the stems and leaves of cattails could be used to weave mats and fans or to make paper. The young shoots were also edible and were considered a famous dish in the Jiangsu and Zhejiang regions.

Cattails also had high medicinal value. The male pollen, in particular, is a common traditional medicine that helps stop bleeding and works as a diuretic. It could also be used as a seasoning powder for baking bread, muffins, and pancakes.

The fruit of the cattail looks like a long sausage. When rubbed open, it releases a white fluff that can be used as soft, warm stuffing for pillows, quilts, and clothes.

Lu Zhifeng planned to teach Niu Niu how to use cattails and reeds to build shelters, make clothes, and craft fishing gear in the wild. He cut two large bundles and was just about to carry them back when a sharp, warning whistle suddenly sounded from the boat.

Immediately after, he heard Niu Niu shout, "Dad, there’s a woman behind you!"

Lu Zhifeng raised his gun. A moment later, a young woman covered in reeds appeared in his line of sight.

The woman had a fair complexion and delicate features, and she looked to be about the same age as Jiang Si.

She stared at Lu Zhifeng for a long time before mustering her courage and approaching step by step.

Lu Zhifeng saw she posed no threat and coldly warned her, "Go away!"

Cheng Jing smiled at him and swayed her hips, her seductive posture obvious. "Brother, I have no one to rely on. Please take me back with you, okay?"

Lu Zhifeng averted his gaze, hoisted the bundles onto his shoulder pole, and started walking back.

Seeing how he was dressed, Cheng Jing knew he was from the boat. She hurried after him. "Brother, wait for me!"

Even while carrying the bundles, Lu Zhifeng walked quickly. Cheng Jing had to struggle to catch up.

When she emerged from the reeds, the yacht and the steamboat came into view.

Her heart pounded with excitement. Finally, she wouldn’t have to stay here with that big group of men, living a miserable existence.

Cheng Jing grew even more desperate to catch up to Lu Zhifeng.

In her haste, she tripped and fell, covering herself in dirty mud.

Lu Zhifeng quickly boarded the yacht.

Cheng Jing curled up pitifully on the ground, sobbing quietly.

’What man could have the heart to ignore such a tear-streaked, pitiful sight?’

And yet, she waited and waited until her tears had nearly run dry, but still, no one came to help her.

Darkness was falling fast. If she couldn’t get on the boat, she would surely be in danger.

Cheng Jing lifted her head. Her gaze fell on the gun-wielding Qin Shen, and her eyes suddenly lit up with astonishing brilliance.

She cupped her hands around her mouth and shouted desperately to Qin Shen, "Brother, will you take me in? As long as you let me stay, I’ll do anything for you!"

’This woman was just calling Lu Zhifeng "Brother" a moment ago.’

Jiang Linhai shot a look at Qin Shen. Jiang Si couldn’t help but glance at Qin Shen too, wanting to see how he would react.

Qin Shen had no reaction at all. He looked at Cheng Jing as if she were thin air.

Jiang Si suddenly felt that Qin Shen really did treat her with partiality.

Cheng Jing was truly on the verge of tears. So many men had fought over her, yet everyone on these three boats was completely indifferent.

She couldn’t bear the thought of going back there for even one more night. Her gaze landed on Jiang Si’s face, thinking that as a woman, Jiang Si would be more soft-hearted.

"Sister, I’m begging you, please let me stay, okay? I eat little and work hard. I’ll do whatever you ask. I promise I’ll be obedient!"

Jiang Si’s lips curled into a smirk. "What if I told you to go die?"