37: Chapter 37: After the Storm, Unlock the Second Companion Slot

Yang Yuan and Lu Wushuang sailed out to sea in a small boat.

The sea was calm, and sunlight spilled onto the water, making it shimmer.

Lu Wushuang stood at the bow, looking at the distant sea, in a good mood.

"This sea is truly vast," she said. "It looks much better than when I drifted over last time."

"You were fleeing for your life last time; you had no mind to admire the scenery," Yang Yuan said while steering. "Today is different; today we are here to fish."

Lu Wushuang didn't reply, but the corners of her mouth twitched slightly.

The small boat sailed out of the bay of Peach Blossom Island and headed east.

The spot Yang Yuan chose was not far, just a shoal three miles east of the island.

He said there were many fish here, the water wasn't deep, and it was suitable for casting nets.

Lu Wushuang helped cast the net; her movements were clumsy, but she learned quickly.

After casting twice, they hauled up seven or eight fish, enough to eat for two days.

"That's about enough," Yang Yuan said, retracting the net. "Let's head back."

Lu Wushuang nodded and sat down by the gunwale.

The small boat began to head back.

They hadn't traveled even a mile when the sky suddenly darkened.

Yang Yuan looked up at the sky—a large expanse of dark clouds had piled up in the west and was pressing toward them.

His heart sank.

"The weather is changing."

Just as he finished speaking, the wind picked up.

It wasn't the gentle sea breeze, but a sudden, violent gust, as if someone had given them a shove.

The boat tilted sharply.

Lu Wushuang lost her footing and tumbled toward the sea.

She let out a cry of alarm, her hands flailing at the water's surface.

Yang Yuan was quick-witted and agile; he grabbed her wrist and pulled her back onto the boat.

Lu Wushuang was soaked to the bone, lying on the deck gasping for air.

"Are you alright?" Yang Yuan crouched down.

"I... I'm fine." Lu Wushuang's face was pale, and her lips were trembling.

Yang Yuan took off his outer garment and draped it over her: "Don't move, I'll take the helm."

He stood up, steadied the rudder, and sailed back against the wind and waves.

The wind grew stronger.

Waves crashed over one after another, and the small boat tossed up and down on the sea like a leaf.

Lu Wushuang lay on the deck, shivering all over.

It was unclear if it was from the cold or fear.

Yang Yuan looked back at her and shouted: "Hold on tight to the gunwale! Don't let go!"

Lu Wushuang gritted her teeth and gripped the gunwale tightly.

Another large wave crashed over.

The boat tilted sharply, and Lu Wushuang was almost thrown out again.

She finally couldn't hold on any longer; her eyes reddened, and tears began to fall.

She didn't make a sound, just lay on the deck, her shoulders shaking.

Yang Yuan saw it.

He didn't speak, just steered the rudder even more steadily.

After about the time it takes to burn an incense stick, the wind and waves finally subsided.

The dark clouds slowly dispersed, and the daylight brightened again.

Peach Blossom Island appeared ahead, drawing closer and closer.

Yang Yuan brought the boat to shore, jumped off, and tied the mooring rope.

Then he walked over to Lu Wushuang and crouched down: "We're here."

Lu Wushuang looked up, her face covered in tear tracks and seawater.

She looked at Yang Yuan, her lips moving as if to say something, but nothing came out.

Yang Yuan didn't ask further; he reached out to help her off the boat: "Go inside and change your clothes, don't catch a cold."

Lu Wushuang nodded and walked toward the courtyard with her head down.

Cheng Ying was standing at the courtyard gate holding little Xue Jian; she was stunned to see them both soaked to the bone.

"What happened?" she asked.

"We encountered a storm," Yang Yuan said. "It's fine, we're both back."

Cheng Ying didn't ask more and hurriedly helped Lu Wushuang into the house to change.

That night, Lu Wushuang developed a high fever.

She lay on the bed, alternating between hot and cold, muttering deliriously.

Cheng Ying, heavily pregnant, kept watch by the bedside, wiping her forehead with a damp towel.

Yang Yuan stood at the doorway, watching Cheng Ying take care of Lu Wushuang, feeling a bit guilty.

"Why don't I take care of her, and you get some rest?" he said.

"No need," Cheng Ying said without turning her head. "She is my cousin; I will do it."

Yang Yuan didn't say anything more, turned around, and brought a bowl of hot water to the table.

Lu Wushuang burned with fever all night long.

Just as dawn was breaking, the fever finally broke.

She woke up and was stunned to see Cheng Ying asleep by the bedside.

Cheng Ying's hand was still holding hers, gripping it tightly.

Lu Wushuang looked at her profile, her eyes slowly reddening.

She didn't wake Cheng Ying up, but gently squeezed Cheng Ying's hand back and closed her eyes.

Yang Yuan practiced a set of fist techniques in the courtyard.

As he finished his routine, a thought suddenly surfaced in his mind—

Lu Wushuang's affection level had already reached 60.

The second companion slot had been unlocked.

Yang Yuan was stunned for a moment, standing there in silence for a while.

Then he shook his head, not thinking too much about it.

Now was not the time to think about these things.

The peach blossoms in the courtyard had been knocked down by last night's rain, covering the ground in pink and white.

He bent down to pick up a petal and crushed it between his fingers.

The fragments drifted away in the wind through his fingers.

He stood amidst the fallen flowers, gazing at the gray, misty sea in a trance.

From inside the house came the babbling sounds of little Xue Jian, mixed with the sound of Cheng Ying softly coaxing her.

Yang Yuan did not enter the house.

He stood in the courtyard and remained there for a long time.

(Chapter 37 End)