The sun was not too strong today, but the heat in the air was still stifling.
Seeing this, the servant quickly set up a parasol and placed a small table filled with iced drinks and desserts to prevent dehydration.
The old man sat proudly under the parasol, his wrinkled but dignified face holding a very expensive fishing rod steady in his hand.
His eyes narrowed, sharp as ever, watching the rippling surface of the lake. His posture was leisurely, as though waiting for the fish to take the bait was second nature to him.
He had fished since his youth and had never given it up. Even now, though his hair was white and his back slightly bent, his skills were as sharp as ever. No one knew better than him how to catch a fish swiftly and effectively.
Fishing, to him, was no different from gambling. The more one fished, the deeper one sank into the addiction.
But suddenly, from the corner of his eye, he caught sight of something nearby. The old man let out a disdainful snort.
With the help of the servants, Song Qingwan and the little loli set up their own umbrellas not far away.
They sat comfortably in their chairs, each drawing out a long fishing rod from their tackle bags. They placed them clumsily by the pond, looking as though they were about to start fishing.
The old man sneered inwardly, his weathered face full of disdain and ridicule.
Women and children… how could they possibly fish? They only knew how to fool around and waste time.
It was like watching someone pour a century-old, mellow wine into a teacup and gulp it down like plain water. His treasured fish pond was being desecrated.
But the very next second—slap! Fate struck him square across the face.
Song Qingwan had only just put down her rod when she suddenly exclaimed in surprise and excitement,
"Lili! Look, it moved—it moved! We must have caught a fish!"
Old Man: "..."
"Good heavens! And it's a big one!"
Song Qingwan pulled hard but couldn't lift it alone. She quickly called two servants to help, shouting,
"Lili, quick! Where's the bucket, bring the bucket!"
The little girl staggered over, clutching a bucket almost bigger than herself. She stumbled but managed to trot over, her little voice piping sweetly,
"Auntie, auntie! I'm here! The bucket is here—put the fish inside, otherwise it will be uncomfortable!"
Even from a distance, the old man could see clearly—the fish was indeed huge.
His face darkened. He forced a cold snort, pretending not to care.
Hmph. Just dumb luck. That's all.
But before he could settle back into pride, Song Qingwan's voice rang again, startled,
"Lili, look! Your fishing rod is moving too! Another one took the bait!"
Old Man: "..."
"God, this one's even bigger than before!" Song Qingwan burst out laughing. "Our luck today is incredible!"
Old Man: "..."
…
In less than half an hour, Song Qingwan and Lu Li had fished up an entire bucket full.
Almost every time the bait hit the water, another fish was hooked.
Their side was filled with laughter and cheer, constantly calling servants to help pull the fish up. In comparison, the so-called "professional" fisherman on the other side seemed utterly pitiful.
After thirty minutes, the old man had only caught a single tiny fish, barely thicker than his finger.
His face was black with rage.
…
After catching so many, Song Qingwan and little Lolita lost interest in fishing.
They crouched beside the heavy bucket, counting the fish one by one. Finally, Lu Li raised her shiny black eyes, stretched out her tiny hand, and proudly announced,
"Auntie, auntie! We caught nine fish! That's so many!"
Song Qingwan smiled, about to praise her, when she saw the old man striding toward them with a stormy face, fishing rod clutched tight.
Startled, she quickly pulled the little girl up.
The moment her eyes met his severe, icy gaze, she was transported back to her childhood—when every order of his had been law. Her own voice, usually crisp and cold, carried a rare note of hesitation,
"Um… Dad, what brings you here?"
After all, this pond belonged to the old man. Only he ever fished here.
Song Qingwan thought quickly. Perhaps it was because they hadn't asked his permission to fish, and now he had come to scold them.
But before she could explain, the old man barked sharply, eyes glinting,
"Pack up everything and move! Go fish over there!"
His temper was as hard and cold as always, his tone carrying no explanation. He simply commanded with authority,
"This spot—I'll be using it!"
The old man had thought long and hard. Clearly, the problem wasn't luck, but location.
This spot must have more fish.
If not for that noisy and irritating little girl distracting him earlier, he would have fished here from the start.
Every time he had taken this spot before, he'd reeled in at least six or seven fish in a day.
He was proud and ambitious by nature, his self-esteem towering. He would never tolerate anyone—let alone Song Qingwan, the daughter he often dismissed—surpassing him.
And yet today, he had been trampled beneath her.
No. Absolutely not. He had to restore his dignity, reclaim his face, and prove his superiority.
Without waiting for their response, the old man ordered the servants to move all his fishing gear over to this spot.
Song Qingwan and Lu Li hadn't intended to fish anymore anyway, so they didn't mind moving.
In fact, the old man's side was much better equipped: parasol, table, iced drinks, and plenty of desserts. Compared to their bare setup, it was a luxury.
Both women were parched and hungry after the long morning. Switching over was not a loss at all.
Little Lu Li thought so too.
Her small stomach had long been craving the desserts on the old man's table. Without complaint, she followed along, carefully hugging the nine fish they had caught earlier.
Once at the old man's spot, they released all the fish back into the water.
Lu Li pouted pitifully at them.
Song Qingwan reasoned it out: these fish belonged to her father, and she wouldn't dare eat them. Releasing them was safer.
Lu Li gently held a small fish in her palms. Its body hardly flopped; it lay still, as though exhausted.
She crouched by the pond, her long lashes casting shadows on her cheeks, and whispered apologetically,
"Yuyu, I'm sorry. Auntie and I didn't mean to catch you. You're just too greedy…"
Fish: "…"
Your bait was too delicious! How's that my fault?!
Lu Li smiled softly, placing the fish back into the water. But strangely, it didn't swim away. Instead, it lingered, rubbing affectionately against her tiny hand.
It spun circles around her, as if reluctant to leave.
And then, within minutes—
The entire pond seemed to stir.
As though sensing something familiar, fish of all colors—red, white, blue, gold—flocked together like a living ribbon, surging through the water.
And in the very next second—
They all rushed straight toward Lu Li.
[Grandpa is going to explode…]