Dong Qianqiu kept pressing down, but he was no match for Gu Xun. As they locked in a stalemate, the recliner finally gave way under the strain and shattered.
"Yaaah!"
Both men tumbled downward instantly. Dong Qianqiu lost his balance, his body lurching forward, and they crashed to the ground together.
Gu Xun felt softness against his lips. Snapping back to awareness, he found himself locked in a gaze with Dong Qianqiu's blue eyes, mere inches away.
The atmosphere grew thick with tension as both fell silent. Dong Qianqiu snapped back to awareness, her cheeks instantly flushing crimson.
She sprang up as if startled, steam practically rising from her head as she stared at Gu Xun in disbelief.
Seeing this, Gu Xun sat up too, instinctively licking his lips. They seemed to carry a hint of sweetness.
"You're licking it!"
Dong Qianqiu felt utterly flustered. Seeing Gu Xun lick his lips made her so embarrassed and angry she wished she could vanish into a crack in the ground.
"Hmm... It tastes pretty good. A bit sweet."
Gu Xun said, looking at Dong Qianqiu. At this, her originally fair skin instantly turned pink.
Her neck, cheeks, and ears all flushed crimson. She hadn't expected Gu Xun to voice his taste and feelings so directly.
"Shut up! You're not allowed to say that!"
Frozen Qianqiu was mortified. Her first kiss was gone—just like that, lost in a blur.
"I was just complimenting how sweet you smell!"
"You still dare to say that!"
Dong Qianqiu, overcome with shame and fury, lunged forward and covered Gu Xun's mouth with her hand. She certainly didn't possess Gu Xun's thick skin.
Teased like this by Gu Xun, Frozen Autumn now felt her whole body burning hot, her heart pounding wildly, as if it might leap out of her chest.
Seeing Dong Qianqiu on the verge of bursting with shame and fury, Gu Xun knew when to stop. Better not push her too far—she might just bite him hard.
"Forget it! And don't ever mention it again!"
Once she'd calmed down, Dong Qianqiu glared at Gu Xun, her anger boiling over. Her first kiss gone like that?
Just like that? How could this be? It was outrageous! Gu Xun merely shrugged at her reaction.
Dong Qianqiu slumped onto a nearby lounge chair, deep in contemplation. Losing her first kiss so abruptly left her needing time to process.
Gu Xun surveyed the broken lounge chair, mentally noting the brand. The quality was truly abysmal.
Lounger: "I'm innocent! I'm just an ordinary wooden lounger—how could I withstand two Spirit Masters wrecking me? Heaven must judge who's right and who's wrong!"
Gu Xun swapped it for a new lounger, then tossed the broken one into a molten lava vat to be destroyed.
Watching Dong Qianqiu sulk and ponder life, Gu Xun ruffled her hair and offered comfort.
"It's fine. It was my first kiss too—we're even."
Seeing Gu Xun act this way, Dong Qianqiu felt her anger well up, but ultimately she held it back.
Gu Xun had helped her recover many memories and seemed connected to her benefactor.
Combined with the little moments shared over the past year, Dong Qianqiu eventually pushed it to the back of her mind.
Just a kiss—what's the big deal? She decided to forget about it.
But the more Dong Qianqiu tried to forget, the harder it became.
Gu Xun and Dong Qianqiu resumed their fishing session, but after just a few minutes...
"Young Master, come on! It's been two hours—not a single fish?"
Dong Qianqiu eyed Gu Xun with a look of gleeful anticipation. Glancing at Gu Xun's empty storage box, she couldn't resist mocking him.
Gu Xun's face darkened instantly. He glanced at Dong Qianqiu's storage box, which held seven or eight lively crucian carp, and nearly exploded on the spot.
"I'm done. Huihui and Qiu'er will be back soon."
Gu Xun stood up and walked away. Dong Qianqiu, having noticed Gu Xun's lackluster fishing skills, reacted as if she'd discovered a new continent.
Beaming with delight, Dong Qianqiu picked up the storage box. She first fed two fish each to Paopao and Lanlan.
The remaining four plump, large crucian carp were taken back by Dong Qianqiu for dinner.
"Aunt Bi Ji, I'll leave this to you."
Dong Qianqiu handed the wooden box to Bi Ji, who nodded and carried the storage box toward the kitchen.
Meanwhile, beside the Lake of Life, Zi Ji skillfully opened a wooden crate, took out a dish of new generation eggs, and tossed them into the water.
The moment the eggs hit the lake bottom, they instantly transformed into carp, grass carp, and other fish.
"No matter how many times I see it, the things our Master produces are just so magical!"
Zi Ji couldn't help but marvel at the sight. Soon, the aroma of cooking wafted through the air, making Zi Ji's mouth water.
Yuan En Huihui and Di Qiu'er returned just in time for dinner. The moment they walked in, the delicious scent greeted them.
"Wow, that smells amazing! Aunt Bi Ji is cooking fish? Did my Lord catch some?"
Yuanen Huihui asked curiously, while Di Qiu'er swallowed hard, eagerly anticipating Aunt Bi Ji's fish dish.
"I caught them myself. Your Lord only knows how to fish for shoes, water lilies, books, and fishing rods."