Chapter 36: Beyond the Imagination of Carbon-Based Life

Ji Ya simply couldn’t fathom what Lin Yu was thinking. This utterly laid-back, do-nothing approach to fishing—could a carbon-based lifeform really come up with something like this? The key was that he looked completely unconcerned, even finding it uncomfortable to just sit there. Instead, he sprawled out on the sand, patted the spot next to him, and asked, “Boss, why don’t you lie down too and have a rest?”

Ji Ya: ...

What sort of outrageous things is this guy saying? Lie down together? Though she cursed him in her heart, her body was far more honest, and she walked right over and lay down at Lin Yu’s side.

The soft sand was beneath them, and above, the crew had hurriedly set up sun umbrellas. Life like this was indeed quite comfortable.

Seeing the two of them had truly settled in, a crew member came over and quietly reminded them, “Excuse me, just a reminder—if you fail to complete the sea fishing task and don’t catch any fish, there will be a penalty. If you do catch something, you’ll need to pay half price to keep it.”

Upon hearing this, Ji Ya couldn’t help but complain inwardly. The production team knew how to squeeze people even better than she did. Lin Yu, meanwhile, remained utterly unruffled. Ever since joining the show, he’d witnessed the crew’s underhanded tricks.

If they didn’t try to pull a fast one, it wouldn’t be true to their nature. He’d just refused to buy the props they were selling—if he tried to push his luck now, Director Lin Jia wouldn’t let it slide.

The director had the authority to decide whether a guest stayed or was sent off. Lin Yu had to know when to stop, or he’d only be making trouble for himself.

“Boss, are you ready? If you are, let’s start fishing!”

The production team, to their credit, had provided a boat free of charge. After boarding, Lin Yu gentlemanly helped his boss aboard, and off they went.

She glanced at Lin Yu, who had suddenly become so obedient, and asked curiously, “Did the crew just tell you that if you didn’t cooperate, they’d send you home?”

If that was the case, she’d definitely step in.

Lin Yu smiled mysteriously. “Guess.”

Ji Ya rolled her eyes. “Not guessing.”

Guessing games were for children—she was an adult, far too mature for such things!

Lin Yu burst out laughing. Suddenly, something caught his eye: the sunglasses his boss was wearing looked quite expensive. If he wore them, he’d surely look even more handsome.

With that thought, he reached out toward Ji Ya’s face. She froze in place, and for some reason, as his slender fingers approached, she made no move to dodge.

Perhaps it was because his eyes, shining like stars, were fixed on her, full of gentle affection?

As Ji Ya stood dazed, Lin Yu deftly took the sunglasses and put them on himself. The half of his face left uncovered wore a smug smile. “Boss, do I look cool?”

Ji Ya: ...

This brat... She’d actually thought he was going to touch her! But it was just about the sunglasses!!

A wave of inexplicable disappointment washed through her, quickly hidden away. Strange—she’d never felt anything for any man. What was happening to her?

“You rascal, give me back my sunglasses!”

Ji Ya glared at him, her fierce yet adorable expression making Lin Yu laugh.

“You may have said what you wanted, but I don’t want to give them back...”

Abruptly, Lin Yu changed his tone and spoke seriously: “Here you go.”

Ji Ya’s eyes widened in disbelief—fooled again by this guy! Puffing in annoyance, she stepped forward, grabbed his collar, and demanded, “I want them—are you really not going to give them back?”

Lin Yu played along, lifting his hands in surrender with a playful grin. “Boss, I swear, there’s really none left, can you stop asking? Or maybe try again tomorrow...”

Realizing something was off, Ji Ya rolled her eyes dramatically, released his collar, and moved away, her gaze full of disdain.

Hmph. She had plenty of sunglasses at home; it wasn’t worth making such a fuss as if they were negotiating some shady deal.

Fine, let him have them—it wasn’t as if she couldn’t afford it.

“So what did the crew say to you just now to make you behave?”

Lin Yu fluttered his lashes innocently. “Some questions are better left unasked. After all, we’re not that close yet.”

Ji Ya: ...

If she’d known this kid was so sharp-tongued, she would’ve signed him up for a talk show. Those variety shows where everyone banters and flirts would suit him perfectly.

She raised her hand as if to pinch his neck again, but Lin Yu leaned in close, whispering in her ear, “Boss, if I told you about the special deal the crew offered us, wouldn’t the other contestants riot?”

“What deal?”

“Obviously, it’s the half-price discount I got by selling you out.”

Ji Ya rolled her eyes grandly. This guy had no filter—teasing his boss was his favorite pastime, wasn’t it?

In the distance, the yacht arranged by the crew approached. They boarded, Lin Yu supporting Ji Ya as she climbed up, his hand still resting on her waist as he joked, “Now there’s no escape—you’re definitely getting sold off.”

Ji Ya shot him a look of contempt and quickly put distance between them.

Go away, go away.

The yacht sped ahead, soon reaching a stretch of open sea.

“Just you wait, brat. When we get back to the office, I’m putting you on cleaning duty for the rest of the week.”

Before Lin Yu could reply, a staff member handed over the fishing gear.

“We’ve arrived at the destination. Please begin fishing as soon as possible.”

Ji Ya hesitated, then turned to Lin Yu. “I’ll leave this to you.”

As a girl, she was like most others—she didn’t really know how to fish.

Lin Yu looked at her, unsure how to explain that, in truth, he’d never done this either...

“Forget it. If it doesn’t work out, I’ll just look up a tutorial online.”

Ji Ya glanced at the folding chairs the crew had brought and gestured for Lin Yu to set them up.

After all, she was born into privilege—she’d always been the one others served.

Because he still depended on her for his paycheck, Lin Yu obligingly unfolded the chair and, in true gentlemanly fashion, invited her to sit.

“Boss, please have a seat.”

He then went to the crew to ask for a parasol, set it up, and sat down beside her, turning his face slightly in her direction, a hint of hesitation in his eyes.

“Boss, are you going to look up a guide, or should I?”

Ji Ya was dumbfounded. “You’re serious? I thought you were joking about not knowing how to fish…”

Lin Yu replied earnestly, “I really don’t know how.”

Well, that was it. They looked at each other, both at a loss, the atmosphere turning awkward.

Neither of them knew the first thing about fishing, so how were they supposed to catch any fish? With their heads? But thinking it over, maybe it wasn’t such a bad thing—not catching anything meant they wouldn’t have to pay. It was a free sunbathing experience, after all.