"Why did you let it go? Don't you like my gift?"
Feng Hongjin was puzzled, even a little sad, that Liu Nanfeng had released the big fish she had given him. After all, it was her "carefully selected" gift.
"Because it's a protected animal, and you can't catch it. Catching it is illegal, and you'll be put in prison..." Liu Nanfeng patiently explained to her.
The Baiji dolphin mainly inhabits the middle and lower reaches of China's Yangtze River. It is the rarest species among all whales in the world.
It is almost extinct, known as the "Panda of the Water," which shows its preciousness. It's a species that would get you a life sentence.
"What are protected animals? Why do we need to protect them?" Feng Hongjin asked innocently.
"Because they are very rare, so they need to be protected. If we don't protect them, they will go extinct completely and cease to exist forever."
Feng Hongjin seemed to understand, then with a look of sudden realization, she exclaimed excitedly, "I'm a protected animal too, right?"
"There's only one Hongjin, and there are more big fish than me," she said, hands on her hips, looking proud.
"Haha, yes, you are a protected animal too."
Liu Nanfeng chuckled as he stroked her little head, then led her to the shade under the dike.
"Open the bag and take a look. I bought you something different and delicious."
"But—but I didn't give you any gifts." Feng Hongjin felt a little shy.
"Then you can give me other gifts next time," Liu Nanfeng comforted her.
"What kind of gift do you want?"
Feng Hongjin asked somewhat foolishly. Who asks for gifts from the recipient?
"Anything. There should be many interesting things in the river, like a beautiful stone, a nice shell, or even something someone threw into the river."
Feng Hongjin's eyes lit up. She nodded as if she understood, and became happy again. Then she opened the bag.
"Wow... what is this?" Feng Hongjin saw a beautiful and very delicate box in the bag.
"This is cake."
Liu Nanfeng took out the cake. Besides the cake, there were other snacks in the bag, with a wide variety.
"Cake?"
"You'll know when you try it." Liu Nanfeng helped her open it.
He hadn't bought a large birthday cake, but a small one for one or two people. He handed her a small spoon and told her to scoop it herself.
As soon as Feng Hongjin took a bite, her big eyes narrowed, and she wore an expression of enjoyment.
Her adorable appearance made Liu Nanfeng burst into laughter.
However, the spoon was too small, and the little one felt it was too slow to eat. Disappointed, she pouted her little bottom and ran headfirst into the cake, taking a big bite, smearing her face all over.
But because she ate too quickly, she choked and coughed loudly.
Liu Nanfeng quickly opened a bottle of juice and handed it to her.
This time he didn't buy cola, but a few bottles of fresh juice. On a hot summer day, it was good to supplement vitamins, although he didn't know if the little koi needed vitamins.
The little one didn't stand on ceremony. She took it and gulped down a few mouthfuls, then let out a long sigh of relief.
Then she happily said, "It's delicious, the cake is delicious, and this is delicious too."
She held up the juice bottle high, her little face filled with reverence, as if it were something incredibly important.
"Hongjin, you just swim around in the river all day. Don't you have any other friends?"
Thinking about her three hundred years of swimming in the river day in and day out, she must have been quite lonely.
Feng Hongjin shook her head, then nodded.
"What do you mean?"
"I have other friends, but not many," Feng Hongjin said.
"Really? Are they all like you...?"
Liu Nanfeng was about to say "like you, little monsters?" but suddenly felt that it sounded impolite.
Feng Hongjin also shook her head, then nodded.
Then she said, "Shuisheng drowned in the river with his mother a long, long time ago. He's been looking for his mother, so he doesn't have much time to play with me."
"Sister Ao is very nice, but she doesn't talk much, and it's boring to play with her."
Feng Hongjin frowned, looking troubled.
"Anyone else?"
"No more."
"Uh, you only have these two good friends?"
Feng Hongjin nodded.
Then she added, "There are also a few little scoundrels, but I don't like playing with them."
Liu Nanfeng didn't ask further. Instead, he looked at the river, because he saw Zhu Yuchan walking ashore from the river.
"Sister Yuchan." Feng Hongjin immediately jumped up excitedly and went to meet her.
"Miss Zhu." Liu Nanfeng also went to meet her.
"Madam knows that the little fish's gift was a bit inappropriate, so she asked me to bring you a new gift," Zhu Yuchan said with a smile.
"Oh?" Liu Nanfeng was surprised.
Is this madam so particular? But he couldn't accept this gift.
His friendship with Feng Hongjin was purely because he liked this innocent little fellow.
"Please take it. This is Madam's kind thought,"
Zhu Yuchan took out a brocade box and handed it to Liu Nanfeng.
"No, I really can't accept it. I haven't done anything,"
"Didn't you buy the little fish a lot of delicious food?"
"Yes, it was delicious, the cake was delicious, and this was delicious too."
Feng Hongjin stood on her tiptoes, holding the juice in her hand up to Zhu Yuchan, her upturned face full of cake. Zhu Yuchan chuckled.
She lightly tapped her little nose and said, "You're such a little glutton."
"Cat? I'm a fish, and I don't like cats. They always want to eat me."
Feng Hongjin said indignantly, stomping her little feet. Her posture was hilariously funny.
Seeing her so cute, Liu Nanfeng felt an even stronger desire to have his own child, preferably a cute little girl like Feng Hongjin.
But he didn't want Su Jinxiu to take risks, so he was very conflicted.
"That's not worth much money. I just like Hongjin," Liu Nanfeng still shook his head and refused.
"Aren't you going to open it and decide?" Zhu Yuchan said with a smile.
"What?"
Before Liu Nanfeng could react, Zhu Yuchan had already opened the box.
Then, inside the box, there were two pink pearls the size of lychees.
Liu Nanfeng couldn't help but marvel. Such large pearls could be considered rare treasures.
"You can give them to your two wives," Zhu Yuchan added.
But Liu Nanfeng still refused. He was living a good life now and was content. He didn't need these two rare treasures to add splendor to his life.
Besides, they were too valuable. He wouldn't accept favors without earning them. He was so good to Feng Hongjin purely because he liked the little child. If he accepted such a valuable gift, his stance would change.
Hearing this, Zhu Yuchan didn't insist further. She put away the brocade box and took out a short sword with an ancient style, handing it over. "Since that's the case, please accept this sword."
"Huh? Why are you giving me a sword?" Liu Nanfeng asked in surprise.
This sword looked very ordinary. Judging from the scabbard, it was just three iron rings holding two pieces of wood together.
"Madam specially prepared this for you, perhaps for self-defense," Zhu Yuchan said with a smile.
"Self-defense?"
Liu Nanfeng couldn't understand the meaning of Feng Hongjin's mother at all.
He took the sword and drew it from its scabbard.
The sword was also very ordinary, with no special features. There were even some rust spots on it.
It was called a sword, but it was more accurate to call it a dagger. It was two fingers wide and half an arm long. Calling it a sword was a stretch.
"This was given to Madam by a friend years ago. Madam is now passing it on to you."
"Then please thank your Madam for me."
This time, Liu Nanfeng didn't refuse again. He put away the short sword.
"You're welcome. We are good friends," Feng Hongjin preemptively answered before Zhu Yuchan could speak.
"Yes, we are good friends."
Liu Nanfeng stroked her little head, his mood also very happy.
"Come play again next time."
Feng Hongjin waved her little hands at Liu Nanfeng, who had already gone up the dike.
"Got it. I'll notify you with a conch shell when I have time. You be good too."
"Okay, you should eat well too."
Liu Nanfeng was stunned for a moment, then couldn't help but laugh heartily.
Except for his parents, no one had reminded him like this in years.
So he waved his hand with a smile and responded loudly.
Feng Hongjin then happily returned to the river with her sister Yuchan, carrying the bag.
Liu Nanfeng watched them disappear into the river before riding away on his electric bike.
At this time, the sun was setting, casting shimmering light on the river surface. The number of pedestrians by the river had also increased, and even some small stalls had appeared.
Selling ice jelly, fried skewers, stinky tofu, grilled squid...
Countless aromas mixed together and dispersed with the river breeze.
Just then, Liu Nanfeng suddenly felt someone watching him.
Following the sensation, he looked over and saw a girl in a sailor suit sitting on the guardrail of the distant dike. Because it was too far away, he couldn't see her appearance clearly.
However, Liu Nanfeng could feel the coldness in her eyes. This feeling was very peculiar.
Liu Nanfeng didn't stop his electric bike. As they passed, the figure quickly disappeared from his sight.
"Do I know her?" Liu Nanfeng wondered, but he couldn't remember at all.
Liu Nanfeng rode his electric bike to the coffee shop. The coffee shop hadn't closed yet. It was rush hour in the evening, and there were still some customers.
"Wow, boss, I didn't expect you to still be doing deliveries? Persisting until now."
The employees in the shop were also surprised to see Liu Nanfeng in his delivery uniform.
They knew Liu Nanfeng was doing deliveries, but they thought he wouldn't last long.
"Of course. Since I said I'd do it, I won't back down halfway."
As Liu Nanfeng spoke, his gaze fell on Song Haitang, who was tidying up the flower bed.
Her mother's soul was still embracing her, floating behind her with her eyes closed, which was truly magical.
"You're here. Wait for me for a moment. I'll tidy up, and then we'll go back together,"
"Su Jinxiu" said with a smile.
"Okay, no rush." Liu Nanfeng quickly withdrew his gaze and said.
"Su Jinxiu" glanced at Song Haitang, then at Liu Nanfeng, but said nothing.
"Boss, leave the rest to me. You and the boss go back," Xu Xinyi said from the side.
"Su Jinxiu" didn't stand on ceremony and said, "Then I'll trouble you."
"Boss, you're too polite. It's nothing," Xu Xinyi said.
Although she and the boss were responsible for making coffee together, she couldn't treat her like an ordinary employee. She always rushed to do the rough and tiring work.
Of course, making coffee itself wasn't tiring.
When "Su Jinxiu" picked up her bag and left with Liu Nanfeng, she didn't mind the sweat smell on him and sat on the back of his bike.
"Did you have a lot of orders today? Are you tired?"
"Su Jinxiu" asked with concern, looking at the white marks left by the sweat on Liu Nanfeng's back after it had dried.
"Not tired."
Liu Nanfeng was telling the truth. After taking that powerful pill last night, his physical fitness had improved significantly. Even with more orders than usual today, he didn't feel tired.
"You're not tired, my foot."
"Su Jinxiu" clearly didn't believe him.
"Alright, I am a little tired," Liu Nanfeng said helplessly.
"If you're so tired, you still have the energy to look at girls? Am I not beautiful enough? Am I not pretty enough? Little Song is just younger than me. Where else can she compare to me?"
"Su Jinxiu" said indignantly.
After speaking, she lightly pinched Liu Nanfeng's lower back.
Good heavens, so this is what she was waiting for.
"That's not true. Don't talk nonsense," Liu Nanfeng certainly wouldn't admit it to death at this moment.
"You still won't admit it? I saw you staring at Little Song's butt just now."
"Su Jinxiu" pouted, displeased.
Liu Nanfeng then realized that Song Haitang seemed to have been bending over to tidy up the flower bed.
"No, I was looking at the flowers Little Song was arranging just now. I was thinking about bringing a bunch of flowers home, but then I thought better of it and decided to wait a few days."
"Oh, why?"
"Because in a few days, it will be our important date. You haven't forgotten, have you?" Liu Nanfeng's mind raced, and then he immediately counterattacked.
"I—how could I possibly forget?"
"Su Jinxiu" also started to get nervous, her mind racing as she tried desperately to recall what she might have forgotten.
"You really haven't forgotten?" Liu Nanfeng asked suspiciously.
"Of course not. I'm waiting for your surprise. Don't disappoint me."
"Of course not. But you won't..."
"Alright, let's not talk about this anymore. If we talk more, it won't be a surprise, right? What are we eating tonight?"
Listening to "Su Jinxiu" awkwardly changing the subject, Liu Nanfeng chuckled inwardly.
However, he didn't press the matter further. When he heard her ask what to eat tonight, for some reason, he suddenly thought of Zhang Xinwu, whom he met at noon.
"How about we go for barbecue? Let's go to Dasheng Barbecue," Liu Nanfeng suggested.
"Sure, I have no problem with that."
"Su Jinxiu" agreed immediately.
"Then I'll go back and take a shower first. Do you want to change your clothes?"
"Yeah, I'll take a shower too."
"Want to shower together?"
"Dream on. I told you, you were definitely looking just now..."
"Su Jinxiu" began to suspect again.
The two of them laughed and bickered as they headed home.
When they passed the supermarket at the entrance, Liu Nanfeng didn't stop at all, as the gate was closed.
After returning home, they took a shower together and changed their clothes. Outside, the lights were already on.
The two of them went to Dasheng Barbecue by the river.
They saw a burly man sitting at the stall eating barbecue. His imposing figure was half a head taller than Zhang Dasheng.
But the lines of text on his head truly shocked Liu Nanfeng.
A bull demon eating beef barbecue? What kind of development is this?
ps: Thanks to Xun Ni~ for the alliance leader's reward, the first alliance leader of this book. Thank you.