CH 108

Thank you to SOLEIL for the ko-fi~

In the end, Gu Langu still found a jar because when they tried to catch the fireflies, even the frogs ran away, showing their disdain. Shu Shuishui sighed in disappointment and spread his hands, “It seems that frogs, like me, find them not tasty. Looking unappetizing can also be an advantage. Unlike me, all furry and looking delicious. Not safe at all.”

Though it was a bit of self-mockery, Shu Shuishui’s proud tone couldn’t be suppressed. He had always taken pride in his furry appearance, and he couldn’t help but show off every single strand of fur on his body.

“Of course, it’s much better in human form. I won’t be eyed by cats, and besides my hair, I won’t have fur. Gu Gu, look at my legs; they don’t have any hair. It’s so strange, like I’m missing a pair of furry pants, but luckily, I don’t need to go out…” Shu Shuishui chatted away, and Gu Langu listened quietly, occasionally showing a somewhat helpless expression. Even though Shu Shuishui had transformed into a human, his thought patterns were still quite unique, and he always managed to bring a smile to Gu Langu’s face unintentionally.

“Does Gu Gu have leg hair? If not, I can make you a pair of cotton pants to keep you warm,” Shu Shuishui said, nodding confidently.

Gu Langu wisely shook his head, secretly planning to remove the leg hair sometime. “No, I don’t need pants. But if I did, pure cotton fabric would be perfect.”

“Of course, silk would feel cool, and lace might itch, so pure cotton it is,” Shu Shuishui said matter-of-factly.

Gu Langu chuckled softly. He recalled the time when Shu Shuishui was in his mouse form, with furry little legs that looked so warm. “Shui Shui, you’re the best.”

“Because Shui Shui wants to take care of the best Gu Gu, that’s why I’m the best,” Shu Shuishui said, fully content.

Gu Langu had accepted Shu Shuishui’s sudden surge of down-to-earth compliments. Since Shu Shuishui woke up from his nightmare, it seemed like he had switched to compliment mode and continuously cheered Gu Langu on. He was just one step away from sending Gu Langu into the heavens with his praise.

Placing the glass jar with fireflies between them, Gu Langu put his arm around Shu Shuishui, drawing him close. Although Shu Shuishui wasn’t short at 1.7 meters, compared to Gu Langu’s 1.87 meters, he did appear smaller by comparison. Wrapped in Gu Langu’s embrace, Shu Shuishui felt safe and secure.

“If Shui Shui ever wants to leave, even with all the praise, I won’t be happy,” Gu Langu whispered.

Shu Shuishui immediately raised his hand to promise, “I won’t. Gu Gu is so adorable; how could I bear to leave? What if someone else tries to snatch you away?”

Gu Langu couldn’t help but chuckle at Shu Shuishui’s efforts. Shu Shuishui’s compliments were relentless, with nine out of ten sentences praising him, and the remaining one setting the stage for more praise.

Holding Shu Shuishui in his arms, the slightly cool evening breeze brushed past them. Gu Langu’s soft laughter echoed in Shu Shuishui’s ears before dissipating into the distance.

It was a rare night when Shu Shuishui didn’t sleep. The two of them chatted about everything and nothing, enjoying each other’s company. The usually stoic Gu Langu had completely transformed, shedding any traces of his mechanical persona. At this moment, he was simply a man, a man content with holding his beloved in his arms, a man who could laugh and dream of the future, just like anyone else.

The night in the valley was far from silent. Sparse cricket chirps, crisp frog croaks, and the rustling of the wind through the fields of wheat, all intermingled with the voices of Gu Langu and Shu Shuishui. It was peaceful and comfortable, and having each other was truly wonderful.

As the stars gradually dimmed, the eastern sky began to lighten, and Gu Langu and Shu Shuishui, without returning to their tent, sat by the lake, waiting for the sunrise.

In reality, being nestled in the valley didn’t allow for an immediate view of the sunrise, but as long as daytime arrived, the sunlight was never too far behind.

The morning’s gentle and not overly bright sunlight filtered through the gaps in the mountains. When looked at against the light, even the outlines of the mountains became blurry. After a night’s settling, a thin veil of mist surrounded the valley, and as the morning light shone through, it transformed the delicate light into glistening white satin, lingering and ethereal.

“Gu Gu, let’s go for a walk, some morning exercise. We’re aiming to live long and healthy lives,” Shu Shuishui stood up, patting away the mist on his clothes, and then turned to extend his hand toward Gu Langu.

Gu Langu extended his hand, and when Shu Shuishui pulled, there was no movement. Shu Shuishui looked puzzled for a moment, then realized, bent down, and planted a good morning kiss on Gu Langu’s forehead. Gu Langu’s strong arm wrapped around Shu Shuishui’s neck, returned the kiss, and only then stood up following the force in Shu Shuishui’s hand.

A new day began with a full ceremonial good morning kiss. The two strolled along the lakeside, stepping on pebbles, leisurely wandering. The grass by the lake lifted its crystal-clear dewdrops as if it had worked hard all night to produce pearls.

Shu Shuishui suddenly brightened his eyes, remembering that he had promised to make earrings for Gu Langu. He rummaged through his spiritual storage and then searched in the storage ring until he found two black pearls the size of soybeans. Despite their small size, these pearls were abundant in spiritual energy, rare treasures that could provide cultivation power to the wearer.

“Gu Gu doesn’t have pierced ears, so I’ll make clip-on earrings. I can have them ready by tonight,” Shu Shuishui held the two black pearls, walking and examining them against the morning sun. In the faint golden light of dawn, the black pearls exuded a vortex-like charm.

“Shui Shui, I’d prefer earrings. I’ve been wanting to try having pierced ears,” Gu Langu said, holding Shu Shuishui’s other hand and moving at a leisurely pace.

Shu Shuishui insisted and shook his head. “No, Gu Gu, please listen. We’ll make clip-on earrings.”

Gu Langu reluctantly agreed. He didn’t really feel pain, but Shu Shuishui was always worried about him getting hurt. He couldn’t help but feel happy about it. “Alright, I’ll listen to Shui Shui.”

The two walked around the lakeside for two rounds, and by now, the mist in the valley had dissipated. People in the base had already started their day, harvesting crops, cooking, processing yesterday’s harvest, and storing food. Each person had a clear role, and the bustling voices of the people quickly drowned out the fading croaks of the frogs.

By the lakeside, there were fishing nets and cages set up from yesterday. Shu Shuishui and Gu Langu spontaneously checked them without waiting for Yu Jin’s urging. Afterward, they carried two fat fish and several crabs back to prepare breakfast.

Shu Shuishui’s culinary skills had long been unanimously acknowledged by everyone. When he was still a little mouse, there were times when they all had to taste his food, and it was never enough. But now that he had grown up, the nearby members could be seen eyeing his food with greedy intent, and it was never easy to enjoy a meal in peace.

So, Yu Jin and the others had developed a good habit. Whenever Shu Shuishui approached with ingredients, they would instantly perk up, quickly tidy up the stove, set up the firewood, prepare the seasonings, and heat the water, all waiting for Shu Shuishui to start cooking.

Today was no exception. By the time Shu Shuishui arrived at the pot, everything was ready; they only lacked his presence.

With skilled hands, he processed the fish and crabs, picked out the fish meat, minced it into a paste, seasoned it well, shaped it into fish balls, and deep-fried them. The fish balls went from milky white to golden brown, with a thin, crispy crust on the outside and a juicy interior filled with flavor.

The crabs had also been placed in the pot to steam, which made them exceptionally tasty. As everyone sat down to eat, there was a moment of silence at the table. Some leaned back in their chairs, satisfied and burping contentedly, while others discreetly wiped their mouths. Some even rubbed their bellies. And then there were those who quietly enjoyed the food Shu Shuishui had picked out for them, savoring each bite.

Gu Langu, who rarely took his time eating, chewed slowly this time and ended up being the last one to finish.

As Nan Fang, Xie Feng, and Yu Jin cleaned up the bowls and chopsticks while playfully teasing each other, Nan Ge, Shu Shuishui, and Gu Langu discussed their plans for the day.

As for the mysterious hint from the Xian Ge Galaxy, they had to put it on hold for now. They weren’t like Gu Lanyi, who had such a high language talent. Delving into it thoroughly would take a considerable amount of time, and judging from the messages they’d received from the Xian Ge Galaxy, it was clear that the situation there was in turmoil. “We can only wait for the next group mission. Hopefully, Gu Lanyi will be fine and contact us soon to obtain more information about Xian Ge. That way, we can make an informed decision. As for our base, preparing for the upcoming summer is our top priority. According to the information we received from the simulator, this year’s summer doesn’t look too promising.”

After experiencing a winter on Cang Zhan Star, Shu Shuishui gained a better understanding of the planet’s extreme natural environment. Without the protection of the grand formation and this feng shui treasure, he couldn’t guarantee the survival of so many people in such harsh conditions.

Although it had been several months since he left the valley, Shu Shuishui had once climbed to the mountaintop and looked out at the world beyond. The rugged peaks and valleys outside, with their sunken terrain and the entire lowlands filled with white snow!

If it weren’t for the protective barrier that blocked the ice and snow, this valley might have been buried by snow as well. In this area, even the shorter peaks reached heights of one to two hundred meters. The idea of filling up the mountain hollows with snow was quite extraordinary. If the temperatures were to rise, causing the outside snow to melt, wouldn’t it turn the lower-lying areas into vast water bodies?

Gu Langu played with the black pearls he had just obtained from Shu Shuishui while he hadn’t made them into accessories yet. “Don’t worry too much about Gu Lanyi; he can handle it.” Shu Shuishui nodded, recalling how he had met Gu Lanyi. Indeed, if it weren’t for a twist of fate, he might still be unaware of being deceived.

“As for the summer, we’ll see how it goes. If necessary, we can migrate northward.” Gu Langu continued.

Further north, in the Northern Hemisphere, lies Zone A and even the Safe Zone, far from electromagnetic storms with more land and broader areas for cultivation. Although it seemed risky, if the end of winter proved too challenging this year, they would have no choice but to move north. Nan Ge’s gaze landed on the black pearls between Gu Langu’s fingers. “What’s this?”

Gu Langu tried to suppress a smile. “Oh, Shui Shui wants to make earrings for me. I suggested simple ear studs, but he’s afraid I’ll find it painful, so he insists on making more elaborate ear clips. I couldn’t do anything about it.”

Nan Ge sighed, “…” Your tone, though, could use a little less boasting if we’re still friends!