Chapter 277 - A fish caught!

In the small clearing, a young man and a girl was snuggling together. The young man had his arms wrapped around the girl, while the latter looked up at the boy. Their faces were so close together that if anyone happened to walk into the scene and see them, they would think the couple was kissing.

The two people involved did not pay attention to their surroundings. Their senses were filled only by the person beside them—their warmth, their breathing, and the words they uttered. 

The young man, Linfeng, could not speak after hearing the girl's words. His eyes faintly widened and his mouth opened slightly, freezing in place. His whole body felt hotter at the sudden attack from Xiong Zhi.

'Darn it. Where did she learn those words?'

Now, Linfeng could not counter attack. Although he tried to resist it, his mind was busy conjuring up images that made one's blood boil. He felt his mouth dry.

Gulp.

The girl in his arms tilted her head when she did not hear any answer from him.

Xiong Zhi did not plan to let him go. This little play was just starting. She intended to take him down successfully during this trip. If she could succeed earlier than planned, then that was all the better for her!

"You don't want to?" she whispered. "You're not going to bite the hook, if I was the bait?" 

'You're not going to take a bite, even when I'm right in your arms, offering myself up?'

This was the underlying meaning that they both understood.

How dangerous. Linfeng took a step away and coughed. His ears were blood red. 

'B-bite her? Bite my Young miss?' Linfeng's throat was parched. His self-control was shaking. 'My dear Young Miss, how are you so straightforward...'

"Not willing?" Xiong Zhi now fully faced him, her hands letting go of the fishing line. Her brows were a little furrowed. 

Why was he not answering? Was he hesitating?

The bait who was waiting for the fish to bite onto her became sad. Am I not a good bait? Am I not tempting enough? The little bait made a sad face.

The fat fish shook his head hurriedly.

"N-no. W-willing," he said in a faint whisper. His raised his hand and covered the lower half of his red face. 

"What?" Xiong Zhi did not hear him clearly. She put her hands on his chest and leaned forward.

Their bodies pressed together.

Although she was seriously expressing her affections while offering herself up, the girl was so honest and sincere with her feelings that she somehow gave off an innocently earnest vibe.

Linfeng looked up, took a deep breath, and slowly let it go to calm himself down. But it was useless, his body was slowly reacting. He lowered his head and stared at her alluring eyes. 

He spoke out his reply seriously while looking directly at her.

"I'm willing. I'm willing to be hooked by you," he said with earnest eyes, but his red face and flushed neck betrayed his embarrassment. 

It also appeared as if he was holding himself back from something. 

The ignorant Xiong Zhi lit up with joy. Her lips curled into a shy but pleased smile.

Inside, the bait went 'kyah, kyah'.

Xiong Zhi slowly nodded with sparkling eyes. "Good."

Linefng nodded, too, with a red face. "Good," he echoed.

Alas, if Song Xuantin was here, she probably would start yelling at how the pair who were both newbies in romance seemed so awkward. 

Xiong Zhi thought that she had received the grant from Linfeng that he would be willing to... ki-ki-ki-kiss her. But after waiting for a moment, she noticed that he did not seem to have that intention.

We-we-well... Maybe not right now? Perhaps, he was still preparing himself.

With that thought, she finally calmed down a bit. She could not help but feel slightly disappointed though.

Whatever, he already said he was willing, so it should only be a matter of time.

The two entered a stalemate. They listened as their unruly hearts pound in their ears. After a while, their loudly pounding hearts finally started to slow down a bit. 

Eventually, still silent in the same snuggling position, they simply enjoyed the warmth of cuddling together. Their hearts rhythmically beat into each other's pace, as if talking and responding to each other.

Some time passed. The wind freely blew across the tree tops, the leaves rustled, and the afternoon sun shone down through the canopies of the trees upon the pair immersed in their own world.

"Shall we go back fishing?" Linfeng finally asked in a whisper, breaking the extended silence between them.

Xiong Zhi paused, then finally moved away from his chest. "Alright. Or else it would be embarrassing of we don't bring any harvest back."

"Rest assured, the pond had plenty of fishes. We'll be able to get some."

The two then continued fishing. Although they were no longer cuddling, they sat very close to each other. 

It was an intangible connection, but they felt more intimate and more relaxed with each other's company after the earlier exchange.

They sat down, enjoying each other's presence and the tranquil environment. 

The good thing about fishing with another person was that they could chat while waiting to for the bait to sink.

After re-casting their lines to the pond, Linfeng asked his Young Miss,

"Have you been eating well in this past month?"

Xiong Zhi nodded. "Yes, although I was a bit busy. How about you?" She turned her eyes at him. "Don't lie."

Linfeng smiled to ease her worries. "I am eating three times a day. I promised you I'll take care of myself, didn't I?"

The girl nodded with satisfaction. "Hmm, well done."

They went on inquiring about each other's wellbeing during the time they were apart. It sounded like random things, but they enjoyed this moment.

Truly, people in mutual love tended to whisper sweet nothings endlessly when together.

The faint breeze swept into the small clearing and was warmed by the sun. The two people's hearts felt closer as time passed.

"...How about your sleep?" 

"I'm sleeping well. I always play your song every night." 

Linfeng eyes lit up with her answer, satisfied and proud at the same time. That pretty boy's lullaby was nothing compared to his. 

Xiong Zhi suddenly changed the topic. "I'm sorry I didn't answer your calls through Xuantin. I was afraid that Grandpa would trace it back to you." 

Linfeng never asked why she did not answer his first few calls from Song Xuantin. 

However, Xiong Zhi wanted to explain about it even if he did not ask. Not asking did not meant he did not want to know, he most likely just did not want to trouble her. In fact, even if she did not say the reason, he probably knew already why. 

Still, Xiong Zhi felt bad about it.

It was obvious that compared to before when he absolutely obeyed the rules, he now put more importance to her over those rules and restrictions. The greatest evidence was that he actively called her through Song Xuantin, which was against the highest order.

If her grandfather caught Linfeng trying to contact her when he had purposely banned him from entering the mansion and contacting her, she was afraid that this time, there would be no pardoning and he would be punished due to disobeying orders again. 

Xiong Zhi was afraid of that happening. Thus, she painfully ignored his calls.

Linfeng's gaze softened, feeling a bit distressed for her. Of course, he knew what her reason was. 

They could do nothing about it. They could only wait for the time that they could see each other again.

"You don't need to say sorry, I understand why. In fact, I should be saying sorry for putting you into this," Linfeng said.

Xiong Zhi shook her head. Linfeng did not know, but she really was the one to say sorry. She seduced him and made him like her. Even because of her, Old Xiong set up an arranged marriage for him. She caused all this, but she could do nothing to help him. 

She really hoped that at the re-trial, a miracle would happen.

"The re-trial..." Xiong Zhi whispered worriedly.

Linfeng smiled at her reassuringly. This time, confidence shone through on his face.

"I have already prepared everything. It will be an unexpected surprise." Then, he looked at their baits which were bobbing up and down. "I heard that later, we can cook our own meals with our catch. What do you want to eat?"

Linfeng changed the subject. Although Xiong Zhi still worried about it, she had already promised to him that she would trust him fully about this. So she went along with him.

"I want fish soup and roasted fish."

The moment she said this, the heavens seemed to hear her and she felt a tug on her fishing line. She stood up immediately in excitement and anticipation.

"It moved!" Her sparkling wide eyes looked at Linfeng.

Linfeng instantly stood up, put down his fishing line, and went behind Xiong Zhi in one fluid motion. He supported Xiong Zhi.

"Alright, Young Miss. You can spin the dial now." 

Xiong Zhi followed his instruction.

Afterwards, she felt his warm hands over hers. His steady hands firmly wrapped around the handle together with her.

"We will pull it up together." 

Xiong Zhi nodded seriously.

"One, two, three!" At Linfeng's count, they pulled the fishing rod up.

A splash came, sending glittering droplets in the air. A big fat fish with the length of an arm was flapping its body at the end of the line.

"A fish! We caught a fish! It's so big..." Xiong Zhi was so happy with her first catch. Her eyes shone brilliantly and her big smile showed her pearly teeth. She looked like a child.

Her laughter rang in the clearing.

Linfeng felt refreshed seeing his Young Miss's reaction.

He could not help but pat her head, before skillfully unhooking the fish and putting it inside the bucket. Like a parent praising a little child, he said,

"Congratulations, Young Miss! Your first time at fishing is a big success. When I first tried to fish, it took me two long hours to get one."

Xiong Zhi smiled proudly. With this, they can make fish soup!

Linfeng tactfully did not add that he was only ten years old at that time and that the place he was assigned for his fishing spot was infamous amongst fishermen, as it was difficult to get any fish from there.

Seeing his Young Miss's proud look with her chin lifted high by just catching one fish, he sincerely prayed to the fishing deities for tons of foolish fishes sacrificing themselves, so that his Young Miss would be even happier.