Chapter 45

Yun Cheng probably had ^[1]“naturally thick skin on the back of his neck” is a figurative way of saying that Yun Cheng is insensitive or oblivious to discomfort, criticism, or subtle cues. In this case, it suggests … Continue readingnaturally thick skin on the back of his neck, completely unfazed by the chilling breeze blowing past.

He cheerfully welcomed Ji Feishi over, flashing a bright grin with his white teeth. “Every time he gets a break, he goes straight to his grandpa’s place in the capital. We were chatting last night, and he said it’s boring there—just endless social gatherings.”

“So, of course, I bragged about how peaceful and fun it is here. I even sent him the coordinates, telling him to find his way over if he could. And guess what? He actually showed up! Pretty impressive, huh?”

At this moment, Jiang Yunjuan was regretting putting up a signal tower on the island—it allowed this fool to stir up trouble across the Pacific.

But considering what happened last time, Ji Feishi’s silent indifference and detached attitude—though he never actually did anything—had still played a crucial role. If things had gone even slightly wrong back then, their plan would have fallen apart. Jiang Yunjuan had no choice but to acknowledge that.

Especially after their frank conversation, it didn’t feel right to give Ji Feishi the cold shoulder anymore. So instead, he forced a fake smile and said, “Oh! An honored guest. For you to take a liking to this barren land of mine—it’s truly an honor.”

Ji Feishi knew full well that this sister-obsessed guy’s hostility toward him wasn’t going away anytime soon. He didn’t mind in the slightest.

“Sorry to intrude. Yun Cheng insisted I come, and home was dull anyway. If it’s inconvenient, I hope you can bear with me.”

Jiang Yunjuan couldn’t tell if this kid was naturally thick-skinned or just like this when dealing with him specifically.

Basically, he was saying: Even if you don’t want me here, I’m already here. You’ll just have to put up with it.

And as if that wasn’t enough, the idiot Yun Cheng chimed in, “Yeah, I kept nagging him! Every time he stays at his grandpa’s place, he turns into an old man—sleeping at nine o’clock! Can you believe that?”

If there weren’t outsiders around, Jiang Yunjuan would have smacked him right then and there—

That’s what you get for meddling!

Ji Feishi was feeling quite pleased that his friend was backing him up, but then Yun Cheng suddenly changed his tune: “But I didn’t actually think he’d be so eager to come running over! Haha! Turns out, besides my brother, he really has no other friends to hang out with. Look at this grand gesture! What’s he gonna do next year when we’re all in different universities?”

“You’re not gonna call me every night just to be able to sleep, are you?”

Ji Feishi’s smile froze, inch by inch. At this moment, his opinion of Yun Cheng aligned perfectly with Jiang Yunjuan’s—

If there weren’t so many people around, this guy would already be getting smacked.

Jiang Muti firmly believed that as long as Yun Cheng was around, the world would never lack entertainment.

And given the right conditions, this guy was practically invincible.

After all, hitting someone required consideration of time and place. Acting like an idiot? That never needed consideration.

Remembering that there was still a pot on the stove, she said, “Yun Cheng, help Ji Feishi take his luggage inside and set up a room. Once you’re done, come down for breakfast.”

Yun Cheng happily went off to handle it, while Jiang Muti returned to the kitchen. Jiang Yunjuan, seeing that things had already reached this point, had no choice but to follow his sister inside.

The rice in the pot had almost finished simmering, and Yun Duo was helping prepare the seafood.

The shrimp were blanched, peeled, and deveined. The sea cucumbers and clams—caught by Yun Cheng just yesterday—were fresh from unpolluted waters, ensuring top-quality flavor.

Finally, all the seafood was added to the congee, along with julienned ginger and chopped scallions. The rich, fragrant aroma alone was enough to make anyone’s mouth water.

Jiang Muti also made two small side dishes to go with the congee: smashed cucumbers in garlic sauce and a cold jellyfish salad.

At this moment, Ji Feishi and the others came downstairs. After such a long flight, being able to eat something warm and light right after getting off the plane—especially when it was made by a certain someone—put him in a great mood.

A whole pot of porridge was completely devoured by the five of them, yet Yun Cheng still complained that it wasn’t enough, forcing Jiang Muti to cook him an extra bowl of noodles.

Compared to the Jiang siblings, who had diverse tastes, Yun Cheng was devoted to Chinese food, especially home-style dishes or authentic street snacks.

Since he planned to go abroad for his career in the future, he often worried about how he’d handle long-term meals overseas.

Perhaps because the departure date was approaching, this concern grew more intense, and recently, his obsession with food had reached a near-crazed level—

Like a husky that just had its food bowl snatched away!

After breakfast, the group decided to go explore the forest.

Jiang Muti, seeing that Ji Feishi had just arrived, asked if he wanted to rest first.

But it was clear that although he wasn’t as lively as Yun Cheng, he was still an athlete. His stamina and energy far exceeded that of an average person.

Jiang Yunjuan, unimpressed by his enthusiasm, warned, “The forest isn’t like the beach—there are more mosquitoes. Wear proper clothes.”

“Especially you girls. Don’t go dressing light just because it’s hot. Long pants and jackets, understood?”

Jiang Muti agreed. Getting bitten all over and coming back covered in bumps would be a disaster, so she and Yun Duo immediately went upstairs to change into long sleeves and pants. They also brought mosquito repellent.

Yun Cheng nudged Ji Feishi’s arm and grinned mischievously. “Yesterday, they were wearing bikinis. Way prettier than the girls at our school.”

“I posted on my Moments, and my buddies kept begging me for pictures. But I’m not stupid—why would I let them take advantage? Showing off is fine, but our own girls can’t be cheapened.”

He was completely oblivious to the fact that the person who had the biggest reason to care was standing right there.

Ji Feishi hesitated for a moment, but he couldn’t resist asking expectantly, “So… was it nice to look at?”

“Of course! You underestimating our girls’ looks? Their legs are long and straight, their waists are slim and toned. Especially Muti—her skin is amazing. When I took her into the water yesterday, I tested it out—smoother than silken tofu. My hands could almost wrap all the way around her waist.”

He sighed wistfully, as if reminiscing. “A real beauty, straight out of an anime.”

Ji Feishi had only been curious about a general impression—of course, he looked forward to seeing the girl he liked in a swimsuit.

But he never expected this idiot to blurt out such scandalous details!

What kind of nonsense was this bastard casually spouting with a straight face?

Ji Feishi’s face darkened instantly, his voice carrying a dangerous edge. “So you just go around taking advantage of people all the time?”

Yun Cheng remained completely unfazed. “Pfft! What are you talking about? Listen, don’t apply normal standards to me. Those two drag me into lingerie stores to carry their shopping bags—ever considered my feelings?”

Then something clicked in Yun Cheng’s head. “Wait—does this mean they don’t see me as a man at all?”

Just then, Jiang Muti and Yun Duo came downstairs, now fully dressed.

Yun Cheng immediately declared, “I’m not going lingerie shopping with you two again. It’s getting more embarrassing. To be honest, we’re all grown up now—it’s time we keep some distance. I’ll be more mindful from now on.”

Jiang Muti shrugged. “Alright. Just don’t start sulking and crying about being left out when Yun Duo and I go out without you.”

Yun Duo added, “And don’t complain about us pushing you away when we’re hugging each other, acting like we’re discriminating against you more as you get older.”

Ji Feishi, watching this unfold, finally pieced it together—

So this fool was just a big, clingy dog, completely unaware of how much he stuck to people.

Not just with him—he acted the same way at home, oblivious to how much he was being pushed away, yet still feeling good about himself.

Sure enough, Yun Cheng awkwardly said, “Didn’t Feishi say I was taking advantage of you two? It’s not like I was deliberately emphasizing it—no need to be so sensitive.”

The two girls turned their gaze to Ji Feishi.

This was the first time Ji Feishi had been blatantly blamed in front of his face. He turned his head expressionlessly and looked at Yun Cheng. “Did you forget how much dirt I have on you?”

Seeing that he couldn’t afford to offend either side, Yun Cheng muttered under his breath, turned on his heels, and bolted, disappearing into the forest in a few strides.

Yun Duo, worried her brother might get lost or get snatched by the island’s monkeys, quickly followed him.

Jiang Muti, on the other hand, was quite curious about Yun Cheng’s embarrassing moments. As she and Ji Feishi walked into the jungle, she asked, “What stupid thing did he do this time?”

Ji Feishi said, “I thought you knew him well enough that nothing he does would surprise you anymore.”

Jiang Muti shook her head, wearing a look of “you don’t get it.” “I know he’s dumb, but I believe his stupidity has no limits. If he racks up enough, I could even make a compilation of all his dumbest moments. That’d be fun to watch!”

Joking along the way, they ventured deeper into the jungle.

This was a completely untouched area, and the density of the vegetation was as expected.

Most of the trees were coconut, palm, and banana, while the rest Jiang Muti couldn’t identify. But the biodiversity was rich.

Many beautiful flowers, whose names she didn’t know, added to the dazzling and almost surreal scenery. Sunlight streamed through the gaps in the leaves, shining onto the green foliage still carrying traces of morning dew.

It looked like the kind of scene where a jungle fairy might appear in the next second.

Jiang Muti was so awed by the beauty that her breath unconsciously softened.

Then, she felt her hand being held.

She turned back and saw Ji Feishi’s face in the dreamy interplay of light and shadow—so strikingly handsome that it was almost unreal.

A random thought crossed her mind—if jungle fairies did exist, they’d probably feel too ashamed to show themselves in front of someone this stunning.

But she didn’t let the moment quietly linger. Instead, she asked, “What are you doing?”

Ji Feishi answered casually, “Oh, I just saw a snake dart past. I’m holding your hand so you don’t step on it.”

Jiang Muti tensed up immediately, but she highly suspected he was lying. Forcing a stiff laugh, she said, “Snakes are more afraid of people. They would’ve slithered away the moment they heard us. Why would I be scared?”

Ji Feishi didn’t believe she was really that fearless. He smirked teasingly. “Oh? Really?”

Jiang Muti was actually terrified of snakes—just imagining them made her scalp tingle. But she wasn’t about to let him press the topic.

Spotting something clinging to a coconut tree, she quickly changed the subject. “Hey! Yun Cheng goes all the way to the sea to catch them, but look—there’s one right here!”

She grabbed the huge lobster-like creature off the tree. “This thing’s massive. Two of them would be enough to feed all five of us.”

Ji Feishi chuckled, not exposing her obvious attempt to change the topic. “That’s a coconut crab. They can grow up to a meter long and usually weigh two to three kilograms. They taste pretty good.”

He glanced around the surroundings, then said appreciatively, “Your island is really nice. Beautiful scenery, diverse wildlife… I wonder if there are any similar islands nearby. I’m thinking of getting one myself.”

Jiang Muti snorted. “You think we’d be neighbors? The closest island is still dozens of nautical miles away.”

Ji Feishi nodded. “Not too bad. A speedboat would get there in about an hour. A helicopter would be even faster.”

Jiang Muti thought to herself—he’s not serious about this, is he?

But before she could dwell on it, they caught up with Yun Duo and Yun Cheng.

When Yun Cheng saw them, he happily raised the giant crab in his hand.

He proudly said, “Look, this big one! This guy tried to escape, but I held him down.”

Yun Duo, standing aside, said coldly, “You’re brave, huh? Those claws can easily tear through coconut shells. If you’re not careful, you won’t be playing basketball again anytime soon.”

Yun Cheng smiled at his sister in a flattering way. “Come on, do you really think I’m that careless?”

Yun Duo ignored him and turned to Jiang Muti. “He almost got into a fight with a monkey just now.”

She pointed behind her. “See? That monkey’s still sneaking up on us. I think it’s following my brother to figure out where he’s sleeping so it can throw poop at his window later.”

Jiang Muti looked over and, sure enough, could faintly spot a monkey’s head hidden in the dense foliage.

She couldn’t help but laugh. “No way, if we round it up, your brother’s practically the same species as the monkey. And with how well he gets along with animals, maybe the monkey likes him?”

Yun Cheng was clearly dissatisfied with how Jiang Muti always teased him in front of everyone. “Who are you calling an animal? Hm?”

Just as he was about to complain more, he noticed something else. “Why are you two holding hands?”

Jiang Muti immediately realized and hurriedly pulled her hand away, pretending to lie. “This guy trips a lot, and I was worried he’d fall.”

Yun Cheng wasn’t easily fooled. He replied in a drawn-out voice, “Trips? Do you need me to remind you that he and I are teammates? Plus, this guy’s fake moves and passing are top-notch.”

“You’re saying he has poor balance?”

Before Jiang Muti could respond, Ji Feishi spoke up. “Yeah, I’ve nearly tripped several times.”

Yun Cheng stared blankly at him. “Bro, after three years of basketball tournaments, how much hope did I put in you? And now you’re saying you trip easily?”

“I’m breaking out in cold sweat just thinking about those past games, okay?”

The group continued joking around, exploring the area. They didn’t go too far though, because the place was so vast. Even if they walked all day, they probably couldn’t cover it all.

They caught a few coconut crabs, picked some unfamiliar mushrooms, gathered coconuts and wild fruits, and didn’t miss any spice plants either.

They weren’t worried about toxicity, as one of the two chefs accompanying them was a local from a nearby island and very familiar with the local plants.

He could easily tell which ones were safe to eat and which weren’t.

When they returned to the villa and dropped off their finds, Jiang Muti went to find her brother, only to discover he had made her a swing from a big tree near the beach.

Seeing her, Jiang Yunjuan double-checked the rope’s security. “I found a small tire and some rope in the storage room, so I made this for you girls.”

Jiang Muti was overjoyed and jumped straight onto her brother, hugging his neck and planting a kiss on his cheek. “What should I do? Bro! I love you to death. If you keep being this perfect, my standards for a partner will keep rising, and soon no one will be good enough for me! What if I can’t get married?”

Jiang Yunjuan supported her waist to stop her from falling and raised an eyebrow at her words, giving Ji Feishi a meaningful glance.

Then, he smiled indulgently. “Well then, don’t get married. Your brother can take care of you for your whole life. If you can’t even meet this standard, then you won’t be worthy of my little sister. Even if you agree, I won’t.”

Ji Feishi didn’t doubt that Jiang Yunjuan was purposely trying to stir things up. Using his position, there was no way to find a flaw in what he said.

He smiled and walked over. “Mr. Jiang, you’re truly a rare good brother. I really envy you. As an only child, I’ve always wished for a brother like you.”

Jiang Yunjuan’s face turned black with anger. “Go away, you brother!” He didn’t want to be associated with this guy in any way.

The two men had a tense, silent confrontation, while on the other side, Jiang Muti and the others had already gotten on the swing.

The swing was very high, and she had no idea how her brother had managed to tie it up there, but it must have been really difficult.

However, once she got on, she could swing really high and far. Jiang Muti asked Yun Duo to push her as hard as she could from behind.

At its highest point, it felt like she was about to fly straight into the sea. Watching the water come closer and closer, Jiang Muti leaned forward recklessly.

As expected, she was thrown off—

But due to inertia, she was sent straight into the water, which felt quite exhilarating.

Her sudden reckless stunt scared the others half to death, and they hurriedly rushed into the water, just as Jiang Muti emerged from it.

Jiang Yunjuan’s face was dark with embarrassment. Before his sister could take pride in her actions, he grabbed her and began scolding her.

Jiang Muti lowered her head, too embarrassed to look up. “But I was careful! I figured out how deep the water was up to a certain point yesterday. There’s no way it’s dangerous. Plus, you were watching from the side, right?”

Jiang Yunjuan was about to scold her some more when she wrapped her arm around his and pouted, “How did you tie the rope so high up? It seems even more dangerous here.”

Jiang Yunjuan was caught off guard, and Yun Cheng was being no help at all.

Seeing how fun it seemed for Jiang Muti, he eagerly hopped on the swing himself, calling to his sister, “Hurry up! Push me, push me hard!”

Yun Duo also wanted to try. “Why don’t you push me first?”

“I’m just trying to test the depth of the water for you! Hurry up!”

Yun Duo rolled her eyes but still started pushing her brother on the swing.

Jiang Yunjuan sighed, feeling frustrated.

At this point, he regretted setting up the swing for some hidden agenda. When did his little one become so fond of courting danger?

He promised himself to take it down at the first opportunity!

Just as he was thinking this, Jiang Muti seemed to sense it and said, “Don’t you dare take it down, okay? If you do, we’ll just rebuild it ourselves.”

“Plus, the sand is so soft! Even if we fall, it won’t hurt. You’re just overthinking.”

Great! Now she was even complaining about him.

Jiang Yunjuan watched his sister, who was running to argue with Yun Cheng for the swing, feeling helpless.

The four of them played until late in the afternoon, with Jiang Muti playing the most.

Yun Cheng and Yun Duo argued over how often they pushed each other, while Ji Feishi stayed close to Jiang Muti, naturally benefiting from the situation.

Once the chefs had finished preparing the ingredients they brought back and made a delicious, hearty meal, they reluctantly said goodbye to the swing for the time being.

The chefs were very thoughtful and had prepared authentic local dishes. Even the utensils used to serve the coconut crabs were woven from a plant native to the island.

It’s said that the chef made it himself, and it’s a skill that everyone in their hometown can do. On some islands with villages, the local residents often only have a few industries to rely on for their livelihood.

Fishing, harvesting, growing spices, and then using these flexible, long-lasting tree leaves to weave everyday items and crafts.

Not just containers for food, but hats, baskets, and even small purses can be made. Of course, you can also make hair accessories or toys in the shape of animals.

This is similar to the grass weaving and rattan weaving in our country. Strictly speaking, the weaving techniques in our country are more intricate and complex.

But in a faraway place, the completely different folk customs feel fresh and interesting.

So after lunch, Jiang Muti and Yun Duo really went together to gather a lot of those tree leaves to learn how to weave from the local chef.

First, they asked him to make hair accessories for them. Since Yun Duo had short hair, she could only wear a crown-like hairpiece.

Jiang Muti laughed loudly, “Now this doesn’t look very princess-like, but at least it’s a crown to comfort yourself.”

Yun Duo glared at her, “By that logic, shouldn’t you also be reminiscing about your long-lost queen status?”

Oh! That’s true.

Immediately, both girls felt a bit downhearted.

However, they learned quite quickly. With guidance, they tried weaving simple containers a few times and were able to weave them tightly and neatly.

They made several small baskets and shared them among the five of them.

Yun Cheng got a fishing basket, and Yun Duo personally made it for him. “Here, since you like to go into the sea and catch things, with this, you won’t have to use your clothes to carry them anymore.”

Jiang Yunjuan got a bracelet made by his sister. “This red fruit, they say, can last for years if you don’t break it open. Locals usually use it for decorations.”

Jiang Yunjuan looked at the bright-colored bracelet. Although it wouldn’t be suitable for everyday occasions, he had been dressing simply and coolly during the vacation, so it actually suited him quite well.

Ji Feishi noticed how close the two siblings were, and since Jiang Yunjuan had taken the bracelet without question, he couldn’t help but wonder why Jiang Yunjuan was so fixated on it for so long.

Once the two of them finished talking, although he didn’t say anything aloud, his expression and eyes made it obvious.

He kept staring at Jiang Muti, and those three words were almost ready to come out—

Where’s mine?

Jiang Muti pulled out a small basket from the side and handed it to him. “Here! You can put your spare clothes inside.”

Ji Feishi’s mood visibly improved as he took the basket, inspecting it inside and out several times, clearly reluctant to part with it.

Yun Cheng saw this and started to suspect that Jiang Muti might have secretly slipped some pearls into Ji Feishi’s basket.

Why else would he be so happy?

He then shook his own fishing basket in front of Ji Feishi. “Hey, hey! I’ve got one too. Why are you so proud? It’s not like it’s just yours.”

Ji Feishi rolled his eyes. “What do you know? Mine is definitely different from yours.”

“How is it different?” Yun Cheng asked, holding up both baskets. “Look, the shape, the closing, the size, what’s different?”

“It’s just that mine is for fishing, and yours is for carrying clothes.”

Ji Feishi looked down on him. “That’s the difference. The starting point is different, so naturally, the intention is different.”

“Your sister gave you the basket for fishing because she thought using your clothes to carry things was too unsanitary. Mine, however, takes into account the details of daily life. Essentially, it’s different, so don’t compare.”

Yun Cheng squinted his eyes. “Although I don’t understand all that nonsense, why do I feel uncomfortable about it?”

Jiang Yunjuan, on the other hand, had only one thought in his mind—

Young man, delusions are a sickness, and they need to be treated!