Chapter 60: Beauty Trap

Jiang Si stared blankly at Qin Shen, wondering if she was hallucinating.

Qin Shen coming out of his room in the middle of the night to ask her for a massage—this was beyond strange.

Seeing her dazed reaction, Qin Shen realized she might’ve misunderstood, so he shut the door and said, “The living room is fine.”

Meaning—he just wanted the massage done in the living room, nothing inappropriate.

He must’ve really woken up with a stiff neck and was in too much pain to care about the timing.

Jiang Si followed him to the living room. Qin Shen turned around of his own accord, exposing his broad shoulders, long neck, and sharply defined jawline fully in her view.

She had to admit—good-looking people looked good from every angle.

Jiang Si took a deep breath and slowly pressed her hands onto his solid shoulders and neck.

He’d already given her two massages before, so helping him out this time felt like a fair exchange—she couldn’t say no.

Applying a bit of pressure, she asked, “Does this feel okay?”

She hadn’t even massaged Jiang Linhai before.
Yet here she was—doing it for him first.

Qin Shen responded with a faint “Mm,” his voice low, lazy, and magnetic—like he was about to fall asleep.

Jiang Si couldn’t help but think: if he hadn’t become a surgeon, he could’ve been a popular voice actor.

Qin Shen didn’t say another word—just silently accepted Jiang Si’s massage for a full half-hour, with no signs of wanting her to stop.

Her hands were getting sore. Was he planning to make her go as long as he had for her?

Sure, she could keep going, but massaging the same spot for too long… would his cervical spine even handle it?

She was just about to say something when Jiang Linhai, coming out for his night watch shift, caught sight of them and rubbed his eyes in shock.
“You two…?”

Jiang Si froze. Qin Shen calmly stood up and said matter-of-factly, “I’ve got a stiff neck. I asked Jiang Si to help treat it.”

Stiff neck or not—you really had to ask for a massage in the middle of the night?!

If Qin Shen didn’t have ulterior motives, Jiang Linhai would eat his own boot.

With x-ray-like suspicion, Jiang Linhai gave them both a long, thorough once-over.

Jiang Si hadn’t felt awkward before, but now it was hard not to.

What’s the big deal? It was just a massage.

She raised an eyebrow and reminded, “Dad, Uncle Lu is still waiting for you.”

Jiang Linhai gave Qin Shen a long, meaningful look before clearing his throat and saying stiffly,
“It’s getting late. You two should get some rest as well.”

Qin Shen looked at Jiang Si. “Alright.”

But Jiang Si had the distinct feeling… that he still wasn’t satisfied.

---

The next morning, Shen Baoying cornered Jiang Si.

“So? What happened between you two last night?”

Jiang Si laughed. “What are you imagining? It was just a massage. He openly asked me to do it in the living room—how bad could it be?”

Shen Baoying clearly didn’t buy it. “Then why didn’t he ask your dad? Why you? Xiao Shen is clearly into you. If you don’t feel the same, you should reject him directly.”

Honestly, Jiang Si wasn’t even sure how Qin Shen felt.

If he liked her, why did he always act so polite and distant?

But if he didn’t like her, why did he sometimes do things that felt so caring and intimate?

She rolled her eyes. “If I flat-out tell him I don’t like him, and it turns out I misunderstood, things would get really awkward.”

Shen Baoying was surprised. “No way. I really think he likes you.”

She paused. “Wait… you don’t like him?”

After all that last night—and she’s saying she has no feelings?

Shen Baoying didn’t believe it.

Jiang Si sighed. “Who has time for romance? Being single is way more peaceful.”

“Don’t worry, the human race isn’t going extinct anytime soon. I’ll still have options.”

Qin Shen, as a person, was a complete mystery to her. Falling for him? No chance.

Shen Baoying huffed and laughed. “I’ll remember you said that when it’s time for you to ‘pick’!”

After all, it was Jiang Si who had personally chased off those men with a gun yesterday.

---

Later, when Lu Zhifeng went to check the fish traps, he unexpectedly came across some cattails.

Cattail stalks and leaves, much like reeds, can be woven into mats and fans, used for papermaking, and the tender shoots are edible—considered a delicacy in Jiangsu and Zhejiang cuisine.

Cattail pollen, especially from the male flowers, is a commonly used traditional Chinese medicine known as pu huang. It’s great for stopping bleeding, relieving painful urination, and can even be used as seasoning for bread, pancakes, or muffins.

Cattail seed heads look like long brown sausages. When pulled apart, they reveal soft white fibers—great for making pillows, quilts, or stuffing for clothes. Warm and soft.

Lu Zhifeng planned to teach Niuniu how to use cattails and reeds to build shelters, make clothes, and craft fishing tools. He cut two large bundles and had just slung them over his shoulder when a sharp whistle suddenly sounded from the boat.

Followed by Niuniu’s panicked yell:
“Daddy! There’s a woman behind you!”

Lu Zhifeng raised his gun.

Moments later, a woman covered in reeds and mud appeared.

She had fair skin and delicate features—about the same age as Jiang Si.

She stared at Lu Zhifeng for a long time before mustering the courage to approach.

Seeing she wasn’t a direct threat, Lu Zhifeng gave her a cold warning:
“Leave.”

The woman smiled coyly and swayed her hips in a seductive gesture. “Big brother, I’ve got no one. Can you take me with you?”

Lu Zhifeng averted his gaze and lifted his bundles, striding toward the boat.

The woman saw from his clothes that he was part of the crew, and hurried to follow. “Wait for me, big brother!”

Lu Zhifeng walked fast. She had to use all her strength to catch up.

As she emerged from the reeds and caught sight of the yacht and steamships, her heart raced with excitement.

She was finally done living like a ghost among those filthy men.
Finally free.

Eager not to fall behind, she rushed forward—only to trip and fall face-first into the mud.

Lu Zhifeng was already back on the boat.

The woman curled up on the ground, pitifully sobbing.

A beauty in distress—any man would be moved.

But she waited and waited, cried her eyes dry—and still, no one came to help.

Night was falling. If she couldn’t get on that boat, she’d be in real danger.

She looked up—and saw Qin Shen holding a gun. Her eyes lit up.

She cupped her hands and shouted with all her strength:
“Big brother! Please take me in! I’ll do anything for you if you let me stay!”

This was the same woman who just called Lu Zhifeng “big brother.”

Jiang Linhai shot a sharp glance at Qin Shen. Jiang Si also turned to watch him—curious what he would do.

Qin Shen didn’t react at all. His expression was blank, as if she were invisible.

At that moment, Jiang Si suddenly realized:

Qin Shen really does treat her differently.

The woman was about to cry for real. So many men had fought over her in the past, yet not a single person on these boats cared.

She didn’t dare go back. Her gaze shifted to Jiang Si.

A woman—surely she’d be easier to win over.

“Big sister, please—I beg you, let me stay. I eat little and work hard. Whatever you want me to do, I’ll do it! I promise I’ll be obedient!”

Jiang Si smiled faintly.

“Then what if I tell you to go die?”