Chapter 37: Panic Drifting in the Middle of the Sea

Once everyone had returned to their senses after their initial surprise, Ye Yaodong headed inside to take a quick shower and gather his tools.

“Ah Qing, can you cook me a bowl of noodles? I need to head out early.”

“Oh.”

Lin Xiuqing immediately put down what she was doing and went to cook the noodles. She had already been informed last night that he planned to go to the deserted island to fish for clams, and of course, she was supportive.

The other two sisters-in-law were unaware that he was rushing off to fish after breakfast. Hearing him, they couldn’t help but roll their eyes, thinking he had finally learned to pitch in with the work, only to turn around and say he needed to eat and head out…

Ye Mother had initially thought about scolding him a bit but seeing the couple’s mutual agreement, and realizing that her rebellious son had already dashed into the house out of sight, she swallowed her words, muttering a few complaints instead.

After finishing his noodles, Ye Yaodong grabbed a bucket to pack his tools and stuffed a sack into his pocket before hurrying to the dock.

The women of the Ye family began rinsing rice and gathering vegetables. They needed to eat an early lunch today because they planned to fish for clams afterward. With the house construction starting tomorrow, the demand for food would be large, so they needed to dig for some sand clams to help reduce expenses.

Everyone was busy with their tasks, and no one noticed Ye Yaodong leaving with his fishing tools.

When Ye Yaodong arrived at the dock, Xiao Xiao and A Zheng were already there.

“Why are you two so fast?”

“Men shouldn’t complain about speed! We just got here a little earlier. Ah Guang went to start the boat.”

“Then wait for me. I’ll go buy some diesel.”

“We need diesel? Ah Guang didn’t mention it. I didn’t bring any money.”

A Zheng patted his pocket, “I didn’t bring any either…”

Ye Yaodong smiled. “No worries, I’ve got it. Just keep an eye on my bucket while I go buy it.”

Ah Guang was considerate enough not to mention that Ye Yaodong was paying for the boat rental; otherwise, they would’ve all brought some money.

There was a small shed near the dock that specialized in repairing boat machinery and also sold diesel. It wasn’t far, so Ye Yaodong bought just a dollar’s worth of diesel, enough for their trip. If there was any leftover, it could serve as a tip for the seller.

After purchasing the diesel, Xiao Xiao rushed over and said, “Is it ready? Ah Guang has moved the boat to the shore. As soon as you’re done buying, we can board.”

“Okay, let’s go.”

He carried a small jug of oil and followed them onto the boat. As soon as his foot hit the deck, he felt surprisingly fine; the slight rocking didn’t bother him, and he felt a bit more at ease.

He handed the diesel to Ah Guang, saying, “Pour it in. It’ll only take about ten minutes to reach the island, so I only bought one jug, which is enough for several trips.”

“Yep, that’s enough. Let’s set off!”

Before long, the engine started making a rhythmic sound, and the boat slowly pulled away from the shore. Everyone chatted casually, but as the boat drifted further into the open sea, Ye Yaodong’s expression grew increasingly pale.

Surrounded by water with only a small boat swaying in the middle of the ocean, he couldn’t help but think about how he might run out of energy and find himself helpless against the waves washing over him…

That suffocating feeling—he thought if he didn’t dwell on it, it wouldn’t affect him, but now, in the middle of the sea, it was hard to push those memories away.

Just a couple of days ago, while prying oysters near the rocky shore, he had been focused solely on the task at hand, and despite his legs being submerged in water, he hadn’t felt anxious. Now, drifting on the ocean made him feel uneasy.

Everyone around him was laughing and chatting, but A Zheng noticed that Ye Yaodong was sitting quietly and looked unwell. Surprised, he exclaimed, “Dongzi, what’s wrong? Damn, you’re not seasick, are you?”

“Seriously? You’re actually seasick?”

“How long have we been out? You’re exaggerating, right? Already feeling sick?”

The other two were just as astonished; it was hard to believe someone who lived by the sea would get seasick, especially right after heading out.

Ye Yaodong wiped the sweat from his forehead. “I only rode my grandpa’s boat when I was a kid; it’s been years. Don’t laugh at me—when are we getting to shore?”

Ah Guang looked at him, half amused and half exasperated. “We’re heading to that deserted island over there. It should take about ten minutes. Just hang in there; it won’t be long.”

Ye Yaodong nodded, but the panic was overwhelming.

The boat sped across the sea, sending ripples spreading outward, yet he dared not look at the horizon or close his eyes. He could only focus on the distant peaks, but it was no help; his face remained pale.

Feeling frustrated, Ye Yaodong lamented how he couldn’t die any other way but by drowning. How could he, a person who lived off the sea, make a living?

As they approached the island, his symptoms hadn’t improved at all. Gritting his teeth, he decided to take a bold step…

“What are you doing? Why are you taking off your clothes?” Ah Guang looked at him in confusion. “Going for a swim?”

“Are you really going to swim a few laps?” Xiao Xiao’s eyes lit up; it was a great idea. “I’ll join you; we can swim to the other side.”

A Zheng excitedly chimed in, “I want to jump in too! Let’s race to see who gets to the other side first!”

With that, both of them began stripping down, leaving only Ah Guang behind to man the boat. “Once we reach the island, I’ll jump in for a few laps too.”

Seeing their excitement eased Ye Yaodong’s mind. With them swimming alongside him, he was sure he wouldn’t drown. Fighting fire with fire, he hoped to overcome his fear of the ocean in this decisive moment.

“Just don’t swim too fast. Wait for me! If I cramp up and drown, I’ll come haunt you at midnight!”

A Zheng rolled his eyes. “You pretty boy—good looks but useless!”

“Even a pretty boy like me is someone you can’t envy.” After saying this, Ye Yaodong noticed they were quite close to the shore and jumped into the water first.

As soon as he hit the water, that familiar feeling of suffocation enveloped him instantly. He forgot how to swim and felt his mind go blank. His limbs flailed helplessly as his body sank to the ocean floor.

Meanwhile, Xiao Xiao and A Zheng, who were preparing to jump in, were shocked by his unusual behavior and his sinking form.

“Dongzi can’t swim, what’s happening?”

“Let’s go pull him up!”

With a splash, the two dove in after him, swimming toward Ye Yaodong, who was struggling with his eyes closed but showed no signs of swallowing water. They quickly brought him to the surface.

The rush of fresh air allowed him to catch his breath, and the feeling of being rescued was indescribably refreshing.

Opening his eyes, he felt their support keeping him afloat. It didn’t take long for him to regain his composure, starting to move again as some of his panic began to dissipate.

“What the hell? Why are you still sinking? Were you trying to meet the sea goddess?”

“I cramped up! The moment I jumped in, my leg seized up!”

Everyone: What a coincidence???

It’s like he knew this would happen in advance???