Chapter 52: Indifferent, He Will Be More Proactive
Xie Shibai recalled that ever since meeting Lu Ciheng, the number of times he felt speechless had risen linearly.
He pursed his lips lightly and pushed Lu Ciheng away with his hand. “What is there to take responsibility for?”
It was just an accident, not something done with subjective intent.
Lu Cihengās gaze dimmed slightly. Still feeling the lingering presence of Xie Shibaiās fingertips, the corners of his lips pressed down like a dejected puppy, his black eyes pitiful. “Teacher Xie, you accept me and then discard me.”
Xie Shibai stared at Lu Ciheng for a few seconds, and an inexplicable agitation welled up in his heart again.
He had clearly just calmed down, but the desire for physical contact surged once more, coming on aggressively.
His fingers curled slightly. It was somewhat difficult to speak up and say he was feeling unwell.
He had just pushed the man away.
Lu Ciheng asked softly, “Body feeling uncomfortable again?”
Xie Shibai turned his face away. “No.”
Lu Ciheng knew Xie Shibai always said one thing but meant another. With the corners of his lips hooking up, he opened his arms. “Let’s hug.”
Xie Shibaiās fingertips curled. He stared at Lu Cihengās embrace, pausing for a few seconds at the thought of initiating contact.
Lu Ciheng let out a low sigh, reached out, and pulled Xie Shibai into his arms. The broad embrace held him firmly. Resting his chin in the crook of Xie Shibai’s neck, feeling the soft contact in his arms, his palm stroked Xie Shibaiās back as if to soothe him.
It didn’t matter. He would be more proactive.
Early the next morning, the production team told everyone to prepare for clam digging.
Since none of the four groups grew up by the seaside, they relied entirely on app searches when buying gear. The online recommendations for clam digging equipment were varied and all looked very useful.
However, their funds were limited, so they could only reduce it to a few essentials. To save money, they didn’t buy professional clam digging shoes, substituting them with cheaper rain boots.
Mu Zhenzhen looked at the few pairs of rain boots with retro floral patterns and couldn’t help asking, “Will these work? Won’t water get in?”
Su Xingran also sighed with worry. “No choice. These rain boots were on sale, twenty yuan for three pairs. I bargained with the lady to give us four pairs. Forty yuan for eight pairs, a total steal. Those clam digging shoes are fifty yuan a pair.”
Mu Zhenzhen gasped. She hadn’t thought much of it before, but now the thought of that little bit of living expenses gave her a headache. “That expensive? Then let’s wear rain boots.”
Xu Xiangming calculated the accounts. For the buckets needed for digging, they found ready-made ones in the cabin and cobbled some together. Unlike the tents for mountain climbing, clam digging items had high substitutability, so they didn’t spend much money buying everything.
[Wow, so thrifty.]
[So poor hahahaha.]
[No choice. Living expenses were low to begin with. If they bought good stuff, there wouldn’t be enough for everyone, and they’d be drinking the northwest wind tomorrow.]
[But this group is really good at saving. Put this in last season, and they would have spent it all in two days and started fighting hahahaha.]
[There are those who can’t save too. Look at LY, he keeps looking at the expensive stuff. It’s just that he doesn’t control the money, so he can’t do anything about it.]
[My two brothers are teasing the dog again.]
[Where? Where? Why didn’t I see it?]
The production team had confirmed the tide times in advance and set a schedule for the activity. Since there were sea fishing and whale watching segments in the afternoon, the morning clam digging time was compressed, and the low tide window was short.
The four groups set off carrying their tools. The receding beach was very close, and since it was everyone’s first time clam digging, they all went eagerly and quickly.
The potato puppy followed Xie Shibai, shaking its steps and running joyfully. It hadn’t played enough yesterday; a puppy raised in the mountains was curious about everything on the beach.
But Xie Shibai didn’t let it go down to the shore to prevent it from rolling in mud.
However, a puppy couldn’t be watched forever. While Xie Shibai and Lu Ciheng were shoveling sand, the potato puppy made a leap of faith, landing with a splat on the beach.
Its smooth fur was instantly soaked.
Staring eagerly at a crab crawling on the beach, it chased after it with paws stepping messily. When it fell, its fur was covered in water and sand.
Lu Ciheng noticed the scene right then. He clicked his tongue. “Can we still keep this dog?”
Xie Shibai also saw the puppy covered in mud. “…”
It seemed the round head wasn’t cute anymore.
He was helpless, but he knew puppies couldn’t be controlled. Nothing to be done.
Lu Ciheng called out with a smile, “Teacher Xie.”
Xie Shibai stopped shoveling sand and looked up. “What is it?”
Lu Cihengās gaze rested on Xie Shibai. For a moment, he felt this scene was like a cat playing in the sand. With a smile on his face, he asked, “Am I the cleanest puppy you’ve ever raised?”
[I give up. Brother, you started simping with zero startup frames!]
[Laughing to death. This sentence is not surprising at all.]
[Haven’t LCH fans gotten used to their brother’s simp behavior yet?]
[Don’t say he’s a simp. I suspect he’d even enjoy it if he saw everyone calling him a simp.]
[After all, being Xie Shibai’s simp is just human nature.]
Xie Shibai was already used to Lu Cihengās shocking words. He didn’t reply, but instead called out, “Bobi.”
The dirty, chubby little dog chasing the crab instantly perked up its ears. After confirming it was being called, it barked excitedly and rushed back.
Xie Shibai calmly pointed a finger at Lu Ciheng. “Find him.”
The potato puppy braked sharply, turned, and understood the command very cleverly. Its dirty, chubby body rushed toward Lu Ciheng like a small cannonball.
Lu Ciheng took half a step back but still wasn’t spared.
With a splat, it crashed into Lu Cihengās leg, its butt wiggling and tail wagging. The short little tail acted like a small fan, sending mud spots flying everywhere.
Places not covered by the rain boots were splattered with a lot of flying sand.
Lu Ciheng: “…”
[Letting out a loud laugh hahahaha.]
[LMAO, are you still clean, Dog Lu?]
[I never realized Teacher Xie’s personality was so interesting before hahaha.]
[Like a cat whose prank succeeded!]
[Cat-casting is so great!]
Xie Shibai hooked his lips slightly, his tone unhurried and ambiguous as he spat out two words: “Dirty dog.”
It was unclear if he was talking about the dirty potato puppy or Lu Ciheng, who had been dirtied by the potato puppy.
[Isn’t scolding him a reward?!]
[Teacher Xie, scold me! Don’t let him enjoy the scolding.]
[So spicy, hiss hiss!]
Lu Ciheng chuckled lightly and approached Xie Shibai. The dirty puppy followed Lu Ciheng towards Xie Shibai, thinking it was a game, stepping cheerfully through the water.
Xie Shibaiās eyes narrowed slightly. With a bad premonition, he abandoned the half-shoveled sand and turned to move away.
The next second, a strong arm scooped him up, directly circling Xie Shibaiās waist and stopping his attempt to leave.
Xie Shibai could catch the sound of puppy paws stepping on the wet sand, getting closer and closer.
Lu Ciheng hugged him tightly, asking mischievously, “Teacher Xie, where are you going?”
Xie Shibai watched helplessly as the puppyās propeller-like tail flung sand onto his legs too.
Lu Cihengās lips hooked into a smile. “Now we are the same.”
Xie Shibai raised an eyebrow, refusing to suffer a loss. He lifted his foot and stepped on Lu Cihengās foot without holding back. “Who is the same as you?”
“Hissā” Lu Ciheng didn’t let go, acting pitiful. “Teacher Xie, my foot is broken by you. You have to take responsibility for me. I can only rely on you for the rest of my life.”
Xie Shibai: “…”
Give him an inch and he takes a mile.
[I beg you two, go fight in bed.]
[No wonder rumors said they didn’t get along before…]
[Who can look at this and think they have a good relationship?]
[Thought they were destined archenemies, turns out…]
[Others are couples; you two are on the Clash Lane, right?]
[Laughing to death, two elementary schoolers.]
While other groups were furiously digging clams and picking up crabsāgetting mud on their clothes because they worked so muchāXie Shibai and Lu Ciheng were directing Bobi to fling mud spots on each other.
This resulted in the “Model Worker Group,” Mu Zhenzhen and Xu Xiangming, digging a full bucket while they only had half a bucket.
Fortunately, there were those with even less than them.
Halfway through the clam digging time, Xie Shibai frowned and went back to the rest area on the shore to sit down.
Lu Ciheng put down his tools and immediately asked, “What’s wrong? Tired?”
Xie Shibai shook his head. “Water got in.”
The rain boots were sale items, not specifically for clam digging. Walking was inconvenient, and the boot shaft wasn’t high. When walking in deeper areas, water would get in, bringing sand with it, which easily abraded the feet when stepped on.
“Let me see.” Lu Ciheng knelt on one knee in front of Xie Shibai, his palm grasping his calf to take off the rain boot.
Xie Shibai was stunned for a few seconds. He subconsciously wanted to pull his leg back, but his ankle was firmly held by the palm with thin calluses.
Lu Ciheng said softly, “Don’t move, I’ll wipe it clean for you.”
He pulled out a clean tissue, lowered his eyes, and seriously wiped the sand off Xie Shibaiās foot.
Xie Shibaiās gaze rested on Lu Ciheng, and he zoned out for a few seconds.
The person in front of him naturally placed himself in a subordinate position, making one unable to extricate themselves from the growing desire for control.
Xie Shibaiās fingers curled slightly, suppressing the inexplicable emotions surging in his heart.
After wiping it clean, Lu Ciheng cleaned the rain boot as well, then put it back on Xie Shibai. He looked up with a smile on his face. “Done.”
[You two really… one second you’re fighting, the next second it’s warm again.]
[CP fans have fainted from sweetness. What kind of premium goods are these?]
Lu Ciheng reminded him, “The tide is coming in soon. I’ll go bring the bucket and Bobi back. Teacher Xie, you rest a while.”
The production team was also urging everyone to get ashore quickly.
Xie Shibai gave a soft “En” and watched Lu Ciheng return to the shallows.
Lu Ciheng, heading back to get the puppy, happened to run into Su Xingran and Li You walking ashore.
Su Xingran glanced at Xie Shibai sitting alone on the shore. His eyes lit up, but for the sake of appearances, he greeted Lu Ciheng first.
Li You stopped. Looking at the bucket full of seafood beside Lu Ciheng, he immediately said, “Brother Lu, I’ll help you carry it.”
Lu Ciheng looked indifferent. He bypassed Li You to grab the dirty little dog rolling in the water. “No need.”
Li You still wanted to help, but the chubby puppy lunged at the edge of the bucket. Its dirty appearance scared him into taking half a step back. He almost knocked over the bucket full of small seafood, hurriedly steadying it before snatching it up first.
“Why is it so dirty?” Li You couldn’t help saying.
Lu Ciheng had no patience. Holding the little local dog by the scruff of its neck with one hand, he extended the other. “Give it here.”
Meeting Lu Cihengās icy expression, Li You hesitated for a few seconds before handing the plastic bucket back.
Lu Ciheng accepted the bucket with a cold face, carrying the dirty potato puppy in one hand as he walked back.
On the shore, Xie Shibaiās brow furrowed. His gaze swept over Li You, then landed on Lu Cihengās hand carrying the bucket. An inexplicable irritation rose in his heart.
He somewhat hated Lu Ciheng having contact with other people.
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