Chapter 91
Chapter 91: [Bonus Chapter for Nutrient Solution]
The big-eared fox glared fiercely: “Awoo?! Awoo awoo awoo!”
“Ying—!”
Pufferfish aren’t on an orca’s menu.
When Big White slapped the pufferfish onto the shore, it probably wasn’t for Lin Qianyu to eat, but for her to play with.
The pufferfish, still puffed up on land, stayed perfectly round and motionless.
Lin Qianyu hesitated, then said softly, “If I put the pufferfish back in the sea now, will the orca chase it and slap it out again?”
Big White might think it’s playing with her.
She poked the pufferfish—soft and springy, its skin tough. Pufferfish dishes are common on menus.
Its meat is tender, perfect for grilling or sashimi. The skin, blanched in hot water and dipped in soy sauce, is deliciously fresh.
But while tasty, its liver and ovaries are highly toxic, along with other poisonous organs. One misstep could be fatal.
Lin Qianyu didn’t have the means to handle a pufferfish safely. Poisoning would be a hassle.
She placed it on the beach, where waves would splash it with seawater. “Hang in there. I’ll send you back once the orcas leave.”
Pufferfish can survive six or seven hours out of water. The pod shouldn’t linger that long.
[Seeing it puffed up like that makes me feel bad. Just poke it to let some air out. I’m tearing up.]
[Pufferfish: I’m done with you guys.]
[Beaten by an orca in the sea, eaten by humans on land. Haha, what bad luck for this little pufferfish. Come to auntie’s bowl!]
…
“Ying?”
The orca in the water watched Lin Qianyu, motionless, just talking with her fingers, not tossing the pufferfish back to play. It tilted its head.
“Next time, I’ll bring you a ball, okay?” Lin Qianyu poked the pufferfish’s belly, still soft and puffed, not deflated yet.
If orcas liked slapping balls with their tails, she could buy a bunch of inflatable plastic ones in all colors.
They’d feel better to hit than a pufferfish.
The pufferfish, puffed up for ages, slowly started to deflate.
She’d planned to splash it with seawater to keep it comfortable, but when a wave hit, the deflated pufferfish wriggled nimbly and slipped back into the sea.
Seeing Big White hadn’t noticed, Lin Qianyu let it go.
*Slap!* Big White didn’t notice, but another orca waiting to play did. With a flick of its tail, the pufferfish, barely back in the water, flew out again.
Leaping from the sea, the orca slammed its tail, sending the puffed-up pufferfish crashing into the soft sand, leaving a dent.
This time, the pufferfish didn’t move.
Lin Qianyu: “…”
She pursed her lips, struggling to keep her mouth from curving up. Feigning calm, she said, “Sunbathe…” Pausing, she couldn’t suppress a laugh, her voice trembling as she finished, “…for a bit.”
No need for her advice—the pufferfish wasn’t even trying anymore.
Lin Qianyu took off her jacket. She’d swapped her sweater for the show’s outfit before coming to the beach.
Wool shrinks in water, sometimes drastically—adult clothes turning toddler-sized isn’t uncommon.
With only one spare outfit, she didn’t want to risk washing it.
Hanging her jacket on a tree, she carried food and waded into the sea.
The orca, chattering with “ying” sounds, swam over when it saw her enter.
“Don’t come yet.” Lin Qianyu moved slowly; the water barely reached her calves. An orca swimming here was too risky.
The food in her hand bobbed on the surface.
Feeling the distance was right, she tossed it toward Big White.
Big White leaped and caught it.
The splash from its landing hit her legs. She stepped back twice to steady herself.
The orca, food in mouth, dove to eat.
Lin Qianyu didn’t head back. Instead, she waded deeper, floating when she couldn’t touch the bottom, then dove, swimming a distance underwater.
The orca, mid-meal, noticed her dive. Dropping its barely-eaten food, it swam to her side, tail flicking.
“Ying…” Its pectoral fin brushed her head, circling above.
Lin Qianyu patted Big White’s snout, using it to push herself up to the surface. “Why aren’t you eating?”
Its dorsal fin broke the surface, circling her.
Clearly, it wanted to play, not eat.
The livestream drone above caught other orcas gathering toward Lin Qianyu.
[So many orcas!]
[If Big White had to punch each one, it’d take ages.]
[Wait—they don’t seem to be going for Lin-jie.]
As the orcas approached, they suddenly dove in sync, without coordination.
Big White, ready to fend them off, paused.
“Ying!”
Realizing something, it dove quickly.
Food grab!
Lin Qianyu wiped water from her face. “Taking you to see an orca food fight up close.”
She dove after them.
The barrage slowly filled with question marks.
Before anyone could type their questions, she surfaced. “Oh, forgot you can’t see. It’s probably not that interesting. I’ll check it out; don’t waste time on this.”
She dove again.
[???]
[I %$#…#]
[Blocked! No more message in a bottle!]
[Fine, play like that. Spread the word: *Wilderness* Season 2, Lin Qianyu doesn’t need votes!]
…
The underwater battle raged on.
The prey was caught in an orca’s jaws. Big White charged, smacking every orca it passed, even swatting a turtle with its tail.
It was all-out chaos.
Such tussles were common in the pod. The orcas, used to it, spun from a tail smack but quickly recovered, rejoining the fray.
Lin Qianyu sat on a high reef, where she could breathe by swimming up and see the orcas below.
Coral grew beneath, and orange-white clownfish curiously circled her.
Glancing at the finger-sized fish, she smiled and reached out.
The clownfish, still at first, darted away as her fingertip neared, but circled back after a loop.
Surfacing to breathe, she felt an itch on her fingertip. Lifting her hand, the orange color stood out.
A toothless fish bite—what’s that?
She tapped the clownfish’s head, dazing it underwater.
The orca fight was winding down. Big White, like a victorious warrior, reclaimed its food and ate quickly.
Suddenly, another orca charged, brushing past Big White.
Lin Qianyu, playing with the clownfish, didn’t notice until she stepped on an orca’s back. “Hm?” She paused, looking at Big White. “Big White…?”
The dorsal fin pressed against her lower back as the orca sped up.
“Ying—!” Big White’s call was louder, clearly annoyed.
The strong push nearly threw Lin Qianyu off.
Her orca-riding experience kicked in. She slid back, grabbing the dorsal fin—leaning back wouldn’t keep her stable.
Big White, cautious with her onboard, didn’t slap the other orca as usual, even when it overtook.
[Haha, what a human-snatching battle!]
[Big White: Let go of my human, you damn orca!]
[Laughed so hard—feels like picking up someone else’s cat on the street.]
[Without Lin-jie, Big White would’ve sent it to the Arctic.]
Big White cut in front of the orca, which dove. At slower speeds, Lin Qianyu let go of the fin.
She was still pushed back by the water.
“Ying!”
Big White called urgently, rushing to her while smacking the other orca, sending it spinning underwater.
It circled behind her, blocking, and slowly surfaced as she grabbed on.
Lin Qianyu exhaled, lying on Big White, patting it. “Done eating?”
Big White lifted its head.
Looking around, they’d drifted far from shore.
It was still early, so she didn’t rush back, playing with Big White in the water. “Do you know where there are lots of scallops and oysters?”
She’d checked earlier—the nearby shallows were picked clean.
With many guests nearby, this convenient food spot was frequented.
During rainy days, small animals hid in trees or burrows.
Smart wildlife chose high ground for burrows to avoid flooding.
When small animals were scarce and big ones hard to catch, shellfish were the go-to.
Big White didn’t answer right away, thinking, then nuzzled her.
Understanding, she grabbed its dorsal fin, sitting on its back.
Orcas can’t leave the sea or go far, but staying put is boring. Playful Big White, roaming the island’s waters, had seen what she wanted.
When it stopped, she didn’t know which shore of Grassland Island this was. The beach was small, overgrown with weeds.
The wild grass looked chaotic.
Following Big White down, she found not just scallops and oysters but heaps of kelp.
After days of meat, with wild leeks as her only veggie, she ignored the plump oysters and went for the kelp.
The seafood bag was lined with kelp first.
With her kitchen knife, she cut kelp from the base, bit by bit.
Cutting underwater couldn’t be rushed—haste made it harder.
After filling the bag, surfacing for air multiple times, she held up a thick piece. “Look.”
“This is half a kelp. The whole thing’s probably two or three meters.”
Kelp can grow over seven meters, but in shallow waters, this was impressive.
Thick, too—two or three times thicker than the knotted kelp in spicy hot pot.
“Ying—” Big White, not understanding, mimicked her.
When it opened its mouth, she stuffed in kelp. “Take a bite.”
Big White: “?”
“Haha!” Laughing at its confused look, she kissed it. “I’ll grab more. Let’s get back before noon.”
Big White understood, shaking its head. “Ying!”
---
Her bag was full.
She barely fit the knife in at the edge.
Sitting on Big White’s back, she kept the bag in front. “Big White, I might be gone for a bit.”
“Ying?”
The second season of the show was quietly nearing its end.
Online voting had closed.
In three days max, guests would head home.
Lin Qianyu planned to stay a few extra days, at least until Bo Zhao installed AC and a fridge in the cabin.
Still, she needed to tell Big White.
“I’m going to Rainforest Island first, then another island I haven’t visited.” She was already planning her vacation. “Might be back in two or three months?”
Time was tight, traveling between islands.
Hanging her backpack aside, she leaned down, smiling, patting Big White’s forehead. “Be good. We’ll meet again.”
Big White, thinking something, flicked its tail hard. “Ying!”
Find her!
“Find you?” Lin Qianyu laughed, agreeing. “Alright, when I’m back on Grassland Island, I’ll come play at the usual beach. How’s that?”
Big White agreed, clearly approving.
Back at the familiar beach, she didn’t take the stuff back but started a fire on the spot.
Kelp can be eaten raw, but she roasted it first. Even top-quality kelp has a fishy taste she didn’t like. Heating toned it down.
The pufferfish was gone; waves had erased its dent.
It probably slipped back during the orca fight.
She rolled kelp around oysters. With rice, mashed potatoes, peanuts, cilantro, and green onions, it’d be a perfect rice wrap.
Without those, she ate it with oysters.
Still tasty.
[As someone hopping between guest livestreams, Lin-jie’s here living peacefully, savoring food. Meanwhile, a few meters behind, Yu Lingyu and Hang Sisi are in chaos.]
[That little fox is kinda cute, though. First time seeing one like that.]
[Yes, yes! Those big ears—adorable!]
[Just don’t look at its face.]
…
Chewing kelp, which was tough and slow to eat, Lin Qianyu felt full but wasn’t. Noticing the barrage, she asked, “What fox?”
Since arriving, she hadn’t seen a grassland fox.
Big White was brawling in the shallows with the pod, their endless energy looking like play to humans.
Thinking, she called, “Big White! I’m checking out the fox. Back soon!”
“Ying!” Big White’s reply cut off as another orca pressed it down. Pushed underwater, it rammed back.
Lin Qianyu brushed sand off her clothes, following the barrage’s directions.
Still holding uneaten kelp, she nibbled it like a snack.
“Awoo, awoo!”
The small animal’s cries, mixed with angry growls and snarls, weren’t scary. The fox’s tired, muffled barks sounded exhausted.
Before seeing anyone, Yu Lingyu’s voice rang out. “Wait, wait… will this work? Don’t hurt it.”
Yin Youlin said, “No problem. Wrap it and smash it. Sisi, hold it down.”
Hang Sisi replied, “Got it.”
Lin Qianyu approached, seeing the three surrounding a small fox. From her angle, only its tail was visible. “What’re you guys doing?”
One fox, three people?
No wonder the barrage called it chaos.
The ground was littered with coconut bowls and crushed scallop shells, some with clear shoe prints from the recent rain.
The shelter’s leaves were torn off, its frame exposed, with two broken supports.
Lin Qianyu raised an eyebrow. “Director hasn’t called for departure, and you’re… dismantling?”
“Qianyu-jie,” Hang Sisi said, wiping sweat. “We didn’t wreck it. It did.”
She pointed at the fox. “Its head’s stuck in a jar. It’s been running blindly, crashing into stuff, freaking out, and clawing everything. It trashed the shelter.”
Luckily, the forecast showed clear skies until the show ended. Otherwise, they’d need a new shelter.
Sleeping in a wrecked one could lead to a cold—or worse, dropping out.
“Don’t worry. It’s still running around, so it’s got some fight left,” Lin Qianyu said, stepping forward. But with everyone occupied, she couldn’t find a way to help, so she watched.
The jar wasn’t big, likely for storing meat. The fox, smelling food, got stuck inside.
It wasn’t fat, its fur wasn’t fluffy, and it was nearly skin and bones.
But… the jar’s opening was tiny, barely big enough to squeeze into.
Lin Qianyu asked, “How’d it get in there?”
“Not sure. It was already stuck when we found it,” Yu Lingyu said, thinking if they’d caught it sooner, the shelter might’ve been saved.
Hang Sisi explained, “This fox lives nearby. We’ve seen it steal meat before. During the rain, we stocked up on seafood, stored in jars in a cool spot. We figured it couldn’t eat much, so we let it take some.”
Today, with the rain stopped, they planned to tidy up and restock. Their food was nearly gone, and leftovers weren’t fresh, so they went for new supplies.
In that brief moment, the fox sniffed out food.
It kept awooing loudly.
Hang Sisi looked up. “Qianyu-jie, what’s it saying?”
“Hm…” Lin Qianyu squatted, listening as the fox’s cries grew rapid. She squinted. “Not exactly polite words.”
[Translation: It’s cursing up a storm.]
[Man, I thought that pitiful voice was it crying like Lin Daiyu. Turns out it’s Lu Zhishen swinging a hammer.]
[You’d curse worse if your head was stuck in that jar.]
Air could get through the gap, so it wouldn’t suffocate soon, but it couldn’t be comfortable long-term.
Hang Sisi: “…”
Saving you and getting cursed out? Damn fox!
Yin Youlin, holding a rock, eyed the jar, unsure where to strike. “This jar’s been with us nearly half a month. Time to say goodbye.”
Found in the director’s treasure chest, it was useful for storage and soup, but for the fox, he’d reluctantly smash it.
Lin Qianyu handed him her jacket. “Cover it.”
Porcelain shards are sharp.
“Okay.” In this fox-saving moment, Yin Youlin didn’t stand on ceremony. Their clothes were tattered or broken.
They’d planned to wrap the jar before smashing, but the girls had only their current outfits, and Yin Youlin’s was in rags. He’d braced to smash it barehanded.
With the jacket, it was easier.
Yu Lingyu held the jar, Hang Sisi pinned the fox’s paws.
Yin Youlin pressed the fox’s back with one hand, raising the rock with the other—swift, precise, and hard!
—“Awoo!”
The rock landed squarely on the fox’s head.
It was like he aimed for it.
The fox struggled, claws flailing, breaking free and running, awooing loudly.
Yin Youlin, rock in hand, looked awkward. “I-I was aiming for the jar.”
But hitting the jar’s edge somehow landed on the fox’s head.
The fox bolted, shaking off the jacket, rolling on the ground, kicking the jar with its hind legs.
As Yin Youlin moved to try again, the fox freed itself, kicking the jar far away.
Wet from the jar’s water, its face soaked, the fox glared at Yin Youlin, eyes sliding to the rock in his hand.
Yin Youlin: “…”
It wasn’t me, don’t misunderstand.
Furious, the fox barked and cursed, crouching but not biting, just yelling. “Awoo awoo awoo! Awoo woo?!”
[Help, hahaha, I’m dying.]
[Big-eared fox: Told you you’d miss—let me do it myself!]
[Truly, rely on no one but yourself.]
Yin Youlin hid the rock behind him. “It-it was an accident.”
The fox wasn’t having it. “Ah!”
The gray-brown fox looked pretty fierce.
Lin Qianyu coughed lightly, trying to explain. “He was trying to save you.”
Though, maybe not the best way.
Smashing the jar was the simplest, quickest solution.
…If the rock hadn’t hit the fox’s head, it would’ve been fine.
Especially since the angry fox freed itself after the hit, making the rescue attempt a bit awkward.
---
*Author’s note: Here it is~*
The big-eared fox glared fiercely: “Awoo?! Awoo awoo awoo!”
“Ying—!”
Pufferfish aren’t on an orca’s menu.
When Big White slapped the pufferfish onto the shore, it probably wasn’t for Lin Qianyu to eat, but for her to play with.
The pufferfish, still puffed up on land, stayed perfectly round and motionless.
Lin Qianyu hesitated, then said softly, “If I put the pufferfish back in the sea now, will the orca chase it and slap it out again?”
Big White might think it’s playing with her.
She poked the pufferfish—soft and springy, its skin tough. Pufferfish dishes are common on menus.
Its meat is tender, perfect for grilling or sashimi. The skin, blanched in hot water and dipped in soy sauce, is deliciously fresh.
But while tasty, its liver and ovaries are highly toxic, along with other poisonous organs. One misstep could be fatal.
Lin Qianyu didn’t have the means to handle a pufferfish safely. Poisoning would be a hassle.
She placed it on the beach, where waves would splash it with seawater. “Hang in there. I’ll send you back once the orcas leave.”
Pufferfish can survive six or seven hours out of water. The pod shouldn’t linger that long.
[Seeing it puffed up like that makes me feel bad. Just poke it to let some air out. I’m tearing up.]
[Pufferfish: I’m done with you guys.]
[Beaten by an orca in the sea, eaten by humans on land. Haha, what bad luck for this little pufferfish. Come to auntie’s bowl!]
…
“Ying?”
The orca in the water watched Lin Qianyu, motionless, just talking with her fingers, not tossing the pufferfish back to play. It tilted its head.
“Next time, I’ll bring you a ball, okay?” Lin Qianyu poked the pufferfish’s belly, still soft and puffed, not deflated yet.
If orcas liked slapping balls with their tails, she could buy a bunch of inflatable plastic ones in all colors.
They’d feel better to hit than a pufferfish.
The pufferfish, puffed up for ages, slowly started to deflate.
She’d planned to splash it with seawater to keep it comfortable, but when a wave hit, the deflated pufferfish wriggled nimbly and slipped back into the sea.
Seeing Big White hadn’t noticed, Lin Qianyu let it go.
*Slap!* Big White didn’t notice, but another orca waiting to play did. With a flick of its tail, the pufferfish, barely back in the water, flew out again.
Leaping from the sea, the orca slammed its tail, sending the puffed-up pufferfish crashing into the soft sand, leaving a dent.
This time, the pufferfish didn’t move.
Lin Qianyu: “…”
She pursed her lips, struggling to keep her mouth from curving up. Feigning calm, she said, “Sunbathe…” Pausing, she couldn’t suppress a laugh, her voice trembling as she finished, “…for a bit.”
No need for her advice—the pufferfish wasn’t even trying anymore.
Lin Qianyu took off her jacket. She’d swapped her sweater for the show’s outfit before coming to the beach.
Wool shrinks in water, sometimes drastically—adult clothes turning toddler-sized isn’t uncommon.
With only one spare outfit, she didn’t want to risk washing it.
Hanging her jacket on a tree, she carried food and waded into the sea.
The orca, chattering with “ying” sounds, swam over when it saw her enter.
“Don’t come yet.” Lin Qianyu moved slowly; the water barely reached her calves. An orca swimming here was too risky.
The food in her hand bobbed on the surface.
Feeling the distance was right, she tossed it toward Big White.
Big White leaped and caught it.
The splash from its landing hit her legs. She stepped back twice to steady herself.
The orca, food in mouth, dove to eat.
Lin Qianyu didn’t head back. Instead, she waded deeper, floating when she couldn’t touch the bottom, then dove, swimming a distance underwater.
The orca, mid-meal, noticed her dive. Dropping its barely-eaten food, it swam to her side, tail flicking.
“Ying…” Its pectoral fin brushed her head, circling above.
Lin Qianyu patted Big White’s snout, using it to push herself up to the surface. “Why aren’t you eating?”
Its dorsal fin broke the surface, circling her.
Clearly, it wanted to play, not eat.
The livestream drone above caught other orcas gathering toward Lin Qianyu.
[So many orcas!]
[If Big White had to punch each one, it’d take ages.]
[Wait—they don’t seem to be going for Lin-jie.]
As the orcas approached, they suddenly dove in sync, without coordination.
Big White, ready to fend them off, paused.
“Ying!”
Realizing something, it dove quickly.
Food grab!
Lin Qianyu wiped water from her face. “Taking you to see an orca food fight up close.”
She dove after them.
The barrage slowly filled with question marks.
Before anyone could type their questions, she surfaced. “Oh, forgot you can’t see. It’s probably not that interesting. I’ll check it out; don’t waste time on this.”
She dove again.
[???]
[I %$#…#]
[Blocked! No more message in a bottle!]
[Fine, play like that. Spread the word: *Wilderness* Season 2, Lin Qianyu doesn’t need votes!]
…
The underwater battle raged on.
The prey was caught in an orca’s jaws. Big White charged, smacking every orca it passed, even swatting a turtle with its tail.
It was all-out chaos.
Such tussles were common in the pod. The orcas, used to it, spun from a tail smack but quickly recovered, rejoining the fray.
Lin Qianyu sat on a high reef, where she could breathe by swimming up and see the orcas below.
Coral grew beneath, and orange-white clownfish curiously circled her.
Glancing at the finger-sized fish, she smiled and reached out.
The clownfish, still at first, darted away as her fingertip neared, but circled back after a loop.
Surfacing to breathe, she felt an itch on her fingertip. Lifting her hand, the orange color stood out.
A toothless fish bite—what’s that?
She tapped the clownfish’s head, dazing it underwater.
The orca fight was winding down. Big White, like a victorious warrior, reclaimed its food and ate quickly.
Suddenly, another orca charged, brushing past Big White.
Lin Qianyu, playing with the clownfish, didn’t notice until she stepped on an orca’s back. “Hm?” She paused, looking at Big White. “Big White…?”
The dorsal fin pressed against her lower back as the orca sped up.
“Ying—!” Big White’s call was louder, clearly annoyed.
The strong push nearly threw Lin Qianyu off.
Her orca-riding experience kicked in. She slid back, grabbing the dorsal fin—leaning back wouldn’t keep her stable.
Big White, cautious with her onboard, didn’t slap the other orca as usual, even when it overtook.
[Haha, what a human-snatching battle!]
[Big White: Let go of my human, you damn orca!]
[Laughed so hard—feels like picking up someone else’s cat on the street.]
[Without Lin-jie, Big White would’ve sent it to the Arctic.]
Big White cut in front of the orca, which dove. At slower speeds, Lin Qianyu let go of the fin.
She was still pushed back by the water.
“Ying!”
Big White called urgently, rushing to her while smacking the other orca, sending it spinning underwater.
It circled behind her, blocking, and slowly surfaced as she grabbed on.
Lin Qianyu exhaled, lying on Big White, patting it. “Done eating?”
Big White lifted its head.
Looking around, they’d drifted far from shore.
It was still early, so she didn’t rush back, playing with Big White in the water. “Do you know where there are lots of scallops and oysters?”
She’d checked earlier—the nearby shallows were picked clean.
With many guests nearby, this convenient food spot was frequented.
During rainy days, small animals hid in trees or burrows.
Smart wildlife chose high ground for burrows to avoid flooding.
When small animals were scarce and big ones hard to catch, shellfish were the go-to.
Big White didn’t answer right away, thinking, then nuzzled her.
Understanding, she grabbed its dorsal fin, sitting on its back.
Orcas can’t leave the sea or go far, but staying put is boring. Playful Big White, roaming the island’s waters, had seen what she wanted.
When it stopped, she didn’t know which shore of Grassland Island this was. The beach was small, overgrown with weeds.
The wild grass looked chaotic.
Following Big White down, she found not just scallops and oysters but heaps of kelp.
After days of meat, with wild leeks as her only veggie, she ignored the plump oysters and went for the kelp.
The seafood bag was lined with kelp first.
With her kitchen knife, she cut kelp from the base, bit by bit.
Cutting underwater couldn’t be rushed—haste made it harder.
After filling the bag, surfacing for air multiple times, she held up a thick piece. “Look.”
“This is half a kelp. The whole thing’s probably two or three meters.”
Kelp can grow over seven meters, but in shallow waters, this was impressive.
Thick, too—two or three times thicker than the knotted kelp in spicy hot pot.
“Ying—” Big White, not understanding, mimicked her.
When it opened its mouth, she stuffed in kelp. “Take a bite.”
Big White: “?”
“Haha!” Laughing at its confused look, she kissed it. “I’ll grab more. Let’s get back before noon.”
Big White understood, shaking its head. “Ying!”
---
Her bag was full.
She barely fit the knife in at the edge.
Sitting on Big White’s back, she kept the bag in front. “Big White, I might be gone for a bit.”
“Ying?”
The second season of the show was quietly nearing its end.
Online voting had closed.
In three days max, guests would head home.
Lin Qianyu planned to stay a few extra days, at least until Bo Zhao installed AC and a fridge in the cabin.
Still, she needed to tell Big White.
“I’m going to Rainforest Island first, then another island I haven’t visited.” She was already planning her vacation. “Might be back in two or three months?”
Time was tight, traveling between islands.
Hanging her backpack aside, she leaned down, smiling, patting Big White’s forehead. “Be good. We’ll meet again.”
Big White, thinking something, flicked its tail hard. “Ying!”
Find her!
“Find you?” Lin Qianyu laughed, agreeing. “Alright, when I’m back on Grassland Island, I’ll come play at the usual beach. How’s that?”
Big White agreed, clearly approving.
Back at the familiar beach, she didn’t take the stuff back but started a fire on the spot.
Kelp can be eaten raw, but she roasted it first. Even top-quality kelp has a fishy taste she didn’t like. Heating toned it down.
The pufferfish was gone; waves had erased its dent.
It probably slipped back during the orca fight.
She rolled kelp around oysters. With rice, mashed potatoes, peanuts, cilantro, and green onions, it’d be a perfect rice wrap.
Without those, she ate it with oysters.
Still tasty.
[As someone hopping between guest livestreams, Lin-jie’s here living peacefully, savoring food. Meanwhile, a few meters behind, Yu Lingyu and Hang Sisi are in chaos.]
[That little fox is kinda cute, though. First time seeing one like that.]
[Yes, yes! Those big ears—adorable!]
[Just don’t look at its face.]
…
Chewing kelp, which was tough and slow to eat, Lin Qianyu felt full but wasn’t. Noticing the barrage, she asked, “What fox?”
Since arriving, she hadn’t seen a grassland fox.
Big White was brawling in the shallows with the pod, their endless energy looking like play to humans.
Thinking, she called, “Big White! I’m checking out the fox. Back soon!”
“Ying!” Big White’s reply cut off as another orca pressed it down. Pushed underwater, it rammed back.
Lin Qianyu brushed sand off her clothes, following the barrage’s directions.
Still holding uneaten kelp, she nibbled it like a snack.
“Awoo, awoo!”
The small animal’s cries, mixed with angry growls and snarls, weren’t scary. The fox’s tired, muffled barks sounded exhausted.
Before seeing anyone, Yu Lingyu’s voice rang out. “Wait, wait… will this work? Don’t hurt it.”
Yin Youlin said, “No problem. Wrap it and smash it. Sisi, hold it down.”
Hang Sisi replied, “Got it.”
Lin Qianyu approached, seeing the three surrounding a small fox. From her angle, only its tail was visible. “What’re you guys doing?”
One fox, three people?
No wonder the barrage called it chaos.
The ground was littered with coconut bowls and crushed scallop shells, some with clear shoe prints from the recent rain.
The shelter’s leaves were torn off, its frame exposed, with two broken supports.
Lin Qianyu raised an eyebrow. “Director hasn’t called for departure, and you’re… dismantling?”
“Qianyu-jie,” Hang Sisi said, wiping sweat. “We didn’t wreck it. It did.”
She pointed at the fox. “Its head’s stuck in a jar. It’s been running blindly, crashing into stuff, freaking out, and clawing everything. It trashed the shelter.”
Luckily, the forecast showed clear skies until the show ended. Otherwise, they’d need a new shelter.
Sleeping in a wrecked one could lead to a cold—or worse, dropping out.
“Don’t worry. It’s still running around, so it’s got some fight left,” Lin Qianyu said, stepping forward. But with everyone occupied, she couldn’t find a way to help, so she watched.
The jar wasn’t big, likely for storing meat. The fox, smelling food, got stuck inside.
It wasn’t fat, its fur wasn’t fluffy, and it was nearly skin and bones.
But… the jar’s opening was tiny, barely big enough to squeeze into.
Lin Qianyu asked, “How’d it get in there?”
“Not sure. It was already stuck when we found it,” Yu Lingyu said, thinking if they’d caught it sooner, the shelter might’ve been saved.
Hang Sisi explained, “This fox lives nearby. We’ve seen it steal meat before. During the rain, we stocked up on seafood, stored in jars in a cool spot. We figured it couldn’t eat much, so we let it take some.”
Today, with the rain stopped, they planned to tidy up and restock. Their food was nearly gone, and leftovers weren’t fresh, so they went for new supplies.
In that brief moment, the fox sniffed out food.
It kept awooing loudly.
Hang Sisi looked up. “Qianyu-jie, what’s it saying?”
“Hm…” Lin Qianyu squatted, listening as the fox’s cries grew rapid. She squinted. “Not exactly polite words.”
[Translation: It’s cursing up a storm.]
[Man, I thought that pitiful voice was it crying like Lin Daiyu. Turns out it’s Lu Zhishen swinging a hammer.]
[You’d curse worse if your head was stuck in that jar.]
Air could get through the gap, so it wouldn’t suffocate soon, but it couldn’t be comfortable long-term.
Hang Sisi: “…”
Saving you and getting cursed out? Damn fox!
Yin Youlin, holding a rock, eyed the jar, unsure where to strike. “This jar’s been with us nearly half a month. Time to say goodbye.”
Found in the director’s treasure chest, it was useful for storage and soup, but for the fox, he’d reluctantly smash it.
Lin Qianyu handed him her jacket. “Cover it.”
Porcelain shards are sharp.
“Okay.” In this fox-saving moment, Yin Youlin didn’t stand on ceremony. Their clothes were tattered or broken.
They’d planned to wrap the jar before smashing, but the girls had only their current outfits, and Yin Youlin’s was in rags. He’d braced to smash it barehanded.
With the jacket, it was easier.
Yu Lingyu held the jar, Hang Sisi pinned the fox’s paws.
Yin Youlin pressed the fox’s back with one hand, raising the rock with the other—swift, precise, and hard!
—“Awoo!”
The rock landed squarely on the fox’s head.
It was like he aimed for it.
The fox struggled, claws flailing, breaking free and running, awooing loudly.
Yin Youlin, rock in hand, looked awkward. “I-I was aiming for the jar.”
But hitting the jar’s edge somehow landed on the fox’s head.
The fox bolted, shaking off the jacket, rolling on the ground, kicking the jar with its hind legs.
As Yin Youlin moved to try again, the fox freed itself, kicking the jar far away.
Wet from the jar’s water, its face soaked, the fox glared at Yin Youlin, eyes sliding to the rock in his hand.
Yin Youlin: “…”
It wasn’t me, don’t misunderstand.
Furious, the fox barked and cursed, crouching but not biting, just yelling. “Awoo awoo awoo! Awoo woo?!”
[Help, hahaha, I’m dying.]
[Big-eared fox: Told you you’d miss—let me do it myself!]
[Truly, rely on no one but yourself.]
Yin Youlin hid the rock behind him. “It-it was an accident.”
The fox wasn’t having it. “Ah!”
The gray-brown fox looked pretty fierce.
Lin Qianyu coughed lightly, trying to explain. “He was trying to save you.”
Though, maybe not the best way.
Smashing the jar was the simplest, quickest solution.
…If the rock hadn’t hit the fox’s head, it would’ve been fine.
Especially since the angry fox freed itself after the hit, making the rescue attempt a bit awkward.
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*Author’s note: Here it is~*
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