Curled up beneath the rumpled silk quilt, Ke Yujia had her shoulders drawn in as she slept on. Her throat was so hoarse that she could only make faint little hums.
Su Bai put on a short-sleeved shirt and athletic shorts, then pulled the quilt up over her, covering her snow-white, rounded shoulders.
In the master bedroom next door, Zhou Jialu was sleeping just as soundly on the large bed. Her two long, shapely legs were slanted out from beneath the thin blanket, and she clearly hadn’t even recovered the strength to turn over.
After washing up, Su Bai took his room card and left the suite.
The elevator descended slowly. When the metal doors slid open, a salty sea breeze rushed toward him, accompanied by the distant roar of waves crashing against the rocks.
Su Bai followed the smooth stone walkway along the waterfront, his steps light and steady.
With a nonhuman physique rated at 170 points, his metabolism was astonishingly fast. The small amount of energy he had expended the night before had been fully restored after a single night’s sleep, and his limbs were once again filled with strength.
The sea breeze tugged at his shirt.
Around the bend ahead, a lithe, athletic figure came running toward him on the rubber track.
The woman wore a tight gray quick-dry tank top and black stretch shorts, her neat high ponytail bouncing behind her.
Every stride was powerful, drawing sleek lines along her long legs.
Fine beads of sweat glistened across her flat stomach.
It was Yu Ou.
Yu Ou had been running at a steady pace, but when she glanced ahead while adjusting her breathing, she suddenly came to a stop.
The soles of her shoes scraped sharply against the rubber track.
She wiped the sweat from her forehead and stared at Su Bai approaching from the opposite direction, her throat bobbing slightly.
She still remembered clearly what Zhou Jialu had said at the food stall the night before—“Make sure you properly reward the hero of the day”—as well as the way Ke Yujia’s face had turned bright red with embarrassment.
On top of that, they had spent a full two hours fooling around in the yacht’s lower cabin during the day. Any other young, vigorous man would have been lying in bed with an aching back today, let alone getting up early for a stroll.
Yet Su Bai’s complexion was rosy, his eyes clear and bright, and his stride steady and broad. His entire body radiated astonishing vitality.
Yu Ou’s heart began to race. She was so shaken by his inhuman constitution that she couldn’t say a word for a moment.
“Morning, Coach Yu. You’re out for a run pretty early.”
Su Bai greeted her first, wearing a relaxed smile.
Yu Ou came back to herself, drew in a deep breath of sea air to suppress her pounding heart, and quickly walked over to him.
“Boss Su… you’re actually up this early?”
She looked him up and down, her words laced with curiosity. “What about Miss Zhou and Little Yujia? Didn’t they come down for a walk with you?”
“They’re exhausted. They’re still sleeping it off in the suite.”
Su Bai smiled and answered as calmly as ever.
Yu Ou’s heart gave another jump.
He had worn two beautiful women out to the point that they couldn’t even get out of bed, yet he himself looked completely fine and had come out to enjoy the sea breeze.
His physical fitness was simply absurd. In all the professional sailing teams and strength-and-track clubs she had encountered, she had never seen anyone with stamina like his.
“Boss Su, your physique really is in a league of its own.”
After catching her breath, Yu Ou raised a hand to wipe the sweat from her neck, revealing her pale, well-defined collarbones. “I thought you’d all be sleeping until noon. I was planning to come by the hotel and pick you up later.”
“I couldn’t sleep, so I came out to stretch my legs.”
Su Bai stopped, letting the sea breeze wash over his face. It felt exceptionally refreshing. “I’m a little hungry, too. Do you know of any authentic local restaurants nearby where I can get a decent meal?”
“Then you’ve come to the right person.”
Yu Ou laughed brightly and patted the running pouch around her waist. “The breakfast at the big hotels is bland and boring. Come on, I’ll take you to an alley for seafood satay noodles. You won’t find this flavor anywhere else.”
“Sure. I’ll trust your recommendation.”
The two of them followed the breakwater toward the old neighborhood.
The morning market had just opened, but quite a few bamboo stalls were already set up along both sides of the stone-paved street.
Yu Ou knew the area like the back of her hand. She led Su Bai into an old alley less than two meters wide. From deep within it came the rich fragrance of satay and fried garlic, mingled with the fresh scent of seafood just hauled from the water. The aroma wound straight into their noses.
Outside a tiny shop with severely peeling paint, three enormous aluminum pots bubbled and steamed.
The weathered folding redwood tables were packed with local fishermen. They chatted loudly in their dialect, filling the place with the thick, earthy atmosphere of everyday life.
“Granny, two big bowls of satay noodles!”
Yu Ou strode into the shop and pulled two pairs of bamboo chopsticks from the utensil holder. “Load them up, and give us extra oysters and fresh squid!”
The older woman behind the stove called back in acknowledgment, her large skimmer flashing through the air.
Su Bai stood beside the cooking station, watching with great interest.
The woman grabbed a handful of pale-yellow alkaline noodles and tossed them into a pot of boiling water. After a dozen seconds, she deftly scooped them out, shook off the water, and transferred them into white porcelain bowls. Then she ladled two spoonfuls of deep-red broth from the nearby stockpot and poured it over the noodles with a splash.
The broth was bright, rich, and thick, its surface dotted with crushed peanuts and fried scallion oil. Steam rose in waves, carrying the irresistible aroma of dried shrimp and dried fish simmered into the stock.
“Pick whatever you want to add.”
Yu Ou pointed to the neatly arranged ingredients in the display case.
“There are red sand clams, handmade cuttlefish balls, freshly shucked oysters, freshly sliced squid rings, fried tofu, pork intestines, pork jowl—whatever you like.”
Su Bai’s appetite surged. He pointed at several of the fresh ingredients and placed his order. “Clams, squid, prawns, cuttlefish balls, plus one serving of pork intestines and fried tofu. And give me extra noodles.”
“Coming right up! Young man, you’ve got quite an appetite!”
The older woman worked with practiced speed. She grabbed a generous handful of seafood, placed it in a wire skimmer, and dipped it into the boiling bone broth until everything curled and changed color. Then she tipped it all into the large bowl.
The seafood was piled so high it nearly spilled over the rim.
Two heavy bowls of satay noodles were set on the wooden table.
The broth nearly reached the edges. The shelled prawns glowed an enticing orange-red, while the fresh squid rings were thick and tender-looking. Bright green cilantro and minced garlic sat in the center, making the whole dish look vibrant and appetizing.
Su Bai picked up his spoon and first sampled half a spoonful of the steaming satay broth.
It was rich and full-bodied. The fragrance of peanuts and sesame spread across his tongue first, carrying a subtle sweetness and saltiness. Next came the savory freshness of dried shrimp and scallops simmered into the stock, followed by a hint of spice that brought all the flavors together.
There was no trace of fishiness. It was warming, satisfying, and utterly addictive.
“Well? Is the flavor authentic enough?”
Yu Ou pulled out a tissue and placed it beside the table, watching Su Bai with undisguised anticipation.
“It really is something special.”
Su Bai nodded, picked up a bundle of noodles, and slurped them into his mouth with the broth.
The noodles were springy and smooth, thoroughly coated in the rich satay sauce.
He bit into a large prawn. Its firm, springy flesh released a natural sweetness that collided with the intense fragrance of the satay sauce, unfolding in layers across his palate.
“Back where I’m from, all those satay hot pots are just premade sauce diluted with water. They taste like a mouthful of artificial flavoring.”
Su Bai ate enthusiastically, polishing off half the bowl in just a few bites. “This broth took real effort. The bones and seafood have been simmered until all their flavor has been drawn out. It’s incredibly comforting.”
“Of course. This shop has been open for nearly thirty years. Granny gets up at three every morning to start the stock.”
Yu Ou bit into a handmade cuttlefish ball and chewed it a few times. It was crisp and springy between her teeth. “When you come to the coast, you have to seek out little run-down alleys like this and try the old-fashioned local recipes. Those five-star restaurants that get recommended online are all about being expensive and mediocre. They make their money by fleecing tourists.”
Su Bai smiled. “You seem to know this place well. Do you bring friends here often?”
“What friends?”
Yu Ou paused, swallowed the food in her mouth, and admitted, “Back when I was on the team, we trained behind closed doors every day and were worked like dogs. After I retired, I became a coach, and most of the people I dealt with were clients. Those rich second-generation kids who drove luxury cars to learn sailing from me would practically drag me to an upscale French restaurant the moment we came ashore, ordering expensive bottles of wine just to show off.”
She curled her lip and picked up another oyster.
“Talking to them is exhausting. I only come to little street stalls with this kind of down-to-earth atmosphere when I’m sneaking out to eat alone.”
Yu Ou raised an eyebrow and looked at his striking, forthright face. “And you’re not worried I’ll find the place too shabby?”
“After seeing you gnawing on blue crab at the food stall last night, how could I mistake you for some pampered young master?”
Yu Ou rolled her eyes at him. “Besides, anyone who can roll up his sleeves and cut a sixty-kilo greater amberjack on a yacht—if he looks down on a bowl of noodles from a back alley, then I really have misjudged him.”
Su Bai burst out laughing.
She really was refreshingly straightforward, without a trace of affectation.
The large bowls on the table were soon empty.
Su Bai even finished every drop of the rich satay broth. Fine beads of sweat formed on his forehead, and he felt completely at ease. The hunger brought on by his powerful physique had been thoroughly quelled by that hearty bowl of seafood noodles.
Su Bai walked to the counter and scanned the code to pay. The auntie cheerfully handed them two extra bottles of chilled sour plum drink.
The two of them walked side by side out of the narrow alley.
The flow of people on the street was gradually growing heavier, and the cries of the street vendors rose and fell one after another.
“Come on, let’s head back to the hotel.”
Yu Ou glanced at the sports watch on her wrist. “It’s seven thirty now. We’ll go back, take a shower, and change. Then we can pick up the climbing gear and head to Blackstone Cliff at nine sharp. The cliff face is shaded in the morning, so the rock won’t be too warm and the friction will be at its best.”
“Sure. I’ll follow your expert tour-guide arrangements, Coach Yu.”
e bizarre and supernatural had descended. The previous emperor was a thoroughgoing tyrant; no longer satisfied with human women, he had set his sights on a stunningly beautiful supernatural entity. He met his end in his bedchamber, drained of all his vital essence. As the legitimate eldest son and crown prince, Wang Hao was thus hastily enthroned, becoming the young emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty. No sooner had he awakened the "Imperial Sign-In Intelligence System" than he was assassinated by a Son of Destiny—a classic villain's opening. The Great Zhou, ravaged by the former emperor's excesses, was in national decline. The great families within its borders harbored their own treacherous schemes, martial sects began to defy the imperial court's decrees, and border armies, their pay and provisions in arrears, grumbled incessantly against the central government. Fortunately, the central capital was still held secure by the half-million Imperial Guards and fifty thousand Imperial Forest Army who obeyed the court's orders, along with the royal family's hidden reserves of power, barely managing to suppress the realm. As the Great Zhou's finances worsened and supernatural activities grew ever more frequent, the court sat atop a volcano. Ambitious plotters everywhere dreamed of overthrowing the dynasty, and even some reclusive ancient powers emerged, attempting to sway the tides of the world. At the first grand court assembly, the civil and military officials nearly came to blows, fighting tooth and nail over the allocation of fifty million taels of silver from the summer tax revenues. The spectacle opened Wang Hao's eyes—the Great Zhou's bureaucracy was not only corrupt but also martially proficient, a cabinet of all-rounders. Some officials even had the audacity to suggest the emperor release funds from the imperial privy purse to address the emergency. Wang Hao suddenly felt weary. Let it all burn.
he colors of other people’s emotions. Light red meant anxiety. Gray meant exhaustion. Orange meant excitement. Yellow... meant repression. At the same time, he could gain unlimited control over one of those colors. Pale cyan: relaxation. Using this ability, he started offering “two-yuan hugs,” spending an afternoon exchanging emotional-color experiences with others. Then came his final female customer of the day— a girl whose emotional color was pure black... —— A week later, Xu Chuan had become skilled at using pale cyan—Relaxation—treating it like a bottle of menthol balm whenever he needed it. That was when he discovered he had unlocked another unlimited emotional color: Purple, the color of fear. So these emotional colors refresh every week? Fine, I take it back—I’ll never call you useless again... —— Much later, after Xu Chuan had accumulated countless emotional abilities, one night, he suddenly found himself inside someone else’s dream. There, he could use the emotional colors he possessed to paint. And in her dream, he painted her a shower of pink shooting stars, spreading across the depths of the night sky...
ions, keeping it grounded and realistic】 After quitting his job, office worker Su Yang accidentally binds with the "Enjoy Life System." As the name suggests, simply by indulging in life's pleasures, he can earn random rewards from the system—no need to spend money on beautiful women or grovel before anyone. Just enjoy, and the money follows, making it all about effortless fun. The system comes with a scanning feature, allowing him to establish a favorability bond with women rated 85 points or above. Every 20-point increase in favorability unlocks additional rewards. After suffering through over twenty years of hardship, Su Yang trembles with excitement, his dull eyes suddenly gleaming with newfound hope. "Enjoy life? How hard could that be?"
grated, and just when he finally managed to get into an elite academy, he discovered that he actually had a system, and the way to earn rewards was extremely ridiculous. So for the sake of rewards, he had no choice but to start acting ridiculous as well. Su Cheng: "It's nothing but system quests after all." But later, what confused Su Cheng was that while he was already quite ridiculous, he never expected those serious characters to gradually become ridiculous too. And the way they looked at him became increasingly strange... (This synopsis doesn't do it justice, please read the full story)
