You Two Are Friends

The sun was shining just right,

Chen Yuan watched Moistening Duck basking lazily in the sun and fell into deep thought. "How can I lure it away?"

After pondering for a long while, he realized he did not know much about this Moistening Duck and could not think of a solution.

Just then,

Cola spotted its defeated opponent. A sly glint flashed through its eyes as it ran toward Moistening Duck as though by chance.

"Awooo, awooo, awooo!"

It barked at Moistening Duck a few times. Once the latter turned to look at it, Cola immediately lifted its head, its eyes brimming with amusement.

Well, well, well, wasn't this its defeated opponent?

What a coincidence.

"Quack?"

Moistening Duck studied Cola. Confusion first flashed through its light-blue eyes, but then it seemed to recall something, and its expression turned angry.

Yet as the gentle sunlight washed over its body, warmth spread through its limbs and instantly scattered all its negative emotions.

"Quack, quack, quack~"

Fighting and killing was such a hassle. Sunbathing was better, quack~

Then,

Moistening Duck wiggled its plump butt, turned around, and shifted into a more comfortable position on the rock, letting every ray of sunlight fall upon its body.

"Awoo?"

Seeing that Moistening Duck was ignoring it completely, Cola grew annoyed and barked at it several times, but the other duck still paid it no attention.

Cola immediately drooped, its fluffy tail hanging despondently behind it.

Chen Yuan could not help commenting, "It's like some retired old cadre."

That made luring Moistening Duck away even harder.

"Forget it. Let's fish first."

Chen Yuan shook his head and decided to leave this seemingly Zen-like Moistening Duck alone for now.

Water-type Contracted Beasts should be quite common anyway, and this Moistening Duck's personality was not suited to a farm.

A diligent, down-to-earth temperament like Steel-headed Earth Rat's was what suited farm work.

Time slowly passed,

Several small fish had already accumulated in the bucket by Chen Yuan's feet, but not a single one was the spirit fish he had been longing for.

Chen Yuan could not help questioning his life. "Did I use up all my luck the first time?"

Fortunately, he had long prepared for a prolonged battle. He took a portable gas stove from the little cart and set a pot on top of it.

He occasionally went camping outdoors with his colleagues, so he was not lacking the proper equipment.

After that,

Chen Yuan washed the little fish clean, removed their scales and gills, then marinated them with scallions, ginger, garlic, and cooking wine for fifteen minutes to get rid of the fishy smell.

For many veteran anglers, fried little fish were the perfect snack for passing the time and replenishing their energy.

Once the marinating was done, Chen Yuan sprinkled a thin layer of starch over the fish, coating them all over.

After finishing that step, Chen Yuan heated oil in the pot.

Once the oil was hot enough, he dropped the little fish into the pot one by one. The sizzling of frying oil rang continuously by his ears like a soft, drizzling rain.

"Awooo, awooo, awooo~"

Cola had long been waiting eagerly at the side. As soon as the fish went into the pot, it began bouncing nonstop, its wagging tail scratching Chen Yuan's calves like a broom.

"Wait patiently," Chen Yuan said with a smile.

He kept the heat low and fried them slowly, until the fish bones were thoroughly crisp and the fish turned golden all over. Only then did he turn off the stove.

"They're ready."

Chen Yuan clapped his hands. After waiting a moment, he used his merciless iron hand to fish out a fried little fish and swallowed it in one bite.

It was crunchy the instant it entered his mouth. Two or three bites later, he had finished the dried fish.

The flavor was not especially remarkable, but it was like a snack—after eating one, he wanted another, and simply could not stop.

"Awooo, awooo, awooo!"

Chen Yuan had not forgotten Cola, who had been waiting so long, and directly fed it one.

"Awoo~"

Cola happily bounced in place. After swallowing it in one bite, it still was not satisfied and looked at Chen Yuan with pleading eyes.

"Don't rush."

Chen Yuan patted Cola's head, signaling it to stay calm, then turned to look at Spark.

"Chirp~"

Spark lowered its head and carefully examined the fried little fish before slowly shaking its head.

"Huh? You don't like it?" Chen Yuan paused.

"Chirp."

Spark's deep-blue eyes flickered. It first nodded, then realized that answer might make Chen Yuan sad, so it cautiously glanced at him.

It liked the things Chen Yuan made, but it did not like fried food.

Chen Yuan was connected to Spark's heart. Once he understood its meaning, he smiled gently. "It's okay. We all have things we like and things we don't."

"Chirp~" Spark sighed in relief.

"Awoo~"

Cola, on the other hand, was overjoyed. This way, it could have this pile of fried little fish all to itself!

Eat, eat, eat!

I'm fucking eating, eating, eating!

One dried little fish after another vanished into Cola's mouth. Then, it suddenly caught sight of a shadow appearing on the ground directly ahead and raised its head in confusion.

Moistening Duck was staring fixedly at the fried fish in the pot. Its eyes shone with an unprecedented brilliance, and drool trickled from the corner of its mouth.

"Awoo."

Cola immediately shot it a wary look, stepped forward, and shielded the fried fish behind itself.

It knew that look on Moistening Duck very well. It was the instinctive reaction of someone who could not move their feet upon seeing delicious food.

Cola often made that exact expression itself.

These are mine! Get away from me!

A fierce light filled Cola's eyes as it let out a low growl at Moistening Duck.

Chen Yuan also noticed the uninvited little fellow. An idea stirred in his heart, and he said with a smile, "Cola, good things should be shared with friends."

"Awoo?"

Cola turned toward Chen Yuan, its face full of disbelief.

Awooo, awooo, awooo!

This guy isn't my friend!

"Quack, quack, quack!"

But upon hearing those words, Moistening Duck nodded repeatedly at lightning speed, its fluffy hairstyle swaying with each nod.

It straightened its hair, then grinned at Cola, who was right in front of it. "Quack, quack, quack."

We're friends, quack~

The next second, Moistening Duck placed a hand on Cola's shoulder. Its smile was warm and its gaze sincere. "Quack, quack."

Shouldn't friends share delicious food?

"Awoo?"

Cola was somewhat dazed now. Its head felt fuzzy, and it instinctively stepped aside, allowing Moistening Duck to walk up to the pot.

"Quack, quack, quack~"

Moistening Duck picked up a dried fish and tossed it into its mouth. Its expression visibly became excited, and its slightly widened eyes proclaimed its current exhilaration. Its cotton-like tail swayed softly.

So delicious, quack!

Duckie has finally gotten to eat something good!

Then,

It pointed at the fried little fish in the pot and asked whether it could have another one.

"Awoo."

Cola answered somewhat reluctantly, but when it met those bright, expectant eyes, it finally gritted its teeth and agreed.

"Quack, quack~"

Moistening Duck became excited again. It skillfully picked up another dried fish and swallowed it in one bite. Happiness spread through its whole body as it narrowed its eyes in enjoyment.

This was what enjoyment meant, quack.

Before long,

Amid the intimate exchange of "Awooo, awooo, awooo" and "Quack, quack, quack," the two little fellows cast aside their past grievances. With their arms around each other's shoulders, they stuffed themselves with dried fish.

At the side, Chen Yuan could not help breaking out in a cold sweat.

You two, slow down!!!

I can't catch fish as fast as you're eating them!!!