Silver Member!

Just as Hu Liena prepared to exert force and lift the rod, a warm, dry hand gently pressed down on the back of her hand.

"Wait."

Brother Chuan's voice came from beside her, low and steady.

Hu Liena's body stiffened for a moment; the warm sensation on the back of her hand felt like an electric current, traveling up her arm and instantly spreading throughout her entire body. Her cheeks heated up uncontrollably, and her heart skipped a beat.

"It's not time yet." Qin Chuan leaned forward slightly, drawing close to her ear, and lowered his voice. "The fish is still testing the waters; it only gave the bait a light nudge. If you lift the rod now, you'll only scare it away. Stay calm and wait for it to swallow the hook completely."

His breath brushed against Hu Liena's sensitive earlobe, tickling her and making half of her body feel numb.

Hu Liena nodded subconsciously, though her grip on the fishing rod tightened involuntarily.

Qin Chuan did not move his hand away, keeping it pressed over hers as if to infect her with his own composure.

Time seemed to slow down in that moment.

The float on the lake surface bobbed gently up and down, like a mischievous child playing in the water.

Hu Liena's breathing grew somewhat rapid; she could clearly hear her own heartbeat and Qin Chuan's, intertwined in the quiet lakeside air.

"Brother Chuan... do you... do you often teach girls how to fish like this?" Hu Liena asked, as if possessed.

Qin Chuan paused for a second, then laughed. "How could that be? I've always fished alone. You're the first."

He was telling the truth, but to Hu Liena's ears, it sounded like the sweetest love confession.

I am the first...

In Hu Liena's heart, it felt as if countless fireworks were blooming.

She stole a glance at the man beside her.

He was focused intently on the float, the contours of his profile appearing exceptionally soft under the sunlight. His long eyelashes, straight bridge of his nose, and those slightly pursed lips.

Hu Liena suddenly felt that this man, perhaps... wasn't so plain and ordinary after all.

Just as her mind wandered, the float jerked downward, and then, with a massive force, it was dragged directly into the water!

"Now! Lift the rod!" Qin Chuan shouted, his hand on hers exerting sudden force.

Awakened from her daze, Hu Liena immediately coordinated with him, using all her strength to heave the rod backward!

"Hum!"

The Black Dragon Wood rod instantly bent into an astonishing arc, as if it might snap at any moment. The fishing line was pulled taut, emitting a sharp, humming sound!

From beneath the water, a tremendous force surged, attempting to drag the rod away.

"What incredible strength!" Hu Liena exclaimed.

She was a level 79 Soul Saint; even without using her Soul Power, her raw physical strength was far beyond that of an ordinary person. Yet now, even with the two of them working together, they found it somewhat difficult.

"Steady! Don't let it get away!" Qin Chuan shouted, the muscles in his arms bulging as he gripped the rod tightly.

The two began a tug-of-war with the giant creature beneath the water.

The line was pulled out dozens of meters at times, only to be arduously reeled back in by a few meters at others.

The humming of the Black Dragon Wood rod grew louder, and the friction between the line and the air even produced wisps of white smoke.

In the distance, Qian Renxue was also drawn by the commotion.

She stood up from the tree, squinting as she looked toward the lake.

A Soul Saint and a mortal, actually fishing.

Qian Renxue found the whole affair absurd.

She saw Hu Liena's face flushed red, with fine beads of sweat seeping from her forehead. Meanwhile, the man named Qin Chuan, though also exerting effort, appeared to have plenty of energy to spare, even finding the leisure to direct Hu Liena.

"Bring it to the left a bit! Right! Don't let it dive into the water weeds!"

"Reel it in! Quick! It's losing strength!"

"Good! Hold on a little longer, it's about to come up!"

Under Qin Chuan's guidance, Hu Liena's rhythm remained perfectly steady.

In truth, Hu Liena could have pulled it up on her own, but she was simply enjoying the process of fishing with him.

After about a few minutes, the force from beneath the water finally began to wane.

"Now! Pull it up!" Qin Chuan roared.

Both exerted force simultaneously, whipping the rod backward!

"Splash!"

Water sprayed everywhere as a silver figure was dragged from the lake, tracing an arc through the air before landing heavily on the grass.

It was a massive fish, over a meter long!

Its entire body was covered in silver scales that shimmered in the sunlight.

The fins were a pale gold, and its tail resembled a magnificent fan. Most peculiar of all, on its head grew a short, protrusion that looked just like a dragon's horn.

"This is... a century-level 'Silver Horn Dragon Carp'!" Hu Liena stared at the large fish flopping about on the grass, her mouth agape in astonishment.

This fish has delicious meat and contains pure Soul Power, making it a highly nourishing item. On the outside market, a single one sells for over twenty Gold Soul Coins, and even then, demand far outstrips supply.

Qin Chuan grabbed the large fish and placed it into a net, the bottom half of which remained submerged in the lake.

"Whew... that was satisfying!" Qin Chuan's face was full of excitement.

Watching him look as happy as a child, Hu Liena couldn't help but laugh herself.

She realized that being with this man always seemed to lead to novel and interesting experiences. It was a feeling she had never known in her nineteen years of life.

"Brother Chuan, you're truly amazing," Hu Liena praised him sincerely. "If it weren't for you, I definitely wouldn't have been able to catch such a big fish."

"Haha, it was your strength that did it," Qin Chuan waved his hand. "If it weren't for you, I would have been dragged into the lake by it long ago."

They continued fishing.

Over the next two hours, the two of them hauled in catch after catch.

A 30-year Phoenix Tail Spirit Fish, a 40-year Dragon Whisker Tiger Shrimp, an 80-year Thunder Fire Eel, and a century-old Iron Pincer Black Fish.

Looking at the overflowing net, the two shared a smile, and a tacit, subtle affection began to quietly bloom in the air.

Qin Chuan looked at the sweat dampening Hu Liena's temples and her cheeks flushed with excitement, and his heart stirred.

He stood up, walked to a nearby flower patch, picked a few of the most vibrant wildflowers, and tore off a few flexible green vines.

He sat back down beside Hu Liena, his fingers flying as he began to weave.

Qin Chuan had nimble hands.

The colorful wildflowers and verdant vines seemed to come to life in his grasp. Before long, an exquisite and beautiful wreath took shape in his hands.

Red Flame Roses, yellow Sun Chrysanthemums, purple Bewildering Fragrances, and a few nameless small blue flowers were cleverly strung together by the vines to form a small crown.

"This is for you," Qin Chuan held up the wreath and said to Hu Liena with a smile.

Hu Liena was stunned.

She looked at the wreath woven from fresh flowers before her; the sunlight filtered through the petals, casting dappled light and shadows. The air was filled with the scent of fresh blossoms.

She had grown up receiving countless expensive gifts. Priceless Soul Tools, rare medicinal pills, magnificent jewelry... but never had a gift made her heart tremble like this small wreath.

"This... is for me?" Hu Liena's voice trembled slightly.

"Of course." Qin Chuan stood up, walked over to her, leaned down slightly, and personally placed the wreath on her head.

His fingers inadvertently brushed against Hu Liena's hair and ears.

The soft strands, the warm auricle, and that light touch caused Hu Liena's body to tense instantly, a tingling sensation exploding from her scalp.

The wreath was the perfect size, resting gently on her rose-gold short hair like a princess's crown.

"It suits you well," Qin Chuan stepped back two paces, admiring his masterpiece with satisfaction.

The vibrancy of the wreath complemented Hu Liena's already charming face, giving her an ethereal, otherworldly quality.

Hu Liena subconsciously raised her hand to gently touch the wreath on her head. The petals were soft and still held a trace of dewy moisture.

Just then, a cold, mechanical prompt exploded in her mind!

[Congratulations to player Hu Liena, you have unlocked a new scene: Wild Date!]

[Congratulations to player Hu Liena, you have received a gift reward from the shopkeeper, triggering a special bonus!]

[Member EXP +50!]

[Congratulations to player Hu Liena, your membership level has increased! You have been promoted from "Ordinary Member" to "Silver Member"! Current EXP 30/100.]

[Silver Member privileges unlocked:]

[1. Amount of Game Coins exchanged per transaction +2.]

[2. Daily grab attempts +2, current limit is 5.]

Hu Liena felt as if she had heard the music of the heavens.

She... she had jumped straight from an Ordinary Member to a Silver Member?

A single wreath had granted her 50 EXP!

This was several times more than the experience she had gained from treating him to meals and accompanying him on fishing trips combined!

And then, the Silver Member privileges!

She could grab dolls five times a day! This meant her chances of winning were nearly double what they had been before!

More importantly, she had unlocked the "High-Tier Zone"!

Although she didn't know what was in the High-Tier Zone yet, just hearing the name told her that the prizes inside were definitely better than those in the Ordinary Zone!

A massive wave of surprise instantly overwhelmed Hu Liena's reason.

Her mind went blank, leaving only pure ecstasy.

Looking at the man before her who had personally placed the wreath on her head and given her all of this, an uncontrollable impulse surged wildly within her.

She had to thank him! In the most direct, most passionate way possible!

The next second, Hu Liena leaped up from the ground, and like a nimble leopard, she threw herself into Qin Chuan's arms!

Qin Chuan was stunned by this sudden embrace, and before he could even react, a pair of soft, warm lips were pressed firmly against his own!

It was a sensation that was soft, sweet, and carried a hint of the fragrance of "Flame Rose" wine.

Mua~!

Qin Chuan's brain went "buzz" and completely shut down.

What... what was happening?

It was just a flower crown; how did it turn into a kiss?

Hu Liena's kiss was both inexperienced and overbearing. She knew no technique, relying only on instinct as she sucked and nibbled with force, as if she wanted to convey all her excitement and joy to him through this single kiss.

High up in the tree canopy in the distance, Qian Renxue watched this eye-searing scene, dumbfounded, as the half-eaten ration in her hand fell to the ground with a thud.

What had she just seen?

Hu Liena... that arrogant, haughty Hu Liena, had actually... actually taken the initiative to kiss that mortal?

And out in the wild, no less! In broad daylight!

Qian Renxue felt her worldview being dismantled, rearranged, and then dragged through the dirt over and over again.

What was wrong with this world? Was she dreaming? She pinched her thigh hard.

It hurt! It wasn't a dream!

Qian Renxue's face turned from green to white. She felt a tightness in her chest, as if a heavy stone were pressing down on her, making it hard to breathe.

She didn't know why she felt this way.

Was it contempt? Was it anger? Or was it... jealousy?

She didn't know; she only knew that the scene before her made her feel an unprecedented sense of irritation and confusion.

The kiss by the lake lasted for nearly a minute.

It wasn't until Qin Chuan was nearly out of breath that Hu Liena reluctantly let him go.

Her cheeks were flushed, her peach-blossom eyes shimmering with moisture, and she panted as she gazed at Qin Chuan with infatuation.

"Brother Chuan... thank you." Her voice was so soft it could melt a heart.

Qin Chuan looked at her, dazed, the warmth and fragrance of her lips still lingering on his own. He opened his mouth, but not a single word came out.

He felt that today's "date" had... perhaps exceeded his expectations a little.