"How could I accept that?" Lin Qiyan hurriedly waved his hands in refusal. "I'll pay you back."
"No need. It's not much, and you helped out plenty today. I'll leave these catches to you. I'm heading back first."
Lu Ao waved to them, put on his gloves, set the bucket directly in the back of the three-wheeler, swung his long legs over, climbed into the driver's seat, started it, and drove away.
Lin Qiyan watched his tall, cool figure from behind, his eyes carrying a trace of envy.
Lin Manzhang lightly nudged his shoulder. "What are you thinking about?"
"Nothing." Lin Qiyan came back to himself. "I'll contact the courier first."
After parting with the two of them, Lu Ao drove the three-wheeler straight home.
When he was still more than ten meters from home, Lu Ao heard several childish barks.
He slowed down and drove forward gradually. By the dog door, a round little figure barked as it came racing over in bouncing leaps, wagging its tail furiously at Lu Ao.
A smile appeared in Lu Ao's eyes.
With a creak, his front gate opened, and Song Zhou stepped out from behind it. He reached over to help carry things and asked, "Why are you back so late today?"
"Caught quite a lot of fish." Lu Ao braked to a stop, pulled out the key, and lightly tapped the cargo bed of the three-wheeler behind him with his curled fingers. "Guess what I caught today?"
"What did you catch?" Song Zhou's eyes curved as he leaned over to inspect the three-wheeler. "Let me see. Wow, those are some huge shrimp."
Lu Ao glanced at him. "That acting was a bit much."
Song Zhou resumed his gentle smile and lifted down the bucket. "These shrimp really are huge."
"You don't