Song Zhou ate well, slowly cracking crab shells and peeling shrimp, perfectly in step with Lu Ao.
The two ate for over an hour.
Chubby ate beside them for over an hour as well.
It ate a specially made low-salt version, with more meat than rice in its entire bowl of dog food.
It snuffled happily as it ate nearby, thoroughly content.
After they finished eating, the two washed the dishes together.
Song Zhou found some clothes for Lu Ao to change into after his shower.
The bathroom was tucked between the kitchen and living room, separate from the bedrooms and near the courtyard.
Lu Ao went in to shower and still found time to talk to Song Zhou. "I want to go fishing somewhere farther away tomorrow."
"Stay out all day?"
"Mm, probably get back around the same time as today." Lu Ao washed his hair. "Tomorrow, I'll see if I can catch something bigger in the net."
"Do you have a target?"
"Not yet, but I can take a look."
Song Zhou asked, "Who are you going with?"
Lu Ao said, "I want to go with you."
Song Zhou was somewhat surprised. "Why do you suddenly want to take me out to sea?"
"The weather's been pretty nice these past couple of days. Clear autumn skies, perfect for a trip out to sea?" Lu Ao rinsed the foam from his hair and turned off the shower. "It's been a long time since we went on a date."
"It has been a long time." Song Zhou got up from his chair, walked to the bathroom door, and tapped it lightly with his knuckles. Smiling, he asked, "What time tomorrow?"
Lu Ao paused while applying body wash and gave a light cough. "Any time is fine. It'll just be the