"When you protect them, you don't expect anything in return, and neither do they when they respond to you." Song Zhou patted Lu Ao's neck, his eyes full of feeling. "Don't overthink it. Just be yourself."
"Yeah." Lu Ao took a deep breath and stroked the great Blue Whale in front of him. "Being able to help them makes this world feel like a pretty good place."
Song Zhou rested a hand on the Blue Whale too and smiled. "I'd guess it feels the same way."
They smiled at each other.
Lu Ao suddenly understood why Song Zhou, despite being the incarnation of a continent, willingly went to work and put in overtime every day.
Perhaps he had many things he wanted to protect, too.
Chapter 152
Lu Ao and Song Zhou soon said goodbye to the Blue Whale and returned to the ship.
Lu Ao had spent too long in the water. He was freezing and started shivering the moment he got aboard.
Song Zhou wrapped him in a large bath towel and dried the water from his body. When he saw the goose bumps rising on the pale skin at the back of Lu Ao's neck, he simply scooped him into his arms.
Song Zhou's body was warm.
Heat radiated from him, enveloping Lu Ao. He gradually warmed up, and his hands were no longer as stiff as before.
Song Zhou kissed the top of his head. "Go take a shower first."
Lu Ao took off the towel. "Then sit here for a while."
No matter how luxurious the ship's facilities were, they couldn't compare to those on land.
Even taking a shower meant waiting a while for the water heater, and each person had a limited amount of water. Once they used it up, the water shut