"This is too long. If I'm out at sea for a week, my daily rate will have to double—at least four thousand. Manager Shen, ask the customer first. I'll think it over on my end too and call you tonight."
"Alright. I'll go ask first and get back to you shortly."
After Lu Ao finished discussing it with him, he hung up.
Song Zhou looked at him from beside him. "Are you interested in this job?"
"It sounds alright. Seems pretty fun." Lu Ao rubbed his nose. "But if I really go, I might have to find someone to feed the geese and water the vegetables again."
As Lu Ao mentioned finding someone, his eyes shifted around before glancing at Song Zhou.
Song Zhou's eyes curved into crescents. "If I help, what will you pay me?"
"I'll cook for you." Lu Ao said, "I picked up two Coconut Snails this morning and saved the bigger one. We can have stir-fried snails for dinner. Zhang Ge also gave me half a bucket of crabs, and there's lamb at home, so I can make Crab-and-Lamb Hotpot."
"One meal?"
"If you like it, I can make a few more." Lu Ao said, "However many meals you want."
"Alright. I'll remember that."
Having settled the trivial matters, the two moved on.
Song Zhou said, "You transformed back into your Dragon Form today, so you should have gained a deeper understanding of water. Look at that cloud and try drawing it over here."
Lu Ao looked up at the huge clusters of white clouds in the clear blue sky, somewhat lost.
A moment later, he closed his eyes, his brush-like lashes lowering.
One second, two seconds, three seconds... More than a minute passed, but the clouds remained where they were without changing in the slightest.