Chapter Summaries

Lu Ao fled a gang of debt collectors who pursued him over a blind date’s unpaid loans, and jumped into a river to escape them. The chapter ended with him plunging into the water as the thugs closed in.

• Lu Ao ran from more than a dozen drunk debt collectors who wrongly believed he owed money because a man he had gone on a blind date with claimed Lu Ao was his boyfriend.
• Lu Ao called the police and tried to keep running until they arrived.
• The debt collectors chased Lu Ao through the streets, throwing bottles that cut him and left him bleeding.
• Lu Ao reached the riverbank, vaulted over the railing, and jumped into the river to escape the gang.

Lu Ao drowned after being swept away by an undercurrent, then woke in clear water transformed into a small, scaled lizard-like creature. He crawled onto a deserted rocky island and searched for food, ending with a plan to use a stone to crack open sea snails.

• Lu Ao swam into the river to escape, but debris thrown after him and a powerful undercurrent dragged him to the riverbed and carried him out to sea.
• Lu Ao regained consciousness underwater in daylight and discovered he had short claws, scales, a spine, and a tail instead of a human body.
• Lu Ao surfaced near a small deserted island made entirely of stone and crawled ashore, relieved that no humans were nearby.
• Lu Ao explored the island and found pools, oysters, and sea snails, then gathered a handful of small snails he could not open with his claws.
• Lu Ao fetched a rock larger than a soccer ball and struggled to lift it, intending to crack the snail shells.

Lu Ao, now a lizard, spent two days eating and sleeping on a deserted island before a group of content creators arrived to film a drained tidal pool. As Lu Ao hid underwater, a sudden surge of heat made him cry out, alerting Tian Mingzhi and his companions.

• Lu Ao discovered his increased strength as he cracked open and ate snails and oysters.
• Lu Ao spent the next two days on the island eating, sleeping, and avoiding thoughts about his former human life.
• Lu Ao heard an engine and spotted a fishing boat carrying people toward the island.
• Tian Mingzhi, Chen Shengrong, and Hu Xingjin landed and began setting up cameras and pumps to film the tidal pool.
• Lu Ao hid beneath the water, felt heat surge through his body, and let out a muffled sound that made Tian Mingzhi turn around.

Lu Ao’s painful transformation ended in the sea, where Tian Mingzhi, Chen Shengrong, and Hu Xingjin mistook him for a sea monster before realizing he was human. After learning he was the missing man being sought by the police, Lu Ao borrowed clothes and called his childhood friend Ge Ranzhou.

• Tian Mingzhi, Chen Shengrong, and Hu Xingjin investigated a cry and splash on the island, then saw Lu Ao’s human eyes in the water and fled in terror.
• Lu Ao tried to reassure Hu Xingjin that he was human, and Tian Mingzhi and Chen Shengrong cautiously confirmed it.
• Lu Ao explained that the current had swept him to the island and asked for clothes, so Tian Mingzhi brought him a clean set from the boat.
• Tian Mingzhi and the others recognized Lu Ao as the man who had been chased by thugs and offered to take him back to the city.
• Lu Ao accepted Tian Mingzhi’s phone and called Ge Ranzhou, who answered after two rings.

Lu Ao reunited with Ge Ranzhou by phone and joined Tian Mingzhi and the others on their fishing boat. Hungry after days on the island, he fished from the boat and caught a large black seabream before Hu Xingjin called everyone to eat.

• Lu Ao spoke with Ge Ranzhou, who cried with relief and told him the thugs who chased him had been arrested.
• Tian Mingzhi and the others finished filming on the island and took Lu Ao aboard their boat.
• Lu Ao asked for fishing rods and suggested they move to waters where there were more fish.
• Lu Ao caught a large black seabream, and Chen Shengrong netted it and put it in the livewell.
• Hu Xingjin finished cooking instant noodles and called everyone to eat.

Lu Ao ate his fill after returning from a fishing trip, where he caught more than twenty fish, then turned down most of the money from the catch. Back home, he was welcomed by the neighbors who ran the dumpling shop and eagerly began eating again.

• Lu Ao finished two bowls of noodles, then caught two more Black Seabream with Hu Xingjin’s help.
• Chen Shengrong cooked fish and snails, which Lu Ao ate while fishing and catching more than twenty fish.
• Hu Xingjin begged Lu Ao to teach him how to fish, but Lu Ao said his skill was a talent he could not teach.
• At the pier, Lu Ao insisted that Tian Mingzhi and the others keep the fish and accepted only a hundred yuan for his taxi fare.
• Lu Ao visited Old Zhang’s dumpling shop, where Old Zhang and his wife welcomed him and prepared food for him.
• Lu Ao quickly ate the cold dishes while waiting for his dumplings.

Lu Ao returned home after escaping danger, and Old Zhang and Zhao Xuelan fed him and told him the police had caught the gang responsible while Liao Hekang had fled. Back at his house, Lu Ao noticed possible changes to his eyes and teeth and discovered he had grown slightly taller.

• Old Zhang told Lu Ao that the police had caught the gang’s ringleader and that Liao Hekang was a fugitive after scamming people with loan-shark money.
• Zhao Xuelan apologized for introducing Lu Ao to Liao Hekang, and Lu Ao reassured her that she was not to blame.
• Old Zhang and Zhao Xuelan fed Lu Ao a large meal and sent him home with several boxes of dumplings.
• Lu Ao returned to his unchanged home and examined his reflection, noticing a fleeting dark green tint in his eyes and slightly sharper teeth.
• Lu Ao checked his body and realized he had grown about two or three centimeters.

After surviving an attack, Lu Ao gave a statement to the police and began considering sea fishing as a way to earn more money. He accepted Tian Mingzhi’s invitation to fish and pump out a tidal pool, then met Tian and the others at the pier.

• Lu Ao ate four boxes of dumplings and worried that his supermarket income would not be enough to support his appetite.
• Lu Ao told Officer Liao that he had been attacked, signed his statement, and learned the attackers had all been detained.
• Lu Ao bought a replacement phone and arranged to meet his childhood friend Ge Ranzhou for a meal, planning to tell him about his new livelihood idea.
• Lu Ao contacted Tian Mingzhi and agreed to join him and the others for sea fishing before pumping out a tidal pool.
• Lu Ao ate a large amount of meat at a buffet, then went to the pier, where Tian Mingzhi and the others were waiting with their gear.

Lu Ao joined Tian Mingzhi, Hu Xingjin, and Chen Shengrong on a fishing trip toward Huangfan Island, using his instincts to choose a promising fishing spot. They began fishing with live prawns while Tian Mingzhi filmed Lu Ao without showing his face.

• Tian Mingzhi showed Lu Ao the three jin of prawns they had bought, and Lu Ao agreed to let them cover the cost with money from their previous fish sale.
• The four loaded their gear onto Chen Shengrong’s boat and set out for Huangfan Island, discussing the risks and expenses of commercial fishing.
• Hu Xingjin and Tian Mingzhi learned that Lu Ao came from Shuiyuan Town, Yandong County, and asked whether he knew the uploader Lin Qiyan; Lu Ao said he did not know him personally.
• Lu Ao sensed a suitable fishing spot, so Tian Mingzhi had Chen Shengrong stop the boat there.
• Lu Ao baited his hook with a live prawn and cast it into the sea as Hu Xingjin and Chen Shengrong followed, while Tian Mingzhi filmed the fishing without showing Lu Ao’s face.

Lu Ao caught far more fish than his companions during a week of fishing, then told them he was returning to his hometown. After parting with them, he watched the stars and continued resisting his transformation into a lizard.

• Lu Ao repeatedly caught barracuda, black seabream, white waxfish, stonefish, and a valuable stone grouper while Hu Xingjin and Chen Shengrong caught far less.
• Hu Xingjin and Chen Shengrong compared their modest catches with Lu Ao's haul for Tian Mingzhi's camera.
• After fishing with the group for about a week, Lu Ao told Tian Mingzhi and the others that he would not join them the following week because he was returning to Qianyong City.
• Lu Ao treated the group to food and drinks, and Tian Mingzhi and the others became despondent about his departure.
• Lu Ao returned home in a poor mood, watched the stars from his terrace until midnight, and kept suppressing signs of turning into a lizard.

Lu Ao told his childhood friend Ge Ranzhou that he had rented out his supermarket and planned to return to his hometown to make a living fishing. After a long journey, Lu Ao reached his mountain town and bought groceries at its market.

• Lu Ao invited Ge Ranzhou to dinner, where Ge was astonished by Lu Ao’s height and appetite.
• Lu Ao gave Ge the key to his house and explained that he had rented out his supermarket to an old neighbor.
• Lu Ao told Ge that he planned to return to his hometown the day after tomorrow, and Ge reluctantly accepted his decision.
• Lu Ao informed Tian Mingzhi and the others, then traveled by bus, train, and van back to his hometown.
• Lu Ao relaxed among the locals and went to the town market to buy groceries and seafood.

Lu Ao bought fishing gear and diving equipment from a local tackle shop as he prepared to begin fishing. He arranged to go with the shop owner to the county seat the next day to collect supplies and apply for a fishing license.

• Lu Ao visited a tackle shop and bargained for one five-finger net and one six-finger net.
• Lu Ao inspected spearguns, diving suits, and long fins, then negotiated prices with the owner.
• Lu Ao agreed to buy two nets, a speargun, a diving suit, and long fins for 1,700 yuan.
• Lu Ao told the owner he would accompany him to the county seat the next day and apply for a fishing license.

Lu Ao returned to his coastal hometown and prepared to start fishing, buying diving gear and applying for a Fisheries Qualification Certificate. After a long day of errands, he met several villagers who recognized his family and childhood acquaintance Lin Gongshang.

• Lin Dawu recognized Lu Ao as Lu Xuehai's son and offered to take him home.
• Lu Ao visited Lin Dawu's shop, ate with him and Gui Yandan, then rode with him to the county seat to collect diving equipment.
• Lu Ao applied for a Fisheries Qualification Certificate, which would be issued after review within three months.
• Pan Jianbao offered to help Lu Ao buy a fishing boat, and Lin Dawu drove him back to town.
• Lin Man Zhang and his companions came to Lin Dawu's shop for spearguns, where Lin Gongshang recognized Lu Ao from elementary school.

Lu Ao prepared to fish alone despite warnings from Lin Man Zhang, Lin Gongshang, and Lin Dawu about the dangers of the local waters. The next morning he reached a reef and entered the sea, where he found many small fish and worried he might not be able to aim accurately.

• Lin Man Zhang, Lin Gongshang, and Lin Dawu urged Lu Ao to fish with experienced locals, but he declined and said he would try on his own.
• Lin Man Zhang and Lin Gongshang added Lu Ao on WeChat before leaving, and Lin Dawu walked him home after he bought supplies.
• Lu Ao ate a large meal of braised beef, slept, and got up early to prepare for his first fishing trip.
• Lu Ao crossed the rocky shore, put on his diving gear, and entered the water at a reef outside the village.
• Lu Ao saw fish of various sizes underwater, but hesitated to use his speargun because the fish were small and difficult to aim at.

Lu Ao caught seven large Big Reds after finding a school offshore, then stored them alive in a tidal pool and contacted Lin Dawu to ask where he could sell them. Lin Dawu rushed to meet him at the reefs outside Lu Family Village to see the catch.

• Lu Ao gathered conch shells and caught a few fish before spotting a school of Big Reds offshore.
• Lu Ao’s eyes turned deep green and his presence seemed to fade as he approached the school unnoticed, then speared two fish with one shot.
• Lu Ao spent the morning hunting the school and caught seven Big Reds before hunger and exhaustion forced him ashore.
• Lu Ao stored the fish in a tidal pool, messaged Lin Dawu, and sent him photos of the catch.
• Lin Dawu left Gui Yandan to watch the shop and hurried to Lu Family Village, where he found Lu Ao sitting by the reefs.

Lu Ao showed Lin Dawu and the other villagers the large fish he had speared, and they helped prepare to transport them alive to Long Township Wharf. Lu Ao set off with Lin Man Zhang and Lin Gongshang to sell the catch.

• Lu Ao showed Lin Dawu seven large Big Red Snappers and another fish, and Lin Dawu said the catch would likely fetch a better price at Long Township Wharf.
• Lin Dawu called Lin Man Zhang and the others to bring water tanks and oxygenating equipment and help transport Lu Ao's fish.
• Lin Man Zhang and the others inspected the huge fish, and Lin Man Zhang nearly fell into the water pit while trying to lift one.
• The group loaded the fish into oxygenated tanks, and Lu Ao credited both luck and skill for his catch.
• Lin Man Zhang and the others took Lu Ao home to put away his gear, and Lu Ao then left for Long Township Wharf with Lin Man Zhang and Lin Gongshang.

Lu Ao sold seven live red grouper at Long Township Wharf for 3,415.5 yuan after tax, then treated his companions to lunch. Niu Deyu told the group that Jiacheng Grand Hotel wanted large wild giant grouper for a banquet and offered 188 yuan per pound, leaving them to try to catch some before next Wednesday.

• Lin Man Zhang led Lu Ao to Niu Deyu’s fish shop, where Niu Deyu weighed Lu Ao’s seven live red grouper at 137.6 pounds and paid him 3,415.5 yuan after tax.
• Lin Man Zhang and Lin Gongshang sold their fish and split the proceeds, earning 325 yuan and 308 yuan respectively.
• Lu Ao treated Lin Man Zhang, Lin Gongshang, and Niu Deyu to lunch and ordered more than twenty dishes.
• Niu Deyu told them that Jiacheng Grand Hotel wanted large wild giant grouper for a banquet on May twentieth and offered 188 yuan per pound.
• Lin Man Zhang agreed to look for giant grouper and contact Niu Deyu if they caught any, while Niu Deyu said the hotel preferred live fish.

Lu Ao settled the purchase of a Giant Grouper, returned to the village, and spent the evening cooking and arranging to buy an agricultural tricycle. The next day, after fishing and selling his catch, he inspected a tricycle in the county town and asked the dealer for his lowest price.

• Lu Ao gave Lin Man Zhang and Lin Gongshang travel-expense envelopes, and told them he might go fishing the next morning.
• Lu Ao cooked a meal of White Wax Fish, sea snails, and braised beef, then messaged Pan Jianbao about buying an agricultural tricycle.
• Pan Jianbao found Lu Ao a twenty-eight-horsepower Guanzhong tricycle for 9,800 yuan, with a free canopy.
• The next day, Lu Ao finished fishing and selling his catch, then went with Pan Jianbao to inspect tricycles at his friend's dealership.
• Lu Ao examined a dark blue reinforced tricycle and asked the dealer to add a canopy and seat and name his lowest price.

Lu Ao bought a modified tricycle and practiced driving it while discussing fishing with Lin Man Zhang and Lin Gongshang. He then went out at dawn to pursue a huge Giant Grouper he had been tracking for days.

• Lu Ao agreed to buy a tricycle for 9,800 yuan, with a rain canopy and protective gear, and arranged to collect it after the modifications were finished.
• Lu Ao borrowed Lin Man Zhang's tricycle to practice, and told Lin Man Zhang and Lin Gongshang that he had caught only forty or fifty jin of fish.
• Lin Gongshang bragged that he had caught three Giant Groupers, while Lin Man Zhang warned Lu Ao that hotels had nearly bought enough and invited him to fish with the group.
• Lu Ao declined to join the others and headed home, already intent on catching a large Giant Grouper he had been tracking.
• At dawn, Lu Ao searched underwater for over half an hour, found the Giant Grouper, and quietly followed it as it hunted near the rocks.

Lu Ao’s struggle with a giant grouper left him exhausted and trapped in its fishing line until he transformed into a lizard. In lizard form he dragged the fish to shore, changed back into a human, and put it in his fish pool.

• Lu Ao fought to keep the giant grouper from escaping toward the open sea, but it dragged him underwater and tangled its line around him.
• Nearly out of air, Lu Ao tried to free himself with his diving knife, then began untangling the line to abandon the fish.
• Lu Ao transformed into a lizard before he could escape, losing his gear but gaining the strength to drag the grouper toward shore.
• Lu Ao hauled the grouper onto shore, transformed back into a human, and pulled the fish arrow from its body.
• Lu Ao half-carried and half-dragged the struggling grouper into his fish pool.