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Song Zhou turned the teacup in his hand, his eyes curving slightly. "The people below saw your movements and reported that you traveled overnight from Chongxin Village to New Luzhou. I came to take a look."

"Oh." Lu Ao immediately understood that his movements were being monitored, and he was not particularly pleased.

Song Zhou looked into his eyes, knowing what he was thinking. He chuckled softly. "It can't be helped. We're responsible to the people as well. You're an A-rank dangerous individual who has been flagged, after all. You ought to get this much attention."

Lu Ao rather liked his candor, though he was still annoyed. "Do you monitor everyone like me?"

"As much as possible." Song Zhou said, "Our official name is the Abnormal Human Affairs Supervision Bureau. Keeping an eye on people like you is our job."

Lu Ao looked at him and raised an eyebrow. "If you're monitoring people, wouldn't you be the most dangerous one?"

"That is indeed true. There are people on the human side who have never let down their guard against me."

Lu Ao was puzzled. "Then why do you work for them?"

Song Zhou smiled. "I'm not working for them. I'm merely safeguarding the security of this continent."

Song Zhou patiently answered his questions one by one, only falling silent when the auntie brought out the dishes.

The auntie found it rather strange and gave Lu Ao another look. Just moments ago, he had insisted there was only one person, yet in the blink of an eye, there was another.

This extra person was also extremely handsome, with a bearing far beyond that of an ordinary person. He seemed like some important figure, perhaps a celebrity, but his face was unfamiliar, and the auntie felt that she should never have seen him before.

Song Zhou politely nodded to the auntie. "Thank you for your trouble."

"Oh, you're welcome." The auntie set down the stir-fried razor clams, shredded squid, and hand-shredded chicken. For some reason, she did not dare look at him too much. She hurriedly said, "Enjoy your meal."

Lu Ao was in an average mood. Song Zhou moved the dishes in front of him. "Don't be unhappy. I'm mooching off your meal, and I'll take you back later."

"It's not like I minded you mooching."

Hearing him mutter, Song Zhou smiled, his eyes curving. "You seem to be on pretty good terms with those people from Lin Family Village?"

"More or less. They've helped me a lot, so I lend them a hand when I can."

Traveling all night by boat and vehicle was hardly lending a hand when he could, but Song Zhou did not expose him. He merely smiled in understanding.

Very soon, all the dishes Lu Ao had ordered arrived.

He was so hungry that his hands had gone weak. He could not be bothered to talk now, elegantly yet swiftly clearing the dishes on the table.

Song Zhou did not eat much. Though he said he was mooching a meal, he was mostly there to keep him company.

With one more person at the table, the enormous spread Lu Ao had ordered finally seemed less conspicuous, and the people around them paid them little attention.

After eating and drinking their fill, Lu Ao narrowed his eyes in satisfaction.

After paying the bill, Song Zhou pulled him to his feet. "Let's walk around first. I'll take you back later."

Lu Ao did not want to pull off a vanishing act in public either. He obediently stood and followed Song Zhou along the roadside toward the beach.

The two of them strolled along, treating it as a walk to aid digestion.

As they walked, Lu Ao recalled something and turned to look at him. "If I suddenly return from New Luzhou to the village without any transportation records in between, will anyone become suspicious?"

"No. You're registered with the authorities. As long as nothing major happens, no one will dare investigate you."

Lu Ao said, "Oh." "Even if I do other unusual things, they'll turn a blind eye?"

"What do you mean by other unusual things?"

"Like catching an especially large amount of fish, raising unusually strong things, or growing especially good crops?"

"They will. Not only will the higher-ups turn a blind eye, they'll also find ways to cover for you." Song Zhou smiled. "Just live your life in peace. As long as you don't commit any major acts that harm humanity, the authorities will be very friendly toward you."

Lu Ao responded with an "Oh." For the first time, he felt that being registered with the higher-ups might not be so hard to accept after all.

After strolling for more than twenty minutes, they reached the seaside. The surroundings were very quiet, with only the streetlamps standing silently there, guarding the street.

Song Zhou held out his hand. "Let's go. I'll send you back so you can sleep."

Lu Ao lazily placed his hand in his.

Song Zhou had originally only intended to grab his arm, but when he saw Lu Ao offer his hand, he did not mind and simply took it.

A broad, slightly cool palm pressed against warm, slender fingers, their temperatures passing between them.

Lu Ao found it somewhat strange. Just as he was about to look up at Song Zhou, his vision blurred. The next moment, he was already outside his own courtyard.

Song Zhou said softly, "We're here."

Lu Ao looked at his locked courtyard, then turned to Song Zhou. "Mr. Song, I've noticed that every time you come, you only ever stop outside my courtyard?"

"Without the owner's invitation, I generally wouldn't intrude."

Lu Ao recalled Song Zhou's behavior on his previous visits and realized that it was indeed true.

Song Zhou gave him a gentle push. "It's late. Go back and sleep early."

Lu Ao yawned. "You too. Thanks for today."

"You're welcome. Good night."

After returning home and washing up, Lu Ao fell straight into bed. He was truly too tired, and he slept until after one in the afternoon.

After getting up, he cooked a pot of richly loaded noodles. Once he had eaten, he took his fishing gear and went fishing.

Ocean resources were limited, especially those close to shore.

He was too good at fishing. In just over a month, there were no longer many large fish in the waters he usually visited. Lu Ao made a rough estimate: at most, he could keep fishing here for another month before he would need to find a new fishing spot.

There were only a few fishing spots around their village. Aside from this one, the others were all places Lin Manzhang and the others frequented.

Lu Ao had no intention of fishing together with Lin Manzhang and the others. First, there were too many strange things about him, and it would not be good if Lin Manzhang and the others saw them. Second, he was too good at fishing. If he joined them, the large fish in those waters would soon be caught out, and then Lin Manzhang and the others would have a hard time making a living.

He needed to find a way to try deep-sea fishing, but his fishing license was still being processed. If he wanted to head out to sea, he would have to wait a while longer.

The wind and waves were fairly strong that afternoon, and the seawater was murky, making visibility average.

Lu Ao fished for three hours and only caught a little over twenty jin of fish.