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Shi Wen turned his head. "You've been deep-sea fishing before?"

"Yeah, that was a long time ago," Gong Jiang said.

As Gong Jiang spoke, he began telling stories from the past.

They ate fish and chatted, while Shi Wen kept half his attention on Yan Kexing.

Yan Kexing did not talk much, but his replies were always clever. Even the way he ate fish was exceptionally pleasing to watch. One look told Shi Wen that he was no ordinary person.

Shi Wen could not help guessing at his background.

The three of them cleared every dish prepared on the table. By the end, even the hotpot broth had become noticeably lighter.

Shi Wen poured cold drinks for them. "It's been a long time since I've eaten this happily."

Gong Jiang raised his cup and clinked it against Shi Wen's. "Same here. It's been a long time since I've eaten so heartily. Eating at your place is really great."

Shi Wen smiled. "Then come again next time. I'll see if I can get some red willow branches to grill fish with. I heard fish grilled over red willow tastes great too."

"Watch the ecology," Yan Kexing said.

"No problem!" Shi Wen said. "I definitely won't chop down trees recklessly."

After lunch, Yan Kexing and Gong Jiang helped wash the pots, bowls, and utensils before leaving.

When Shi Wen had invited them to dinner, he had admittedly been somewhat swayed by Yan Kexing's face and physique. But once they started washing the dishes, he was genuinely moved.

While Yan Kexing went to clean up beside the well, Shi Wen quietly asked Gong Jiang, "Gong Jiang, is Mr. Yan your supervising professor? Which university are you from?"

Gong Jiang nodded and quietly named an extremely prestigious position. "He's a doctoral advisor."

"A doctoral advisor?" Shi Wen said. "But Mr. Yan doesn't look that old."

"You can look him up on the official website," Gong Jiang said with certainty.

"You're all incredible," Shi Wen said.

Gong Jiang returned the compliment. "Everyone has their own specialty. Being able to run such a large ranch makes you incredible too."

After washing the dishes, Shi Wen seemed a little preoccupied.

He saw Gong Jiang and Yan Kexing off at the ranch entrance.

Because of the morning's accident, Yan Kexing and Gong Jiang had switched horses. Yan Kexing was riding the horse whose ears had been bitten.

The horse looked utterly ordinary on its own, but with Yan Kexing riding it, it appeared remarkably spirited, every bit the tall, fine steed.

Sitting on horseback, Yan Kexing lowered his head and said to Shi Wen, "Goodbye."

Shi Wen pulled himself together and waved. "Goodbye."

Who knew whether they would ever meet again?

Shi Wen added, "You're welcome to come over anytime you have the time."

Yan Kexing nodded, lightly tapped the horse's belly, and rode away.

Gong Jiang followed behind him and turned back to Shi Wen. "Stop seeing us off. Go back and get some rest."

Shi Wen smiled and waved. He stood where he was, watching their figures on horseback grow farther and farther away.

After Yan Kexing and Gong Jiang left, Shi Wen went online and checked the official website.

On S University's official website, Yan Kexing's photograph was right there on the homepage.

The picture was handsome, but it did not capture even a tenth of his presence in person.

Shi Wen scrolled down and discovered that Yan Kexing's team researched integrated environmental science and had published quite a few papers.

He scrolled down and specifically opened one article to study it. To his surprise, the screen was filled with foreign technical terms. Having long since tossed foreign languages out of his mind after graduation, he struggled through it with great difficulty. Still, he could roughly tell that Yan Kexing's team had accomplished quite a lot.

He truly was an impressive person.

While Shi Wen was struggling to read the paper, Yan Kexing was working at his desk.

Two enormous monitors stood on the desk, densely covered in foreign characters.

A pair of blue-light-blocking glasses with clear lenses rested on his high, straight nose. The characters reflected in the lenses before entering his eyes.

Because the text scrolled so quickly, the flickering reflections on his glasses looked almost surreal.

Yan Kexing was fully absorbed in the article when the phone beside him suddenly rang, gentle music echoing through the study.

He pressed the save key on his computer, glanced at the caller ID, picked up the phone, and put it to his ear. "Zhu Ji."

"It actually went through. What are you doing?" Zhu Ji asked.

"Working. Do you have something important to tell me?"

The emphasis on "important" thoroughly conveyed his attitude.

"Ah, yes. It's about the northern foothills of the Agouna Mountains. I wanted to ask your advice about something."

Yan Kexing gave a quiet "Mm," signaling him to continue.

Zhu Ji quickly made the most of the time and asked every question he had prepared.

Yan Kexing listened and thought as he gave professional advice.

The two went back and forth on the phone for over half an hour.

Zhu Ji let out a breath. "That's everything I wanted to ask. Thanks for the trouble today. When you come to N City, I'll treat you to a meal."

"No need to be polite." Yan Kexing fiddled with the pen on his desk. "By the way, have you completed the first phase of the closed beta we discussed before?"

"We have. We're contacting candidates for the next phase of testing. Are you interested in this?"

"I met someone today who fits your testing criteria quite well. His Ability level is probably beginner-grade. He has good luck, and his character seems decent too. If you need people, I'll recommend him to you."

"That's a very high evaluation coming from you!"

"He helped one of my students." Yan Kexing fiddled with the pen again and brought the conversation back on topic. "I met him personally and confirmed that he meets your requirements."

"Who is it? Let me see if I remember him."

"His name is Shi Wen. He should have an animal-type bloodline."

"Ah, I know him. Qilin Bloodline. His old man was here too back then, so it's inherited through the family. It's just that his bloodline is rather thin. His numbers go up and down, and he only barely met the standard this year, which was why he was accepted."

"I think he has good potential."

"Qilin Bloodline—he's the only one we've found in the country so far. If he can grow stronger, he'll indeed be very promising." Zhu Ji considered it briefly. "Since you say so, I'll move him onto this batch's list. We originally placed him in the second batch."