In Chu Yilan's memory, the only other time he had played like this was when he was very young and had gone with his grandfather to a farm outside the city. The weather had been just as lovely, and his mother had sat nearby, smiling as she watched him.
Shen Lian came ashore for some water. Turning around to see Chu Yilan diligently scooping up shrimp, he couldn't resist taking out his phone and snapping a couple of photos, then recording a video to post in the group chat.
Feng Yueshan was always the first to reply: [Has someone possessed my buddy?]
Shen Lian: [Do you even know how to enjoy life?]
Feng Yueshan: [Holy shit, help. This is a horror story. Sixian, book me a psychiatric appointment, will you? Also, what the hell is my buddy wearing?]
Shen Lian: [Options were limited, so I just bought whatever. He looks great.]
Ning Sixian: [He's lost it.]
Zhou Yuanlin: [He's lost it.]
Shen Lian gave a little snort.
Chu Yilan might not have had much hands-on experience, but he was getting the hang of it. He hadn't caught many fish, but he had collected half a small bucket of shrimp. One look told Shen Lian they had enough for a stir-fry that evening. Add some garlic shoots and chives, and it would smell incredible.
When Chu Yilan came ashore, there was a faint smile on his face. Mud and sand clung to his calves, but he didn't care.
"If you like this, I'll take you out to do it more often," Shen Lian said. "Foraging in the mountains is pretty fun too. I bet you've never tried it."
There would be plenty more times like this, Chu Yilan thought. Shen Lian had promised.
An extra plate of stir-fried river shrimp did