"Is this the clue?"
At Yan Feizhuo's words, Sheng Nian's attention was drawn to the pearl in his hand. He took it curiously and examined it. "This is actually a real pearl?"
Seeing that they had found the clue, the staff member waiting nearby stopped hiding and came out to explain, "Yes, this is the clue."
"These pearls came from a marine farm owned by the Evernight Sky Group. There are fifteen in total, provided by our generous sponsor. Find three to complete this mission, and if you find seven, you can even summon the divine dragon~"
Sheng Nian said, "What the heck is this about summoning a divine dragon..."
The staff member said mysteriously, "Let's just say they have a special use. You'd best collect seven. There are big benefits."
Yan Feizhuo put the pearl into Sheng Nian's hand for him to put away. "It's fine. If we find them, it's fate. If we don't, that's fine too."
Sheng Nian tucked the pearl into his little bag, then turned his attention back to the mischievous orca.
Now that he knew the cracking glass was just a special effect, he was much bolder and went right up to the glass to tease the orca.
The orca loved an audience. It already enjoyed scaring visitors, and now that someone was teasing it, it threw itself against the glass with all its might.
Sheng Nian watched in amazement, exclaiming constantly as he happily played with an orca.
Yan Feizhuo didn't rush him. He stood to one side with his arms folded, quietly watching him play.
[This orca understands people so well. Next time I go, I'm going to play with it like this too.]
[Don't get your hopes up, person above. This whale is a sucker for looks and only likes attractive people. If someone else tried teasing it, it wouldn't even acknowledge them.]
[What? It can even tell whether someone is good-looking?]
[Who knows? Plenty of people have tried teasing it before, but Tiger-Tiger only responds to the good-looking ones. This even came from Evernight Sky employees.]
[What an unconventional whale!]
[I'm taking screenshots like crazy. President Yan quietly watching Sheng Nian play is such a beautiful sight~]
While Sheng Nian was playing with the orca, Jiang Shu and He Gu's team soon reached the entrance to the Sea Demon Tunnel. They hadn't walked far before running into Sheng Nian and Yan Feizhuo.
Seeing them arrive, Sheng Nian inwardly lamented how enemies always crossed paths. He happened to be tired of playing anyway, so he simply waved goodbye to the orca and returned to Yan Feizhuo's side.
Jiang Shu looked a little displeased when Sheng Nian didn't greet him, but said nothing, merely assuming he was still angry about what had happened that morning.
The orca, Tiger-Tiger, still seemed to want more and lingered by the glass for quite a while. Only after seeing that Sheng Nian wasn't coming back did it flick its tail and swim away, completely ignoring He Gu, who was trying to interact with it nearby.
[Pfft~ This is a little embarrassing for He Gu...]
[Tiger-Tiger wasn't interested in him at all~]
[The contrast is way too obvious. The orca was having so much fun with Sheng Nian just now.]
[He's so scheming that even animals don't like him.]
[What are you talking about? He Gu isn't that kind of person. This must be scripted!]
[Is there something wrong with your brain? Get an orca to act along with you, and I'll believe this is scripted.]
Seeing He Gu's hand still hanging awkwardly in midair, Sheng Nian couldn't help bursting into laughter.
When He Gu turned to glare at him and Jiang Shu also looked over disapprovingly, Sheng Nian pursed his lips and whispered to Yan Feizhuo, "Let's go!"
Yan Feizhuo smiled at the look on his face, then led him away from the trouble.
They continued forward. The farther they went, the deeper into the sea they traveled, and the more lighting there was around the seabed, allowing them to see more of the underwater scenery.
Sheng Nian even saw a group of large sea turtles pass by. The leatherback turtles were enormous, each over two meters long, and the sight was incredibly impressive.
As he watched the turtles from inside the glass tunnel, the turtles watched him from outside.
After they stared at each other for a while, the turtles swam away in search of seagrass.
With some regret, Sheng Nian stroked a large turtle's head through the glass. "What a shame. If only I could actually touch it."
The Evernight Sky staff member guiding them nearby smiled and said, "It's not impossible. These sea creatures often appear by the shore. If you have time, you could try your luck. You might just run into them."
Sheng Nian perked up. "How do we get to the shore? Will any stretch of coast do?"
The staff member said, "The shore at the exit of the Sea Demon Tunnel will do."
"Oh, I see. Thank you so much."
After they had wandered for quite a while, the tunnel's exit was still far out of reach, and they hadn't found any more pearls. Sheng Nian was tired and planned to find somewhere to rest.
The tunnel wasn't straight, and there were shops where they could rest at some of the forks and bends. Sheng Nian soon found a milk tea shop.
"Do you want something to drink?"
Although he didn't think Yan Feizhuo was the sort to enjoy these drinks, Sheng Nian asked anyway.
Yan Feizhuo glanced over and said, "I'll have a coffee."
"Okay."
After ordering him a coffee, Sheng Nian said, "I'll have a grape tea with crunchy popping boba."
"Certainly. Please take a seat and wait for your number to be called."
While they were resting and waiting in the shop, Jiang Shu and He Gu caught up again.
Somewhat resentful to see them taking it so easy, He Gu entered the shop too and put on an air of kindly persuasion. "Sheng Nian, how are you still in the mood for milk tea? Have you found any mission clues? Jiang Shu and I have some leads. Want me to tell you?"
Sheng Nian didn't want to deal with him. "No, thanks."
He Gu wanted to keep persuading him, but the shop happened to call Sheng Nian's number, and he hurriedly escaped the two of them to collect his milk tea at the counter.
"Here's your milk tea. Would you like a pearl?"
Sheng Nian was a little puzzled. "I ordered crunchy popping boba. I don't want pearls."
Smiling, the staff member pulled a pearl from the mouth of the stuffed orca on the counter. "I meant this kind of pearl."
Sheng Nian was delighted. After searching for so long, he hadn't expected to find one when he decided to rest.
"Yes, please. Thank you~"
Sheng Nian took the milk tea and pearl and headed back.
"Feizhuo, look! I found another pearl!"
As he spoke, he glanced at He Gu. "It came with the milk tea~"
He Gu said, "..."
Seeing his smug little expression, Yan Feizhuo smiled and praised him. "Well done."
[Hahahahaha, He Gu just asked how he could still be in the mood for milk tea, and immediately got proven wrong.]
[Sheng Nian is too cute. When the shop assistant asked if he wanted a pearl, he said he ordered crunchy popping boba and didn't want pearls, hahahahaha...]
[He Gu and Jiang Shu don't have a single pearl yet, do they? Sheng Nian and Yan Feizhuo have already found two.]
He Gu was rather frustrated. Why did nothing good seem to happen whenever he ran into Sheng Nian lately? He had even wanted to use Sheng Nian to restore his damaged image. It looked like he would have to think of something.
Though he thought this, he didn't let it show. Instead, he smiled and congratulated Sheng Nian. "You're so lucky, Sheng Nian. You found another pearl so quickly."
Sheng Nian replied perfunctorily, "You two should buy a couple of milk teas too. Maybe you'll find one."
He said it casually, but He Gu and Jiang Shu took it to heart and actually went to the counter to order two milk teas. Unfortunately, they returned empty-handed.
Jiang Shu came over. "Sheng Nian, do you know what the mission clues actually are?"
Sheng Nian was rather speechless. Even if he knew, did that mean he had to tell him? How could he be so self-righteous about trying to get something for nothing?
He inwardly ranted about Jiang Shu, and when he didn't speak for a moment, the system's OOC warning sounded in his mind.
Sheng Nian said, "..."
"I don't know either. I really just ordered a milk tea, and that shop assistant asked me if I wanted a pearl."
Jiang Shu wanted to ask more, but Yan Feizhuo spoke up. "If you want clues, find them yourselves. We're under no obligation to share with you."
With that, Jiang Shu couldn't very well keep asking. He glanced at Sheng Nian's apologetic expression, then left with He Gu.
Before you continue