I’m No Longer Human After Being Blacklisted – CH43

Lin Jiu slept until he naturally woke up and found himself in his own room. He thought he was still in the Demon Sea, but it turned out he had already returned. So why did he keep hearing water sounds? Was it a dream?

With messy hair, Lin Jiu sat dumbly on the bed, still a bit groggy. When Si Xu walked in, this was the scene he saw.

His heart pounded twice, hard enough to make Si Xu’s chest feel numb. This feeling had completely surpassed the bounds of friendship. It wasn’t as simple as familiarity anymore. Every move Lin Jiu made seemed adorable to him, making him want to get closer, especially when Lin Jiu was in such a confused state, which was such a contrast to his usual self—so dazed and cute. Si Xu wanted to scoop him up and hug him tight.

Lin Jiu suddenly saw Si Xu and jumped in surprise. His eyes widened, and then he remembered why Si Xu was there. He asked in surprise, “You… you really didn’t leave?”

Si Xu responded helplessly, “Didn’t you ask me to stay and watch over you?”

Lin Jiu: “…”

Something still felt off.

Before Lin Jiu could figure it out, Si Xu asked, “I ordered porridge. Would you like some?”

If he could have, Si Xu would have preferred to cook it himself. Fortunately, Lin Jiu’s clean but unused kitchen saved Si Xu, who wasn’t exactly great at making porridge, from embarrassment.

Nobody would believe it if he said it out loud—Boss Lin’s house didn’t even have a single grain of rice. Si Xu had no idea what Lin Jiu ate at home on a daily basis.

Lin Jiu, still a little dazed, nodded. “Okay.”

Si Xu came over to help him up. “Do you want to eat in bed, or do you want to go outside?”

“Outside, I’ve recovered quite a bit.” The pain had significantly lessened, and as long as he didn’t move too much, it wasn’t affecting him.

Si Xu watched as Lin Jiu walked out slowly, not forcing himself at all.

Si Xu brought out the porridge and side dishes from the insulated container, carefully setting everything up.

Lin Jiu glanced over. Si Xu was eating the same simple porridge as him.

Looking from the plain side dishes and porridge to Si Xu, who sat across from him, Lin Jiu suddenly felt his heart swell with emotion. His dining table had always been a place for just one person. He never imagined that one day, there would be someone who stayed with him while he was injured, prepared food for him, and ate alongside him.

After his grandfather passed away, Lin Jiu had grown accustomed to loneliness, used to being alone. But no matter how used to it he was, he still longed for companionship—perhaps that was simply human nature.

Watching Si Xu earnestly eat the porridge and side dishes, Lin Jiu’s lips curled into a smile. “Eating like this, you might not be getting enough nutrition.”

Si Xu dismissed the concern, “I make up for it every day. A few days of plain porridge and vegetables won’t hurt.”

“When I’m better, I’ll cook something new for you. This time, I caught—” Lin Jiu suddenly remembered that the little blue demon was still soaking in the fish tank!

The fish tank wasn’t a refrigerator—it couldn’t keep the fish fresh for long. If it spoiled, it would be a huge loss!

That was a three-star little blue demon!

Seeing Lin Jiu’s expression change, Si Xu asked in concern, “What’s wrong? Does your wound hurt?”

“No, the wound doesn’t hurt…” It’s his heart that ached!

Right now, all Lin Jiu wanted was to rush to the fish tank, pull out the little blue demon, and store it in the refrigerator. He was worried it would go bad if left for too long.

Lin Jiu glanced at Si Xu, hesitated for a moment, then seemed to give up.

Si Xu put down his chopsticks. “If you have something to say, just say it. If you want me to leave, it’s fine.”

Lin Jiu: “…”

Was he that heartless? After all the trouble Si Xu had gone through to help him with his wounds, staying up all night, he couldn’t just kick him out now!

So, Lin Jiu decided to tell Si Xu a bit about the little blue demon, in the spirit of their growing friendship. If possible, he’d even ask Si Xu to help him deal with it, assuming Si Xu could handle seeing such a big “mutant octopus.”

“Do you want to know…” what kind of ingredient I caught this time?

Lin Jiu was ready to spill the beans, but before he could say it, Si Xu’s phone rang.

Lin Jiu: “…”

Si Xu: “…”

Si Xu: “What did you want to say?”

Lin Jiu: “I wanted to say…”

The phone kept ringing.

Si Xu: “What?”

Lin Jiu took a deep breath, “Just take the call.”

There went his desire to speak.

Si Xu glanced at his phone—it was his father calling.

He answered, and whatever was said on the other end made Si Xu’s expression turn serious.

“I understand. I’ll be back right away.”

His father had returned a few days ago under urgent circumstances, seeming to have some important business. He had come home briefly before heading into meetings, and this was the first time he’d contacted Si Xu since.

Si Xu hung up and looked at Lin Jiu, waiting for him to continue where he left off.

Lin Jiu raised an eyebrow, “You should go handle your business. I’ll be fine on my own.”

Si Xu replied, “What were you going to say?”

Lin Jiu feigned ignorance, “What?”

Si Xu reminded him, “You asked if I wanted to know something. I do. I want to know everything about you.”

Lin Jiu: “…”

But he really wasn’t in the mood to explain anymore.

Lin Jiu sighed, “Go take care of your business. I’ll tell you next time.”

Si Xu didn’t move. “I feel like I’m missing something important.”

Lin Jiu blinked. “How do you know I’m not just trying to recruit you for some labor?”

Si Xu smiled, “Labor is fine too, as long as you ask.”

Lin Jiu nodded seriously, “Okay, next time I need some grunt work, I’ll call you.”

Si Xu stood up, his smile fading. “What I really want to know is how you got hurt. Can you tell me?”

Lin Jiu: “I can. I’ll tell you when you come back.”

Si Xu relaxed, “I’ll be back soon.”

He went to the door to change his shoes, getting ready to leave.

Lin Jiu said, “Take a pass card with you, so you can swipe in and out without bothering the security guard.”

Si Xu acknowledged this, grabbing a set of cards from the hooks near the entryway—a pass card, elevator card, and door card were all bundled together. He now had full access to Lin Jiu’s building and home.

“This is the truth. Your flower arrangement skills have indeed reached the level of a master. Every vase looks beautiful,” Si QiNian said with complete seriousness.

“Really?” Song Mo Zhi was overjoyed as she held up the vase to inspect it carefully, as if trying to find traces of a master’s touch.

“Of course. I never lie to you.” There wasn’t a hint of a joke on Si Qi Nian’s face.

Si Xu, who had just walked in: “…”

Was this a bad time to come in?

Song Mo Zhi looked up and saw Si Xu standing at the door. She smiled and said, “Ah Xu, come take a look. How’s my flower arrangement?”

Si Xu glanced at his father, who was wearing a serious expression and had a warning look in his eyes. If Si Xu dared to say it didn’t look good, he might lose his place as a son.

Si Xu looked at the vase filled with chaotic beauty and wanted to ask how thick his father’s filter was to praise it so earnestly.

“It looks great…” Just a bit below Lin Jiu’s level, but he wouldn’t dare say that.

Si QiNian wrapped an arm around his wife and kissed the top of her head. “You sit for a bit. I’ll talk with Ah Xu for a moment and then come back to keep you company.”

“Alright, go ahead.” Song Mo Zhi was in a great mood.

Aunt Chen brought in another basket of roses, and Song Mo Zhi waved for her to put it down. The two of them began working on it again.

The roses were vibrant, fiery red, so passionate that they reminded Si Xu of Lin Jiu’s cool temperature—so cold that only such an intense color could warm him up.

Si Xu said, “Mom, could you wrap a bouquet of roses for me? I want to give it to someone.”

Song Mo Zhi’s eyes lit up with gossip, “Is it for a girl?”

Si Xu sighed, “No.”

Song Mo Zhi was disappointed, “Then who’s it for? You can’t just give red roses to anyone—they might misunderstand.”

“Red roses suit him perfectly.” Something too mild wouldn’t do; only bold colors would suffice.

Si Xu followed Si QiNian upstairs, heading straight to the study.

Si QiNian took out a folder from a drawer, dumped its contents onto the desk.

Si Xu immediately noticed that the top left corner of the first page had a photo of Lin Jiu.

Si Qi Nian pointed at the document. “Lin Jiu, 20 years old. Parents unknown. Lin Changde, from Huaifeng County in City D, found him by the river when Lin Jiu was a baby. At the time, Lin Changde was 62 years old. He wanted his children to adopt Lin Jiu, but they refused, so he adopted him himself, leading to a falling-out with his children.

Ten years ago, you went to Huaifeng County to photograph the maple forest and came across an old man who had fallen off his electric scooter with a child in tow. The old man broke his leg, and you took them to the hospital, only to be extorted by the family who accused him of causing the accident…

At 14, Lin Jiu’s guardian Lin Changde passed away from lung cancer. The house Lin Changde left him was taken over by Lin Changde’s son, Lin Hai. Lin Jiu had to live at school, supporting himself through odd jobs and scholarships. At 16, he was scouted by ‘Creation Star’ and signed on as a trainee, transferring to City A to study and pursue his career. Six months later, he debuted in a group with Duan Chengzhou, Huo Wei, and Ling Chen.

One year ago, Lin Jiu disappeared in a car accident. The police found no leads. Two months ago, he went to reissue his ID card and was recognized by the police. He hasn’t provided a reasonable explanation for his disappearance during that year. Since his return, the rare silver carps and black star pearls have appeared. Of course, the exotic ingredients at his small Demon Fish shop aren’t limited to these. So, where did he disappear for a whole year without leaving a trace?

Recently, Lin Jiu sued ‘Creation Star’’ The company’s executives, manager, accountant, and several artists who had conflicts with him suddenly confessed to various wrongdoings, causing a huge negative impact. According to investigations, Lin Jiu had met with these individuals before. Even though their meeting took place in a conference room with functioning surveillance, nothing was captured. The room seemed to have been vacant the entire time, but the front desk of ‘Creation Star’ was certain that they were in that room for a meeting. Several other artists from the company also saw Lin Jiu there. It’s undeniable that this incident is connected to Lin Jiu.”

Si QiNian’s focus was entirely on Lin Jiu.

However, Si Xu was more concerned with Lin Jiu’s past. Several times, he had wanted to ask how Lin Jiu’s grandfather was doing but had never found the right opportunity. Now, he learned that Lin Jiu’s grandfather had long passed.

Thinking about how young Lin Jiu lost his grandfather, was kicked out of his home, and struggled to survive on his own, Si Xu felt a tightness in his chest. He resented himself for losing track of Lin Jiu…

Si QiNian continued, “Whatever fortuitous encounters he had, that’s his personal business. We don’t need to pry. But we must determine one thing: is he enhanced? If he is, what abilities does he have? We have regulations on enhanced individuals. They can’t use their powers on ordinary people, no matter how guilty those people are. Even if Lin Jiu has a collaboration with the Special Security Division, he doesn’t have the authority to dispense justice.

After investigating, we found that the brains of the people who confessed had undergone some form of alteration, as if they had mutated. These individuals are extremely protective of Lin Jiu, unable to tolerate any criticism of him. If anyone badmouths Lin Jiu, they become agitated, aggressive, and violent.

Apart from those at ‘Creation Star’’ some of the people who had previously harassed Lin Jiu online later experienced severe headaches and were hospitalized. They, too, eventually confessed and apologized. Their scans showed no brain alterations, but they were still highly protective of Lin Jiu, although to a lesser degree. We suspect Lin Jiu’s ability might involve some form of mind control.”

Si Xu had remained silent the entire time. He wasn’t sure why his father was telling him all this. If there were really an issue, the Special Security Division would be the one to talk to Lin Jiu, not his father.

Si Qi Nian asked, “I know you and Lin Jiu are close. I just want to confirm: have you been affected by his ability?”

“No,” Si Xu replied firmly.

Si Qi Nian pressed, “How do you know? We don’t yet understand how his power works. Footage of the crowd surrounding Lin Jiu has been recorded. The whole incident was captured, and Lin Jiu only spoke one sentence the entire time. We can’t rule out the possibility that he can control people with his words. Think about how many conversations you’ve had with him. If he wanted to influence you, you might not even realize when it happened.”

“He wouldn’t,” Si Xu said seriously. “He has his own principles. Even if he truly has that kind of ability, he wouldn’t use it recklessly. Apart from these two incidents, have you found anything else?”

Si QiNian frowned. “These two incidents aren’t enough? Do you want more? The only reason we haven’t taken action is because we lack concrete evidence. But once we have proof…”

“And what happens then? Enhanced individuals no longer need energy materials and energy wine, right?” Si Xu interrupted his father.

Si QiNian: “…”

He could only stare in frustration.

Si Xu knew his father didn’t really intend to take action against Lin Jiu. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be talking to him like this—it would’ve already been handled.

“Don’t worry, Dad,” Si Xu said. “Even though Lin Jiu has gone through so much, he’s inherently kind. He hasn’t strayed from that. No matter what abilities he might have, you don’t need to worry. He knows what should and shouldn’t be done.”

Si QiNian grumbled, “The way you’re talking makes it seem like you’ve already been influenced by him.”

Si Xu sighed. “Is this the only reason you called me back?”

Si QiNian knocked on the table sternly. “There’s no third time. ‘Special Security Division’ may not have found concrete evidence, but that doesn’t clear Lin Jiu of suspicion. Someone will speak with him about this. I called you back because I want to give you a special task.”

Si Xu: “…”

Si Xu: “I’m pretty sure I’m not officially part of the team.”

Si QiNian snorted. “If you don’t want to do it, just say so. I can arrange for someone else to protect Lin Jiu…”

“I think I’m perfect for the job,” Si Xu responded, suddenly serious.

Si Qi Nian felt the urge to slap his son—he was more convinced now that Si Xu had been influenced by Lin Jiu.

Ignoring his father’s scrutinizing look, Si Xu asked, “What happened? Why does Lin Jiu need protection?”

Si QiNian sighed deeply, filled with a sense of helplessness. “Something unexpected has happened, and it’s likely there will be no peace from now on… I’m asking you to protect Lin Jiu as a precaution. But that protection comes with a condition: you need to be strong enough. If you’re not stronger than the person you’re supposed to protect, then don’t bother. It’ll end up being him protecting you instead.”

Thinking about Lin Jiu’s injured state, Si Xu’s heart clenched again. “I’ll work hard to become stronger. I’ll definitely protect him.”

Si QiNian looked at his son with increasing suspicion. “Are you sure you haven’t been influenced?”

Si Xu: “…”

Si Xu: “I’m sure. I’m acting out of my own will. If Lin Jiu’s ability can affect not only people’s brains but also their hearts, then you guys might as well stop cooperating with him and have him sit in the ‘Special Security Division’ instead—he’d be more effective than all of you combined.”

Si QiNian: “…”

This son is definitely not normal!

Si Xu: “…”

Why was his father acting so paranoid? What had gotten into him?

As the conversation ended, and Si Xu was about to leave, Si QiNian added, “You don’t need to go out of your way to protect him. Part of the reason I assigned you this task is because your abilities make it convenient, and you see him often. He’s friendly toward you, so just keep an eye on him and see if there are any signs of instability around him.”

“Understood.”

“One more thing,” Si QiNian called after him.

Si Xu turned back.

Si Qi Nian hesitated for a moment. “This year, how about not celebrating your birthday with your fans? Your grandparents and your grandpa on your mom’s side want to spend it with you…”

Si Xu saw the worry in his father’s furrowed brows and understood the unsaid words.

His illness—this might be his last birthday. His grandparents and maternal grandfather all knew about it. They wanted to spend this birthday with him, as did his father and his mother, who wasn’t aware.

Si Xu didn’t dare think about what would happen if that day really came. What would happen to his family, to his mother, and to Lin Jiu…

He forced a bitter smile. As someone living on borrowed time, how could he be responsible for the future or for his words?

If he wasn’t going to live, then it was better not to say anything, not to chase after anything. Staying friends with Lin Jiu might mean that when he was gone, Lin Jiu wouldn’t take it so hard, and his life wouldn’t be too affected.

“I understand,” Si Xu said, waving as he went downstairs to collect his roses.

What awaited him was a basket of flowers filled with chaotic beauty.

Si Xu: “…”

Si Xu: “I’m pretty sure I asked for a bouquet of roses…”

“There’s no wrapping paper or ribbon in the house, only flower baskets and vases. I thought a basket would be easier to carry. But if you prefer a vase, I can arrange one for you,” Song MoZhi offered another option.

Si Xu: “…”

He could already hear his father’s footsteps coming down the stairs.

He quickly took the flower basket. “The basket is perfect, thanks, Mom.”

Si Xu hugged his mother briefly and made his escape.

In truth, it was better this way—less room for misunderstandings.

Recently, he hadn’t been getting headaches. He’d almost forgotten about his illness. When he asked his mom to prepare the bouquet, he’d had a brief impulse to confess his feelings, but his father’s words had snapped him back to reality. How could someone with no future offer anything to anyone?

*

Lin Jiu stood in front of the spotless bathroom door and slowly closed it.

He must’ve opened it the wrong way. He’d try again.

The second time he opened the door, the bathroom was still perfectly clean and tidy.

Lin Jiu: “…”

Being caught in a lie, and the person being deceived acting like they didn’t know—it was a whole new level of awkward!

Thinking of the bloodstained towel and bathrobe, Lin Jiu quickly checked the trash can. They’d better not have thrown it out—if someone tested it and found out it wasn’t human blood, there’d be big trouble.

But the trash can was empty and spotless. He ended up finding the towel, bathrobe, and a plush robe with a leg slit already drying on the balcony.

Lin Jiu: “…”

He averted his guilty eyes, not daring to look at the balcony any longer.

He had no way to repay Si Xu, so he’d have to offer them some gourmet food!

Lin Jiu went to the living room, activated his fish pond and the smart kitchen. He didn’t want to flood the house, so he pulled out the little blue demon fish from the kitchen carefully, afraid his wound might reopen, so he took his time.

After much effort, Lin Jiu finally dragged the Little Blue Demon out of the fish tank and carefully inspected it. Once he was sure it was intact, he began cutting it up.

The Little Blue Demon was entirely blue, with yellow-brown areas beneath its tentacles and around its suckers. Its head alone was over two meters tall, and with the tentacles, it easily spanned over ten meters. Despite its size, the Little Blue Demon was just a baby. According to the system, Lin Jiu could only barely survive a fight with such a baby, but if he ever encountered an adult one, he wouldn’t even have a chance to escape.

Lin Jiu didn’t want to imagine how big and dangerous an adult Little Blue Demon might be. The system’s label of “the most troublesome killer of the Demon Sea” was spot-on, and Lin Jiu hoped he would never meet another one. It was terrifying.

Though his thoughts were filled with dread, Lin Jiu showed no hesitation as he operated the cutting machine, slicing off all the tentacles, toppling the bare blue head, and continuing to cut. The skin and flesh were so thick that even without his injuries, he would have struggled to slice through it, let alone now. He relied on the machine’s power, which made the process easy, efficient, and quick.

The Little Blue Demon’s outer skin was blue, but its flesh was pearly white, thick, and likely delicious. Lin, however, had never eaten it before.

With the help of the machine, Lin Jiu removed all the inedible organs, which the system rewarded with 3 points of magic value for recycling. After cleaning everything, he cut the demon’s meat into chunks and divided the thick tentacles into segments, which he stuffed into the refrigerator.

To make space, Lin Jiu consolidated all the Demon Lobster he had in the fridge, temporarily placing the excess in the living room. Even after moving out fruits, caviar, and Black Star Pearls, the refrigerator still couldn’t hold all the Little Blue Demon’s meat. Since leaving the seafood outside would quickly spoil it, Lin Jiu was left with no other option but to seek help from the system.

[Expand the food storage area by double for 100 magic points. Proceed with expansion?]

Lin Jiu: “…”

The magic points he had painstakingly saved were now gone.

It was clear that trying to save up for the Bloodline Purifier and Intermediate Gene Enhancer was nothing but a pipe dream.

Even though he was reluctant, Lin Jiu had no choice but to expand the space. If the food spoiled, the system would penalize him for wasting ingredients, leading to a vicious cycle. Sometimes, you just had to spend the points, even if it hurt.

Lin Jiu: “Expand it.”

Lin Jiu felt exhausted.

[100 magic points deducted. The food storage area has been doubled.]

As Lin Jiu looked at the suddenly enlarged refrigerator, he was moved to tears. He now had only 6 magic points left, perilously close to the point of no return!

He couldn’t afford to use any more of those 6 points, or he wouldn’t even be able to open the realm gate.

With tears in his eyes, Lin Jiu put everything back in the fridge, neatly arranging it all. Finally, the entirety of the Little Blue Demon fit inside.

By the time he finished, Lin Jiu was utterly exhausted.

He left one of the tentacles uncut, planning to show it to Si Xu as the reason for his injuries. After all, anyone who encountered such a massive creature would get hurt. Fortunately, Lin wasn’t human—if he were, he wouldn’t even have bones left.

Lin Jiu cleaned the tentacle, but it remained soft, sticky, and hard to shape. He found a medium-sized cooking pot—more than sufficient, as a larger pot would likely fit the whole Little Blue Demon.

Once the water boiled, Lin Jiu used the mechanical arm to place the half tentacle into the pot, carefully controlling the timing. When the meat reached its most tender point, he swiftly retrieved it with the mechanical arm and placed it in an ice bath, ensuring the tentacle would be chewy. If he wanted softer meat, he could cut it into smaller pieces and cook it with seasoning, but for now, this basic preparation would do.

Lin Jiu used the mechanical arm to hang the dried tentacle in the living room. After scanning the small space, he found no other suitable spot, so he pulled out an oversized wooden tray from the smart kitchen—big enough to rival a bed frame. After much effort, he dragged the tray into the living room and carefully placed the tentacle onto it. Lin Jiu then returned the mechanical arm to the smart kitchen, tidied up, and closed it.

He considered covering the tentacle with something, but the largest item in the house was his bedsheet, and there was no way he was going to sleep under a sheet that had touched the Little Blue Demon. So he left it as is.

To make it look less intimidating and more aesthetically pleasing, Lin Jiu spent a good amount of time arranging it into a relatively elegant pose, just in time for Si Xu’s arrival.

As Lin Jiu finished up, he heard a “ding” as the security lock clicked open, and Si Xu walked in with a basket of roses. After a moment’s hesitation, Si Xu re-hung the door card on the hook behind him.

Lin Jiu stood in the living room, looking at him expectantly.

“Why are you just standing there?” Si Xu asked as he changed into guest slippers, already stressed about how to explain the peculiar flower basket.

But as he stepped out of the entryway, any thoughts of explanations vanished. His gaze was drawn to the giant, sucker-covered tentacle behind Lin Jiu! It was blue and arranged somewhat elegantly… but no matter how graceful the pose, the rough surface and the bowl-sized suckers were undeniably horrifying!

“Surprised?” Lin Jiu stepped aside, allowing Si Xu to fully appreciate the giant tentacle.

Si Xu stared at the thing for a long moment before finally finding his voice. “Is this a surprise or a shock?”

Lin Jiu blinked innocently. “You said you wanted to know the reason for my injury. Just telling you might sound far-fetched, so I brought physical proof.”

Si Xu looked at Lin Jiu, realizing that despite his calm and distant demeanor, he had quite a mischievous side.

Handing over the nearly dropped flower basket, Si Xu approached the tentacle for a closer look.

Lin Jiu was confused: “…”

Who brings a basket of roses to visit someone who’s injured?

As Si Xu examined the tentacle, his frown deepened. “Is this an octopus tentacle?”

Lin Jiu set the basket on the dining table. “Close enough. They’re all tentacles.”

Si Xu’s shock hadn’t fully worn off. He didn’t need to see the entire creature—just one segment of the tentacle was enough to infer how enormous this octopus must have been… assuming it was an octopus. But the color didn’t seem right. Were there really octopuses this blue in the world?

The location where the tentacle was severed was like a thick tree stump, and the largest suction cup at the thickest part was even bigger than the size of a bowl. If such a massive creature were released, it would definitely be considered a monster. And yet, little Lin Jiu, who people always underestimated, brought this giant back as food.

Just thinking about it made Si Xu feel dizzy and his head hurt. He couldn’t even begin to imagine how Lin Jiu managed to capture such a monster. It was beyond comprehension.

Si Xu opened his mouth and finally asked the question on his mind, “What made you think to catch this thing?”

Lin Jiu looked innocent, “I wasn’t trying to catch it—it was trying to eat… bite me. I couldn’t let it bite me, so we had a fight, and it accidentally died.”

Si Xu: “…”

He definitely heard the word “eat”!

Si Xu felt like he might need some heart medicine. He pointed at the massive tentacle, “Even though you’re leaving out a lot of important details, isn’t this thing supposed to be in the sea?”

Lin Jiu nodded, “It was in the sea.”

“Then how could it try to eat you? Did you go into the sea?” Si Xu felt like his heart couldn’t take it. How did Lin Jiu survive being entangled by such a creature in the ocean?!

Lin Jiu: “…”

Lin Jiu seriously corrected him, “It didn’t eat me. It just wanted to bite me.”

Si Xu’s calmness and rationality were teetering on the edge, “Is that really the point?”

Lin Jiu looked at him, puzzled, “How else am I supposed to catch seafood if I don’t go into the sea?”

Si Xu took a few deep breaths, feeling like his heart was about to stop. “So you catch seafood by diving in yourself? You don’t use nets or fishing rods?”

Lin Jiu noticed Si Xu’s expression, worried he might be overwhelmed, and reluctantly said, “I use them sometimes. Occasionally, I dive in.”

Si Xu: “…”

Si Xu walked to the side, “Just wait a moment. I need to process this.”

Lin Jiu watched his idol facing the wall and started reflecting. Maybe he should hold back on being so honest? His idol was already so shocked he seemed withdrawn.

Si Xu soon returned, having collected himself. He was once again the calm and composed Si Xu.

“Alright, let’s talk about how you catch seafood.” Si Xu gently took Lin Jiu’s hand, leading him to the couch. They sat facing each other as Si Xu prepared to have a serious conversation about safety.

“The most important thing when going out to sea is safety! No matter the situation, your own safety must come first. You must always remember that. I don’t know where you’ve been getting your supplies, but you might not know—just a few days ago, the media reported that two fishing boats disappeared in the Pacific. The rescue team has been searching for them, and yesterday, they found the wreckage. It’s almost certain that everyone on those boats perished.”

Lin Jiu listened quietly, showing no reaction.

Si Xu continued, “And it’s not just that area—there have been other reports of ships sinking in different regions as well. The sea hasn’t been safe recently. Many fishermen are afraid to go out, and some coastal cities have even issued sea bans…”

“Does that mean seafood prices are going to rise?” Lin Jiu’s eyes sparkled.

Si Xu: “…”

Where exactly was his focus?!

Si Xu replied, “The prices have already been going up for the past week.”

Lin Jiu immediately reached for his phone, eager to check current seafood prices. He needed to evaluate how much his rare fish and little blue devil were worth. Right now, Lin Jiu was more focused on making money—the laid-back version of him had been devoured by the little blue devil. Now, he was a money-making machine, determined to run his shop and earn enough to draw loot boxes!

He didn’t care about how many Black Star Pearls he could sell—making money from his shop was his real goal. Selling Black Star Pearls was just a side hustle, but his store was the real deal!