TIMO - Chapter 14
Chapter 14
The name was like a volleyball that had just come flying at her, almost impossible to dodge, stinging her still-aching wrist.
It was the first time she had met Shi Nan's gaze and said the name, "Shi Nan."
Shi Nan was, indeed, Shi Nan-not Miss Shi.
No matter how Fu Zhao tried to comfort or delude herself, she had to accept this fact.
Besides, it was just a name. There was no need to be so rigid about it.
Shi Nan, however, was stunned for a long moment after hearing Fu Zhao say her name. She sat quietly on the platform bench, tilting her head up slightly to gaze at Fu Zhao, her eyes meeting Fu Zhao's directly.
"Alright~ Fu Zhao."
If Fu Zhao was calling her by name, then she should also call her "Fu Zhao," not the distant title of "Little Island Master."
Shi Nan couldn't help but remember what the old Fu Zhao had once told her: Just call me by my name. You're not a resident of Nanke Island, and I'm not your Little Island Master. I'm just your fiancée, Fu Zhao. And maybe you should add the word 'temporary' before fiancée...
Back then, Fu Zhao must have had many reservations to be so cautious, adding the word "temporary" whenever she mentioned being her fiancée.
The current Fu Zhao was the same. The shift from "Miss Shi" to "Shi Nan" had clearly involved a significant internal struggle.
This Fu Zhao had changed in many ways, but in many others, she hadn't changed at all.
"Are you alright? Do you want to head back first?" Fu Zhao glanced at Shi Nan with concern. She felt that Shi Nan had been startled and still looked a bit dazed.
"I'm fine," Shi Nan said, tightening her grip on the still-warm milk tea in her hand. She met Fu Zhao's gaze openly and called her name. "Fu Zhao~"
"Yes?"
Fu Zhao lowered her head. "Is something wrong?"
"Nothing~" Shi Nan shook her head and stood up. Looking Fu Zhao in the eye, her own eyes curved into a gentle smile. "Aren't you going to take me to try some of Nanke Island's local delicacies? Like that famous Wenqing Seafood, for instance."
Fu Zhao, who had planned on making a run for it after the Flower Throwing Ceremony, was speechless.
"Well, it seems you weren't scared after all."
After a slight flicker in her eyes, Fu Zhao's expression returned to normal. She raised an eyebrow and started walking toward the bus stop on her own, her gaze lingering on the route map for a moment. "Did you research Nanke Island before you came? You knew the Flower Throwing Ceremony is an annual event, and you know about Wenqing Seafood, too."
"Yes, you could say that."
"A friend told me."
The voice behind her softened considerably.
Fu Zhao figured out the route and turned around to see Shi Nan staring intently at her. Her gaze was soft and serene, as if she were reminiscing about that friend.
"I remember you told me you had a friend who went somewhere far away. Is it that friend?"
"Yes. She was very familiar with everything about Nanke Island." Shi Nan lowered her lashes and added softly, "Just like you."
"Like me?"
Fu Zhao repeated subconsciously. Although she had just transmigrated and wasn't all that familiar with the island, in Shi Nan's eyes, she was still the Little Island Master. Who would know the island better than the Little Island Master of Nanke Island? She simply pursed her lips, assuming Shi Nan had just spoken casually. "Route 167, Liangyuan Station."
"Alright~"
Shi Nan nodded. She had already grown accustomed to Fu Zhao's down-to-earth nature. An electric scooter, a public bus... any of these could be Fu Zhao's mode of transportation. It wasn't strange at all.
Who said the Little Island Master couldn't take the bus?
A month after reading the Nanke Daily report about Shi Nan, Jiang Wenqing finally met her in person.
It was evening, the busiest time at her family's seafood restaurant. Since it was Saturday, her mom had roped her into helping out, and just then, she spotted a gorgeous Omega walking in with Fu Zhao.
The woman looked like someone straight out of the comic books she read-tall and slender with a perfectly straight posture. Her shoulder-length hair was neither too short nor too long, resting in the hollow of her shoulders with a slight, natural curl at the ends.
Her eyes were beautiful, her nose was beautiful, her mouth was beautiful. Even the casual, effortless way she tied up her hair to eat was captivating.
She was a hundred times more beautiful than Jiang Wenqing had imagined. No wonder so many powerful figures and celebrities were pursuing her.
Jiang Wenqing muttered to herself, but then her eyes caught the "couple's outfits" the two people sitting opposite each other were wearing: one black, one white, with the same logo and design. What else could they be but couple's outfits?
Feeling she had grasped the key point, Jiang Wenqing contentedly carried over the seafood platter her mother had just tripled in size. She placed it steadily on Fu Zhao and Shi Nan's table, wiped her hands on her apron, and sat down in the empty seat next to Fu Zhao. She gave Shi Nan a sweet smile. "You must be our Little Island Master's fiancée, Miss Shi Nan~"
Fu Zhao pulled back Jiang Wenqing, who had leaned so close her face was almost touching Shi Nan's. She looked up calmly. "Jiang Wenqing, have you forgotten you're about to differentiate? You're always getting so close to Omegas."
"Oh, right."
Jiang Wenqing stuck out her tongue and obediently moved a little farther away. She spoke listlessly, "I'm trying my best to remember what the Little Island Master taught us... what was it again? Oh, right, the Ten Standards of Alpha Virtue. I'll definitely remember. I'm sorry~ Sister Shi Nan~"
Shi Nan paused for a moment. Having spent so much time with Fu Zhao, she had almost forgotten that Alphas even existed.
Although this little pre-differentiated Alpha was quite cute-cuter and less Alpha-like than any she had seen before.
Still, she could detect a faint, unpleasant scent.
"So that's where the name Wenqing Seafood comes from~"
"It's alright~ You can just call me what you call Fu Zhao. You don't need to add 'Sister'." A smile touched her lips; she found the "Ten Standards of Alpha Virtue" rather amusing. She asked, "The Ten Standards of Alpha Virtue? What's that?"
She didn't think she had ever heard Fu Zhao mention it.
Jiang Wenqing glanced at Fu Zhao. Seeing no reaction, she giggled. "Okay, Sister Shi Nan. I'll just call you Sister for now. I'm a little shy~~"
"As for the Ten Standards of Alpha Virtue, those are the ten standards for basic Alpha moral conduct compiled by the Little Island Master. They've now been incorporated into the island's core public education curriculum~"
"I see." Shi Nan nodded, resting her chin on her hand as she looked at Fu Zhao. Fu Zhao was quietly rinsing their bowls and chopsticks, her movements gentle, not saying a word. The corners of Shi Nan's eyes crinkled. "I never would have thought Nanke Island had something like that. Are there Ten Standards of Omega Virtue, too?"
"...Of course there will be."
Jiang Wenqing nodded earnestly, as if answering a teacher's question. "But we'll have to wait a few years. The Little Island Master said we need to manage the Alphas first. Omegas have already received more than enough education. The important thing now is to strengthen gender awareness education for Alphas."
Perhaps because she was in front of Shi Nan, Jiang Wenqing was saying "Little Island Master" far more often than she usually did in front of Fu Zhao.
Fu Zhao felt a little uncomfortable listening to it. She discreetly pushed the bowls and chopsticks she'd rinsed with hot water over to Shi Nan's side, then patted the head of Jiang Wenqing, whose gaze kept darting between them. "Don't slack off here. Boss Jiang will scold me for keeping you from your work."
"Aww..."
Jiang Wenqing sighed dramatically. It seemed a shame that she couldn't get a better look at the legendary fiancée or dig up any juicier gossip. After all, her dream was to be a reporter for the Nanke Daily.
"Alright~~ I'm going now. Bye-bye, Sister Shi Nan! You're so gentle, Sister Shi Nan~~"
Jiang Wenqing stood up reluctantly. She looked at Fu Zhao, who was watching her, and nodded in satisfaction. Their Little Island Master wasn't bad either-pretty and capable, a good match for the gentle Sister Shi Nan.
So much so that as she was leaving, she muttered, "No wonder the Little Island Master had to kneel in the cemetery for three days and three nights..."
But before she could finish, Fu Zhao clamped a hand over her mouth, dragged her to the back kitchen, and delivered her to her mother. All Jiang Wenqing could do was aggrievedly continue serving dishes, sneaking a few glances at Fu Zhao's table whenever she passed by.
"What three days and three nights?"
When Fu Zhao returned to her seat after handing Jiang Wenqing over in the back kitchen, that was the first thing she heard. She saw Shi Nan looking at her, eyes bright with curiosity.
Fu Zhao paused. She took a hair tie from her pocket and began tying up her hair, avoiding Shi Nan's direct gaze. "It's nothing. She was just talking nonsense."
"Oh, I see." Shi Nan nodded as if accepting Fu Zhao's excuse. She picked up the utensils Fu Zhao had just washed and began to eat quietly, seemingly unconcerned by the matter.
Fu Zhao snuck a glance over. Seeing that Shi Nan had no intention of asking again, she relaxed and started on the triple-sized seafood platter Jiang Wenqing's mother had prepared for her.
She came here often, and over time, she had become good friends with Jiang Wenqing and her mother.
Jiang Wenqing's mother stubbornly insisted on giving her extra portions, even when she said she couldn't finish it all and offered to pay triple the price.
But Jiang Wenqing's mother would righteously refuse, declaring that if Fu Zhao paid triple, she would no longer be welcome to eat at their restaurant.
As a result, Fu Zhao could only ever bring people with her or take the leftovers home.
It wasn't about being greedy; it was a way for people to show their affection for her.
From the time she returned to the island, the original host had followed Fu Wanqing around. Nanke Island wasn't very big to her; she had been to every place and met everyone she could. And because Fu Wanqing was busy with work, she had practically been raised by the community, growing attached to some of the islanders.
The Jiang family was among them.
Today's seafood platter seemed even larger than the usual triple portion. Jiang Wenqing's mother must have seen Shi Nan-the "Little Island Master's fiancée" who had been the center of attention since her arrival-and read the Nanke Daily report about her attending the fireworks display yesterday.
"Let's go. It's time to head back."
Fu Zhao picked up the packed seafood. When she turned around, she saw Shi Nan right behind her. She paused. "What's wrong?"
Shi Nan shook her head, her expression serious. She seemed a little hesitant. "I just wanted to ask something..."
"What is it?" Fu Zhao waited patiently for Shi Nan to speak.
"I just wanted to ask..." Shi Nan bit her lower lip gently and blinked her slightly curled lashes, her eyes full of curiosity. She looked at Fu Zhao and asked tentatively, "Did you really kneel for three days and three nights? Wasn't it tiring~?"
Author's Notes
Alright, I'll answer that question. She really did kneel.
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