Chapter 29: Let Go

Qin Hengzhi's gaze darkened slightly. If his intuition was correct, at the very moment the large carp broke the surface, the old turtle resting on the rock and the calico cat had both turned their heads simultaneously.

That familiar swallow also flew hurriedly from the treetops.

It was now hovering over the surface of the lake.

If he could understand the language of animals, the lakeside would surely be a cacophony of noise right now.

Qin Hengzhi gripped the fishing rod tightly. Looking at Lu Qiaoge, who stood not far away holding the large carp, his voice was low and heavy, unreadable in its emotion: "Let go."

In the next moment, Qin Hengzhi regretted those two words.

He saw Lu Qiaoge flash him a brilliant smile. In that split second of distraction, Lu Qiaoge released her grip. The carp traced an arc through the air, and as it exerted its own strength, it actually leaped back into the water...

This girl was incredibly fast; in just a few breaths, she had actually managed to unhook the fish.

Lu Qiaoge looked at Qin Hengzhi with regret: "Oh dear, it got away..."

Holding the fishing rod, Qin Hengzhi stared fixedly at Lu Qiaoge and asked with a half-smile, "Did you do that on purpose?"

Over there, Lu Xiaosi had been watching his second sister. When he saw Representative Qin catch such a large fish, he had run over, only to see the fish escape before it could be caught.

Though it was a pity, he felt Representative Qin's way of speaking was unfair. He explained earnestly and nervously, "Representative Qin, my sister didn't do it on purpose. Her hand must have slipped. You are so skilled, you'll catch another one. Please don't be angry. How about I help you watch for it?"

Seeing Lu Xiaosi, Qin Hengzhi's expression changed quickly. He had heard Master Lu mention that his youngest son was not in very good health.

He was sensitive and prone to overthinking, always worried about being a burden to his family.

In truth, his family treated him very well, yet he remained cautious and meticulous.

Qin Hengzhi said gently, "I am not angry."

He then handed the fishing rod to Lu Xiaosi, having already prepared the bait: "You try it."

He patiently explained to Lu Xiaosi, "This rod is handmade. Look, there is a switch here that allows for automatic line casting. When you catch a fish, you don't need to struggle with it; just flip the switch, and the rod will automatically retract the tension..."

Lu Qiaoge was internally instructing these troublesome creatures not to huddle together. Although Qin Hengzhi couldn't understand them, the man was too perceptive; when those eyes looked at you, it felt as if they could see into the depths of your soul.

She hadn't expected to hear Qin Hengzhi's suggestive remark.

He was implying that her actions were redundant—that he didn't need her help to catch fish.

Lu Qiaoge returned his half-smile.

Qin Hengzhi merely gave her a faint glance before withdrawing his gaze, then looked down at Lu Xiaosi and handed him the rod.

Lu Xiaosi's eyes lit up. "Can I really try?"

Qin Hengzhi nodded with a slight smile. "If you can catch a fish with it, regardless of its size, this rod is yours."

He then pointed to the bucket: "And my specially prepared bait."

Ignoring the two of them, Lu Qiaoge took the opportunity to pick up the old turtle and toss it into the lake, then told the naughty swallow to hurry home.

Qin Hengzhi withdrew his gaze inconspicuously, acting as if he had seen nothing, and patiently taught Lu Xiaosi how to use his custom fishing rod.

Excitedly, Lu Xiaosi stood on a rock and began fishing with great enthusiasm.

Qin Hengzhi was wearing a white shirt and green military trousers today. He had rolled his sleeves up to his elbows, revealing strong arms. He looked tall and handsome; when he looked back at her, the depth of his gaze seemed to intensify.

By now, the old turtle had led the large carp—which had narrowly escaped death—to the center of the lake.

They were too far away now to hear what they were saying.

She didn't know when Qin Hengzhi would leave.

Lu Qiaoge watched him silently, wondering what his true intention was.

Breaking the silence, Qin Hengzhi asked calmly, "How exactly do you offend people?"

Lu Qiaoge hesitated for a moment, but then quite frankly told him about her two "exam questions."

"...Sun Qin and Qi Shuang are very grateful to me, but Zhao Qing, Duan Xiaoxiang, and Yao Kai might hate me. Oh, and because of falling into the water and the broken engagement, I also offended Shen Yun and Liang Aishu. Oh, and Liu Feng..."

Qin Hengzhi raised an eyebrow. "You certainly are something."

He didn't specify whether she was good at solving problems or good at offending people.

Lu Qiaoge promised with righteous indignation, "Therefore, my family definitely has no other ulterior motives toward you."

Qin Hengzhi's voice was clear and cool as he asked nonchalantly, "Is that so?"

Lu Qiaoge thought: *Of course it is. It's not like you're a piece of meat that everyone wants to devour.*

Qin Hengzhi crouched down, placing his long fingers on the cat's head.

Lu Qiaoge was about to warn the calico cat not to scratch him, but to her surprise, the cat began to purr happily, rolling onto its back in submission. She couldn't even hear its inner thoughts anymore.

And Qin Hengzhi, with his eyes lowered, was petting the cat with a gentle expression?

Lu Qiaoge also crouched down, watching him curiously.

Strangely, neither of them spoke.

One was petting a cat, and the other was watching the man pet the cat.

Lu Qiaoge knew Qin Hengzhi had an objective.

She just didn't know if he had achieved it.

However, declaring her family's attitude and stance in advance was beneficial for both parties.

Qin Hengzhi stopped petting the cat and looked at Lu Qiaoge with those eyes that seemed capable of stealing one's soul.

He really wanted to ask, *Miss Lu, have you seen enough?*

But that would seem somewhat improper.

Fortunately, at that moment, Lu Xiaosi shouted from over there, "I caught one! I caught one!"

With Qin Hengzhi's help, a large black fish that wouldn't stop cursing was placed into the bucket.

Qin Hengzhi glanced at the black fish, then at the bystander Lu Qiaoge: "This fish... are you going to let it go?"

Lu Qiaoge tried hard to correct him: "Representative Qin, you really misunderstood. My hand really did slip just now."

Whether Qin Hengzhi believed her or not, he only said to Lu Xiaosi, "I keep my word. This rod is yours."

Lu Xiaosi shook his head shyly and quickly tidied the rod, handing it back to Qin Hengzhi. "I can't take it. Just playing with it for a while is enough."

Qin Hengzhi didn't take it back, saying gently, "I have more rods like this."

Lu Xiaosi's eyes sparkled. It felt like the first time in his life someone had given him a gift.

"Thank you, Representative Qin."

The little fellow was quite sweet-talked.

Qin Hengzhi didn't linger. After instructing the siblings not to go into deep water, he strode toward the steps of the embankment.

Lu Qiaoge squinted her eyes, picked up the calico cat, and squeezed its paw, saying crisply, "Hua Hua, say goodbye to Representative Qin."

【Meow meow meow, meow meow meow!】

Qin Hengzhi looked back at the smiling Lu Qiaoge and the calico cat that seemed to understand human speech, and the corners of his mouth curled slightly.

Once Qin Hengzhi's figure disappeared, Lu Xiaosi excitedly held the fishing rod to watch the large black fish splashing in the iron bucket.

"Second Sister, Representative Qin actually gave me a fishing rod! Will Papa be angry? After all, it was my first time meeting him. Also, should we send this fish to the Military Representative's Office?"

Lu Qiaoge didn't answer, because she was currently listening to several grass carp in the lake excitedly discussing the process of how the large black fish had been caught...