"I don't think it's appropriate. Let's just forget about the intangible cultural heritage inheritance program," Wang Shang frowned and said coldly.
Although he was around forty years old now, his face still looked like someone in their early thirties—calm yet authoritative, with sharp and imposing features.
The old dean hadn't expected his perfect decision to be rejected and was stunned on the spot. After a moment, he regained his composure and stammered, "W-why is that?"
"Modern technology is advanced, life moves so fast, who has time to bother with intangible cultural heritage? No one will want to sign up for such an obscure subject anyway."
"But…"
"Enough. Go back. I have other matters to attend to." Wang Shang waved his hand casually, signaling everyone to leave quickly.
The old dean wanted to say more, but seeing Wang Shang's impatient expression, he sighed helplessly, shook his head, and left.
After everyone left, Wang Shang finally looked down at the perfect beauty on his phone screen. A trace of an indescribable emotion flickered in his eyes.
...
"Wow, this stuff is really hard to weave." Xiong Ruoyou looked at the wounds on her hands and borrowed a healing device from Yi Beixuan to treat the blisters.
She wasn't the only one worried; the others also wore troubled expressions.
It wasn't as easy as it looked watching Mu Qingyun weave.
"Take a break, no rush," Mu Qingyun glanced at them and continued weaving.
Her internal energy surged through her meridians to her hands, protecting them and preventing blisters like the others.
The weaving process was boring and tedious. In the end, only Mu Qingyun was still weaving; the others trained, played, or chatted leisurely.
Su, seeing her weaving alone, ended his conversation with Yi Beixuan and quietly came to her side. He softly asked, "Does your hand hurt? Want me to massage it for you?"
"Okay."
Upon hearing that, she didn't refuse and handed her hand to Su. Looking at the seaweed woven on the ground, she frowned slightly, feeling a headache coming on.
The six of them were still too slow. At this rate, when would they ever be able to live in a big house?
"Why don't you beg me? I have a way to quickly weave seaweed for you," Kazer looked at the seaweed and casually pinched some, "But it might be very wet when I'm done, so you'll have to dry it yourself afterward."
"If it's fish, forget it," Mu Qingyun flicked the seaweed lightly and glanced at him faintly, "They probably can't do it."
"Who said it's fish?" Kazer shrugged helplessly. "There are many creatures under the sea. Surely some can weave seaweed."
Hearing this, Mu Qingyun raised an eyebrow in doubt. "You're just a mermaid. Why should all the other sea creatures listen to you?"
"That's a secret." Kazer smiled slyly and patted her arm. "So, how about it? Beg me, and I'll help you. It'll save you from wearing your fingers down and barely making any."
[Ahhhhhh, I'm losing it, help! Can they be any more perfect for each other?]
[Beg me, I'll help you — is this some kind of American drama moment? Oh my god.]
['Zewuerqi' (the ship name) is too perfect, get together already! Get together!]
[I always ship pairs and I'm right every time. I'm predicting right here and now, these two will definitely end up together.]
"Change it," Mu Qingyun said without looking up.
Su's hand was slightly cool, and with him holding it, she felt a slight tingling in her fingers — quite comfortable.
"Is it so hard to beg me?" Kazer chuckled lightly. "Those three words are easy to say. Besides, begging me isn't something embarrassing."
Hearing this, Mu Qingyun lowered her head and remained silent.
Maybe for Kazer it was just a joke, but to her, the word "beg" carried too much weight.
When she was young, she begged every day just for some food, so much that her lips got chapped, yet no one gave her even a crumb.
So growing up, she stopped begging easily.
"Okay, change it."
Seeing Mu Qingyun's expression turn sour, Kazer quickly switched tactics.
He was not insensitive; the word "beg" might have touched a sensitive spot for Mu Qingyun. Since she found it hard to say, he wouldn't insist.
"The second condition: you take me with you for ten days," Kazer said softly, leaning on his arm.
Upon hearing this, Mu Qingyun raised an eyebrow, surprised at his sudden "consideration."
"Fine." She held Su's hand, patted it gently, then pointed at the seaweed on the ground as a signal, "Go ahead, I'm counting on you."
"No need for all that." Kazer suddenly dove into the sea, his tail leaving a brilliant trail as he swam deep underwater.
"Let's go back and rest first." Mu Qingyun got up, supporting herself on the ground, pulling Su along. "Everyone worked hard today. Let's rest well."
"Mu-ge, you're the one who worked the hardest," Xiong Ruoyou hurried beside her and gave her a big hug. "You go rest. We'll take care of the food today!"
"Right." Fan Xuanye, who had been silent, nodded too. If Mu-ge is figuring out how to build the house, it's definitely for all of them, not just herself.
There were four people in their group, and their contributions were minimal. Cooking and fighting were mostly done by Mu-ge, who carried the heavy load.
"Alright."
Since everyone said so, Mu Qingyun didn't refuse and nodded. Then she went into the cave to cultivate.
Kazer lived up to his word and worked efficiently. A few days later, he came to the shore holding a bunch of woven seaweed, waiting for her.
"Is it done?" Mu Qingyun came to the shore early in the morning, surprised to see Kazer was even earlier.
"You're late," Kazer lounged on the shore, his tail tapping the water rhythmically, and didn't forget to tease her.
Mu Qingyun looked up at the dimly lit sky and was speechless for a moment. "It's only about seven o'clock. You're just too early."
Kazer didn't reply, instead pushing the line of seaweed on the shore toward her. "Here, count them."
"No need." She lowered her gaze, looking at the large amount of seaweed on the ground. Flames burned in her right hand, drying the seaweed.
After finishing with the seaweed, she called everyone in the cave, took out bricks, and began stacking.
Building a house couldn't be rushed; it had to be done slowly.
"Mu-ge, Mu-ge, when can we live in the house?" Xiong Ruoyou looked at the bricks and seaweed, beginning to look forward to it.
She remembered when she first left home, her father had pitifully warned her about how harsh the conditions here were. She never imagined that now she'd actually have a house.
Thinking of this, she glanced down at the live-stream device on her wrist, wishing desperately that her father could watch her stream.