Before, whenever I came home, if not the whole crew, at least most of them would be at the airport to greet me. Now, it’s come down to just a single Inuit.

"Wawa, I brought some Emperor Crabs back from Saint Paul Island. They’re in the plane. You and Nash get them and take them to the restaurant so everyone can have a taste."

With that, Feng Shan hopped on a snowmobile and headed for the camp.

Wawa stared at his receding figure. He hadn’t even had a chance to tell him what Erica had asked before Khilla took off.

’What am I supposed to do now?’

Entering the camp.

The afternoon sun spilled across the land, bathing the entire camp in a warm glow.

The walls of Su Ziweng’s Chinatown restaurant were finished, its traditional Chinese architecture standing out prominently against the rest of the camp.

The interior was now being renovated. Workers bustled about inside, and the air was filled with the mixed sounds of their tools.

At this rate, it should be ready for its grand opening before Brother Kai’s tour group arrived.

"Brother Feng!" a familiar voice called out from behind him.

Feng Shan turned to see Feng Jun, his face alight with surprise and an apron tied around his waist.

"Hey, I knew you looked familiar! I had to run to catch up. It really is you, Brother Feng! I thought you weren’t getting in until tonight. The restaurant is still getting ready for your welcome party."

Feng Jun walked over with a broad, honest smile as bright as the sun.

The words tumbled out of him in a rush, like he was a machine gun that wouldn’t stop for a breath.

"A party? What party?" Feng Shan asked, curious.

"Your welcome party, of course! Sister Ai and Ms. Zhan told us to get ready ahead of time. Ms. Dai even prepared a ton of drinks," Feng Jun said excitedly. Then he seemed to remember something. "How’d you get back so early? Didn’t you say on the phone that you wouldn’t make it back until tonight?"

Feng Shan had told Jenny his return time based on a memorial service he needed to attend, but who would have guessed the event would be over in less than an hour?

He dozed off for a bit on the plane and forgot to tell Jenny he would be arriving several hours early.

’No wonder Wawa was the only one at the airport. He probably wasn’t even there to pick me up.’

’And to think I’d wrongly blamed everyone else.’

Feng Shan rubbed his nose in embarrassment and glanced around.

"My schedule changed. Where are Jenny and the others? I haven’t seen anyone around."

"They were at the restaurant just a little while ago, but I’m not sure where they went. I can try to find them on the walkie-talkie!" As he spoke, Feng Jun pulled one from his pocket.

"Don’t bother." Feng Shan quickly stopped him, his eyes landing on the device. "Where did you get that?"

"The camp handed them out. Everyone got one. It’s super convenient for finding people!" Feng Jun said, shaking the walkie-talkie in his hand with a proud grin.

"Well, that’s handy. You get back to your work. I’m going to head to my cabin for a shower, and we’ll have a good chat later!"

Feng Shan nodded and turned to leave.

"Brother Feng, make sure you come find me later!" Feng Jun shouted, waving from where he stood, looking sad to see him go.

Back at the cabin.

The cabin was silent, with not a soul in sight. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

A hollow feeling welled up in his heart.

’Where did everyone run off to?’

Feng Shan shook his head, took off his fur coat, draped it over the sofa, and headed straight for the second-floor bedroom.

He’d been at sea for a week, and his clothes, worn for just as long, reeked of both seawater and the stench of crab.

The powerful odor assaulted his nostrils.

He hadn’t noticed it on the island, since everyone smelled the same; no one minded anyone else’s odor.

But now, back in the Crown Territory, the pristine air made the smell seem particularly foul.

Feng Shan lifted his shirt to his nose and his brow furrowed. ’Yep, it definitely stinks.’

Once in the bedroom, he stripped off his dirty clothes, grabbed a clean set, and, stark naked, pulled open the bathroom door.

The next moment, he froze on the spot.

The sound of running water came from the bathroom. It wasn’t just the sound of water, though. There were people in there.

Jenny, Erica, Demi, Maria, and Tammy... they were all there.

And... all of them were completely bare.

Feng Shan’s mind went completely blank. He never in a million years expected to see something like this.

The women, just as startled by his sudden appearance, also froze. For a moment, the atmosphere in the bathroom was awkward to an extreme.

Feng Shan’s face flushed crimson. He hastily used his clothes to cover himself and, looking at the women, managed to stammer out:

"Fancy meeting you here!"

Then he spun around and fled the bathroom.

Inside the bathroom, the women stared at each other for a moment before bursting into embarrassed laughter.

After his mortifying escape from the bathroom, Feng Shan’s heart pounded in his chest, refusing to calm down.

The awkward scene replayed over and over in his mind.

Giving up, he found a pair of swimming trunks in his closet, went back downstairs, and out the back door to the shore of the Ice River lake. With one powerful motion, he dove into the frigid water.

The bone-chilling cold instantly enveloped him, and Feng Shan couldn’t help but gasp.

But the shock of the cold also cleared his head instantly.

The icy water seemed to wash away his embarrassment and unease, and his racing heart gradually began to calm.

As his body adjusted, Feng Shan started to enjoy the invigorating thrill of the ice swim.

The Ice River lake wasn’t large, only about half the size of a football field.

The water was crystal clear, shimmering like a sapphire under the sunlight.

Occasionally, a few large fish would swim by, their massive bodies gliding through the water and creating faint ripples, as if declaring their sovereignty to Feng Shan.

Watching these large fish, Feng Shan’s mind gradually relaxed.

He floated quietly in the water, sharing this tranquil space with the great fish.

"Khilla, why are you swimming in the Ice River again?" Jenny’s voice came from the lakeshore.

Feng Shan turned his head. Jenny, fresh from her shower, was standing by the lake in a loose bathrobe, another one held in her hands. The collar of her robe was slightly open, revealing a fair neck and delicate collarbones, giving her a tempting, luscious allure.

"Your cabins have places to shower. Why did you all come to my room?" Feng Shan demanded, sinking lower into the water in annoyance.

"We... we just thought your bathroom was bigger, and it can heat water directly from the fireplace. Plus, it has a bathtub. We usually wash up in your room," Jenny explained softly, her voice as gentle and captivating as a breeze caressing the lake’s surface.

’Are you kidding me?!’

’I’ve been sharing a bathroom with you all this time and never even realized it.’

Feng Shan shook his head, speechless. "Well, you still should have told me first. That was incredibly awkward."

Jenny lowered her head with an apologetic smile. "I’m sorry. We didn’t think you’d be back so suddenly. We’ll be more careful next time."

"Forget it. Just let me know before you use the bathroom from now on, so I can make myself scarce," Feng Shan said with a wave of his hand. ’Besides, what’s seen is seen. It’s not like I’m the one who lost out.’

With that said, he had finished washing up.

He swam to the bank and walked out of the water.

Feng Shan emerged from the water with a powerful grace, like a deity rising from the depths.

Water droplets glistened on his skin under the sun, hinting at the powerful lines of muscle beneath.

Jenny quickly opened the bathrobe she was holding and draped it over Feng Shan’s shoulders. As her fingers brushed against his skin, it felt as if a jolt of electricity shot through her entire body.

Her entire face instantly flushed a shy crimson, a blush as lovely as a peach blossom in full bloom. Even the Scar on her face couldn’t stop the red from spreading.

This heart-pounding sensation made Jenny lower her head, not daring to look into Feng Shan’s eyes. Her bashfulness was like a blooming flower, emitting a captivating aura.

"Thanks, I can get it," Feng Shan said, clearly noticing Jenny’s quickened breath. He quickly pulled the robe tighter and took a few steps back.

A light breeze drifted off the lake, carrying a hint of a chill, but it was unable to disperse the delicate atmosphere between them.

Feng Shan looked at Jenny. He knew perfectly well.

’He didn’t need to do anything—a single glance was enough to send the woman before him into a tizzy.’

’But he couldn’t act on a momentary impulse and drag Jenny into potential trouble.’

The lakeside breeze continued its gentle caress. Feng Shan took a deep breath, trying to calm himself.

The blush, however, had vanished from Jenny’s face, replaced by a pale, pained expression.

’I’ve already made my feelings so obvious,’ she thought, ’yet the man before me remains completely unmoved.’

A profound sense of disappointment washed over her.

Jenny’s eyes filled with confusion. She didn’t understand why Feng Shan was being so cold.

’Could it be... does he care about my past?’

By the silent lake, the atmosphere grew heavy and oppressive.

Tears welled in Jenny’s eyes, and she fought to hold them back. Her heart felt as though it were being squeezed by an invisible hand, the pain unbearable.

She wanted to turn and leave, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it.

She didn’t know how to face this man who could make her heart flutter one moment and break it the next.

She could only stare at Feng Shan, as if waiting for an answer.

"Aha! So you two were hiding out here! You made us look all over the cabin for you! Hey everyone, I found Feng and Jenny!" a cheerful voice called out.

Immediately after, Erica and the other three girls appeared, looking playfully indignant.

Feng Shan let out a breath, as if he’d been granted a reprieve.

’Looks like Erica isn’t completely useless after all,’ he thought. ’She can be relied on in a pinch.’

...