C11 A Thumb Opening a Can of Beer

"Back off! Don't touch me!"

Lee Zhi, with a mischievous grin, wrapped his arms around Dong Xiaorou's shoulders. "What's there to be scared of? Nobody's watching. And even if they were, we're both single. It's not like anyone can say anything about it."

"Take your hands off!" Dong Xiaorou demanded, her face stern.

Lee Zhi's grin widened as he embraced her, careful to keep it to a shoulder hug. He was well aware that Dong Xiaorou wasn't one to be trifled with easily. A casual arm over the shoulder might be acceptable, but anything more and he'd likely end up with egg on his face.

Before he could recover from his amusement, the world suddenly spun, and with a thud, Lee Zhi found himself on the ground, clueless about how he'd ended up there and feeling like his insides had been through a blender.

"That's what you get for being a jerk. Still think you can take advantage of me? Try anything like that again, and you'll learn what 'three months in bed with red flowers' really means, 'three months of red,' hmph!" With that, she stormed into the house, leaving the fish stewing in the pot.

"Seriously, was that necessary?" Lee Zhi groaned, eventually managing to sit up. Thankfully, it was just mud. Had it been concrete, he might have broken some bones.

The Azure Dragon submits to the White Tiger because the dragon can soar through the heavens, while Lee Zhi, now grounded, felt as weightless as a blade of grass. He was no more than a green snake in the straw, dreaming of becoming a dragon someday.

"Dong Xiaorou!"

Lee Zhi stormed in, glaring at Dong Xiaorou. "You hit me for no good reason. Do you still want your bonus? Your subsidy? The travel fund? Do you still want—"

"Enough!"

Dong Xiaorou cut him off, her voice steady. "Say one more word to me, and I'll dump the fish stewing in that pot!"

"…"

Lee Zhi touched his nose and left the house, resigning himself to the fact that the boss was giving him the cold shoulder. He filled the factory machines with raw materials and grabbed a few fish balls from the freezer before casually strolling out of the factory.

Thanks to the 60,000 dollars processing fee from Star Moon Bay Hotel, Lee Zhi felt significantly more self-assured. Yet, he knew that today's success was largely due to Dong Xiaorou. If Zhao Xueying and Fatty Huang had actually gotten into the factory, it was questionable whether he'd still have the opportunity to process those fish balls.

"Aunt Wang!"

"Look who's back, Lee!" Aunt Wang had just shown a family to their room. Being Saturday, the village of Fish Head Island saw more visitors, and Aunt Wang's homestay was busier than usual.

Lee Zhi had been staying at the factory recently, but he hadn't given up Aunt Wang's place. She was a kind soul who always looked out for him.

"Auntie, I brought you some fish balls from the factory. They're not worth much, but give them a try!" Lee Zhi said with a smile, handing over the bag. He was the type to return a favor tenfold; he treated others as they treated him.

Aunt Wang joyfully accepted the gift, but as more guests arrived, she quickly greeted Lee Zhi and returned to her duties.

Lee Zhi went back to his room, grabbed a few things, and on his way back, stopped by the village store to pick up a few bottles of beer.

Gazing out at the beach beyond the village, it was clear that the spot was a favorite among visitors. As the days grew warmer, the seaside crowd swelled. Fish Head Island Village wasn't a renowned tourist destination, but it boasted sandy shores, the vast sea, rocky reefs, fresh seafood, and a variety of activities. Its proximity to the city and affordability made it a hit with locals, and it even drew visitors from farther afield.

The factory sprawled over a large plot of land, but only the area near the entrance was in use. The rest, enclosed by a two-meter wall, was left untouched. Such a barrier might deter the honest, but it was no match for the determined.

Lee Zhi mulled over getting a few dogs. They would raise the alarm if anyone tried to sneak in at night. The factory might not house anything of value now, but that could change.

"Where have you been?" Dong Xiaorou inquired.

Lee Zhi grinned. Truth be told, he relished the feeling of the place. Despite its many imperfections and makeshift solutions, the factory felt like home.

"Just popped over to the corner store for some beer."

Dong Xiaorou responded, "Dinner's ready, and suddenly you're nowhere to be found."

She had the air of a newlywed anxiously awaiting her husband's return for lunch. Lee Zhi, never having been married, was struck by the sentiment and wondered if Dong Xiaorou felt the same.

"Fancy a beer?"

On a small table between two plastic stools lay a spread of stewed yellow croaker and a plate of stir-fried fish balls. Whether the fish balls were made from wild yellow croaker, Dong Xiaorou wasn't sure, but she served up a bowl of rice for Lee Zhi and herself.

Lee Zhi offered Dong Xiaorou a beer, but she silently accepted it. With a deft thumb flick, she popped the cap off the bottle.

After a hearty swig, she remarked, "With the heat, room-temperature beer just doesn't hit the spot!"

Lee Zhi's eyes bulged in amazement. He had fumbled with the cap to no avail!

"You're not very strong, are you?" Dong Xiaorou teased, effortlessly opening another bottle and letting the cap drop to the floor.

Lee Zhi chuckled ruefully, accepting the beer and the gentle ribbing.

"How's the yellow croaker? Good?"

"Yeah, not bad."

"Try one of these fish balls!"

"I can manage on my own, thanks."

"Xiaorou..."

In a measured tone, Dong Xiaorou advised, "Boss, haven't you heard? Silence is golden at the table. Talking during meals can disrupt digestion."

Lee Zhi fell silent. He had hoped to make conversation over dinner, to bridge the gap between them. Any man would have thoughts, especially after a hint of flirtation, and he wished to seize the moment. The night was long, and the factory felt all too empty alone.

Whether Dong Xiaorou was aware of his intentions, Lee Zhi couldn't say. But it was clear she wasn't entertaining such thoughts, at least for now.

After the meal, Dong Xiaorou was clearly delighted with the feast she'd indulged in. Lee Zhi couldn't help but notice that, surprisingly, his own appetite paled in comparison to hers. Dong Xiaorou had polished off three bowls of rice, downed two bottles of beer, and devoured two yellow croakers, each weighing at least a pound and a half – with one and a half of those fish ending up in her belly. As for the vegetarian stir-fried fish balls, Lee Zhi had barely made a dent in them.

Reflecting on Dong Xiaorou's qualities, Lee Zhi mentally listed her virtues: she was thoughtful, skilled in both intellectual and physical pursuits, hardworking and far from lazy, enchantingly charming, with radiant skin and a stunning figure. She was both competent and had an impressive appetite. But the most remarkable trait of all was her ability to eat to her heart's content without gaining an ounce – she remained slender as ever. This, he mused, was a trait that would surely be the envy of many women.