Chapter 39 A Vow at Sea: I'll only steer the ship for you in this lifetime!

Before dawn, Jiang Wu was dragged out of her warm bed.

"Um... Qin Lie, what are you doing? It's not even dawn yet..."

Jiang Wu kept her eyes closed, clinging to Qin Lie like a koala, refusing to get out of bed.

"Sweetie, get up quickly." Qin Lie patted her smooth back, his voice carrying a hint of coaxing, "I'll take you to see some good things."

He was already dressed neatly, his slightly worn training uniform making him look energetic and capable.

He half-carried and half-dragged Jiang Wu to her feet, and she groggily got dressed and washed up.

When she finally came to her senses, she discovered that Qin Lie had already prepared everything.

A military green satchel, bulging and bulky, its contents unknown.

Two thick coats.

There was also a straw hat.

"Where are we going? Camping?" Jiang Wu asked curiously.

"You'll find out when you get there," Qin Lie said, still keeping everyone in suspense.

He took Jiang Wu's hand and quietly left the family compound under the cover of darkness before dawn.

Instead of taking the main road, they crossed a windbreak forest and arrived at a remote coastline.

This is a small, sheltered harbor, where several dilapidated fishing boats left behind by local fishermen are moored.

The sea breeze, carrying a salty, briny, and damp scent, rushed towards me.

The sky was beginning to lighten with the first hint of dawn.

The whole world was so quiet that the only sound was the waves crashing against the rocks.

"Come up."

Qin Lie jumped onto a small wooden boat that looked fairly sturdy first, and then reached out his hand to Jiang Wu.

The small boat swayed gently with the waves.

Jiang Wu was a little scared, but looking at Qin Lie's big, strong hand and his eyes that shone brightly in the morning light, her fear turned into peace of mind.

She gave him her hand, and he pulled her onto the boat.

Qin Lie untied the rope, picked up the oar, and skillfully began to row.

The small boat, like a leaf, glided silently out of the harbor and headed towards the boundless depths of the sea.

Just then, the sun rose above the horizon.

A dazzling golden light instantly covered the entire sea surface.

The shimmering waves, like shattered gold, sparkled before my eyes.

A flock of seagulls cried out as they flew overhead.

The scenery was magnificent, beautiful, and breathtaking.

"Wow……"

Jiang Wu couldn't help but exclaim in admiration.

This was the first time in her life she had ever seen a sunrise over the sea.

Qin Lie stopped rowing and let the small boat drift freely with the waves.

He wrapped his arms around Jiang Wu's waist from behind, rested his chin on her shoulder, and watched the magnificent sight with her.

"Do you like it?" he asked.

"I love it!" Jiang Wu nodded vigorously. "It's so beautiful!"

"From now on, I'll bring you here every day."

Qin Lie's voice, though carried somewhat by the sea breeze, was exceptionally clear.

The two embraced quietly, neither of them saying a word.

It was as if only the two of them remained in the world.

And this little boat adrift on the golden sea.

That feeling was peaceful and timeless, as if time had stood still.

Qin Lie didn't take out the prepared breakfast from his bag until the sun had fully risen.

Two still-warm steamed buns, a few boiled eggs, and a military water bottle filled with warm sweet soy milk.

On this vast ocean, these simple foods taste especially delicious.

As Jiang Wu ate her steamed bun and drank her soy milk, her heart was filled with a happiness she had never felt before.

After finishing breakfast, Qin Lie took out a roll of fishing line and several fishhooks from the cabin.

"Want to give it a try?" he asked Jiang Wu with a smile.

"Fishing? I don't know how."

"I'll teach you."

Qin Lie took Jiang Wu's hand from behind and taught her how to bait the fish and how to cast the line.

His chest was pressed tightly against her back.

His warm breath brushed against her ear.

"Look, like this, use your wrist to flick it out."

His voice was deep and magnetic, like the sound of a cello vibrating in your ears.

Jiang Wu's heart began to pound uncontrollably again.

She had no interest in learning how to fish anymore.

She was almost overwhelmed by the hormones emanating from this man.

The fishing line was cast, and the two remained in an embracing position, waiting quietly.

A gentle sea breeze was blowing, and the sun was shining brightly.

The small boat rocked gently, like a mother's cradle.

Jiang Wu leaned against Qin Lie's broad chest, smelling his pleasant scent and listening to his steady, powerful heartbeat.

An unprecedented drowsiness washed over her, and she actually fell asleep.

When she woke up again, she was awakened by a series of exclamations.

"They've taken the bait! They've taken the bait!"

Qin Lie's excited voice rang in my ears.

Jiang Wu opened her eyes and saw Qin Lie struggling to reel in the fishing line.

The fishing line was taut and stretched taut, with a tremendous pull at the end.

"It's a big guy!" Qin Lie's face turned red, and the muscles on his arms bulged.

After a struggle, a shimmering, lively sea bass was pulled onto the boat.

The fish weighed three or four pounds and was jumping around incessantly in the cabin.

"Wow! Qin Lie, you're amazing!" Jiang Wu exclaimed excitedly.

Looking into her bright, adoring eyes, Qin Lie felt his vanity greatly satisfied.

He chuckled, revealing a set of white teeth.

"That's right! Your man here can fly airplanes in the sky and capture dragons in the sea!"

While boasting, he deftly prepared the fish and placed it in the live water tank in the cabin.

They had a very fruitful morning.

Several sea fish of different sizes were caught.

At noon, Qin Lie even used the simple stove he carried with him to cook a pot of incredibly delicious fish soup using ingredients found on the spot.

The milky white fish soup, sprinkled with just a pinch of salt, is so delicious it'll make your eyebrows fall off.

Jiang Wu drank two large bowls of food, and her little belly was round and full.

In the afternoon, the waves at sea gradually grew larger.

Qin Lie packed up his fishing gear, rowed the boat, and prepared to return to port.

The small boat bobbed in the waves, and Jiang Wu was a little scared, gripping the gunwale tightly.

Qin Lie held the helm steadily with one hand, and with the other hand, he reached out and pulled her into his arms.

"Don't be afraid, I'm here."

His calm voice seemed to possess some kind of magic, instantly soothing Jiang Wu's inner unease.

She leaned against him, looking at his hair, which was disheveled by the sea breeze, and at his focused and resolute profile, and a sudden impulse welled up in her heart.

"Qin Lie".

"Um?"

"Why are you so good to me?" she looked up, looked into his eyes, and asked softly.

Qin Lie paused for a moment when he was steering the ship.

He turned his head and looked at her intently.

The sea breeze caressed her long hair, and her eyes were clearer and deeper than the ocean itself.

Qin Lie's heart trembled as he looked into those eyes.

The dark emotions that arose yesterday from jealousy and unease surged up again.

He remained silent for a long time before slowly speaking.

His voice was hoarse, yet incredibly earnest.

"Because I'm afraid."

"Afraid?" Jiang Wu asked, puzzled.

"I'm afraid someone else will take you away."

Qin Lie looked at her and said, word by word.

"Jiang Wu, you're so wonderful, so wonderful... it feels unreal. You can draw such beautiful pictures, cook such delicious food, and you're so... so beautiful."

“Sometimes I dream that you suddenly disappear, vanish. Or that you go with someone more capable than me.”

"I, Qin Lie, have been through so much in my life, fought in wars, shed blood, and crawled out of piles of corpses without batting an eye. But the thought of losing you makes me tremble with fear."

This was the first time he had so honestly revealed his vulnerability and insecurity in front of a woman.

Jiang Wu's heart felt as if it had been violently struck by something.

A bittersweet, burning emotion overwhelmed her instantly.

She never imagined that this seemingly strong man harbored such a deep and anxious love for her deep inside.

Her eyes immediately welled up with tears.

“Silly boy…” she reached out and stroked his face, which was roughened by the sea breeze. “I’m not going anywhere.”

"real?"

"real."

Qin Lie stared intently at her, as if trying to see into the depths of her soul.

Suddenly, he dropped the oar and cupped her face in his hands.

On this boundless sea, where only the sea breeze and waves bear witness, he looked into her eyes and solemnly said, in an almost vow-like tone:

"Jiang Wu, I love you."

He spoke those three words with such force and clarity, as if he had used all his strength.

“I don’t know what I can give you. Right now, I’m just a poor soldier, living in a dilapidated house and earning a meager salary. But believe me, I, Qin Lie, will treat you well for the rest of my life. I will give you the best life, the best clothes, and the best food.”

"I will steer this ship. I will also steer our family."

"I will steer the ship for you alone for the rest of my life. As long as you don't let go, I will never let you fall off the ship."

His vows, simple and clumsy, struck people's hearts more deeply than any sweet words.

Jiang Wu could no longer hold back her tears, which streamed down her face.

She leaned in and kissed his lips.

"Qin Lie, I love you too."

The small boat drifted gently on the sea, as if it were the only isolated island in the world.

On the island, a couple in love embraced tightly.

Jiang Wu was in his arms, feeling his heart pounding wildly for her.

An unprecedented sweetness and peace of mind enveloped her.

But deep within this sweetness, the secret she had deliberately buried pricked her like a tiny needle.

She was in his arms, and when she looked up at his face, which showed him so much love for her, a thought popped into her head uncontrollably.

Qin Lie, you love me as I am now, the me who can draw, cook, and be affectionate.

But what if one day you find out that I'm not the same "Jiang Wu" I used to be?

You know my soul comes from another world you can't even imagine.

When that time comes, will you still hold me like you do today and say "I love you" to me?

Will you still... steer the ship for me alone?

P.S.: Really?

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