Chapter 63: Spoil Your Own Mom

Chapter 63: Chapter 63: Spoil Your Own Mom

The tedious fishing activity continued until noon. The guests were hot, thirsty, and their stomachs were growling with hunger, but no one dared to ask for a glass of water, afraid they couldn’t afford it.

In the entire morning, the number of fish they caught could be counted on one hand.

Gu Qingyin did end up catching quite a few later, but unfortunately, it was just for her own amusement. They couldn’t be sold for money, but they could be added to their lunch.

After settling the tally, Gu Qingyin and Huo Xinghai became the winners, as expected. In second place were Huo Zhao Hua and Lin Xiaoyun, who had worked together to catch five large fish. The Lin Family Siblings, two complete amateurs, each caught one fish and then had no luck after that.

"What happened to the supposed beginner’s luck period?" Lin Tian lamented with a long face. "Do we have enough money to pay for the boat tickets and fishing rods?"

Lin Xian did the math and gave a wry smile. "It’s enough, but the problem is, after we pay everything back, we’ll only have fifty left." ’We can’t even afford to eat.’

Huo Zhao Hua and Lin Xiaoyun were a little better off. After paying their dues, they still had over two hundred to spare, so a full meal wouldn’t be a problem.

Lin Tian rubbed her flat stomach, then patted her cheeks, her expression turning resolute.

Seeing this, Lin Xian also took a silent, deep breath, planning to endure for now. If it got too bad, they could always buy a couple of juices to fill up.

"I’m going to find Sister Qing... and borrow money!"

Startled, Lin Xian subconsciously blocked Lin Tian, who was about to spring into action.

"Let go! I’m just going to see how much money Sister Qing’s team has first." Lin Tian was practically drooling. "We won’t borrow much, just enough for lunch. I’m so hungry."

Gu Qingyin was indeed very well-off. She had caught a lot right from the start, and Huo Xinghai had landed a few later on. After deducting expenses, the two of them had over two thousand four hundred left. Adding the money transferred from the other two teams, their savings were approaching three thousand!

They were practically tycoons!

Entering the cabin, Gu Qingyin put on the air of a nouveau riche, slapping a thin stack of bills onto the table. "Bring me your best dishes!"

Huo Xinghai was shocked. Before he could say anything to stop her, he heard the director announce, "You got it! One seafood feast!"

Huo Xinghai froze. ’It’s over!’ he thought. ’All that hard work this morning, for nothing! We might even go into debt again!’ But seeing Gu Qingyin’s eyes sparkling, he could only give a helpless smile.

’Oh well. If she wants to eat, let her order it. Worst-case scenario, we’ll just have to work harder this afternoon.’

’She’s my mom, I have to be the one to spoil her.’

In contrast to Gu Qingyin’s extravagance, Lin Xiaoyun was much more cautious. She compared items on the menu over and over before finally ordering two seafood chow meins and two bottles of mineral water.

Meanwhile, Lin Tian, who had been planning to borrow money, couldn’t bring herself to ask after Gu Qingyin ordered the seafood feast. She could only comfort herself inwardly. ’I’ll just consider this a diet.’

A moment later, Lin Xian returned with two cups of juice, a look of satisfaction on his face.

"Lin Tian!" Lin Xian slammed the cups on the table with a CLANG and said excitedly, "Look! Beer mugs! And they’re filled with ice! One of these will both cool you down and fill you up!"

Lin Tian perked up a bit. She cradled the beer mug and took a long sip. She instantly felt every pore in her body open up. It was incredibly refreshing!

Lin Xian watched her expectantly. "Not bad, right?"

Lin Tian gave him a thumbs-up, then took another huge gulp, squinting from the icy cold.

Seeing this, Lin Xian secretly breathed a sigh of relief and smiled.

Just then, the kitchen began to serve the food, which was brought in by the chef himself on a trolley.

Gu Qingyin’s side had eight dishes and a soup. Lin Xiaoyun’s side had two plates of chow mein and two bottles of water.

The contrast was a bit tragic. The moment the lids were lifted and the savory aroma wafted out, the sound of people swallowing their saliva could be heard one after another.

It couldn’t be helped. No one had eaten yet, and while the production crew had their boxed lunches, how could that compare to a seafood feast?

Lin Xiaoyun instantly felt a surge of resentment, and the words that came out of her mouth were unconsciously barbed.

"Qing Yin, you have such a great appetite, to be able to eat so much at every meal." She sighed. "I’m clearly not that much older than you, but I get full after just a few bites every day. No wonder I’m aging so quickly."

Gu Qingyin paused in the middle of unwrapping her bowl and chopsticks. She gave Lin Xiaoyun a nonchalant glance and put on a regretful expression. "I was just about to invite you to eat with us. But since you don’t have much of an appetite, I guess not." After speaking, she looked at Huo Zhao Hua. "Little brother, want to come over and eat? You’re a growing boy, you can’t go without a full meal."

Huo Zhao Hua was tempted. Compared to chow mein, he much preferred a feast, and he could also sit with Huo Xinghai.

But... Lin Xiaoyun was staring at him, as if afraid he would actually leave.

Huo Zhao Hua smiled wryly to himself but politely refused, "No, thank you. I ate a lot this morning, so I’m not that hungry right now. This plate of chow mein is enough." After he spoke, he thought to himself, ’I have to call Dad tonight.’

’Mom is completely blinded by her personal grudge. If this goes on, when will I ever be able to get closer to Huo Xinghai?’

Gu Qingyin didn’t insist. She turned her head and called out, "Lin Tian, Lin Xian, come join our table."

The Lin Family Siblings nearly cheered out loud, hastily grabbing their juice and scurrying over.

Seeing this, Lin Xiaoyun felt even more frustrated, and she even started to find the Lin Family Siblings annoying.

The viewers in the livestream chat had also noticed. Gu Qingyin was friendly to everyone except Lin Xiaoyun. Towards her, she was aloof, and even when she did interact, she barely maintained a veneer of politeness. Her attitude couldn’t get any colder.

The same went for Lin Xiaoyun. With outsiders, she projected an air of lofty indifference. But the moment she faced Gu Qingyin, she’d transform from a swan into a fighting cock—a particularly weak one at that, who would fight and lose repeatedly. Her tenacious spirit was almost moving enough to shake heaven and earth.

[They definitely know each other, right?!]

[I feel like it’s more than just knowing each other. They must have some private beef.]

[They’re both wealthy socialites, and from the same family. What kind of grudge could they have?]

[Tsk, tsk, tsk, the sister who posted before me must not know much. The stories of the rich are endless!]

[And they’re super juicy!]

"Mom, you don’t like shelling them, do you?" Huo Xinghai said as he picked up a steamed sea crab. "I’ll peel it, you just focus on eating."

Gu Qingyin nodded with a wide smile, then looked around and ladled a bowl of soup for Huo Xinghai. "Have some soup before you start peeling. There’s no rush."

Lin Tian observed the two mother-son pairs as she ate.

One side was a picture of motherly love and filial piety, a model family. The other side was silent, each eating their own food like strangers sharing a table.

’The contrast...’ Lin Tian couldn’t help but click her tongue inwardly. ’Isn’t this more exciting than a TV drama? A grand, suspenseful family ethics drama!’

Her expression must have been too obvious, because Lin Xian couldn’t resist shooting her a subtle glare while pretending to pick up some food.

At first, the silly girl Lin Tian didn’t understand, but when she looked up and met Gu Qingyin’s half-smiling expression, she quickly lowered her head to her food and didn’t dare to look around anymore.

[I’d give anything to be Lin Tian right now...]

[I’m different, I’d rather be in Lin Xian’s shoes. Lin Tian is too obvious. It’s best to be subtle when you’re enjoying the drama.]

[Lin Xiaoyun didn’t even say anything that bad, right? She was just envious of Gu Qingyin’s appetite. And she got dissed for it? So unfair!]

[No way, are there really people who can’t tell Lin Xiaoyun was trying to stir up trouble? You’re too naive, sis!]

[Rather than believe someone is that naive, I’d rather believe this is one of Lin Xiaoyun’s paid commenters!]

...

Seeing that comment, the paid commenters sitting behind their computers, who were just about to passionately defend their client, were collectively speechless.

’Seriously? We just started working and we’ve already been discovered? Aren’t these netizens a little too sharp?!’