Su Jin followed Fu Siyan to the castle but was surprised to see that he didn't head toward the living room—instead, he walked toward the yard.
By the pond, Old Master Fu sat in casual clothes and a wide-brimmed fisherman's hat, fully absorbed in fishing.
When he saw Su Jin and Fu Siyan approaching, he raised a hand across the pond to motion them to come slowly, so as not to startle the fish.
The sun was blazing, and a faint flush had risen on Old Master Fu's face, but his spirit remained lively and sharp.
Seeing him in such good shape, Su Jin breathed a quiet sigh of relief. It seemed the old man's injury wasn't too serious. As long as he didn't tug at the wound while sitting, there was no need for concern.
"Bite! It's biting!" Just as Su Jin was lost in thought, she heard Old Master Fu shout with excitement as he quickly reeled in his line.
From beneath the still waters of the pond, a large blue carp suddenly leapt out, thrashing wildly.
The fish was huge and clearly unwilling to be caught, struggling hard to escape.
Seeing Su Jin and Fu Siyan still standing frozen in place, Old Master Fu shouted again, "Why are you two still standing there? Come and help me!"
Su Jin snapped out of her daze just in time to see Fu Siyan already taking off his coat and tossing it aside. With a firm grip, he seized the fishing rod and began reeling the fish toward the shore.
"I'll help!" Su Jin rushed forward, worried that Old Master Fu might strain his injury. She quickly called a servant to assist the old man and help him sit down safely.
Together, Su Jin and Fu Siyan focused on pulling the struggling fish ashore.
But the fish was cunning—it kept diving toward deeper water, twisting and fighting fiercely. Seeing that it was about to break free, sweat beaded on Old Master Fu's forehead as he urged them on.
"Hurry! Don't let it escape! What are you two doing? Fu Siyan, hold Xiao Jin's hand—use your strength together!"
Fu Siyan was briefly stunned but quickly obeyed. He grasped Su Jin's hand without hesitation, and together, they gave one final coordinated tug.
With a splash and a twist, the large carp finally flopped onto the grassy bank, still thrashing in protest.
A servant rushned over with a bucket, scooped up the fish, and carried it away.
However, Su Jin's heart kept pounding. The warmth of Fu Siyan's palm was like a soldering iron against her skin, searing a path along her limbs and into her bones.
It flowed through her entire body, impossible to ignore.
Yet, Fu Siyan remained as calm and expressionless as ever—his face cold as a sculpture, betraying nothing.
"We'll have a whole fish feast tonight," Master Fu said gleefully, like a child who'd just won a prize. He chuckled as he instructed the servants to help him back to his room.
Su Jin and Fu Siyan followed behind. Although they walked side by side, a heavy silence hung between them.
Fu Siyan, as usual, kept quiet, his aura distant and cold. And Su Jin—unsure how to break the ice—stayed silent too.
In truth, she could tell that Master Fu was trying to bring the two of them together.
What she didn't know was how Fu Siyan felt about it.
When they returned to the living room, Master Fu settled onto the sofa. A medicine box had already been placed on the tea table, everything neatly prepared.
"Old Master Fu, it was really dangerous just now," Su Jin said with concern, kneeling beside him. "What if the wound had gotten wet and become infected?"
She knew he wouldn't take it seriously, but she had to say it.
Master Fu simply chuckled and waved his hand dismissively. "It's just a small injury, no need to be so tense."
Su Jin knew that trying to persuade him was pointless, so she focused her attention on changing Master Fu's dressing with care and precision.
Once the bandage was properly secured, Master Fu smiled with satisfaction.
"Very good," he praised. "Far better than those doctors. I can't stand all their nagging."
He truly disliked the Fu family's medical team. Even the smallest issue and they'd want to run a full examination.
During the whole process, Fu Siyan remained seated on the sofa nearby. He didn't say much—mostly listening to his grandfather talk, occasionally nodding in acknowledgment.
Truly a man of few words.
Although Master Fu cherished his grandson, he often found it hard to converse with someone as stoic as Fu Siyan. So, turning away from his quiet grandson, he turned his attention to Su Jin instead.
"Can you cook?" he asked suddenly.
Su Jin, who was seated next to Fu Siyan and already feeling stiff with nervousness, was just about to find an excuse to leave. But hearing Master Fu's question, she quickly nodded.
"A little," she replied.
"Can you make fish?" he asked again, his eyes twinkling with interest.
Su Jin didn't know how to cook many dishes, but fish was her specialty. She nodded and replied with confidence,
"Yes, I can."
"Then why not show us what your skill?" Old Fu said cheerfully, smiling with anticipation. "Dinner will be at home today. Stay and eat with us."
Su Jin felt a mix of emotions when it came to Fu Siyan—part of her wanted to get closer, and another part feared getting too close.
But when Old Fu mentioned dinner, she suddenly remembered—Fu Siyan's favorite dish was fish.
That thought made her heart soften. She was truly willing to cook for him from the bottom of her heart.
With gratitude, Su Jin responded gently,
"Alright. If it doesn't turn out perfect, I hope you'll forgive me."
Old Fu waved his hand with a hearty laugh.
"No need to be nervous. We're all family here. Go on."
Su Jin let out a quiet breath of relief, then turned and headed into the kitchen—like a soldier walking into battle.
To her surprise, when she entered, she saw that all the ingredients had already been prepared and were neatly arranged—waiting for her to begin cooking.
She glanced at the smiling Old Fu sitting outside and suddenly understood everything.
All this talk about dressing changes was just a pretense—Old Fu likely knew that Fu Siyan loved fish and deliberately gave her the opportunity to showcase her cooking skills.
Was he trying to get her to win Fu Siyan's heart through his stomach?
Su Jin moved deftly as she marinated the fish, planning to make braised fish, pickled pepper fish head, and a light fish soup.
For a while, the only figure left in the spacious kitchen was hers—quiet, focused, graceful.
Meanwhile, Old Fu sat in the living room with a contented smile tugging at his lips.
She may appear delicate, but she's sharp, capable, and intelligent. With her grades and composure, who could be a better match for Fu Siyan?
His only worry was that his grandson was too cold, too distant—lacking even a trace of warmth.
"Si Yan, go give her a hand. She's our guest, after all," Old Fu suddenly said, setting his teacup down. "It's not proper to let Miss Su do everything alone."
Fu Siyan, who had been focused on a book in his hand, paused. At Old Fu's words, his eyes flicked toward the kitchen—and sure enough, he saw Su Jin moving quietly around, doing everything by herself.
Without giving it much thought, Fu Siyan stood up and walked toward the kitchen.
Inside, Su Jin was fully focused on cooking and didn't notice Fu Siyan quietly stepping in. Just as she turned around with a plate in hand, she suddenly bumped straight into him.
Caught off guard, Su Jin collided with his chest.
The man's tall figure completely enveloped her petite frame. It felt like crashing into a wall of solid muscle.
The sharp edge of her nose stung from the impact, and a sour ache immediately spread through her sinuses, making her eyes water slightly.
"Ouch, that hurt..." Su Jin rubbed her nose and looked up at Fu Siyan with a slightly resentful expression, as if silently blaming him for the unexpected collision.
Fu Siyan hadn't expected her to suddenly throw herself into his arms. For a moment, he stood frozen, eyes fixed on her.
The girl's skin was porcelain fair, her nose delicately shaped, and her eyes large and expressive.
But unlike other girls her age, there was a noticeable sharpness in her gaze—less innocence, more determination and clarity.
Like someone weather-beaten and experienced in the ways of the world, Fu Siyan stood silently, taking in Su Jin's every movement.
"Your hand... you can let go now," Su Jin said softly, noticing his lingering touch and kindly reminding him.
During their sudden collision, Fu Siyan had instinctively placed his hand around her waist to steady her.
Snapping out of his thoughts, Fu Siyan quickly withdrew his hand. He looked at her calmly and asked, "Can I help you?"
He actually offered to help?
Su Jin's heart fluttered with surprise and a touch of joy. She nodded without hesitation, her eyes lighting up. "Yes."
But the moment Fu Siyan stepped deeper into the kitchen, his usual calm faltered. He stood there amidst the ingredients and utensils, clearly out of his element—completely at a loss in this small, unfamiliar world.