Du Lai’s expression must have been terrible to look at, because Fu Miaoxue furrowed her brow and said with displeasure:

“What kind of look is that? What? I can’t throw them away? Get your facts straight — those berries had bugs in them! It’s not as if I threw them away on purpose. What kind of face are you making at me?!”

Du Lai breathed in deeply……

Then breathed in deeply again.

He stood there with the knife in his hand, staring at Fu Miaoxue, with the overwhelming feeling that of all the terrible things in the entire world, nothing could compare to encountering this woman right here in front of him.

No matter how much willpower he had, she would drag him down to ruin.

“Young Mistress……” Du Lai fixed her with a dark, heavy gaze and asked in a dry, ragged voice, “Do you think we’re on vacation in the Maldives?”

Fu Miaoxue: “……”

Two seconds of silence. Then Fu Miaoxue’s expression also went cold. “Are you mocking me? Just because I threw away those berries? Du Lai, are you tired of living?”

“I want to live.” Du Lai let out a cold laugh, then suddenly barked, “I want to live so badly that I went out and picked those berries! What’s wrong with a few bugs? When you’re truly starving, bugs are just a high-quality source of protein! What, do you want me to conjure up a plate of filet mignon for you on this deserted island?! Well?!”

Fu Miaoxue stared at him in shock. “You… you’re yelling at me? Do you know who my grandfather is?! He’s Fu Lishen! Have you completely lost your mind?!”

Du Lai had no desire to look at her for another second. He turned on his heel in fury and headed back into the jungle.

Fu Miaoxue stood gaping, simultaneously furious and deeply wronged. She couldn’t stop herself from chasing after him two steps and shouting at his back, “Come back here! I’m ordering you to come back right now! Apologize!!!”

Du Lai responded with a middle finger raised in her direction.

“Damn you, Du Lai, you bastard!!!” Fu Miaoxue screamed in rage. “My grandfather could squash you with one finger!!!”

Du Lai called back at the top of his voice, “Your grandfather doesn’t need to bother. Have a little confidence in yourself — you could finish me off just fine on your own!”

Fu Miaoxue: “……”

Damn him!

She was so furious she could burst!

……

Anger was anger.

But water, food, and shelter were all urgent problems sitting right in front of her. Being angry accomplished nothing.

Fu Miaoxue rubbed her stomach — she really was so hungry. But berries full of bugs were simply more than she could stomach.

Fu Miaoxue looked at the unfinished tent, gritted her teeth, and decided she had no choice but to keep at it.

She found two trees of roughly equal height, then propped the long thick branch Du Lai had cut across them like a clothesline. Then she leaned the remaining branches diagonally against this main pole, moving them into position one by one and winding vine around them to hold everything firmly in place.

She thought it was basically like building with blocks — just using less uniform materials.

Of course, the building conditions were also far harsher than playing with blocks. As dark clouds rolled in from the sea, the wind began gusting heavily, blowing leaves away at one moment and knocking branches over the next.

Fu Miaoxue had to hold pieces in position with one hand while tying branches and leaves together with the other — she was frantically busy the whole time.

When Du Lai came back, she was in the middle of wrestling with the leaves.

The plan had been to cover the branch frame with leaves for wind and rain protection, but the wind was too strong at this point and Fu Miaoxue couldn’t keep them in place — they were blowing around like a wave dance.

She spotted Du Lai. He was carrying about a dozen unfamiliar fruits in his arms.

Fu Miaoxue immediately dropped the vines and leaves she was holding, sprinted over to grab the fruit——

Du Lai moved his hands away, shot her an irritated glance, and said coldly, “There are bugs in them. I suggest you go find yourself some steak.”

“You haven’t even bitten into them — how do you know there are bugs?!” Fu Miaoxue said indignantly. “You’re deliberately keeping them from me, aren’t you? You want me to starve? Du Lai, you just see if I don’t have my grandfather deal with you! My grandfather is Fu Lishen!”

Du Lai ignored her and walked into the tent with the wild fruit.

Fu Miaoxue seized him by the arm, her temper blazing. “If you won’t let me eat, then you can’t come into my tent!”

—