On the way back to Cocoyasi Village, Zhu Zhuqing finally escaped the entanglement of Nami and Lu Linglong, standing at the ship's bow with Su Xiaoqi, admiring the sea view.
"Did you do something to trick Nami when you went to exchange the bounty just now?"
"Shh." Hearing this, Su Xiaoqi quickly covered her mouth, glanced around to see no one paying attention, then quietly said, "Zhuqing, you can't tell her about this, or it won't be fun anymore."
Zhu Zhuqing rolled her eyes. "If I wanted to tell her, I would have just said it. I won't ask you about that, but what did you mean by that 'Alabasta bathhouse luxury package' just now?"
"I was just joking around."
Su Xiaoqi originally wanted to brush it off with a laugh, but under Zhu Zhuqing's threatening gaze, he ended up confessing the whole scenario.
Even if he didn't tell her, Zhu Zhuqing could ask Nami or watch *One Piece* herself. It was better to be upfront and hope for leniency.
To Su Xiaoqi's surprise, Zhu Zhuqing didn't get angry nor pinch him like before. She just looked at him calmly and asked, "Then why didn't you come see me last night?"
"Uh…"
Su Xiaoqi was speechless, not knowing how to answer. He couldn't tell her he had desire but no courage—it was too embarrassing.
Zhu Zhuqing saw his embarrassment and pressed on, "Su Xiaoqi, do you like me or not? You can only answer 'like' or 'don't like.'"
Nami and Lu Linglong's earlier words had woken her up. If she kept stalling, even if those two didn't compete with her, what if an even prettier girl joined the chat group?
Having made up her mind, she laid her cards on the table and blocked any retreat, demanding an answer today.
"Zhuqing, I…"
Su Xiaoqi recalled all the moments they had spent together and finally nodded, "I like you."
But he also shared his worry: after the "Shrek Academy" story mission ended, they might not be able to meet so often, and he felt it would be unfair to Zhu Zhuqing.
"So you were deliberately holding back your feelings for me because of this?"
Zhu Zhuqing smiled beautifully. She had received the answer she wanted, and their worries matched perfectly. This meant Su Xiaoqi wasn't an irresponsible man—otherwise, he could have easily taken advantage of her body already.
"Also?" Su Xiaoqi noticed the word and looked at her. "Zhuqing, you wouldn't—"
"I thought about this too, but it's only temporary. Or are you saying…" Zhu Zhuqing squinted and stared at him, "You're going to be like some scumbag and abandon me later?"
"Impossible. I'm definitely not that kind of person."
Su Xiaoqi pounded his chest repeatedly in assurance. Zhu Zhuqing was a beauty he never dared to dream of before. Even if he got kicked by a donkey, he wouldn't be foolish like Dai Mubai.
Zhu Zhuqing took his hand and smiled, "I believe you."
"Hehe." Su Xiaoqi gave a silly smile and clasped her hand tightly. This time, the hand-holding was no act—it symbolized their hearts truly coming together.
Just as they were enjoying their moment, Sakata Gintoki's ill-timed voice interrupted.
"Xiaoqi, Gin-san feels like he's about to die. Come check if my golden balls still react."
Zhu Zhuqing's face flushed red. She nearly forgot others were around. She shyly looked at Su Xiaoqi and said, "Go play with Gin-san and Sakuragi. I'll find Nami and Linglong."
Su Xiaoqi watched Zhu Zhuqing run off, almost fuming. He had just wanted to confess his first kiss, but Sakata Gintoki had to speak up then, using such crude words. It was obvious he didn't want Su Xiaoqi to get any "meat."
Full of resentment, Su Xiaoqi came to Gintoki's side, gritted his teeth, and said, "Gin-san, your golden balls are probably done for. I'll do a vasectomy for you now so you won't suffer later."
Hearing this, Gintoki stood up, waving his hands back and forth while retreating, "Gin-san suddenly feels like he can still be saved."
"Sakuragi, catch him! Today we're making Gin-san into silver!"
"Okay, big brother!"
"No! You two don't come near me!!!"
—
Back at Cocoyasi Village, they received a warm welcome. Everyone already knew from Noki and Ajian about the defeat of the Evil Dragon gang.
"Nami, you've worked hard all these years. We've seen everything you've done."
Nami burst into tears on the spot. Though she had seen this scene in the original story, experiencing it herself was completely different.
She took all the money looted from Arlong and the bounty they just exchanged and distributed it among the villagers. Not a single coin of her savings for the village was left.
When the villagers heard that Su Xiaoqi and the others would leave that night, they immediately started preparing a feast to show their gratitude.
At the banquet, Sakata Gintoki and Sakuragi Hanamichi ate and drank like starving ghosts, even worse in manners than this Saiyan. Lu Linglong chatted happily with the villagers.
Su Xiaoqi looked at Nami's worried face and joked, "Are you really that worried? You looked pretty free giving away the money just now."
Nami frowned, "This is nearly 200 million Beli. Do you know how hard it was for me to save even 100 million over these years?"
Su Xiaoqi smiled, knowing Nami's life had truly been difficult, exchanging her life daily for money.
"By the way, I've always wanted to ask—do you know Kalina?"
Kalina was a character from a *One Piece* movie. Su Xiaoqi was curious if the movie's plot belonged to the original timeline or a parallel world.
Nami hadn't heard that name in a long time. After glancing several times between Su Xiaoqi and Zhu Zhuqing, she asked, "You don't happen to like that fox Kalina, do you?"
Zhu Zhuqing's gaze immediately turned cold. She placed her hand on Su Xiaoqi's waist and asked icily, "Tell me, who is Kalina?"
Sweating nervously, Su Xiaoqi quickly explained to both of them.
"Ah haha, if you had told me earlier, I would have thought you liked that type," Nami laughed it off. Then she continued, "I actually miss her a bit. I hope to meet her again on the seas someday."
Looking at Su Xiaoqi, Nami winked playfully and asked, "Between me and Kalina, who do you think is prettier?"
Su Xiaoqi replied immediately, "My Zhuqing is the prettiest."
What a joke. No matter how he answered, whether Nami or Kalina, Zhu Zhuqing would lecture him when they returned. He wasn't going to fall for Nami's trap.
But Nami wasn't easily fooled. She looked at Zhu Zhuqing and said, "Zhuqing, from my years of stealing experience, that kind of man is the most dangerous."
"If he answered either me or Kalina just now, that would be normal."
"But he deliberately said you. Imagine if he lies to you later, he wouldn't even blink."
"Damn!" Su Xiaoqi got nervous. Was Nami that good? The original story didn't show her having this talent.
"Zhuqing, go to Linglong first. Nami and I have some secrets about Luffy to talk about." After sending Zhu Zhuqing away, Su Xiaoqi looked at Nami and said, "I helped you kill the Evil Dragon and the rat, and this is how you repay me?"
Nami smiled, "You haven't forgotten that thing you cursed me for in the chat, have you? Us women remember grudges."
"I see." Su Xiaoqi nodded. "So there's nothing to talk about between us?"
Nami made a counting gesture and smiled, "That depends on how sincere you are. I'm off now. Think it over, my great hero."