It was morning, and the island basked in perfect weather—not a single cloud marred the sky. The sun was still climbing, casting a gentle warmth that chased away the morning chill without being overbearing.
Zhang Liu already had a rough plan in mind, but as he reached the rocky shoreline, he instinctively crouched down to search for useful items among the stones. He'd seen countless videos of beachcombers uncovering piles of clams, sea urchins, oysters, and scallops—an impressive haul. Yet, after scouring a wide area, all he managed to find were a few conch-like shells.
Holding these potential food items, Zhang Liu stood there, unsure of what to do next. After a moment of indecision, he stuffed the suspicious shells into his trouser pockets, figuring they'd count as his morning's haul. He continued walking along the island's edge until a depression in the cliff face caught his eye—a spot that seemed perfect for a shelter.
Eager to investigate, Zhang Liu hurried over to assess the site. The cave was about two meters off the ground, just above his head, but reachable by climbing the nearby rocks. His pants, still intact, proved useful as he pressed his knees against the rock wall for leverage, hoisted himself up, and swung into the depression.
The cave's floor spanned roughly twenty square meters, littered with stone fragments and white gravel. Zhang Liu tossed a rock outside and took in the view—it overlooked a vast stretch of the sea. True, the cave would likely catch sea breezes at night, and since it faced west, sunlight would only reach it in the afternoon. Still, it was far better than the exposed rocky hill he'd been considering, which offered no protection from the elements.
If I grab that foam board and lay it down, it'll make for a decent bed, Zhang Liu thought, glancing up at the exposed brown rock ceiling. A nagging worry crept in: why did this cave exist? What if it collapsed after he and Qin Ruoshuang moved in? They'd be crushed in an instant.
He inspected the ceiling closely, relieved to find no visible cracks. The cave was about two meters high, so he jumped up, running his hands along the rock to check for any loose spots. After a thorough check, he felt confident—the rock was solid, with no signs of instability. It should be safe… right?
Satisfied, Zhang Liu climbed down from the cave, ready to head back. But as he took one last look, something caught his attention. About three meters from the cave, a patch of rock looked unusually dark. A thought struck him: Could there be a water source?
He rushed over and touched the rock, feeling a damp, cool surface that sent a thrill through him. Water was seeping out! Tracing the moisture upward, he found a small puddle, about the size of his fist, with a layer of moss floating on top.
Licking his dry lips, Zhang Liu hesitated. Normally, he'd never drink water like this, but this wasn't a normal situation. He brushed the moss aside with his palm, dipped a finger into the water, and tasted it.
A bit bitter and salty? His heart sank. Is this seawater?
After a moment of confusion, he realized the saltiness was likely from the sweat on his hands. He dipped his finger again, swirled it in the puddle, and tasted it once more. Fresh water! It had a slight bitter edge, probably from mountain minerals, but it was definitely drinkable. Boiling and filtering would take care of the bitterness, he recalled from survival videos.
Elated, Zhang Liu cleared the moss and debris from the puddle with a stone and hurried back to the beach. A new shelter and a freshwater source—this was huge.
Meanwhile, Qin Ruoshuang, fighting her exhaustion, was carrying coconuts between a rocky outcrop and the coconut grove to build their food reserves. She froze when she spotted a petite figure in red staring at her in shock. Both women held a coconut, bent over in identical poses.
"Anya-san!" Qin Ruoshuang exclaimed, recognizing her.
"Who are you?" Anya replied, unable to distinguish whether the woman before her was the elder or younger twin.
"I'm your sister, Qin Ruoshuang!" She tossed her coconut aside and stepped forward, her face lighting up. "Thank goodness, you're here to save—"
She cut herself off. Unlike Qin Ruoshuang, who had washed her face with seawater that morning, Anya's right cheek was smudged with yellow sand, and she looked drained, as if she hadn't slept well on the beach. It was clear she wasn't here to rescue anyone.
"I washed up on this island with some plane wreckage," Anya explained, shaking her head. "I walked a long way this morning and just found these coconut trees. You too?"
"No, I was saved by Zhang Liu. We've been staying nearby," Qin Ruoshuang said, shaking her head. The joy of seeing a familiar face was tempered by the sinking realization that rescue wasn't coming. It felt like a fleeting hope, fragile and fleeting.
"Zhang Liu? That guy who runs errands for snacks and pocket change?" Anya said, her tone dismissive. As Zhang Liu's classmate, she knew him as a studious type who'd do odd jobs for a bit of cash—a nobody in her eyes.
"Anya!" Qin Ruoshuang's voice sharpened, cutting her off. She'd heard the rumors about Zhang Liu—how he'd supposedly do anything for money. But to her, he was a lifesaver. He'd pulled her from the sea, shared his first morsel of food, and shown thoughtfulness last night, even noticing she had no pants to wear…
Her cheeks flushed as she recalled Zhang Liu seeing her bare lower abdomen. In Anya's puzzled gaze, she murmured, "Zhang Liu is a good person."
"Huh?" Anya blinked, confused by the sudden shift in Qin Ruoshuang's demeanor.
Just then, Zhang Liu's voice echoed from the coconut grove. "Qin Ruoshuang, where are you?"
"I'm—" Qin Ruoshuang started to shout back but faltered, feeling a wave of weakness. Sighing, she glanced at Anya, whose confusion was growing, and said softly, "Let's go find Zhang Liu."
As she turned to head toward the grove, Anya followed, noticing blood trickling down Qin Ruoshuang's thigh. Her period? As a woman, Anya's mind raced with concern. Her own period wasn't due for another ten days or so. What would happen if they were still stranded by then?