Chapter 141: The Power of Continuous Good Luck
While no one else was paying attention to her, she quietly applied it to herself according to the instructions given by Suibianhua.
Since it was a talisman for good luck, Yun Zijin was genuinely curious about its effect.
Less than two minutes after Yun Zijin used the Good Luck Talisman, she felt a force tugging the fishing rod in her hand downward.
"Yes, yes, Sister Zijin's hook just got a bite as well!"
Li Yuecheng, who had been keeping an eye on Sheng Tian, glanced over to see Yun Zijin's fishing rod bending under the weight of a catch. He shouted excitedly and dashed to her side.
Yun Zijin tried to recall the key tips Lu Yunque had just shared about reeling in a catch. Though it was a bit of a struggle, and the fish nearly slipped off the hook midway, it ended without disaster.
"Wow! Sister Zijin, yours looks bigger than Tian Tian's," Li Yuecheng remarked, his words leaving Sheng Tian red-faced.
"The contest isn't even halfway done yet. She only caught one fish, so it's still anybody's guess who wins in the end!" Sheng Tian snapped back, not wanting to lose face.
Paying little heed to their exchange, Yun Zijin remained focused on the fish in her bucket. At the same time, she mulled over the talisman's power.
Sure enough, Suibianhua hadn't lied. After catching the first fish, within another two or three minutes, another one took the bait. Yun Zijin almost failed to react in time, but fortunately, Li Yuecheng—standing right beside her—helped out.
Looking at the two lively fish in the bucket, Yun Zijin glanced toward Sheng Tian—who was roughly ten meters away—with a faintly provocative look in her eyes.
Sheng Tian felt her cheeks burn under that glance. If not for Sheng Hao holding her back, she might have marched over to fight with Yun Zijin.
Meanwhile, Yun Zijin simply cast her line again and recast the bait.
Shortly afterward, Lu Yunque returned with a few waiters carrying items.
Passing by Sheng Tian without stopping, he headed straight for Yun Zijin alongside the waiters.
"I was worried you might get too full on random snacks, so I brought these cakes. Here we have osmanthus cake, almond cake, and a new date-paste–yam cake. If you're hungry, feel free to nibble on these. Also got some drinks—take whatever you like."
The waiters set the items on a low table near Yun Zijin.
But at the moment, she was so busy catching a fish every three or four minutes that she had no free hand to eat. Meanwhile, Sheng Tian, eyes glued to Lu Yunque since he reappeared, felt even more dismayed.
"Ah, new pastries? Let me try some!"
Seeing the new sweets, Fu Ze ambled over. After one bite, he reached for more, but Lu Yunque intervened and blocked him from taking a second piece.
"I asked the kitchen to make additional ones. Someone will bring more soon. You'll have your chance," Lu Yunque remarked calmly.
No matter how chill he tried to act, for Fu Ze, it always seemed other people's pastries looked or tasted better than his own.
Thirty minutes went by in a flash. Yun Zijin's bucket was practically full, whereas Sheng Tian had only a scattering of fish. The outcome was obvious.
Nonetheless, Yun Zijin insisted on using a scale so no one could claim foul play. The pails, being the same size, were each placed on the scale, and the weight difference was substantial.
"You…you must have cheated! This can't be your first time fishing!" Sheng Tian exclaimed.
"I can swear it's my very first time. Miss Sheng, satisfied?
Catching a bucketful on my first try only proves I have a natural talent," Zijin said, openly praising her own luck.
"You—!"
Sheng Hao stepped in to stop Sheng Tian. "All right, we concede. Tian Tian, you lost."
"But, Brother—!" Sheng Tian refused to believe she'd lost to an orphan from an orphanage.
"Miss Sheng can always walk away from the bet if she wants," Yun Zijin interjected with a frosty grin. "After all, someone with a 'noble background' can break their word with no consequences, right? I wouldn't dare say anything."
Though she didn't really care about winning a yacht, Sheng Tian's attitude grated on Zijin. For once, she felt compelled to see the spoiled young woman uphold her end of the deal.
"Of course she'll honor the bet," Sheng Hao insisted, sighing. "I'll have someone draft the transfer contract right away."
He was the one who'd originally purchased that cruise ship for Sheng Tian. Hence, if she were relinquishing it, the matter was ultimately his concern. He'd see it was handled properly—even if Sheng Tian hated it.
Faced with Sheng Hao's decisive move, Sheng Tian had no choice but to bow to reality, though her glare toward Yun Zijin intensified.
All the while, another girl remained silent on the sidelines, practically invisible.
Yun Zijin glanced at her but said nothing, sipping from a freshly squeezed juice that Lu Yunque had placed on the small table.
"Time's nearly up. Let me tell the kitchen to prepare dinner," Fu Ze chimed in, wanting to lighten the tense atmosphere.
No one objected, though Sheng Tian scowled in the background.
"Plenty of mosquitoes by the lakeside—let's head inside," Lu Yunque suggested, spotting a couple of bites on Zijin's arm.
No one refused. The group strolled away from the lake, with Sheng Tian trailing at the very edge, sulking.
Amid the short walk, Fu Li, who'd hardly spoken, approached Sheng Tian. "Still angry?"
Gazing gloomily, Sheng Tian remained silent for a moment. "You'd be mad, too, if someone snatched away your birthday gift from your brother."
Fu Li offered a comforting smile. "Don't fret. Maybe next time you can challenge her again. You've learned so many talents, surely you'll find a contest you can win. Don't give up yet."
Though her words sounded supportive, Sheng Tian could sense that recapturing her pride might be more complicated than she'd ever imagined.
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