Arthur panicked. “Don’t call me bro,” he blurted, waving his hands as if fending off a crime. “You can be friends with Ashley, that’s fine. But I have a fiancée. It’s... it’s not appropriate for me to have female friends.” Nina froze in surprise. Then she burst out laughing. “Pfft—hahahaha!” Her laughter came in waves. She clutched her sides, doubled over from amusement. “Miss, look at your fiancé! He really does keep you in his heart at all times! I just called him bro once, and he got all nervous—scared you’d get the wrong idea!” Her teasing cut through the tension like sunlight through fog. Arthur let out a sigh of relief. He wasn’t afraid of anything—but Ashley’s anger? That, he feared. Ashley, too, felt her earlier unease slip away. Blushing, she quickly changed the subject. “Alright! Let’s get back to gathering seafood—it’s going to get dark soon!” With that, she grabbed Nina’s hand and made a hasty retreat toward the tide. Arthur watched their backs, amused and a little jealous. Nina clearly knew the beach well. She moved with familiarity, even pointing out specific areas where certain sea creatures often turned up. With her help, Arthur and Ashley made quick progress. They filled their bucket in no time, working with light hearts and cheerful laughter. By the time night fell, the three of them were reluctant to part ways. At the edge of the path, Nina tugged on Ashley’s hand. “Are you coming back here tomorrow? I want to play with you again.” Ashley smiled, warmth in her eyes. Nina was so pure, so open-hearted. Though she was already sixteen or seventeen, she still had the innocence of a child. In a world where people often wore masks and guarded their intentions, Nina’s sincerity was rare—and precious. Ashley jotted down an address and handed it to her. “We might not come to the beach again tomorrow, but you can find us at this place. We’re staying there for now.” Nina’s eyes lit up like stars. Her earlier worry melted into joy. “Okay! Then it’s a promise—see you tomorrow!” She waved cheerfully, then turned and skipped away, light as a breeze. She knew Heaven Island like the back of her hand. The address Ashley gave? She recognized it instantly. Arthur and Ashley smiled at each other as they watched her go. Then, bucket in hand, they turned back toward their little courtyard. They’d caught a lot—one full bucket, heavy and sloshing. Just as they neared their place, an older woman sitting in a neighboring yard called out warmly, “Ah, you’re back!” Arthur and Ashley looked at her in surprise. This was their first time venturing out since arriving on Heaven Island, and aside from running into Nina, they didn’t know anyone. The old woman had kind eyes and a friendly smile, but neither of them recognized her. Ashley asked politely, “Ma’am, do we know you?” The woman chuckled and pointed at the courtyard behind her. “I live right over there. Our houses are close—we’re neighbors, in a way.” Arthur and Ashley nodded courteously. It made sense, but they were only temporary residents here. Once the trial concluded in a few days, regardless of the outcome, they’d likely be moving on. Their villa was filled with rare plants and fine décor—it clearly wasn’t a place just anyone could live in. Before they could respond further, the old woman beamed and said, “Your name’s Arthur, right?” Arthur blinked. “Yes… you know me?” The woman nodded, her expression full of meaning. “Of course I do! Everyone on Heaven Island knows you! The way you beat up President Holland? That was incredible!”Arthur and Ashley exchanged a quick glance. Yesterday. She must be talking about what happened yesterday—when he punched President Holland and everything spiraled out of control. The woman spoke passionately. “That whole group that came to the island… they were using their positions to push people around. They made life miserable for the rest of us.” “But we didn’t want to cause trouble for Uncle Tian, so we kept quiet. And then you—you came and got rid of them for us! You helped us all out so much!” She looked genuinely grateful, her voice filled with appreciation. As if suddenly remembering something, she perked up and added, “Oh right! I made some pastries—why don’t you try them? It’s my special recipe!” Without giving them a chance to refuse, she bustled into her home with the urgency of someone on a mission.