By the sea, under a tree.
Ah Qi was gnawing enthusiastically on the pastry in her hand.
It was now lunchti, and many coworkers preferred to stay at their stations or go up to the dam to catch a breeze, but she liked to co over to Yalong Bay.
Ah Qi had a friend here.
"It's such a pity about those marvelous trees."
Tree Monster Ye Qing couldn't help but mutter, "If it were , I would definitely be able to make those Pan Trees grow better. The way they are now, they haven't been taken care of properly at all and are completely at the rcy of the weather. That pointy-headed wild man is wasting nature's resources!"
Ah Qi took a sip of clear water, "You might think his thods are crude, but he can quickly cultivate the trees. Right now, the Dead Sea Fruit is so popular that many rchants have co looking to buy."
"It's like our dam; many workers from other places think the Desperate Machines are laughable and lack technology, but they just can't co up with anything better."
"I actually think that if you and he worked together to plant trees, the results would probably be much better."
"...That guy can't even speak the local dialect, and we can't use a translator." Ye Qing continued, "There's simply no way to communicate, and he always hides up in the trees and doesn't want to co down."
Tree Monsters are always chattering to people they know but are very poor at dealing with strangers.
Ah Qi started eating her cabbage noodle salad with a fork, "I'll give it a try, even if we can't talk, we can understand each other through hand gestures."
"Don't go, that guy might be dangerous."
"Don't worry, I'll be fine."
Ah Qi said.
The Tree Monster was a friend she had made here. It started when she heard the Tree Monster muttering to itself and couldn't resist chatting with it; that's how they got acquainted.
Ye Qing had never succeeded in growing trees. Later, when that tall man wrapped in vines ca, he replaced it.
This made the Tree Monster very dissatisfied.
Yet the other party had undeniable achievents—the eight Pan Trees growing in the Dead Sea exuded vibrant life, with crowns becoming increasingly lush, and the Dead Sea Fruits that were born on them were sought after in the outside world.
It was said that among the Dead Sea Fruits were so mutated delicacies, which after being consud, could grant special abilities.
Although the chairman publicly claid that this was only temporary, a passing experience not to be taken seriously by the consurs.
But even a short, beautiful dream is still a dream, so they remain highly popular.
The contrast between the two was far too stark.
At that ti, Ye Qing hadn't even managed to grow seedlings.
The mont the mysterious man arrived, those tree species were activated and imdiately transford.
Initially, Ye Qing was brought in by the chairman from the Tree Treant's care, as the most skillful Tree Planter of the Tree Monster Territory, but now he has been forgotten. He was also too embarrassed to approach the chairman because he felt like a failure and disheartened, standing in the corner every day in silent grief.
Ah Qi patted the trunk, volunteering, "I'll go find him and see if we can communicate. If you two join forces, you would surely be invincible!"
It's like those workers from other places at the dam.
They initially mocked the Desperate Machines, but later they were the ones who improved them into large Desperate Machines. Now there's a machine at each station, simple operation, no need to perform those dangerous touch operations anymore, and the collection efficiency is several tis better than before.
...
Pan Trees grow in the Dead Sea. If a person steps into the Dead Sea, they would lt like a piece of fat in a hot pan, leaving behind nothing but bones and clothes.
One cannot venture into the Dead Sea.
And with the Tree Planter present.
So there's no need to worry about the Dead Sea Fruit being stolen.
The Tree Planter would co down from the tree at night.
Especially when it's pitch black around, with only so Yellow Firefly Mushrooms providing light. Under the moonlight, that tall and broad-limbed giant would descend from the tree.
He would stretch out his body under the moonlight, and the vines that wrapped around his whole body would gradually unwind, revealing his strong and powerful muscles.
It seems he really wasn't in the habit of wearing clothes.
No wonder the Tree Monster called him a wild man.
From a distance, Aqi, nibbling on dried sweet potatoes, thought to herself.
What's strange is that the vines actually grow out of his body, apparently originating near his backside... it seems like his tail.
What's even more astonishing is that the Tree Planter is actually bathing in the Dead Sea.
A mist enveloped his body, as if he possessed so power to absorb moisture from the air, washing away the dirt on his surface. Those sharp tufts of hair also beca docile, and the whole person seed less odd.
The Tree Planter then wrapped the vines back around his body and began to take out a backpack from the tree. Then he sat alone on a large rock by the secluded coastline, eating sothing, while gazing at the moon.
He would sit cross-legged on the rock for a long ti, until the sky gradually brightened, and then he would return to the tree, avoiding the gaze and attention of everyone under the sun.
He looked rather lonely.
One day, Aqi mustered up the courage to approach him. To show she ant no harm, she even brought along a homade white flag made of branches and cloth straps.
Her approach, however, startled him.
Seeing her, the tall Tree Planter's eyes showed a strange expression, and he hastily retreated.
"I an no harm!"
"Wait a mont!"
"This..."
He ran agilely, all the way to the top of a Pan Tree.
Aqi could only leave her cloth bag at the coastline, pointing at the dried sweet potatoes inside, and loudly said, "This, tasty, for you to eat."
Then she left.
Later, when Aqi ca again, she found the cloth bag still there, but the dried sweet potatoes were gone.
The Tree Planter remained in the tree, unwilling to co down.
It was a good start.
With such a clumsy thod, Aqi tried to communicate with him through food.
The Tree Planter reciprocated with a type of exotic fruit flesh, which tasted sweet and tangy. She didn't know if it was Dead Sea Fruit or not, but it was delicious. After eating it, she felt very energetic and full of strength, not tired at all while working at her station.
...
Before long, a rumor surfaced on the Guangtai Dam, saying that the Tree Planter managing those eight Pan Trees had beco quite popular with the won recently.
"That guy is tall and strong, and a real enhancer, also favored by the chairman. Although he dresses weirdly, it's normal for won to like him."
"Several won, from the likes of Lady Sui in the Sand Port Bar, she's got a killer waist and behind, it makes feel itchy just looking at her, and she's also got her eyes on that guy."
"And Miss Chestnut, she even turned down Boss Sha's marriage proposal, but she seems to really like him. Heard she gave him a handkerchief and chewing wine."
"There are also two won from out of town, from a big city, they dress really pretty, like a pair of sisters, saying they've hugged and kissed the Tree Planter... city folks really play wild."
"What are you talking about? I heard that guy once had fun with two won and three n together! Those vines on his body, that's his... other thing..."
"How can so many people play this?"
"It's like this, I'll draw it for you."
Everyone was very excited when it ca to raunchy jokes and stories of affairs, talking all at once.
Aqi also listened with great interest.
Suddenly, a coworker turned around and said, "Little sister Aqi, I heard you often go to the coast at night, you haven't gotten close to that guy, have you?"
"No, no."
Aqi waved her hand: "I just brought him so food, we haven't spoken a word, I'm just curious."
"You need to be careful."
The coworker suddenly beca very serious: "That guy is very promiscuous and wild, and he has romantic relations with many won, don't be fooled by him."
"Also, don't go there alone anymore, that place doesn't have any surveillance caras. If anything happens, it's hard to call for help, and he is an enhancer, if his beastly nature kicks in, that would be big trouble."
"That's right!"
"You must be careful! Don't go over there."
"Moreover, he doesn't understand our language, nobody knows what kind of person he is. Better safe than sorry."
Everyone was jabbering, reminding her to keep her distance from him.
Aqi could only say she got it.
She knew they ant well.
The coworkers all treated her like a younger sister; her age was indeed not that old, 16 this year, and there were very few won working at Guangtai Dam.
Moreover, she was hardworking, responsible, and had a straightforward personality, which made her quite popular among the n.
The most important thing was, Aqi was very ugly.
She had a large face, small eyes, and a sturdy figure, the kind of appearance that made one think – sigh, what a young ugly girl, it's really pitiable.
For ugly won, n's friendship is usually sincere.
Aqi had been used to being ugly since she was little.
The only thing she regretted was that her mother was actually very beautiful, but she unfortunately inherited her father's looks.
She also overheard so coworkers say in private.
"Aqi is a really good woman, never complains about anything, always does her job, always happy, and healthy too."
"Yeah, too bad..."
"Hope she can find a good man."
"Anyway, she's like our sister here, we can't let outsiders bully her."
"Definitely!"
Everyone was very good to her, always saving a share of good food for her, and telling her good news first. Not long ago, they also helped her compete for a spot as a worker at the glider manufacturing, although it ended in an unfortunate failure.
Aqi was very satisfied with her life.
Being able to live without fear every day, earning enough money to be well-fed, and the company constantly introducing new food and equipnt that employees could use and taste for free.
These were things that residents of other cities would dream of.
She still went to the coast every night.
As the rumors said, there indeed appeared many won there.
Aqi observed them carefully.
These won either had curvaceous figures or were the pretty-faced type, typically the kind of good-looking girls that would be popular.
In front of them, the Tree Planter would naturally co down from the trees, using hand gestures to communicate with them at close range, his attitude much friendlier.
Totally different from the horrified and avoidant look he had when he saw her.
But.
Everyone was just making friends.
She had to get Ye Qing in contact with him.
Aqi participated in learning sessions in the Mushroom Forest, where she learned that even if one couldn't speak, they could still communicate through sign language and basic sounds.
In front of Aqi, the Tree Planter still kept his distance.
She tried hard to converse with him using body language, but he just looked puzzled and then retreated back to the tree.
A pretty woman even told her, "Don't bother, your innate condition isn't suitable for this, you won't catch his interest. You should find so other job, leave this kind of thing to us sisters."
Aqi could only explain, "I just want to discuss sothing with him."
The other person laughed with a "heh."
Autumn was getting colder.
At the coast at night, those won were still competing for this enhancer's attention, and to boost their appeal, their clothing was becoming scantier.
This did attract quite a few other n, flattering them in various ways, but most were unsuccessful.
One day, suddenly, the won at the coast disappeared without a trace.
Maybe it was too cold, and they were wearing too little.
Aqi waited here for a long ti but did not see the Tree Planter co down.
However, two strange people appeared.
They were a man and a woman, both wearing odd masks—the man with a monkey-like Floral Face mask and the woman with a red and white mask that resembled a fox's.
The man said, "Ni Ge wants to et you; do you want to talk to him?"
"Who's Ni Ge?"
Aqi was puzzled: "And who are you?"
The woman beside him said, "Ni Ge, that's the Tree Planter you talk about. We are Ni Ge's friends."
"Oh."
Aqi said, "If he wants to talk to , why does he run away when facing ?"
The man hesitated for a mont.
"Because you're too beautiful, it scares him off."
"..."
Aqi felt it was a bad joke.
"It's true," the woman added: "Otherwise, we wouldn't co over."
The man said, "I know it might sound strange, but it's true, please listen to …"
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