17. Chapter Seventeen

[Page 1/3]

【What? What did He Erwang just say?】

He Erwang’s unexpected remark left everyone present in stunned silence. The netizens watching the live stream were equally shocked, and He Erwang’s massive fan base flooded the screen with question marks.

【No, bro, did you get hacked? Wait, no—has your soul been hijacked?】
【Bro, don’t you think this request of yours is a bit… presumptuous?】
【Ahem, let me try to save my brother’s reputation: he loves working out. Every time he sees results, he loves showing them off at concerts. That’s right, we fans are just well-fed like that. He has this hobby and just assumes everyone else shares it.】
【Everyone, please be understanding. My brother, you know, he likes to compare himself to others. Maybe he felt insecure after seeing Senior Qin Ye’s muscles earlier, and now he wants to feel even more insecure by seeing Big Boss Shen’s abs. (Dog head emoji)】
【Sigh, let the storm rage! Quick, let my brother take the hit so he realizes his workouts aren’t enough and starts training harder!】
【I’m done. Why are guys so obsessed with showing off their abs? Some guys in my contacts list are always posting gym selfies.】
【Actually, many guys have this weird competitive streak about certain things. He Erwang looks like the type who would invite you to the bathroom just to take his out and compare sizes.】
【Pfft, and then he’d ask: "Bro, can you take yours out and let me see?"】
【Hahahaha, the person above is going to be the death of me!】
【Ahem, everyone watch your language in the chat, don't get your accounts banned. That’s how I lost my last account.】

In truth, Shen Jinfeng was also taken aback by He Erwang’s words.

*Huh? See my abs?*

He finished chopping down another tree with fluid precision before it fully registered what He Erwang had said, leaving him somewhat bewildered. Since when was checking out someone’s abs a new way to socialize? They were all men; it was normal to be shirtless in the summer, but being asked so solemnly felt… strangely awkward.

He turned hesitantly toward He Erwang, ready to refuse. However, someone else’s voice was faster.

Qin Ye, standing to the side, casually shoved the tree he had just finished chopping into He Erwang’s arms. "Can we start working now?"

He Erwang was caught off guard by the sudden weight and collapsed onto his backside. He blinked, finally processing Qin Ye’s urging.

"Brother Ye, w-wait, don’t you want to see the boss’s abs?"

Qin Ye’s expression faltered, and he instinctively glanced in Shen Jinfeng’s direction. The young man was wearing a simple, dark black T-shirt with no particular design or fit. Yet, with every slight movement, the thin fabric shifted and rippled, tracing the outline of his narrow, lean waist. It was easy to see that underneath lay a slender, powerful core; if it were covered by a thin layer of muscle…

Suddenly, he felt his earlobes burning hot.

*Damn it.*

Qin Ye irritably looked away. He was used to masking his expressions, so the flicker in his eyes was fleeting and barely noticeable to the audience. He collected himself and replied coldly, "Not interested."

"And you shouldn't be either."

He Erwang said, "Ah? Why?" He didn't give up, persisting, "We're all grown men, what’s the big deal? Brother Ye, why don't you lift your shirt and compare it with the boss's? I’ll show you mine!"

As he spoke, he decisively reached for his hem.

【!!!】
【Help… Bro, don’t you think this move of actively lifting your shirt to show off your abs is a bit greasy and cheap? We fans are embarrassed on your behalf!】
【My brother is just used to doing this at concerts; we usually just coddle him and tell him he’s cool, so he’s grown way too confident. Please, everyone, don’t mind him!】
【Pfft, with an idol like this, the fans are so humble, but it’s adorable. Hahahaha.】
【Damn, my idol looks stunned by him. Good job, He Erwang! I want to see Qin Ye’s abs!】

[Page 2/3]

【Oh my god, the clothes that even Director Zhang wouldn't let God Ye take off in the movie are finally going to be revealed today!】
【I’m also curious, whose abs look better, Shen Jinfeng’s or Qin Ye’s? (Starry eyes)】

However, He Erwang’s venture was cut short. Before his hand could even reach his hem, it was firmly held back by another hand. Qin Ye’s brow furrowed slightly, his sharp, defined features radiating a chill.

"I don't want to see your abs."
"How can you just show your abs to anyone?"

【Damn, did anyone notice God Ye’s choice of words? When He Erwang asked if he wanted to see Big Boss Shen’s, he said he wasn't interested. Now that He Erwang wants to show him his own, God Ye says he *doesn't want* to see them! "Not interested" and "don't want to" are a world of difference!】
【Girl, are you Sherlock Holmes? Your analysis makes so much sense!】
【Look, CP shippers always have such wild imaginations, but let's keep it low-key, okay?】

He Erwang struggled manually, but couldn't break free. He gave up. After all, Qin Ye was a "big boss" who chopped trees like cutting vegetables; he couldn't compete.

He tried to explain, though he didn't know why his subconscious told him to: "Brother Ye, showing off abs is pretty normal. When we were in school, guys would be shirtless playing basketball. Isn't it a badge of honor to have worked for your abs?"

Well, his memory was missing a chunk, so he naturally didn't know his subconscious perspective came from the entertainment industry, where "selling sex appeal" was standard. Some male actors often posted ab photos on Weibo to stay relevant, and variety shows were always accidentally making celebrities reveal something or other.

As an idol, he didn't feel the slightest bit shy about showing off his abs for work. It was a sign of his professionalism. During concerts, a little trick like that always got the atmosphere hyped. Thus, he couldn't understand Qin Ye’s resistance.

Shen Jinfeng looked silently toward Qin Ye. The others also stopped what they were doing, watching the standoff. No one expected Qin Ye to be so… pure!

Facing He Erwang’s questioning, Qin Ye pulled his hand back and said flatly, "Exposing one's body is a very private act. Only one’s future partner should see it."

He Erwang: "What???"
*No, bro, it’s not like anyone asked you to bare your nether regions.*

【Wait, is Qin Ye really such an old-fashioned guy?】

Shen Jinfeng’s mouth twitched. He saw the glance Qin Ye stole toward him, thinking he was being subtle. *Tsk, a handsome guy with broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and long legs, looking so upright and noble. Why is he so sneaky in his heart? He’s even being so roundabout with his jealousy.*

He ignored the farce and went back to chopping wood.

Mo Fan asked the soul-searching question from the sidelines: "Bro, that mindset won't fly. In today’s society, you’d be criticized. That’s just feudalism and a strong desire for control. Women nowadays value the freedom to dress as they please; it’s a bit much to demand that your partner shouldn’t reveal anything."

Qin Ye was silent for a moment: "Do guys also value the freedom to dress as they please?"

Mo Fan was stunned. "Aren't guys already free? As long as you don't expose your junk, nobody cares if you walk down the street shirtless in the summer."

【Pfft, that’s true. My dad walks around shirtless every day in the summer.】
【The market and streets are full of them, especially middle-aged men.】
【It depends on the occasion, though. It’s probably not appropriate to go shirtless in formal settings.】

However, after that diversion, He Erwang forgot his original goal. With Shen Jinfeng’s help, the group worked together to chop wood, and by noon, they had enough for the house.

They had a hurried lunch. Even though it was simple, everyone present was exceptionally good-looking—top-tier even by entertainment industry standards. A group of people like that eating on camera made the viewers watching the stream drool.

[Page 3/3]

By the afternoon, as Shen Jinfeng began building the house, the others realized they were suddenly useless. It was clear that the wooden shack Qin Ye had made the night before was little more than a pile of sticks that couldn't possibly withstand a storm.

When Shen Jinfeng claimed he could build a house capable of resisting a storm, the others believed him without hesitation. But only Shen Jinfeng knew how to do it. After all, he had lived through 999 worlds.

There are 360 trades, and while he hadn't mastered all of them, he had practiced dozens—if not hundreds—of common ones. He couldn't claim to be a master in every single one, but he had learned diligently in every world, earning him the title of an expert.

In the ancient worlds, there was no modern technology, but natural disasters were just as relentless. In eras where technology hadn't even begun to sprout, Shen Jinfeng deeply understood the infinite nature of human labor. Human ingenuity, craftsmanship, and practical skills reached their peak in those primitive times. Among food, clothing, housing, and transportation, housing was often prioritized, becoming a collection of the greatest secrets of master craftsmen.

Shen Jinfeng had never been an actual builder in his ancient lives, but he had served as a construction supervisor many times. After supervising enough projects, his interest grew, and he picked up quite a bit. The standards of craftsmen who built for royalty went without saying; after squeezing every bit of knowledge out of those head foremen, he was confident he could work as an ancient construction manager.

Hip roofs, ridge beams, mortise and tenon joints, bracket sets… stripping away the complex and ornate styles, what he needed now was just a sturdy wooden house to withstand a storm.

Time was tight and the task heavy, so naturally, he couldn't take on apprentices. Qin Ye and the others could only watch from the sidelines. They weren't arrogant enough to think they could just jump in after watching—that would be a safety hazard. They felt too awkward to interrupt Shen Jinfeng, but just standing there doing nothing felt even worse.

Qin Ye watched Shen Jinfeng’s movements—fluid, continuous, and effortless. He stared for a moment, deep in thought. *What else could he do?*

He remembered when He Erwang mentioned eating coconut fish and various ways to prepare fish, Shen Jinfeng’s eyes had clearly brightened. *Well, maybe not "clearly."* He hadn't been staring at Shen Jinfeng the whole time. It was just a coincidence that he happened to catch it.

Shen Jinfeng seemed quite interested in food.

*That’s it.*

Qin Ye turned to the others and asked, "Have you ever tried foraging for seafood?"

He had thought about it while following Shen Jinfeng yesterday, but after being stunned by Shen Jinfeng’s "Fish God" performance, he had forgotten. Now that they needed to store food, besides the fish Shen Jinfeng speared, foraging for other seafood was a good decision. It would provide a change of pace and a reward for the team’s biggest contributor.

He made a swift decision. "Don't just stand around."

He saw He Erwang’s sparkling eyes fixed on Shen Jinfeng, which was an eyesore. Qi Xiu, who kept calling him "Boss" with that look of complete trust and worship, was a suck-up and annoying. As for Gu Shengsheng, he had a pretty face, but didn't look like he could do much work.

Qin Ye looked at the last person: "Mo Fan, stay here and help the team leader."

"The rest of you, come with me to forage for seafood. Let’s find something else to eat."