Global Film Emperor

Chapter 459 "Exile" End (Part 1)

"Mr. Leo, considering that you haven't been teaching for a long time, our company feels that you are not suitable for this job. We apologize, and wish you a pleasant life."

He turned off the recorder and lay on the sofa in a daze. As a relatively unknown marine scholar who was unwilling to return to working at sea, he really didn't have many job options.

In addition, due to his fixed mindset, he ultimately chose to pursue a career in oceanography education. Unfortunately, after many years without teaching experience, he was rejected by several universities, including his alma mater where he had stayed on to work after graduation.

He rented an old apartment in the city. Apart from the occasional disturbance caused by young people throwing parties, it had no other drawbacks. However, his savings were insufficient to support him for the rest of his life, so finding a suitable job was his top priority.

"Ding ding ding..."

The phone rang, and hope rekindled within me. I quickly got up, answered the call, and introduced myself to the other party.

"Hello, I'm Leo."

"Hello Mr. Zhang, this is Raul from 'The Weekend Jerry Show.' I'm so sorry to call you so suddenly. Well, we greatly admire your courage and resilience, and many viewers would like to hear your stories from the sea. Would you be interested in joining us?"

Interested? To be honest, he could hardly recall any pleasure other than that derived from his unknown abilities.

Sadness and other emotions? Yes, but only during the days when he wasn't used to island life. Once he got used to it, it seemed like he lost his thoughts, his thinking ability deteriorated, and all emotions became distant.

He didn't want to show his face in public, stand on a stage, and be watched and discussed by people, like a so-called miracle of life created by others, or a clown. Only he himself knows how he actually came back alive.

He sat on the sofa, a cigarette still burning in the ashtray on the small table in front of him. He didn't reply immediately, but reached out and picked up the cigarette butt and stubbed it out in the ashtray.

"I'm sorry, I don't want to recall those days. They were a very difficult time for me, and even just thinking about them makes me uncomfortable."

This was the only way he could refuse; revealing his emotional trauma was the best way for him to refuse. Whether the other party would give up depended on his determination, not on whether he sympathized with Leo or would kindly cover up his inner trauma.

"Sir, I know that recounting your past is a difficult thing for you, but this experience can be called a legend, and it can be respected and worshipped by the world. And most importantly, you can use this legendary experience to create economic benefits. At least this is an opportunity."

"I... don't quite understand what you mean."

"Let's put it simply: the production team is willing to pay you 50,000 yuan as your compensation."

Fifty thousand yuan is not a small amount, and he finds it hard to refuse now. Even though he has never been a greedy person and never thought about becoming rich, he only hoped to return to his previous standard of living. However, the compensation given by National Geographic six years ago was not enough to support him in paying all sorts of miscellaneous taxes and daily expenses during the period of no income due to inflation.

Most importantly, he wanted to buy his own house, even if it was in a remote location. His years living on the island had made him somewhat withdrawn, and he wanted to be away from the hustle and bustle so that he wouldn't feel too lonely listening to the revelry upstairs.

After all, loneliness needs a point of reference for comparison.

However, the savings in his bank account allowed him to see his future life situation at a glance. It wasn't too bad in the short term, but if he continued to have no source of income, he would soon be driven to despair. Therefore, when he was powerless to change his current situation, it seemed that he only had one choice left.

Only now did he begin to consider whether he should participate in some programs to earn some money while he still had some public attention, or seek help from the media to regain social acceptance of him, instead of the current situation where everyone looked at him as if he were a savage or some rare animal.

Today, his personality has vanished on a social level. What people remember him for is merely that dirty, disheveled shipwreck survivor, not a scholar with a doctorate in oceanography. This is the most disadvantageous situation for him when seeking employment.

He suddenly felt sad. For his own sake, it was at the moment he was invited by the program team that he realized that he hated being seen as a clown by others, but now the only thing that could change his life was to be a clown.

Your self-esteem begins to crumble when you realize you need to live.

This has been the case for many years, and this time is simply a repeat of the same mistake.

He suddenly felt awkward. Despite the lingering attraction he felt after his initial rejection, he licked his lips, pressed his index finger against the edge of the table until it turned white and bent at a sharp angle. It then slid off the edge with a soft thud. At the same time, his legs began to tremble uncontrollably. He turned his gaze to the window and murmured a long, soft "hmm."

The man on the other end of the phone smiled, satisfied with the tried-and-true money offensive, even though the price wasn't something he could decide.

Leo is not someone who likes to be in the media spotlight. Unlike other famous people, he did not immediately step forward to make a fortune while he was popular. But the most satisfying and fulfilling thing is to win over such a person, or to use money to make such a person submit.

There was silence on the other end of the phone. On the other end, a member of the production crew glanced at his watch; it was lunchtime. As the victor, he didn't want to wait any longer. With a mocking smile that Leo couldn't see, he spoke.

"Sir? Are you listening?"

"Mmm...mmm, yes, I'm listening..."

Leo became flustered, his speech became unclear, but he spoke faster, which was the result he wanted.

"If you are interested, please call me back at this number, or you can come directly to the D21 floor of the Drepp Building. A staff member will meet you there. Mr. Leo, I personally look forward to your arrival."

"Okay, I meant... thank you."

"You're welcome. Have a nice day."

The staff member hung up the phone, and the camera only focused on his shiny, clean formal suit and his stubble-free, youthful chin. He exhaled, reversed his grip on the ballpoint pen, tapped it on the table, the pen tip popped out, flicked it, wrote some words in the notebook, and finally tossed the ballpoint pen aside.

"It's done."

"Amy! Keep an eye out, that shipwreck survivor named Leo might contact you, or come directly here. You'll be in charge of receiving him!"

"OK."

The office chair slid backward, but the camera remained focused on his chest until the chair receded further and further away, revealing his employee ID badge and the blue-background one-inch photo on it.

He is also Asian, and he's quite good-looking. Judging from the photos, he's very sunny and handsome.

……

three days later.

“Square D…Square D…”

He held his phone, turned on the navigation, and searched for the office building of a broadcasting station he had never heard of before. He knew where BNC Television's office was six years ago, but now it had been replaced by another magazine.

This is the new city center, which has become a bustling hub in what used to be the suburbs. It has become the city's new economic center. White-collar and gold-collar workers can be clearly distinguished by their aura and confidence. But Leo is different; he seems a little uncomfortable and makes way for the office workers who stride past him.

His posture was quite strange in the crowd, but it didn't attract attention. People who had guessed might think he was autistic or had social anxiety, and that guess... might be correct.

This made him even more uncomfortable than the magnificent high-rises of the old city. It was like walking into a huge maze, unable to tell which way was which. The sun, which he used to orient himself in the ocean, was hidden outside the vast steel forest.

Civilization has developed too quickly, and amidst the skyscrapers, generations of people have been forgotten.

It was twenty minutes later when he finally found Building D. He followed the crowd into the elevator and stood in the front row, with other passengers standing behind him. He could feel their breathing and the weariness they exuded. He, on the other hand, just looked up at the building and nervously rubbed his trouser leg.

They arrived at the 21st floor. The receptionist was Amy, whom they had contacted later. She led him into the production team's office. Everyone's eyes were on him, like lethal lasers piercing his skin, making his body red and hot.

They were whispering, perhaps not even talking about themselves, but Leo felt they were talking about him, so he just kept his head down and followed Amy into the meeting room. She brought Leo a cup of coffee, said "Just a moment," and turned to leave.

Soon, the man on the name tag showed up, stood in front of him, and introduced himself, surprising Leo. He hadn't expected that the person who invited him to the show was also of Chinese descent.

"Alright, Mr. Zhang."

It turned out they were both from Guangdong. This familiar accent bridged the gap between them, at least that's what Leo thought. This was also one of his clever points; he could see Leo's unease, which was understandable. After all, being stranded on a deserted island for so long, it was already a miracle that they hadn't lost their ability to communicate.

So he chose the smart approach, which was also the reason his leader sent him to invite Leo—they were from the same hometown, so it would be easier to communicate.

"Okay..."

“I didn’t grow up in Chinatown, so my Cantonese isn’t very fluent. I will continue to communicate with you in English. I hope you don’t mind.”

"It's alright, please go ahead."

The man pulled out a chair and sat down sideways, one hand on the back of the chair and the other on the table. He stared at Leo for a few seconds, then opened his mouth wide and exclaimed.

"Wow~ If you weren't actually standing in front of me, I would definitely believe you're a superman. How... how did you manage to survive in such a difficult environment?"

To this question, Leo could only manage a weak smile before replying, "I am a marine biologist."

Raul noticed Leo's sudden gloom and felt a pang of anxiety. He realized he had probably said the wrong thing; his flattery had backfired. He could chat with Leo about everyday things and dream about his homeland on the other side of the world, but he shouldn't forget Leo's past identity, or rather, the proof that he had existed.

No one wants to live only as a shipwreck survivor, and Leo was no exception, as if all his identities and experiences had been reduced to this one.

Those whose lives have been erased are destined to be tragic.

He looked at Leo, feeling awkward inside, but didn't show it outwardly. He simply withdrew his hand from behind the chair, lightly wiped his shiny trousers under the table, and nodded while still smiling.

"In my opinion, even the most outstanding oceanographers would not be able to make a miraculous return like you."

"Thank you."

Leo nodded his thanks, but even though Raul cleverly returned the compliment, it still didn't make Leo happy.

So the atmosphere cooled down, and the two chatted awkwardly until Amy brought out the contract. They then discussed the details of their collaboration on the show. As the weaker party, he didn't have many demands, only hoping that the host wouldn't mention his daughter on the show, otherwise, it would embarrass her... after all, she had a father who had once turned into a beast.

This is not cool at all, and it can't be something Lucy can brag about. Instead, it could easily make her stand out among her friends. After getting the compensation back, he also considered this issue. If he reunited with his daughter too early, he might not receive any love in return from her.

After signing the contract, he left, returning to the public eye, this time with a faster pace.

……

"The Jerry Show" is not a serious talk show, as I found out online, and this episode was no exception. The host came on stage and delivered a slightly vulgar joke that made everyone burst into laughter.

"Leo, are you ready? It's time to go on stage. Listen to me, buddy, you can do it."

Beside him, Raul was cheering him on, patting Leo on the back repeatedly, because he had noticed from the moment they met that Leo had a slight communication problem.

Now that the people have been invited, they can't be wasted on stage. Although it's a pre-recorded program, not a live broadcast, Raul knows that if the filming doesn't go smoothly, it will cause him unnecessary trouble. So he's even more nervous than Leo now.

……

"Ladies and gentlemen, recently, a story about a modern Robinson Crusoe has been circulating online. A man, due to a shipwreck, lived alone on a deserted island for six years. Listen carefully, alone! This is too bizarre. If it were me, I absolutely could not endure such loneliness and harsh living conditions, unless... there was a Playboy magazine."

"Alright, let's cut to the chase. Today, we are honored to have with us the protagonist of this truly legendary story, the miracle of living in the uninhabited sea for six years! Leo!"

……

"Remember to smile, stay kind and warm, GO! Go on stage, you can do it, Leo."

Raul continued to encourage the man, who had been dressed to the best of his life, in a suit and tie, his hair neatly styled, even though he was still timid.

He had to fulfill his obligations, complete his duties, take the money, go home, get a good night's sleep, and act as if nothing had happened. That was all he needed to do. But when he stepped onto the stairs, his legs were still weak and he staggered slightly, just like when he first arrived on the island. He went there and he returned in the same way.

The lights had some warmth, but not as much as the audience's eyes. His gaze darted away, but he quickly mustered his strength, and following the plan, he reached out, raised his right hand, and greeted the audience, welcoming their applause.

"You're even more handsome than I imagined, Mr. Miracle. Please have a seat."

"Thank you, Jerry."

He sat down on the comfortable sofa, his hands hanging down on the armrests, then resting on his lap, shifting his position several times before finally deciding on the best posture to greet the interview.

Sitting opposite him was a middle-aged white man with gray hair and a slightly overweight appearance. He pretended to be very interested and kept looking at Leo, because they had already met backstage.

"Could you please introduce yourself?"

“My name is Leo, I am thirty-five years old, I graduated from XX University of Science and Technology, and I work in marine biology research, before… the accident.”

At first, they followed the proper etiquette, inquiring about Leo's past and family, but kept the specifics confidential. However, when they heard that Leo's girlfriend had already married, the audience let out a sigh.

This didn't put Leo at ease; he remained reserved. When talking about the details of life on the island, he tried his best to recreate the true events until the two of them started discussing some slightly adult topics.

"We all know that living alone without any other person to communicate with is very stressful. When I'm stressed, I always take a dump to relax. Don't laugh! Everyone, don't laugh! I'm serious, folks. Don't you guys do that too? Actually, I'm really curious, how do you take care of your physical needs on the island without any other people?"

This is the source of the ratings, and it's a question that the interviewees can't refuse to answer. In Europe and America, this kind of thing isn't difficult to talk about. It's just that when Leo talks about how he fantasizes while hand-drip coffee, the question naturally becomes awkward.

He needed to keep smiling, just as Raul had said, but at this moment it was hard for him to smile. He could only force a smile, and he looked like a fool, with his right hand supporting his chin, his little finger biting his lips, and making humming noises.

"I...I...can draw on the wall."

"Phew, I'm relieved. To be honest, I thought you'd find a fish, a big enough one!"

Was that a suggestive remark? Forget it, it was actually quite blunt. Jerry held up both index fingers, gesturing to indicate the length of the fish, his expression one of exaggerated relief. The whole room burst into laughter, except for Leo, who bit his finger and continued to hum softly.

"hehe……"

Backstage, Raul crossed his arms and glanced at his watch. He suddenly felt a little embarrassed for Leo. Even though past guests' private lives were often the subject of jokes, the people's experiences were different. Using fish? He could empathize with his compatriots, but most of the laughing white and black people couldn't put themselves in his shoes.

After all, humans are not a unified whole, and therefore, they may lack empathy.

Amy beside him was also covering her mouth and chuckling, amused by Jerry's impromptu, low-brow joke. Raul glanced at her, and the two looked at each other.

"What a comedy..."

Amy did not respond to this, nor did she stop smiling.

Everyone knows that in a comedy, for every person who laughs, there will inevitably be someone who cries; however, this time, it's not their compatriots who are crying.

During the interview, Jerry's witty banter kept the audience laughing, but for Leo, it was an ordeal. He had to grit his teeth and persevere every second until the interview ended. He left the stage as if he were escaping, without looking at Raul, and quickly went back to the dressing room to change clothes before leaving.

When he reached the front door, he found that Raul was already waiting outside.

"Leo, I remember you said on stage just now that you were looking for a job?"

"Yes, what's wrong?"

“I have a job as an aquarium keeper here. Would you like to give it a try? My sister works there. With your education and major, you should have no problem getting the job. It just depends on whether you want to go or not. The decision is yours.”

He handed him a slip of paper with a name and phone number written on it. Jocelyn was probably his sister. This was the sap for his soon-to-be-dry wallet, so he didn't refuse. However, the way he took the slip of paper wasn't quite smooth or natural.

"Thanks……"

"No need to thank me. Hiring an oceanographer to work at an aquarium is really a waste of talent. I hope you don't mind. If you find a suitable job, don't hesitate to leave."

Leo tucked the note into his wallet, nodded to him, and his steps suddenly became somewhat heavy. Raul turned to look at him, then suddenly seemed to remember something and reached out to call Leo back again.

"Zhang Sheng...forget who you used to be, and start your life anew."

"I... lack the courage, and I'm destined to be reminded of it."

"Well then, I wish you a happy life."

……

A week later, he received an offer of employment from the aquarium.

After changing into his work clothes and rain boots, he quickly developed athlete's foot, which was already caused by sweaty feet. After applying ointment and putting on clean socks, he came out of the changing room and began to change the water in the dolphin pool.

His workload was heavier than that of the other staff, and of course, his pay was also higher, because he was the most educated among all the aquarium's employees with relevant professional skills.

They are not only responsible for feeding and cleaning the dolphins, but also for controlling the water temperature, treating simple wounds on the animals, and even handling the mating work after the animals go into estrus due to water temperature control.

He was considered a big shot here; as a scholar employed by National Geographic, he deserved respect, and everyone at the aquarium gave him that respect. However, he still disliked communicating with others, was taciturn, and quite reclusive.

This stemmed from the psychological trauma following the shipwreck, which his employees and superiors understood. However, this was not a reason for them to fawn over him. As a result, even when he completed his work perfectly, he lacked praise and admiration, which allowed him to continue to isolate himself from the outside world.

If we're not talking about close colleagues, Jocelyn is probably the only one. As fellow countrymen, there's even more reason to be close to her. She's not a leader, but a very important performer at the aquarium. After all, divers who dare to swim and perform with sharks are extremely rare. You could say she's a guarantee of the aquarium's revenue.

"Good boy!"

A sardine was thrown out of the water and swallowed by a dolphin that leaped out of the water. It cried out, showing off its huge forehead, and then dived back into the water to spin around, showing off its beautiful lines to Leo.

This is also what puzzles all the employees: after only a few days of working, he can become friends with all the animals in the aquarium and they all show him kindness. This inexplicable ability is understood by the employees as a special ability of a marine biologist.

No one would think of it as superpowers, even though what he did did look very much like superpowers. But this is neither Marvel nor DC, and preconceived notions should not be broken, just like the rules of life.

It was already closing time, but he didn't leave in order to give these guys an extra meal. Most of the lights had been turned off, leaving only illumination. He squatted by the pool, his toes itching, and the surface of his shoes kept wriggling, revealing the movement of his toes.

He was holding a notebook in his hand, writing letters. This habit, which he had developed on the deserted island, had not been abandoned to this day. He was used to writing letters to his wife and daughter that he could never send again. His longing had thus become tangible, blossoming into flowers on paper and pen.

Footsteps sounded from behind him. The dolphins that had crowded in front of him dispersed, put the notebook into their pockets, and he turned to meet Jocelyn's gaze.

"Leo? Why haven't you left yet?"

She is very beautiful, especially when she wears a wetsuit and a mermaid tail. She looks like a living mermaid. Even when she takes off her work clothes, her casual clothes cannot hide her perfect figure.

She was probably going on a date with her boyfriend. She was wearing exquisite makeup, and her large round earrings were swaying slightly. He could sense the emotional fluctuations she exuded, like an animal in heat.

"I'll be leaving in a bit."

"Do you need a ride? I'm also going to the vicinity of Pharos Street."

"No, I'm going to the pier later."

The two didn't interact much, since Jocelyn's working hours were much shorter than Leo's. Even at the aquarium, they rarely bumped into each other. If she hadn't forgotten the gift for her boyfriend and hadn't returned to pick it up, the two wouldn't have had a chance to be alone in a quiet room together.

Therefore, their relationship wasn't as close as other employees imagined; it was merely a slight bond caused by their already fading kinship. As for the job? No leader dislikes a well-rounded employee who doesn't talk much. All she did was go with the flow and bring Leo to a job he had never considered before.

Hearing Leo's refusal, she shrugged and didn't extend the invitation again. After all, the invitation wasn't sincere. She said goodbye and turned to leave, her steps light and quick. It seemed she had been looking forward to tonight's dinner for a long time.

Not long after she left, he also got up. Compared to Jocelyn's feigned enthusiasm, the dolphins swimming in the pool, occasionally leaping out of the water just to amuse Leo, seemed more like his compatriots, his true soulmates.

"I'm leaving."

The response was the echoing calls of dolphins within the enclosure, carrying a mixture of reluctance and anticipation for tomorrow's reunion. These highly intelligent animals understood his heart better than Paul the bass, who had already died.

After changing into casual clothes and saying goodbye to the security guard on duty, he strolled on the beach, holding a hot dog in his hand, looking around, but he did not see the stray German Shepherd.

This made Leo start to worry whether it had been taken away by the animal control center, or to put it more positively, whether it had found its way home and met the person it had been longing to see.

It was a beautiful day, and even though it was already night, there were still many people fishing by the pier. He was eating a hot dog when he watched a fisherman catch a grouper, which was quite heavy, attracting onlookers and praise.

It might be the angler's main dish tomorrow night, or it might end up in a freezer in a shopping mall, but it could never return to the sea. Leo didn't want to look anymore. Even if it was eaten because of human beings' own need for food, as a human being, or as a link in the food chain, he should take it in stride. But unfortunately, he could hear the grouper's painful howls.

The dock is not a place for a monster that can hear the thoughts of animals to linger, a place where laughter and despair coexist; blocking one's hearing is the best solution.

He left, and before he had gone far, a crowd gathered around a Mexican seafood restaurant by the roadside. A man dressed as a chef came out, and Leo could sense his anger and malice. He pointed at a white woman, and the two confronted each other.

Emotions do not exist in isolation. Just like now, when an argument occurs, anger is inevitably accompanied by the desire to kill.

The crowd was noisy, and he couldn't hear what the two were arguing about. However, the signs held by others read, "Humans, please do not murder living beings," which made him realize that these guys were not to be trifled with. Animal protection organizations were really too troublesome, especially extreme animal protection organizations.

But the unexpected happened too quickly. He wanted to leave to avoid getting caught up in the trouble, but when luck is bad, things don't always go as planned. He was pulled into a crowd, the pressure suddenly increased, and he began to feel nervous.

"Is there something you need?"

"Life is a gift from nature! You have no right to deprive other species of their lives just to fill your stomach! They are so magical, so colorful! Are their beautiful colors merely meant to whet the appetite of diners when they are served on the table?"

"Yes! Yes! It looks good! That's why I have an appetite when I eat it! Is that not allowed? Did I hunt elephants just to decorate them with ivory to make myself look noble? Did I kill tigers and make them into taxidermied specimens to attract customers? No! There's nothing wrong with that! Get out of here! Get away from my shop! You bunch of lunatics! I'm calling the police right now!"

The boss was Mexican and spoke in a garbled language, but Leo could understand most of it. Surprisingly, the woman in the standoff seemed fearless and did not panic when the boss called the police.

In Leo's memory, although animal protection associations have always been powerful, they shouldn't interfere with the normal operation of stores and act so arrogantly. This world is becoming more and more incomprehensible to Leo.

"Then let others be the judge! What do you think of these beasts eating such cute lobsters? Do you think they did the right thing?"

The woman asked Leo, saying she wanted someone to judge the matter, but her attitude was more like a threat, carrying the implication that those who obey her will prosper and those who defy her will perish. He didn't want to cause trouble, but deep down, he also disliked this group of people. So, he could only beat around the bush with his words.

"It is wrong to hunt protected animals for decoration and to measure the price of rare species' by their byproducts. They have the right to live unless they are abandoned by nature..."

"Hey friend! We're talking about eating lobsters, but protecting rare animals is something everyone should realize!"

These people are like extreme thugs, trying to drag innocent people into this and force them to take sides. Perhaps what Leo said doesn't satisfy them, so today they'll punch Leo.

Some people are just that strange; they can praise and extol everything, yet they always commit atrocities against the same species.

"Any killing outside the food chain should be stopped, but the food chain should not be disrupted either, otherwise it will cause ecological imbalance..."

"So you're saying you support killing? Are you even human? Why can't I see any compassion or kindness that humans should have in you?"

The man who suddenly appeared shoved Leo with great force, almost knocking him over. He stood on a moral high ground, seemingly wanting to push Leo off a cliff of immorality.

"If I were a lobster, I would definitely object, but it's precisely because I'm a human..."

"Don't hit him!"

The restaurant owner stepped forward, shielding Leo behind him, and confronted the crowd again. The conflict only ended when the police dispersed the crowd. He didn't take the threats the madmen made when they left to heart. He was just unwilling to communicate with people, which didn't mean he was a coward. Otherwise, he wouldn't have stood on the side of humans to fight against a group of lobsters.

"Buddy, thanks for speaking up for me. Come in and have a seat. I'll treat you to the best lobster to calm you down. Don't bother with these lunatics."

The boss was enthusiastic because they had just been on the same side. Leo had stood on the right side, bravely fighting against the wrong side, undaunted by their superior numbers. For this, the boss admired him.

His clothes were not disheveled, because although the argument was heated, both sides were basically rational and would not resort to violence. He remained calm about the boss's offer of hospitality but did not intend to accept it.

"No, thank you."

"Don't be shy, young man, it's free. Try some authentic Mexican food! I'll put less spice in it."

"Really, it's not necessary. Although I am human, lobsters are also my friends."

He spoke his mind under the streetlights. He was dressed in thin clothes, and the sea breeze was strong, causing his clothes to flutter and blowing off the chef's hat. The chef stared in astonishment, holding the hat as if he had seen a freak.

In his view, or rather, in the eyes of normal people, people becoming friends with food is an anomaly. Is he even human? At this moment, the boundary between humans and animals begins to blur in Leo, no longer as clear as it once was.

"Get out! Get out of here! Now!"

The friendliness towards his own kind gradually disappeared, replaced by hostility towards those who were different. Leo didn't look at his face, turned around and left. His impression of the boss was reduced to just the shiny black beard at the corner of his mouth.

……

"Go, go see her in my place."

On the side of the community street, he sat on a bench not far away, holding a beautiful butterfly in his hand. He gently instructed it, and it took flight. Its flight path was not loose, as if it already had a destination. On the lawn, she was playing. Her parents were not nearby. After all, the middle-class community was relatively safe.

The butterfly fluttered around until it landed on her head. She squealed with excitement and tried to gently touch it, but it didn't flinch. So she got even more excited and shouted "Mommy!"

Not far away, Leo smiled, took out a notebook from his breast pocket, and continued to work on the castle built of longing that she might see someday in the future.

Soon, Tina came out, exclaimed "Wow!", and squatted down next to Lucy in admiration. She tried to touch it with her hand and actually touched the butterfly's wings. However, when she glanced at it casually, her expression suddenly became complicated, and tears seemed to well up in her eyes.

He sat on the bench, his body upright, his hands resting naturally on his lap, expressionless, like Forrest Gump after his military service, only less wooden, and Tina was not Jenny.

She whispered something in Lucy's ear, causing her to suddenly turn her head and glance at Leo. Although her attention was refocused on the butterfly, even just one glance was enough to make Leo happy for a long time. This was his first eye contact with Lucy, something he would cherish.

Tina walked straight over, but unlike Kelly, she didn't kiss Chuck. (Note: The male and female leads of "Cast Away")

Time makes everyone an executioner, cutting away unexpected events and interludes to maintain the smooth running of life.

She was the same way. Whether feelings existed or not was no longer important. You can love someone with all your might, but... after they die, you can't dig their body out of the grave and continue to love them. For a normal person, that's pathological.

"You don't want me to bother Lucy's life anymore, do you?"

This was the answer in Tina's heart, but could she say it aloud? No, was she sad? Yes.

"If possible... before she knows the truth."

When will that be?

"I am not sure."

"I love her."

"I know, and it's because you love her."

Why can't love be selfish?

Why can't love be selfless?

"Shit."

Love is about fulfillment, the ugliest word in the world, a curse packaged by those who benefit from it. If one cannot beautify something ugly to the extreme, how can others willingly accept it?

All love is selfish. Parents love their children because they are their children, children love their parents because they are their parents, and they love their spouses because they are their spouses. Even loving a third party is because at a certain time, you can completely have someone who is considerate and brings you inner joy.

Even if you are universally loving and love all people, it must stem from the fact that all people love you.

"Think about her."

"Then please think of me as well."

This meeting ended badly, and you couldn't even find a pleasant reason for it. At that moment, even if neither of them wanted to hurt the other, they had stabbed each other in the back.

After he left, the butterfly fluttered its wings, circled a few times, and then drifted away amidst Lucy's reluctant cries.

……

What's the best thing about living in an aquarium? Besides spending all day with your favorite marine life, it's probably watching the aquarium's beautiful female performers for free.

A curvaceous beauty, wearing only a swimsuit on her upper body and a fishtail that satisfies alternative fairytale fantasies on her lower body, swims gracefully in the water. As that awareness gradually awakens, it becomes difficult for both men and women to focus on the original purpose of going to the aquarium to watch the show.

Don't believe me? Try replacing the performer with a handsome man with eight-pack abs.

Of course, there are exceptions, such as a middle-aged man who was troubled by his experiment.

"Honey?"

"Hmm...hmm? What's wrong?"

"I think when you're out playing with your son, you should calm down and spend quality time with him. What do you think?"

His wife spoke calmly, stroking her son's hair and smiling at James, but the warning in her voice was clear, causing the renowned professor to break out in a sweat. He glanced at the beautiful woman quietly dancing with the shark behind the glass, then at his son who was watching intently, and could only offer his wife an apologetic smile.

"It's my fault, I'm sorry, darling."

This wasn't a big mistake; a simple apologetic look would be enough for her to forgive her husband's inattentiveness while playing. However... if he was constantly staring at a beautiful woman swimming in the pool, then... a single look probably wouldn't be enough.

Having received a satisfactory answer, she let her husband go. At this moment, a little drool dripped from the corner of the child's mouth. This was not normal for a child who looked to be five or six years old. Furthermore, the child's head was somewhat disproportionate, and his upper body was excessively large. Anyone could tell at a glance that the child might have some intellectual problems.

She picked up a handkerchief and wiped her son's mouth. She was already used to the stares from others about her child and herself. Over the years, she had developed a very strong inner strength.

The family watched the spectacular water show in silence, unremarkable amidst the cheers of other parents and children. James took his son, placed him on his lap, and whispered in his son's ear about the different types of sharks performing, even though he knew his son wouldn't understand.

A family of three watched as a white-tip reef shark slowly swam towards the beautiful woman who was swimming with it. The woman stroked the shark's back and gently pressed herself against it. Then... the shark inexplicably turned its head and bit her.

Whitetip reef sharks are generally docile and feed on small fish or squid, posing little threat to humans. However, they do occasionally attack humans, such as the bloody tragedy witnessed by hundreds of witnesses in the current incident.

The blood was diluted in the water, attracting the attention of other sharks. She was surrounded by more than ten white-tip reef sharks, while the other "mermaids" were already terrified and fled the performance pool.

She was struggling, and everyone could feel the intense pain beneath her contorted face. Bubbles rose from the corners of her mouth, accompanied by screams that the witnesses couldn't even hear. A dismemberment, so close yet eerily quiet, had begun.

"OMG!"

"Call an ambulance!"

"Someone, please save her! Hurry! Someone's going to die!"

James immediately covered his son's eyes, even though the boy didn't know what was happening and struggled to push his father's hand away to continue watching.

His wife buried her face in his arms, praying incessantly for the girl he didn't know who was suffering misfortune. Everyone present was in a panic, but James remained calm, which was related to his profession. He quickly dialed the hospital's number.

"How is she?"

"Not good. Although the other sharks didn't attack her, the first shark was still biting her, and her arm was already broken. It will be very difficult to stitch it up..."

"Stop talking."

The wife dared not look, yet she still worried about the girl. She asked James for details, but she never expected James's answer to be so specific. She secretly blamed herself for being too talkative and thought she would probably have nightmares tonight.

"Doesn't the aquarium have rescue personnel?"

In this situation, no one dares to rescue the shark. Even if rescuers have weapons, it is difficult to carry them out underwater. Even if they do manage to injure the shark, it will only make it more agitated. In such a situation, going into the water is basically a waste of time. They can only wait for the shark to release its grip and leave. After all, whitetip reef sharks do not eat people. Their attack intentions may just be out of curiosity. They will bite a few times and then lose interest.

James was unaware of this and could only wait anxiously. And the savior he had been hoping for truly appeared. A man rushed to the edge of the pool, unarmed, and plunged into the water. He swam towards the sharks at a speed that was beyond the reach of ordinary people. The white-tip reef sharks that were watching seemed to have received a command and made way for him. However, only James noticed this scene.

The shark named Jack went berserk, and Leo didn't know why. He could only sense its ferocity after it saw blood. Even though he kept giving the shark commands to let go, it didn't stop.

"What is he doing? Is he out of his mind?"

"what happened?"

"No...it's okay..."

This is a scene that is hard for humans to understand. In the blood-soaked water, the man boldly reached his hands towards the shark's mouth and actually managed to pry it open, rescuing the girl without being attacked. Even before surfacing, he didn't forget to punch the shark in the eye.

The girl was pushed to the edge of the pool, and the paramedics quickly stopped the bleeding and performed artificial respiration. Leo sat to the side with his feet still in the water, like an old man soaking his feet in the pool after swimming.

The shark Jack also surfaced and gently nudged Leo's foot with its nose, as if it knew it had made a grave mistake. Leo could even feel Jack's heart pleading for mercy, hoping Leo would save it.

"I can't save you."

It was destined to die, paying for the girl's arm. Before long, the staff would spear it through with a harpoon and turn it into food to feed other aggressive sharks, such as tiger sharks or great white sharks.

This was predictable; Leo couldn't stop it, nor should he. He could only mutter a sentence, confessing its fate to Jack, then got up, wiped the water off his face, glanced at the terrified "mermaid" girls, and silently left amidst the gratitude of all the employees. He knew he was about to become famous again.

……

This incident caused quite a stir, even trending on social media in other countries. He reappeared in the public eye, and this time, he became more than just a hero in his own right.

However, this time he declined numerous media invitations and did not even appear in public to express his thoughts. After all, now that he has a job and has received a huge bonus from the aquarium, he is capable of saying no to becoming an exhibit.

Frustrated, the media turned to criticizing the aquarium's unethical practices, specifically its mermaid show, which they deemed inhumane for placing humans and dangerous sharks in the same pool, disregarding human life. Under pressure, the aquarium was forced to suspend the show indefinitely.

Animal protection organizations have also spoken out, saying that confining marine life in aquarium tanks with extremely narrow living environments is already an inhumane act, and they hope that aquariums can release the animals back into the wild. Leo supports this statement, except for the last sentence.

The series of events that followed gradually became detached from Leo's life, becoming a headache only for leaders. His life gradually calmed down, though there were some changes, such as his colleagues becoming friendlier and the exchange of inexpensive gifts.

However, he noticed that a middle-aged Asian man named James was visiting the aquarium rather frequently.

……

"Sir?"

"Hmm? Is there anything I can help you with?"

He was feeding the animals by the pool when a male voice greeted him from behind. He turned around and saw James, dressed in a suit, looking at him. Leo had some recollection of James.

"No... I just wanted to talk to someone and learn some... ocean knowledge."

"Sorry, I'm a zookeeper, not a tour guide. This is the staff area, and tourists are not allowed to enter. If you want to learn some marine knowledge, it costs twenty dollars to follow a guide who will tell you everything you want to know."

He refused, his attitude somewhat firm, because he could sense that the man's purpose was not as simple as he claimed. His thoughts were directed only at himself, without malice, and more like curiosity, which was exactly what Leo resisted.

“Emmm… okay, my name is James.”

James stood up straight and looked at Leo, who was squatting by the pool and turned to look at him. Being rejected made him a little embarrassed. After all, he was a tourist. Logically speaking, even if the staff refused, they wouldn't be so harsh. If they were more friendly, they could have chatted for a bit. But Leo's attitude really surprised him.

He pursed his lips and began his self-introduction, sticking to the original plan, hoping to leave some impression on Leo so that they could contact each other again in the future.

"Ok sir."

He simply agreed casually, without giving his name at all, which made the situation even more awkward. After a moment of silence, seeing that Leo still had no desire to continue the conversation, he waved his hand and turned to leave. Suddenly remembering something, he turned back and spoke again.

"You know, we are alumni. I graduated from the Medical Department of XX University of Science and Technology."

"You checked my information?"

"Actually, I was there the day the shark attacked people."

"so what?"

"That's how I got to know you through the media, you know, I admire you a lot."

Adoring himself? Leo didn't speak. The emotion he sensed from James didn't carry any adoration; it was more like he knew something. Talking too much could lead to mistakes, so he chose to remain silent.

"Can we exchange contact information?"

"I don't think it's necessary."

Leo picked up the feed bucket, ready to leave. Since James wasn't leaving, he figured he'd just leave on his own to avoid further harassment. But just as he pushed open the door to the staff entrance, James said something that made Leo stop in his tracks.

Will people still remember you as an oceanographer?

"The people around me can."

"But your daughter can't either."

"The media won't publish this. What do you want me to do by investigating you?"

"Keep it a secret, unless... you share a secret with me."

"Everyone has countless secrets."

"Then tell me one that interests me."

"I'm considering whether or not to beat you up."

James' smile was gentle and showed no hostility towards Leo, which Leo was certain of. As for what James wanted to know, Leo gradually had a clue, but it was better to keep this ability, which would bring him a lot of trouble, to himself.

James didn't say anything, just watched Leo leave. It wasn't that he gave up on getting to know Leo, but he knew that becoming friends with a reclusive person couldn't be done overnight. Otherwise, it would make Leo feel disgusted with him, which would be a loss. Most importantly, he believed that Leo could sense that he had discovered something.

"..."

(End of this chapter)