The environment of the Long Island villa district was excellent. To the east of the villas, there was a small path leading directly to Moonbridge Lake through a narrow gate.
By the lake stood a well-built ecological bridge, and the entire Moonbridge Lake area was quite expansive. The section near the villa district saw fewer ordinary visitors, making it practically a private domain for Long Island residents.
People often strolled around here to relax.
When Jiang Mo arrived, a few sprightly elderly men were fishing by the lake.
Their fishing gear was comprehensive and looked expensive—likely retirees from the villas.
Turning her head, she noticed a sign nearby that clearly read: "No Fishing Allowed."
Jiang Mo circled behind the men twice. It seemed luck wasn’t on their side this early morning—none had caught anything yet.
So far, they were all "air force experts" (a term for anglers who catch nothing).
After a quick trip back to the Gu residence, she returned to the lakeside on her beloved electric scooter, now equipped with a fishing rod, a red bucket, and a foldable plastic stool.
Finding a prime spot, she stirred her family’s secret homemade bait.
She scattered the bait into the water to attract fish, cast her line, and sat back to wait.
Liu Guochuan, unable to sleep, had woken early and headed to the lake with his gear.
Lately, he’d been obsessed with fishing after watching countless fishing videos on his phone. He’d splurged on high-end equipment and came here whenever he had time.
But as the saying goes, "The worse the angler, the fancier the gear"—the fish simply weren’t biting, and his efforts had been fruitless.
He’d noticed Jiang Mo setting up nearby.
Young women who enjoyed fishing were rare these days.
Glancing at her modest gear, he smirked. If she could catch anything with that, what did that say about his thousands-worth of equipment?
Had Jiang Mo known his thoughts, she might’ve retorted, "It means you’ve got money to burn!"
Liu Guochuan checked his float again and sighed. Still no movement.
Jiang Mo, having cast her bait, leisurely watched her float.
Fishing required patience.
Liu Guochuan ambled over and struck up a conversation. "Young lady, the fish here aren’t easy to catch."
Jiang Mo adjusted her stool on the grass, finding a flatter spot to sit. "No worries, I’m just here for fun. You fish here often, right? You must be quite skilled."
The question put him on the spot—he couldn’t let her think otherwise.
Liu Guochuan waved a hand modestly. "Ah, just passable, nothing worth mentioning."
Jiang Mo’s eyes sparkled with admiration. "When you reel in a big one later, mind if I snap a photo to show off?"
The pressure was on now. What if he still came up empty?
He hurried back to his rod, checking for any signs of action.
Jiang Mo multitasked, scrolling on her phone while keeping an eye on her float.
Luck was with her. About ten minutes later, her rod twitched, and the float dipped.
Experience told her a fish was hooked—and a sizable one at that.
She played the line, timing it just right before yanking upward. A fish burst from the water, thrashing wildly on the ground in a desperate bid to escape.
Jiang Mo quickly unhooked it and dropped it into her bucket.
Liu Guochuan, not far away, saw it all. How’d she manage that with such basic gear?
Was this what people online called "beginner’s luck"?
Jiang Mo cast her line again.
Before long—
"Hey, another one!" She stood, reeling it in.
...
"Fish on!"
Her successive successes had her cheering.
But for every winner, there’s a loser.
Liu Guochuan was baffled. How was she making it look so effortless? Maybe the fish were just clustered in her spot?
He wasn’t the only one thinking it. Soon, three other elderly men had crowded around Jiang Mo.
Liu Guochuan peered into her red bucket. "Is this your first time fishing, young lady?"
"Nope. My grandpa loved it—I used to join him often," Jiang Mo replied with a smile.
During school breaks, she’d spent much time in her rural hometown, where streams and rivers abounded. Her grandpa, a seasoned angler, had taught her well.
"Ah, so you’ve got experience! That explains the haul," Liu Guochuan said, somewhat relieved.
Jiang Mo chuckled. "Just lucky today. How long have you been fishing?"
"Only a few days," Liu Guochuan admitted before spotting movement. "Your float’s dipping—fish on!"
Seeing her casually sipping water, he itched to help. "Here, let me!"
"Sure! Thanks!" Jiang Mo stepped aside as Liu Guochuan gleefully reeled in the catch.
"Wow, this one’s huge!" He dropped it into the bucket, envious it wasn’t his own.
Jiang Mo crouched, adding more water to the bucket. "Your gear looks top-notch and professional."
"Good gear doesn’t matter if the fish ignore it," he grumbled.
"Want to try my bait? Might help."
Liu Guochuan hesitated. "You think it’ll work?"
"Worth a shot, right?"
He didn’t refuse. Jiang Mo mixed her secret bait and tossed it into the water.
Skeptical but hopeful, Liu Guochuan waited—then his float jerked.
"I’ve got one too!"
...
The results were instant and addictive. Soon, Liu Guochuan was hauling in fish nonstop.
The other men watched hungrily, swallowing their pride to ask Jiang Mo for bait.
Luckily, she’d brought plenty.
"Grandpa Li, Grandpa Liu, no rush—I’ll get you set up."
"Grandpa Liu, try moving your rod over there..."
Her own fishing forgotten, Jiang Mo darted around the lake, offering tips.
Through their chats, she pieced together that they were all villa residents.
With her help, everyone had a fruitful day.
Liu Guochuan, thrilled with his haul, snapped photos of his catch.
Checking the time, Jiang Mo prepared to leave.
Liu Guochuan looked reluctant. "Coming back tomorrow?"
"Not sure, Grandpa Liu."
That wouldn’t do—he couldn’t lose such a great fishing partner.
"Let’s swap WeChat. Message me if you’re coming."
Jiang Mo obliged, then asked, "I’m heading back—need a ride?"
Ride? Where was the car?
His confusion cleared when he saw her scooter.
Jiang Mo zipped through the villa district with Liu Guochuan directing the way.
In a hexagonal pavilion in the garden, a group of maids chatted away—gossiping about mistresses showing up at doors and secret love children.
Those living nearby came with their vegetable baskets to pick fresh produce, combining work and leisure seamlessly.
Sharp-eyed residents soon noticed the electric scooter meandering through the villa grounds.
"That delivery scooter—how did it get in here? It’s been circling back and forth for a while now."
"Right? We should call security and have them chase the rider out. The two people on it might be thieves scouting the place."
Delivery scooters weren’t allowed inside the gated villa community.
But with such a vast area, what happened when takeout orders arrived?
The answer: All deliveries stopped at the gate, where security personnel handled distribution.
For lighter orders, young guards zipped over on electric skateboards.
Heavier packages were delivered via electric shuttle carts.
