"Woo—woo—woo—"
At the pier, a slightly worn-out metal ferry let out a loud whistle as it set sail.
Seated by the window, Yang Fan gazed out at the deep blue sky and the vast, boundless sea.
His eyes were filled with complex emotions—nostalgia, sorrow, and an uncontrollable excitement.
Although Yang Fan had been returning to his hometown fishing village every two years, this trip was clearly different.
This time, he wasn't coming back for a visit—he was staying.
After studying and working in the bustling metropolis of Shanghai for six years, Yang Fan had grown weary of the fast-paced city life.
And then came that unexpected encounter a few days ago.
That experience solidified his decision to return immediately to his fishing village and embrace a leisurely life by the sea.
After all, with what he had now, the small village was without a doubt a better place to grow and thrive than the flashy city!
Looking at the blue skies and clear waters of his homeland, his thoughts drifted.
Before long, the ferry arrived at the dock of Dragon King Town.
Yang Fan's home was in Big Whale Village, a small fishing village under the jurisdiction of Dragon King Town.
After disembarking, Yang Fan hired a three-wheeled motor taxi in town, and after a bumpy ride up several kilometers of mountain road,
he finally arrived at his hometown—Big Whale Village!
...
Big Whale Village was built along the mountain.
With one side facing the sea and the other three surrounded by hills, its natural scenery was simply stunning—nestled between mountains and water, picturesque and peaceful, it retained the most rustic and authentic look of a traditional fishing and farming village.
However, due to its remoteness and underdeveloped infrastructure, the village had seen little progress over the years.
"Hoo…"
Taking a deep breath, Yang Fan looked at the small fishing village where he had lived for over a decade.
The fresh air carried a faint fishy smell—an all-too-familiar scent
that instantly brought back childhood memories.
There's a saying: the closer to home, the more apprehensive the heart.
Now, standing on the soil of his hometown once again, Yang Fan felt a tangle of emotions.
He stood at the village entrance for a while before slowly dragging his suitcase toward his old home.
The sun was blazing overhead, and it was afternoon—most villagers had already gone out to sea to fish.
So, he didn't run into many familiar faces along the way. A few kids darted about in the village, but Yang Fan had been away for so long, he no longer knew whose children they were.
Soon, he arrived in front of a three-story Western-style house.
Compared to the many tiled-roof houses and the scattered two-story buildings in the village, this three-story structure stood out as grand and impressive.
Not only was it perched right next to the coastline in a prime location, it also had a large, enclosed yard—it looked just like a seaside villa estate.
But clearly, this house had been uninhabited for a long time.
The heavy iron gate was rusted shut, and weeds had overtaken the yard.
It was a scene of cold desolation.
And this was Yang Fan's home.
Six years ago, his parents had gone out on a deep-sea fishing trip, only to be caught in a sudden storm—and never returned.
Back then, Yang Fan had just started his first year of university. Struck by grief, he had nearly dropped out.
But he remembered how proud his parents had been when he got into a top university.
So,he endured the pain and pushed through to complete his studies.
In the six years since, Yang Fan had returned home only a few times to pay respects on his parents' death anniversary—each visit brief and fleeting.
No one had lived in this house for six years.
Time heals all things, even grief.
Six years later, Yang Fan had already walked out of the darkest moment of his life.
"Dad, Mom, I'm home…"
He whispered softly at the door, then pulled out a set of keys from his bag and unlocked the rusted gate.
Just as he was about to push the door open, suddenly, there was a rustling sound from the tall weeds in the courtyard.
The next moment, a skinny, limping old yellow dog darted out from the overgrowth.
"Woof! Woof! Woof!"
Despite its shaky legs, the dog barked fiercely at Yang Fan, as if ready to pounce if he dared to take another step forward.
"Yellow?"
Seeing the old yellow dog, Yang Fan was immediately overwhelmed with emotion.
This was Yellow, a pup he had adopted from a neighbor when he was ten—his most loyal companion during childhood.
Now, his old friend was over fifteen years old, clearly in the twilight of life.
Seeing how frail Yellow had become, Yang Fan's nose stung with emotion.
He quickly stepped forward and squatted down beside the old dog.
Yellow's vision was clouded with age and he didn't recognize Yang Fan at first.
He was about to bare his teeth.
But as Yang Fan came closer, that familiar scent reached Yellow's nose.
It was the scent he had waited years to smell again—his master had finally come home!
"Woof! Woof! Woof!"
Realizing it was Yang Fan, Yellow leapt into his arms, nuzzling affectionately, wagging his tail in pure joy.
Their bond was deep. Before leaving the village, Yang Fan had entrusted Yellow to his best friend in the village.
But Yellow never stopped returning to Yang Fan's yard, faithfully waiting, year after year, for his master's return.
As Yang Fan stroked his old friend's frail, bony frame, his eyes brimmed with tears.
In his youth, Yellow had been the strongest, most imposing dog in the village—
and now, he was just skin and bones.
"Yellow… I'm sorry. I'm back. I'm not leaving again."
Yang Bro Fanntly petted the old dog's dry, matted fur, whispering softly with red eyes.
To see his old friend still waiting faithfully after six long years—
Yang Fan was deeply moved, and filled with guilt.
In that moment, he thought of Hachiko: A Dog's Tale.
In the movie, the Akita had waited for its deceased owner every day at the station until the end of its life...
"Woof! Woof! Woof!"
As if understanding Yang Fan's words, Yellow excitedly spun in circles around his legs.
Yang Fan smiled and patted his head—then suddenly remembered something.
"Right… I wonder if the golden drop refined from the Dragon Pearl could help Yellow's health?"
This book is provided by FunNovel Novel Book | Fan Fiction Novel [Beautiful Free Novel Book]