"I was just thinking about how annoying you were, hoping to get rid of you so I could chat with my great-grandma. But as soon as that thought crossed my mind, I woke up," Sherry lamented.

Ryan listened to her and was utterly baffled. He said, "Hey, thanks, I guess. I mean, I did save your life back there. Isn't there a better way to show gratitude?"

She seemed to recall something and said excitedly, "You did save my life. Hold on, did I hear you say that once I woke up, you'd make me live it up like a real woman!"

Ryan internally rolled his eyes, wondering how she could remain hung up on that matter. After all, he only said it in the heat of the moment, which meant nothing. It would be ridiculous to dwell on the matter since they were not out of danger yet.

He immediately collapsed on the ground, feeling completely drained. "Remember that I saved your life, so don't turn around and s

Sherry blushed as her cheeks turned a rosy red. She quickly retorted, "I wasn't trying to compete with her. I just made a passing comment."

"Let's crack open these coconuts. I'm parched," Ryan urged.

He smashed open two coconuts and handed one to her. They drank eagerly, relieved as the cool liquid soothed their parched throats. 

But as the refreshing sensation faded, his stomach cramped from hunger. With no food consumed all day and the relentless sun sapping his strength, he felt utterly depleted and urgently needed sustenance. 

Stranded on this deserted island with no one else in sight, Ryan couldn't afford to remain vulnerable. Not when Sherry, a beautiful companion, was relying on him for protection.

At the same time, her stomach also rumbled, and she quickly rubbed it. She said, "Ryan, I'm starving."

"Let's eat some coconut meat first. It's packed with natural fats and protei

Ryan, barely conscious, strained to pry open his eyes and saw a faint beam of light up ahead.

"I found the exit!" he shouted excitedly. His heart raced, filling him with newfound vigor as if he had tapped into unlimited energy.

He pushed forward desperately as he gasped for air. Then, just as his strength waned to its limit, he broke through the water's surface.

A moment later, Ryan heard splashing behind him. 

He turned to see Sherry, her eyes closed. She drifted pale-faced on the water's surface, slowly sinking. Without hesitation, he turned around and pulled her ashore.

Once ashore, he noticed she wasn't breathing when he held his hand near her nose. He wondered if she was dead.

He quickly stripped off her clothes, which exposed her fair skin. When he placed his hand over her chest, a wave of dread washed over him—no heartbeat.

Without hesitation, Ryan began CPR, his hands pres

"I was just thinking about how annoying you were, hoping to get rid of you so I could chat with my great-grandma. But as soon as that thought crossed my mind, I woke up," Sherry lamented.

Ryan listened to her and was utterly baffled. He said, "Hey, thanks, I guess. I mean, I did save your life back there. Isn't there a better way to show gratitude?"

She seemed to recall something and said excitedly, "You did save my life. Hold on, did I hear you say that once I woke up, you'd make me live it up like a real woman!"

Ryan internally rolled his eyes, wondering how she could remain hung up on that matter. After all, he only said it in the heat of the moment, which meant nothing. It would be ridiculous to dwell on the matter since they were not out of danger yet.

He immediately collapsed on the ground, feeling completely drained. "Remember that I saved your life, so don't turn around and stab me in the back, okay?"

"Do you think I'm ugly or something? Ancient wisdom says when someone sa

Chapter 15