Chapter 247: Summer, Beach, Fireworks, and a Confession

Chen Xi’s words were like a balm, miraculously soothing away most of Su Yuqing’s anxiety and shyness.

After all, she hadn’t been this exposed in front of others since she was a little girl, so she naturally felt incredibly shy.

She looked at the beautifully packaged bag in her hands. Inside was the light pink bikini that made her feel the most embarrassed, yet was also her favorite. A special sense of anticipation welled up inside her, eager to see Chen Mo’s reaction when he saw her in it.

With everything ready, Chen Mo and the others gathered at the docks the next day.

Quite a few people showed up this time. After all, everyone had been tormented by the college entrance exams, so who wouldn’t want to properly relax and blow off some steam?

Chen Mo, Su Yuqing, Zhao Yueyue, Zhao Yuanyuan, Huang Mao, Lin Yu’an, Zhou Hao, and Qu Danwan—a full eight people, four guys and four girls.

Zhou Hao wasn’t originally supposed to come, as he had to care for his mother. However, he had earned a reward for reporting a fugitive, so it was no problem for him to hire a temporary caregiver for two days.

His mother knew how hard he had worked for the college entrance exams and wanted him to go out and relax.

Zhou Hao, for his part, definitely wanted to hang out with Chen Mo, especially if it meant going to the beach and a fireworks festival with the girl he liked!

’Maybe on this island, I’ll find the courage to say the things I’m normally too afraid to say.’

The group of eight took a ferry together and arrived at Bikong Island.

Bikong Island lived up to its name. The sky was a blue so clear it was almost transparent, and the surface of the sea resembled a colossal, flowing piece of jade.

The moment they stepped off the ferry, a sea breeze carrying a salty tang embraced them all, blowing away their morning fatigue and rustling their clothes and hair.

The guesthouse they were staying at was not far from the beach.

The four rooms Chen Mo booked all faced east; opening the windows revealed an endless azure sea.

Huge floor-to-ceiling windows seemed to invite the entire ocean into the room, offering a wide, completely unobstructed view.

As Su Yuqing dragged her suitcase into the room, she froze in her tracks.

Before her, sunlight streamed through the glass, casting dancing spots of light on the sea-blue carpet. The sea breeze rushed in, full of a salty vitality that brushed against the ends of her hair.

Her gaze drifted uncontrollably to the blue expanse outside the window, stretching all the way to the horizon, and her heart began to race.

The scene was so much like a fantasy she had once hastily sketched on a page of her notebook—a place with only the sea, the sky, and the two of them.

"Do you like it?" Chen Mo’s voice sounded from behind her, carrying a hint of subtle tension.

Su Yuqing snapped back to reality. A radiant smile bloomed on her face as she nodded. "Mhm!"

When assigning rooms, Su Yuqing and Qu Danwan shared one, the sisters Zhao Yueyue and Zhao Yuanyuan took another, Chen Mo stayed with Zhou Hao, and Huang Mao roomed with Lin Yu’an.

The night before they left, Su Yuqing’s phone screen lit up with an exuberant message from Zhao Yueyue.

[Beach! Sunrise! Sand! Fireworks festival! A starry night! A guy and a girl, all alone! All the buffs are stacked! I’ll create an opening for you guys when the time comes!]

Su Yuqing laughed. Her finger hovered over the screen for a moment before she replied with a simple: [Mhm.]

’She’s probably going to have to fend off Huang Mao’s own advances,’ she thought.

After settling into their rooms, dropping off their luggage, and changing into light summer clothes, the group eagerly rushed toward the long-awaited sea.

The sun was just right at this hour, not too scorching.

Besides their group, plenty of other tourists were arriving. People changed into their swimsuits, and carrying sun umbrellas, towels, and all sorts of snacks and drinks, they trooped down to the beach.

Su Yuqing lingered in her room for a long time.

’It’s only the first day, after all,’ she thought. In the end, she chose a relatively conservative yet still girlish light-blue two-piece swimsuit, wearing a sheer, sun-protective cardigan over it.

She took several deep breaths in front of the mirror before finally emerging from the room to the teasing laughter of the other three girls.

Although the beach was crowded, their spot was relatively secluded.

When Su Yuqing took off her cardigan and stepped barefoot onto the fine, warm sand, she felt many eyes in the crowd focusing on her. Especially... She couldn’t resist stealing a quick glance in Chen Mo’s direction.

Chen Mo was wearing a simple pair of black swim trunks, revealing the smooth lines of his shoulders and back and his firm abs.

He was messing around in the shallows with Zhou Hao, Huang Mao, and Lin Yu’an, splashing water everywhere amidst hearty laughter.

The sunlight landed on his wet hair and skin, reflecting a healthy sheen that radiated youthful energy.

As if sensing her gaze, Chen Mo turned his head.

The moment their eyes met, Su Yuqing’s heart skipped a beat.

His gaze lingered on her for a few seconds. His eyes held unconcealed astonishment and admiration, along with a hint of longing, as if he couldn’t get enough of the sight. It was as direct and warm as a summer sea breeze, yet it also carried a purity that put her at ease.

He didn’t say anything, only gave her a smile brighter than the sun and waved her over.

"You four, come on in! The water feels great right now!" he shouted.

His gaze and smile were like magic, instantly dispelling most of Su Yuqing’s nervousness and shyness.

She smiled and called back in reply, taking Zhao Yueyue’s hand as she carefully stepped into the cool seawater.

As the morning grew hotter, the cool seawater washing over her ankles and calves brought a refreshing sensation that allowed her to relax completely.

They began to let go of everything, chasing and roughhousing in the sea, splashing each other with abandon. Their laughter intertwined with the sound of the waves, washing away all the fatigue accumulated from the long days of studying for the college entrance exams.

After playing in the shallows for a while, Chen Mo led Su Yuqing out to a deeper area.

Chen Mo was an excellent swimmer, as agile as a fish.

He would sometimes deliberately dive down near Su Yuqing and pop up suddenly to startle her, making her shriek again and again.

But Chen Mo’s intentions were not entirely innocent; his real goal was to admire Su Yuqing in her swimsuit up close.

It was a contradictory charm, a sensuality peeking through her innocence, that not just anyone could possess.

Once they were tired from playing, everyone lay on the beach to sunbathe.

Chen Mo naturally lay down on the towel next to Su Yuqing, with only a short distance between them.

He handed her a bottle of cold juice, his fingers unintentionally brushing the back of her hand and sending a tiny jolt through her.

"Having fun?" Chen Mo asked, turning onto his side and propping himself up on an elbow to look at her sun-flushed cheeks.

"Mhm!" The corners of Su Yuqing’s mouth turned up, her eyes curving into crescents. "So much fun! I haven’t been on a trip in ages, and I haven’t felt this relaxed in forever. It feels like all my stress has been washed away by the waves."

She smiled sweetly, looking into his eyes, which seemed especially deep in the sunlight.

"I’m glad you’re happy." Chen Mo’s smile was gentle.

The sea breeze rustled the hair on his forehead. His gaze fell to her collarbones, dotted with fine sand, and to the full, pale swell of her chest that the bikini top could only half-conceal. He quickly averted his eyes, looking out toward the vast horizon.

A silent, sweet understanding flowed quietly between them.