Chapter 250: Summer, Beach, Fireworks, and a Confession

Zhao Yuanyuan ignored the rambling Huang Mao and looked up at the swaying palm fronds overhead. Moonlight filtered through the gaps, illuminating her cute, round cheeks. "It’s so beautiful here. It feels like a movie set."

"Old Mo really picked a great spot." Huang Mao also looked up at the starry sky and took a deep breath, as if psyching himself up. "Yuanyuan..."

"Hm?" Zhao Yuanyuan turned to look at him, her eyes sparkling in the moonlight.

"So... the fireworks festival tomorrow... uh..." Huang Mao scratched his head. His usually glib tongue felt tied in knots. "I mean... it’s definitely going to be crowded... Y-You... don’t get lost..."

Zhao Yuanyuan froze for a second, then burst out laughing. "Yellow Hair, are you silly? I’m not a three-year-old!"

She laughed without a care in the world, thinking Huang Mao was being adorably silly tonight.

Huang Mao gazed at her radiant smile. The words "I like you," which he had rehearsed countless times, tumbled in his throat but were ultimately swallowed back down.

He kicked at the sand in frustration and mumbled, "...Just stick with me, then."

But in his heart, he silently swore, ’Tomorrow night! I have to say it tomorrow night! Right when the fireworks are at their most brilliant!’

In the distance, as if rehearsing for the grand event tomorrow, a few stray fireworks suddenly shot into the night sky. WHOOSH—BANG. They briefly illuminated the palm grove, along with the flash of determination in Huang Mao’s eyes and Zhao Yuanyuan’s still oblivious, radiant smile.

Zhou Hao and Qu Danwan walked slowly along the waterline.

The gentle seawater washed over their ankles, bringing a hint of coolness.

Zhou Hao seemed a little nervous. His hands were stuffed in his pants pockets, his fingers unconsciously fiddling with a small, smooth pebble inside—one he had specially picked out on the beach that afternoon.

"So, how are you feeling about this beach trip? Has it helped you relax?" Zhou Hao finally mustered the courage to speak, his voice a little deeper than usual.

Qu Danwan nodded, her voice soft. "Mhm, I’m very happy. I haven’t been this relaxed in a long time. Thank you... If you hadn’t insisted on inviting me, I wouldn’t have had the chance to experience all this." She remembered Zhou Hao’s clumsy yet earnest manner at lunch, and her face grew a little warm again.

"N-No need to thank me!" Zhou Hao waved his hands frantically and nearly tripped on a rock someone had moved onto the beach.

Qu Danwan instinctively reached out to steady him. Their fingertips touched, and both pulled away as if scalded, adding a subtle layer of awkward sweetness to the air.

To ease the tension, Zhou Hao pretended to bend down and pick something up, but he actually took the smooth, round, white pebble from his pocket.

He carefully washed it in the seawater and handed it to Qu Danwan. "H-Here. This... is pretty nice."

Qu Danwan took it carefully. Under the moonlight, the small white pebble glowed with a gentle luster, like a pearl.

"It’s beautiful, thank you." She held the pebble in her palm, feeling the lingering warmth from Zhou Hao’s hand, and a warmth spread through her heart.

"Danwan..." Zhou Hao stopped walking. He looked at her profile, softened by the moonlight, his heart pounding like a drum. "I... I wanted to say... the college entrance exams are over... I... I..." He took a deep breath. This felt harder than solving a final, killer math problem. "I hope... we can get into colleges in the same city... or... at least close by... Can you tell me your choice before you submit your application?"

He had finally said the words that had been circling in his mind for so long. Although he avoided the most crucial ones, his meaning was clear enough.

He watched her nervously, as if awaiting a verdict.

Qu Danwan looked up, her clear eyes reflecting the moon and the stars. She looked at the nearly six-foot-tall boy before her—strapping and well-built, yet so nervous he had beads of sweat on his forehead. She saw the unconcealed sincerity and anticipation in his eyes, and a gentle, steady smile slowly blossomed on her lips. "Of course, that’s no problem..."

Before Zhou Hao could even celebrate, Qu Danwan’s even sweeter follow-up came right after.

"Actually, I was thinking the same thing."

At these words, Zhou Hao was overcome with ecstasy, a grin spreading uncontrollably across his face.

There was no earth-shattering confession, but in that moment, amid the sound of the moonlit waves, two young hearts had carefully confirmed their mutual desire to grow closer.

After the initial euphoria, Zhou Hao let out a long sigh of relief. A smile of both relief and immense satisfaction appeared on his face—an honest, bright smile.

So as not to be a third wheel to the other couples, Lin Yu’an and Zhao Yuanyuan walked a bit farther from the sea. They were on the dry sand where the beach met the vegetation, walking with one slightly staggered in front of the other.

Zhao Yuanyuan was very quiet, only occasionally looking up at the starry sky or down at the sand beneath her feet.

The moonlight stretched her shadow long. Lin Yu’an walked half a step diagonally in front of her, trying hard to find a topic to break the silence that was making him a little flustered.

The cool night wind blew through the shore-side bushes, bringing a soft rustling sound that mixed with the distant, muffled sound of the waves, which only served to accentuate the stillness between them.

"Um... there are so many stars tonight," Lin Yu’an finally said, his voice holding a barely perceptible trace of nervousness. He pointed to the sky. "You can rarely see this many in the city."

"Mhm," Zhao Yuanyuan responded immediately, her voice soft and gentle. "They’re very bright, and very clear."

She followed his pointing finger, but her gaze didn’t linger on the stars for long. Instead, it quietly drifted back to the soft profile of the young man beside her, outlined by the moonlight.

She watched his slightly pursed lips and his thoughtful eyes, and an indescribable sense of peace settled in her heart.

Another bout of silence fell. Lin Yu’an felt that his attempt to find a topic of conversation had failed yet again.

He let his gaze wander over the dry sand in frustration, hoping to find something interesting.

Suddenly, a faint glint, different from the sand, caught his eye.

He crouched down and carefully brushed away the surface layer of loose sand.

"Look at this," Lin Yu’an’s voice held a spark of excitement from his discovery.

He opened his palm, where a tiny seashell lay.

It wasn’t the common fan or spiral shape you find on the beach, but a smooth, heart-shaped shell. It was only about the size of a fingernail, a warm, milky white all over, and it shimmered with a soft, pearl-like luster in the moonlight. A thin, natural ring of golden-brown lines traced its edge, like a natural lace trim.

Zhao Yuanyuan immediately leaned closer, her eyes lighting up. "Wow, it’s so pretty! Is it heart-shaped?"

She couldn’t help but reach out a finger and carefully touch the shell lying in Lin Yu’an’s palm. Her fingertip felt the cool touch of the shell and the warmth rising from his palm, and her heart gave a little flutter.

"Yeah, it’s pretty rare," Lin Yu’an said, relieved to see her unconcealed delight. A gentle smile appeared on his face. "It’s yours."