Chapter 253: Summer, Beach, Fireworks, and Confession

They returned to the bed and breakfast at noon. After a sumptuous seafood feast, the group of eight changed into their swimsuits and headed back to the beach.

Su Yuqing had finally changed into the embarrassingly cute, light pink bikini. Taking a deep breath, she stood on the soft sand and gently slipped off her cover-up.

The light pink bikini perfectly hugged her ample curves, which seemed ready to spill out. The simple string-tie design revealed the elegant lines of her shoulders, neck, and back.

The afternoon sun cast a soft glow on her radiant skin. Amidst her pure, girlish aura, a touch of unconscious, heart-stopping sexiness quietly blossomed.

The sea breeze swept past, lifting strands of her hair. She was like a pink lotus freshly bloomed between the blue sea and sky—breathtakingly beautiful.

For a moment, it felt as if even the sea breeze held its breath.

Chen Mo’s gaze froze on her. Unconcealed amazement, intense possessiveness, and a tenderness so thick it was palpable swirled in his deep eyes.

"My mom picked this out..." Su Yuqing murmured, a hint of shyness and unease in her voice as she met Chen Mo’s intense gaze, which felt hot enough to melt her.

Chen Mo’s Adam’s apple bobbed almost imperceptibly. He walked over to her in a few steps, his voice low and magnetic, with a hint of hoarseness. "It’s perfect for you. You look beautiful."

This direct and fervent praise was a far cry from his usual calm demeanor.

Su Yuqing’s cheeks flushed crimson. She shyly lowered her head, but deep down, his scorching gaze and words filled her with immense joy and satisfaction.

The good-natured catcalls and whistles from their friends faded into the background. It was as if the world had narrowed to just his focused gaze and the sound of her own heart pounding like a war drum.

After a bit of hooting, Huang Mao immediately turned his head to look at Zhao Yuanyuan, who wasn’t far off.

She was wearing a bright yellow swimsuit, enthusiastically building a sandcastle with her younger sister, Zhao Yuanyuan.

The golden sunlight drenched her, highlighting her brilliant, carefree smile. She was practically radiating a vibrant, sunny energy.

Elsewhere, Zhou Hao and Qu Danwan sat side by side under a large beach umbrella.

Zhou Hao, clumsy yet extremely earnest, twisted open a bottle of sunscreen. He squeezed some into his palm, warming it up before carefully applying it to Qu Danwan’s exposed shoulders, back, and arms.

With every brush of his fingertips across her delicate, warm skin, they both found themselves unconsciously holding their breath as their heartbeats quietly quickened.

Qu Danwan felt the warmth of his hand. Her own palms grew a little sweaty, but her heart felt like a sun-warmed tide pool, with gentle ripples spreading through it.

As for Lin Yu’an, he sat on the sand nearby, quietly watching them and enjoying his own sense of peaceful contentment.

But sometimes, he would find his gaze unconsciously drifting to Zhao Yuanyuan. He didn’t even know what was happening to him.

It’s not clear who started it, but a moment later, a chaotic water fight erupted.

Huang Mao, naturally, led the charge, aiming his "attacks" squarely at Zhao Yuanyuan. This provoked a series of clear, laughing retorts from her: "Yellow Hair! You’re so dead!"

The splashing water refracted a rainbow of colors in the sunlight, catching Zhao Yuanyuan’s figure in bright yellow and her flying, wet hair.

Zhou Hao and Qu Danwan were also dragged into the fray, and they soon began clumsily but happily splashing each other.

Chen Mo stayed by Su Yuqing’s side, smiling as he blocked the "stray shots." Then, when no one was looking, he scooped up a handful of cool seawater and gently sprinkled it on her smooth shoulders. In return, he got a playful gasp and a smile as bright as a blooming flower.

The cool seawater washed away the summer heat and melted the last trace of distance between them. Laughter and cheerful shouts drifted out, following the rhythm of the waves.

Tired from playing in the water, everyone moved to the dry, warm sand.

Zhao Yuanyuan and Huang Mao started a "heated" sandcastle-building competition. Whenever one of them got ahead, the other would immediately sabotage their work, drawing constant laughter from the others.

Soon enough, however, Zhao Yuanyuan gave up on the "war." She sat down with him next to the half-finished sandcastle, excitedly pointing at the shifting, colorful clouds on the horizon and saying something.

Huang Mao tilted his head, watching her cheeks, which were flushed from all the fun. The mischief in his eyes faded, replaced by only focus and tenderness.

Su Yuqing and Chen Mo found a flat stretch of sand, spread out a beach towel, and sat down side by side.

They needed to reapply sunscreen after being in the water, so Chen Mo naturally picked up the spray bottle and gestured for Su Yuqing to turn around.

The cool mist settled evenly across the graceful lines of her back. The pads of his calloused fingers would occasionally brush against her delicate skin, sending a subtle tremor through her and creating an indescribable sense of intimacy.

Su Yuqing kept her head lowered quietly, feeling his gentle care. Her heartbeat gradually synchronized with the rhythm of the waves.

The sun was warm, the sea breeze was gentle, and time itself seemed to slow down.

A little farther away, Zhou Hao and Qu Danwan were collecting seashells.

Like a treasure hunter, Zhou Hao diligently sifted through the sand, searching for shells with unusual shapes or beautiful colors. He would then present them to Qu Danwan as if offering a precious discovery.

Qu Danwan, in turn, was in charge of "appraising" and collecting them. For every shell she received, she would offer a gentle smile and a sincere compliment in return. "The purple pattern on this one is so unique." "This shape is so cute."

It was a simple interaction, yet it was filled with a clumsy but sincere sweetness.

Qu Danwan would occasionally glance toward her boisterous friends in the distance before quickly looking away, her gaze landing back on Zhou Hao, who was focused on his search beside her. Her eyes held an undeniable sense of peace and joy.

Lin Yu’an and Zhao Yuanyuan didn’t join in the boisterous games, continuing in their usual quiet way.

Zhao Yuanyuan used the wet sand to try and sculpt small animal figures. Though crude, they were full of childish charm.

Lin Yu’an sat beside her, watching in silence, occasionally handing her a perfectly shaped shell or a small pebble for decoration whenever she needed one.

Sometimes he would point to a seabird gliding across the sky or a fish leaping from the distant water. Zhao Yuanyuan would immediately follow his finger, her eyes shining with focused curiosity. Then they would look at each other and smile, everything understood without a word.

The eight of them got along in perfect harmony, creating their own small world of peace and beauty on the bustling beach.

As the sun sank lower, dyeing the sky and sea a brilliant golden-red, the clamor on the beach didn’t die down. In fact, it grew even livelier.

The fireworks display was about to begin.

Everyone simultaneously stopped what they were doing. Some stood, others sat, all quietly waiting to witness the magnificent moment.

The glow of the setting sun reflected on everyone’s faces, which were flushed from the day’s activities and relaxed with deep satisfaction.

The boisterous fun of the day settled, transforming into a silent sweetness that now filled the air, along with a boundless anticipation for the grand fireworks display to come.

Seeing it was about time, Chen Mo’s group of eight quickly packed up. They hurried back to the B&B for a quick rinse, then all changed into light summer clothes and comfortable shoes. Once assembled, they headed out in unison toward the secret spot they had scouted that morning.