“Hahahahahahaha——”
As soon as the words left her mouth, the Boss doubled over behind the bar, laughing uncontrollably.
Xia Yu was bewildered, not sure which of her words was so funny.
Wasn’t it true?
Logically speaking, a Coach who teaches Surfing at the beach all year round couldn’t possibly have pale skin—he’d look like an amateur at first glance.
“Boss?”
“Hahaha, that’s not it, no, it’s just… this is the first time I’ve heard someone say you’re not up to the task… Xu Baiyan, even you have a day like this!”
The Boss was speaking to someone behind her.
Xia Yu realized something and turned around again.
The man who had been sitting by the window had already stood up and was walking over, holding a cold drink in his hand.
The clear liquid, upon closer inspection, turned out to be pomegranate juice.
He was standing not far behind her, and since he was tall, from Xia Yu’s angle she could see his expression under the shadow of his cap—light amber eyes, looking a bit dissatisfied.
Oh no…
Did he hear that?
“Miss, don’t judge by appearances. This guy just recovers quickly, that’s all. If he doesn’t Surf for a while, he gets pale again! But in reality, he’s got real skills, you can rest assured!”
After laughing, the Boss cheerfully explained to her.
After hearing that, Xia Yu also felt that “judging by appearances” really wasn’t right.
Besides, the Boss seemed kind; he probably wouldn’t scam her.
“Oh… is that so.”
“Didn’t you say to call me if there was an experienced hand?”
At this moment, the man called Xu Baiyan behind her spoke up, sounding a bit dissatisfied and a bit lazy, “Is it you who’s deaf or me? Is this an experienced hand?”
“Aiya, we don’t have any other Coaches in the shop right now, and this girl is in a hurry. What’s the harm in you teaching her? Xu Baiyan, don’t forget what you promised me! This Summer Vacation Peak Season, you listen to me and work for me!”
Xu Baiyan walked to the bar and set down his drink cup.
“You just want to get your way.”
“Is it me or you? Am I the Boss or are you the Boss? Picky, picky, picky—I never said you could choose your customers.”
“……”
Xia Yu stood where she was, glancing between the two.
“Um, maybe I could wait for another Coach—”
“No need, no need, it’s him, he’s fine.”
After speaking to Xia Yu, the Boss glared at Xu Baiyan again.
The latter could only give in, accepting the result.
“What do you want to learn?”
He suddenly turned to look at her.
Being this close, the impact of his features was even stronger.
Xia Yu was stunned for a moment and instinctively looked away.
“S-Surfing.”
He seemed to see she didn’t know much, and his gaze was calm.
“Beginners usually learn Beach Wave and Wakesurfing here. They’re two completely different forms of Surfing. Which one do you want to learn?”
Xia Yu hadn’t done any research before coming.
She thought for a moment, pulled out her phone, opened WeChat, and found the photo Xue Enjin had posted in her Moments yesterday.
She thought the one Xue Enjin played looked really cool and stylish.
“This one. What is she doing here?”
He glanced at it.
“Wakesurfing.”
“Then I’ll try that first.”
Xia Yu looked at the Boss.
“By the way, how much does it cost now?”
“There are three prices. The basic Wakesurf Boat charter is 900 per hour, including a Coach and Surfboard, plus insurance and Sunscreen Mud as a bonus.”
The Boss behind the bar winked.
“Miss, you’ve picked the right Coach today. He’s skilled but not expensive. For the trial price, it’s just 900 per hour! If you have friends, you can share the boat—three people split is the best deal.”
“?”
Xu Baiyan looked at the people inside.
“Me? 900 an hour?”
The Boss clicked his tongue, came out from behind the bar, and pulled Xu Baiyan aside to whisper,
“It’s your first time, and you’re teaching a beginner. I’m still worried you might not be able to teach. Warning! Cherish your first batch of customers.”
“……”
Xia Yu didn’t hear the Boss muttering.
She was busy searching online for Wakesurfing prices.
Online, everyone said that now was the Summer Vacation Peak Season, and 900 yuan an hour for a charter with Coach included was already a good deal.
But she didn’t have any friends with her, and she didn’t want to share a boat with strangers…
Forget it, she’d grit her teeth and go one-on-one.
That way, she’d get more time and learn faster.
So she put away her phone and said, “Boss, I’ll go alone, no boat sharing, just the basic package. Do you sell Wetsuits here? I came on a whim and didn’t prepare any gear.”
“Yes, yes, come with me first. I’ll give you a brief introduction to our Wakesurfing. After you sign and pay, you can go pick out your gear. The room next door is the Equipment Zone; you can buy or rent there.”
“Okay.”
After going through the formalities with the Boss, Xia Yu went next door to the Equipment Zone.
Afraid of sunburn, she bought a black Wetsuit with long sleeves and pants, covering herself up tightly.
After changing in the special Changing Room, Xia Yu saw her designated Coach standing not far from the door.
He had changed as well, all in black underneath, with a loose white sun-protection jacket over it.
The jacket was casual, not tight-fitting, but it still showed off his superior physique—broad shoulders, narrow waist, slim calves.
She remembered that in the shop earlier, he was wearing shorts.
His legs were so fair, and not a single hair on them…
Can guys’ skin really be that nice?
“What are you looking at? Not coming over?”
Xia Yu snapped her head up, only then realizing Xu Baiyan was turning to look at her.
Remembering what she had just been thinking, her ears grew hot, and she hurried over.
“Coach, I’m ready.”
“Mm.”
Xu Baiyan pointed to the room next to them, filled with Surfboards.
“Come pick a board with me.”
“…Okay.”
The two walked to the board selection area, one after the other.
Xia Yu looked around—so many colors and styles, she was dazzled.
“So pretty.”
She was drawn to a pink-and-blue board, which looked smaller and more delicate than the others.
Xu Baiyan glanced at her and, realizing which one she was eyeing, said in a flat tone, “That one’s not for you.”
“Why not?”
“Shortboards are for tricks. You’re a beginner, so take a longer Beginner Board. Height and weight?”
“…Huh?”
Xia Yu didn’t get it, but when Xu Baiyan gave her a look, she immediately answered, “166. My weight… I haven’t checked for a while, maybe I’ve gained a little lately…”
Xu Baiyan didn’t force her to give a number.
He quickly looked her up and down, then picked out a Beginner Board from the Wakesurfing section.
“This will do. Let’s go.”
Xia Yu followed.
“Does height and weight matter a lot for picking a board?”
“At this stage, it’s fine. Just about right. Can you swim?”
“A little, but I’m not good at it.”
“As long as you’re not afraid of water.”
Xia Yu frowned cautiously.
“I might be a little scared of the sea.”
“Oh.”
“Coach, is it okay if I’m a bit afraid of the sea?”
“Don’t worry, you won’t die.”
“……”
Back in middle school, there were swimming classes, and that’s when Xia Yu learned to swim.
But she could only do a couple of laps in the calm pool.
She had never swum in the sea, so she was nervous.
But the tension faded as she stepped onto the beach.
Blue sea, blue sky, sunlight sparkling on the water like diamonds scattered on a glass plate.
Coconut trees all around, soft sand, lazy and peaceful…
So comfortable.
It made you forget all your worries in an instant.
No wonder so many people want to vacation by the sea.
“Bro! Where are you going?”
Just as they passed a row of beach chairs, someone called out in their direction.
Xia Yu looked over and saw three or four guys on the chairs, all looking at them.
Were they calling him?
Xia Yu glanced at Xu Baiyan and saw him casually wave back.
“Wakesurf.”
“Huh? You’re actually going Wakesurfing??”
“Mm.”
“Wait, you brought a girl!”
Several guys in beach shorts jumped up and ran over, crowding around curiously.
“Who is she? Who? Who?”
Xia Yu suddenly felt uncomfortable being stared at by so many guys and instinctively stepped behind Xu Baiyan.
“A customer. Who else?”
One of the guys in pink shorts immediately said, “A customer? What do you mean?”
“It means I’m giving a lesson now. Don’t block the way.”
“Lesson? I don’t buy it.”
Pink Shorts grinned.
“Never seen you take a girl Surfing, especially such a cute one. Miss, what’s your name?”
Xu Baiyan glanced at him.
“Show some respect.”
Pink Shorts ignored him.
“So, Miss, are you my bro’s girlfriend?”
“No, no!”
Xia Yu’s face was already a bit flushed from the sun, and now it was burning.
She shook her head like a rattle-drum, “I’m just his student!”
“Huh? Really a student? Bro, since when did you start teaching? Wakesurfing too? That’s overkill.”
Xu Baiyan was getting annoyed by these guys.
He checked his watch and said to Xia Yu, “Let’s go.”
Xia Yu: “Okay.”
“Hey, you’re leaving already? Let’s have dinner together tonight…”
The voices of those guys came from behind, but the man in front clearly didn’t want to deal with them anymore.
He picked up her Surfboard with one hand and strode ahead.
Xia Yu followed a step behind, sneaking a few glances at Xu Baiyan.
Finally, she mustered up the courage to ask, “Coach, is this your first time teaching?”
Xu Baiyan: “What, afraid I can’t do it?”
So he had heard what she said in the shop.
Xia Yu coughed lightly and touched her ear.
“No… I was just asking.”
Actually, she was worried she wouldn’t learn well and her “big money” would go to waste.
Xu Baiyan glanced sideways at her.
“It’s impossible to not learn Wakesurfing. Don’t worry.”
“No, no, I never said you couldn’t teach. I believe in you. I’m just not sure if I can absorb everything…”
Xu Baiyan gave a faint, almost imperceptible laugh, making Xia Yu instantly shut up.
“Let’s go. The boat’s here.”
“…Okay.”
After walking for about ten minutes, they arrived at a Dock.
There were many Yachts moored by the Dock.
Xu Baiyan went straight to a black-and-white Yacht and signaled for her to get on.
There was already someone on board, wearing a sun-protection jacket.
When he saw them, he took off his sunglasses and greeted her with a smile, “Hello, I’m Fang Yuan, the captain today. Just call me Xiao Fang.”
Xia Yu gave a shy smile.
“Hello, I’m Xia Yu.”
Soon after boarding, Fang Yuan piloted the Yacht out to sea.
Xia Yu sat in the Yacht, facing the wind, listening to Xu Baiyan across from her explain some safety tips.
Just as he was finishing, the phone on the side suddenly rang.
Xu Baiyan glanced at her phone, pausing mid-sentence.
Xia Yu followed his gaze and glanced at her phone.
Seeing the caller, she asked, “Coach, can I take this call?”
Xu Baiyan leaned back.
“Go ahead.”
“Okay, thank you.”
It was Song Yu’an calling.
Xia Yu picked up and turned slightly away.
“Hello?”
“Xiao Yu, what are you up to?”
Xia Yu hadn’t told Song Yu’an that she was in Haicheng, so she naturally couldn’t say she was out at sea.
“I-I’m at home.”
Xu Baiyan glanced at her, the corner of his brow raising slightly.
Xia Yu didn’t notice Xu Baiyan and only heard Song Yu’an on the phone, “At home? Why is it so windy?”
Xia Yu quickly covered the phone’s mouthpiece.
“Ah, I’m on the balcony. It’s windy today.”
“Oh.”
Song Yu’an didn’t suspect anything and spoke gently, “I wanted to ask if you wanted any fruit. I can send some home for you.”
“No need, really, it’s no trouble.”
“It’s no trouble at all. Enjin is a local, and she brought us to a Fruit Market today. She said the fruit here is the best, super sweet, and we must try it.”
When Song Yu’an mentioned Xue Enjin, there was a smile in his voice.
Xia Yu lowered her eyes, her voice a little muffled.
“I see…”
“Yeah, we’ll pick out a few boxes and send them to you. You and your family can try them. How about mangoes? There are lots of coconuts too.”
Xia Yu felt a pang in her chest.
“Sure, anything’s fine… Yu’an-ge, I have something to do, let’s talk later.”
“Okay, I’ll pick something for you.”
She could vaguely hear Xue Enjin talking to someone on the other end, but Xia Yu said nothing more and quickly hung up.
They had been together these past few days—maybe the whole Summer Vacation Peak Season.
Spending time with a girl like Xue Enjin must be a lot of fun.
“Can I continue now?”
Suddenly, the man across from her spoke.
Xia Yu snapped out of it and quickly put her phone away.
“Sorry, Coach, for the wait.”
Xu Baiyan: “Snuck out without telling your parents?”
Xia Yu was stunned, realizing he meant her phone conversation just now.
“No, I didn’t hide it from my parents.”
Xu Baiyan made a noise, stood up, “So, you’re an adult, right? Reminder: if you’re underage, you need a parent present.”
She was already in a bad mood after that call, and now Xia Yu felt even more annoyed.
She muttered quietly, “I don’t look that childish, do I…”
Xu Baiyan had sharp ears.
He glanced down at the girl in front of him.
She was lowering her head, clearly unhappy.
From his angle above, her cheeks still had a bit of baby fat, and with her face flushed red from the sun, she looked just like a ripe peach.
“I’m twenty.”
Maybe because she saw him looking, the little peach looked up at him stubbornly and added.
Xu Baiyan paused for a moment and looked away.
“Oh, then you’re pretty impressive.”