The sun began to set in the west, the sky gradually shifting from a vivid blue to a blend of pale purple and orange-red, bathing the entire sea in a gentle, soft light.
A sea breeze blew gently, and Xia Yu untied her hair, letting her still-damp strands float freely in the wind.
“Miss, here’s your mango juice.”
The girl who had been making juice inside, kk, brought it out to her.
Xia Yu thanked her and took the chance to ask, “Excuse me, are you hiring staff here? I just saw the sign inside.”
“Yes, we are. I’m not in the shop much myself, so we’re short-handed.”
“Besides what’s written on the sign, are there any other requirements?”
Kk replied, “Requirements… Well, just be diligent, know how to make fruit drinks, and have a Health Certificate. That’s basically it. Are you interested?”
Xia Yu nodded.
“I’m looking for a part-time job during the summer break, but I’ve never made fruit drinks before, so I’m not sure if I can do it.”
Kk’s eyes lit up.
“It’s actually pretty simple. How about this—come over the morning after tomorrow and try it out.”
Xia Yu: “Really? Thank you so much!”
“If you can stay, I should be the one thanking you. It gets crazy busy during summer.”
Summer was close to her Homestay, just a ten-minute walk, and the whole way was lively and safe.
It was the perfect place for a part-time job.
Xia Yu’s gloomy mood suddenly lifted.
She set her mango juice down and took a photo facing the sea, sending it to Lin Ying.
[The view is amazing~]
A few minutes later, Lin Ying replied: [Wow, so beautiful! I have to visit sometime!]
Xia Yu smiled: [I’ll wait for you.]
Lin Ying: [What did you do today?]
Xia Yu: [Went Surfing… wiped out pretty badly. [sigh]]
Lin Ying: [Was it fun?!]
Xia Yu: [How could it be fun after falling so much? The Coach said I’m not really suited for Surfing.]
Lin Ying: [Ah… That must be because the Coach doesn’t know how to teach!]
Xia Yu took a sip of her mango juice and kept typing: [Actually, he’s a pretty good teacher and explained everything. And he seems to be some kind of Surfing expert.]
Lin Ying: [How good? Is he handsome?]
The end of the universe is always about whether he’s handsome.
Xia Yu was used to Lin Ying’s way of thinking and replied: [A lot of people say he’s really good. And he is pretty handsome.]
After a moment, she added another line: [He’s very handsome.]
Lin Ying: [Very handsome?! I! Want! To! See!]
Xia Yu cleared her throat, afraid Lin Ying would ask for a photo, and quickly replied: [We went our separate ways after the lesson.]
Lin Ying: [Ugh… you should’ve told me sooner!]
Even if she had, it wouldn’t have helped—she didn’t dare take a secret photo of him anyway.
Xia Yu sent a helpless emoji, then turned her head and sneaked a glance into the shop.
From this angle, she could only see the person at the bar from the side.
Sitting on a high stool, his long legs stretched out casually.
His loose white T-shirt, with sleeves rolled up, revealed arms resting on the bar—clean lines, visible veins, just the right amount of strength…
Xia Yu was practical when judging someone’s looks, and she had to admit this Coach was very good-looking.
But that didn’t stop her from feeling that his words were always blunt and direct, making people nervous and want to keep their distance.
She hadn’t looked for more than a few seconds when, as if sensing something, the person inside suddenly turned his gaze toward her.
Xia Yu jumped in fright, quickly turned away, pretended nothing had happened, and gulped her drink.
The mango juice was soon finished.
Not planning to stay longer, Xia Yu grabbed her little bag and headed home.
After returning to the Homestay, Xia Yu washed the Wetsuit she’d bought and hung it on the small balcony to dry.
Early the next morning, with plenty of time to spare, she picked a famous spot in Hai Cheng to explore.
The weather was scorching.
After playing out for most of the day, Xia Yu returned exhausted and napped for two hours at the Homestay.
When night fell, she headed out again, planning to grab something to eat downstairs.
The seaside at night had a special charm. Rows of palm trees lined the walkway, where people strolled back and forth, and young people cruised by on skateboards.
In the distance, music drifted through the air, mingling with the aroma of grilled seafood. On the beach, groups of people gathered at tables, chatting and feasting.
Everything felt both lively and leisurely.
Xia Yu walked along the road, feeling a bit lonely by herself, but also thinking that everything was already quite good. She had free time and beautiful scenery; not having someone to share it with was just a small regret.
“Mom, I want that ice cream.”
“You already had one this morning. No more tonight.”
“Ah—please, Mom, let me have one. Just half? Just two bites?! Please?”
“You greedy little thing.”
***
A mother and daughter passed by. The little girl, pointing at the nearby ice cream cart, wouldn’t budge, and her sweet talk soon won her mom over.
Xia Yu glanced at the little girl—fair-skinned, wearing a cute little sundress.
She thought, her mom must really dote on her, because only a loved child would dare to make requests and act spoiled.
She remembered that when she was little, her mom had come to visit her in the countryside and taken her out to buy things.
Back then, her younger brother hadn’t been born, her older sister was at school, and it was just her and her mom.
She’d been so happy, but she’d also felt a bit distant from her mom, and her mom from her.
Later, when her mom asked her in town if she wanted anything to eat, she looked at an ice cream chain nearby but didn’t dare say a word.
All her classmates said the ice cream was delicious, but it was a bit expensive, so Xia Yu had never tried it.
Since she stayed silent, her mom assumed she didn’t want anything, bought some necessities, and hurried her back to her grandparents’ house.
For a long time after, Xia Yu often thought about that ice cream and regretted not speaking up.
“Hello, I’d like a matcha ice cream.”
Her thoughts paused as Xia Yu stopped at the ice cream cart, this time ordering for herself without hesitation.
The vendor smiled and pointed to the Wechat QR Code.
“Just scan here, please wait a moment.”
“Okay.”
Two minutes later, the matcha ice cream was ready.
Xia Yu took a few steps forward, standing by the roadside to savor it.
Cool and refreshing, the rich matcha flavor was delicious.
“Hey! Watch out! Move—move—”
Suddenly, an urgent voice called out behind her.
Xia Yu turned instinctively and saw a black blur whiz past, bumping into her before she could react.
She staggered back two steps, and her ice cream splatted onto the road.
The culprit, a boy of eight or nine on a skateboard, also tumbled into the bushes.
Luckily, he didn’t seem badly hurt.
“…Are you okay?”
Xia Yu quickly went over.
The boy looked embarrassed as he got up.
“I’m fine.”
Xia Yu breathed a sigh of relief.
“That’s good.”
“Your ice cream…”
The ice cream was, of course, a total loss.
But Xia Yu couldn’t argue with a little boy.
“It’s fine, as long as you’re not hurt.”
The boy’s eyes lit up.
“Okay, then I’m off!”
He was about to run off when someone grabbed him by the collar.
“Trying to leave already? Did you apologize?”
The boy’s voice was about to flare up, but when he looked up and saw who it was, he shrank back.
“Ah… Yan-ge, it’s you.”
The newcomer stared at him coolly.
The boy pursed his lips and quickly turned to Xia Yu.
“Sorry, sis! I couldn’t stop in time, I didn’t mean it!”
Xia Yu was a little stunned—she hadn’t expected to run into Xu Baiyan here.
She mumbled, “It’s okay.”
The boy grinned.
“Alright, ge, I apologized, can I go now?”
Xu Baiyan snorted and let him go.
“If you can’t handle the skateboard, don’t ride it in crowded places. Go practice in the open area.”
The boy straightened up.
“Yes, sir!”
With that, he hugged his skateboard and hurried off.
Now only two people and a melted ice cream remained.
Xu Baiyan turned to look at Xia Yu.
He’d noticed his Student a while ago, watching her wander over alone to buy ice cream.
He was waiting for someone, so he stayed put, watching her eat the ice cream, savoring it bite by bite.
Then she got knocked into.
She really was focused on eating.
“…Hello, Coach.”
After a long stare, the Student greeted him.
Xu Baiyan grunted, seemingly satisfied.
“Goodbye, Coach.”
The Student slipped away faster than a rabbit.
“?”
Xu Baiyan stood there for two seconds, then called out in disbelief, “Wait a minute.”
Xia Yu stopped in her tracks and looked back nervously.
“Is there something else?”
Xu Baiyan didn’t know what to say for a moment.
Truth be told, he’d been bothered by the fact that he “failed to teach his first Student Wakesurfing and even made her cry.”
He’d wanted to talk to her again yesterday, but when he came out of Summer, the person who’d been sitting under the umbrella had already left.
“Are you not going to pick up your ice cream?”
Xu Baiyan asked after a pause.
“Oh, sorry, I forgot…”
Xia Yu bent down, picked up the ice cream, and tossed it into a nearby trash can.
After that, she returned.
“Coach, then I’ll just—”
“Was it matcha flavor?”
“Hm?”
Xu Baiyan took out his phone, walked over to the ice cream cart, and ordered an ice cream.
Xia Yu watched him pay and realized he was buying another one for her.
“You don’t have to…”
“That little troublemaker is my friend’s kid.”
“It’s fine, he didn’t do it on purpose.”
“But the ice cream still needs to be replaced.”
Xu Baiyan took it from the vendor and handed it to her.
Xia Yu waved her hands, a little flustered.
“It’s really not necessary.”
“It’s already bought.”
Xu Baiyan said calmly, “I don’t eat this stuff anyway, so it’d just go to waste.”
“Ah… okay, thank you.”
Xia Yu had no choice but to accept it.
The cool ice cream was the same matcha flavor as before.
A sweet, fresh scent floated in the air.
Xia Yu licked the slightly melted surface and glanced sideways at the person next to her.
He didn’t seem in a hurry to leave…
“Are you waiting for someone?”
“When are you going to Surf again?”
They spoke at the same time.
Xia Yu paused.
“I probably won’t go again.”
“Why not?”
Xia Yu was puzzled.
“Didn’t you say I’m bad at sports, have poor balance, and am not suited for Surfing?”
Xu Baiyan was at a loss for words, silent for a while before replying, “What I meant at the time was…”
“Ge!!”
At that moment, two people walked over from not far away.
One was kk, who had made fruit drinks earlier, and the other was a guy in a blue floral T-shirt—Xia Yu recognized him as the guy in pink beach shorts from the beach earlier.
The guy grinned and walked over, staring at her.
“Wow! You’re treating your Student to ice cream, ge~”
Xu Baiyan shot him a glance.
“And what’s it to you? Why don’t you check how long you kept me waiting?”
“What’s the big deal about waiting a bit? It gave you time to eat ice cream.”
The guy walked up to Xia Yu.
“Hi, I’m He Jiasen. What’s your name?”
Xia Yu lowered her ice cream a little.
“Hello, I’m Xia Yu.”
“Wow, nice name! Suits you! Hey, let’s add each other on WeChat.”
“Don’t be silly.”
kk nudged He Jiasen aside, then said to Xia Yu, “Don’t mind him, he can be a chatterbox sometimes.”
He Jiasen protested, “I am not—”
Kk ignored him and asked, “How come you two are together?”
Xia Yu: “Ah… just ran into each other and chatted a bit.”
“I see. Well, don’t just stand here talking—let’s eat together. The Barbecue’s already ordered.”
She came over and gave Xia Yu a gentle hug. “Come on.”
Kk’s enthusiasm left Xia Yu a bit dazed.
“Eat? Maybe I shouldn’t…”
“It’s fine, eat with us. You two can keep chatting.”
There wasn’t really anything more to talk about…
Xia Yu wasn’t used to this kind of scene and wanted to refuse, but before she could, kk cut off her hesitation.
“Oh, you’re coming to the shop tomorrow morning, right? I can fill you in on salary and work hours over dinner.”
Talking about a part-time job, Xia Yu was instantly tempted!
She hesitated.
“But… I don’t want to intrude.”
Kk: “You’re not. We’re all friends here!”
And just like that, Xia Yu found herself joining them at the seaside Barbecue Shop.
There were a few other guys at the table, including the shop owner Cheng Li and the boat captain Fang Yuan from the other day, but the rest were unfamiliar.
The Barbecue was set up right on the sand, eating while facing the sea—a brand new experience for Xia Yu.
“Xia Yu, see if there’s anything else you want to order.”
kk handed her the menu.
Xia Yu was a bit shy.
“I’m new here, not sure what’s good.”
kk: “How about this—let me add a few of this shop’s specialties for you to try.”
“Thank you, kk-jie.”
Everyone at the table knew each other well, so they all knew about Xu Baiyan’s lesson yesterday and found it amusing, so the topic quickly focused on that.
“So this is Yan-ge’s Student! His first Student!”
“And his first failed Student. Ah Yan, how does it feel? Being a Coach isn’t easy, huh?”
Cheng Li: “Before, he thought teaching beginners was too simple and asked me for students with a foundation. And look—couldn’t even handle a beginner.”
“Hahahahahahaha—”
He Jiasen: “I told you Yan-ge can’t teach. Last time he coached me, he scolded me so badly I almost quit Surfing for good. That night I was lying on my bed secretly crying—imagine how tough it was for a girl.”
Xu Baiyan’s temples throbbed.
“When did I ever say I couldn’t teach? And when did I scold you?”
“It wasn’t exactly scolding, but what you said was harsher than being scolded. Ge, I think you shouldn’t teach anyone anymore.”
Xu Baiyan leaned back, eyes narrowing.
“Are you looking for a beating?”
“I think you’re the one looking for a beating.”
Cheng Li shot back, then turned to Xia Yu.
“Xia Yu, sorry about yesterday. Because of the Coach, your Surfing experience wasn’t great. How about I refund you a bit?”
Xia Yu was already listening nervously, and now that Cheng Li suddenly brought this up, she got even more embarrassed.
After a quick glance at Xu Baiyan, she said, “No, no! It was my own problem. The Coach taught really well and was very patient!”
Xu Baiyan’s brows lifted slightly, and his gaze toward Xia Yu showed a hint of satisfaction.
Those words were music to his ears.
He wouldn’t mind hearing them a few more times.
Xu Baiyan: “You really think I taught well?”
Xia Yu blinked twice, a sheen of sweat appearing on her forehead. “I-I really do!”