They walked inward step by step, the road beneath their feet turning into stone bricks as the crowd gradually grew thicker.
“Where should we go now?” Chen Zhaoyue poked Lin Yiren’s arm, finding the soft sensation quite wonderful.
Lin Yiren looked at the intersecting streets ahead where tourists were weaving through. She took out her smartphone to check the time.
“Let’s wander around first and then find a restaurant for lunch,” she suggested, using her eyes to ask for Chen Zhaoyue’s opinion.
“Let’s go, let’s go—phew, the air on this island is so fresh.” Chen Zhaoyue nodded, taking off her shirt and hanging it over her arm to feel the cool breeze against her skin.
At that moment, a fair, delicate hand reached out, its slender fingers spread open.
“I, I’ll hold it for you.”
With a smile playing at the corners of her eyes, Chen Zhaoyue placed the shirt in Lin Yiren’s hand. “Well, thank you then.”
Xing Yao had no time to watch the interaction between her mamas; her eyes were fixed on an old man ahead clutching a bunch of balloons. There were red, yellow, blue, and green ones—cats, dogs, chickens, and pigs were all represented.
She tugged on Chen Zhaoyue’s skirt and pointed her little finger in that direction. “Want.”
Chen Zhaoyue followed the direction of the small hand and couldn’t help but laugh.
“A balloon again?”
The last balloon Lin Yiren bought had floated on the ceiling of the villa for several days.
“Mm~” The little hand shook, and her mouth pouted.
“We’ll buy it, we’ll buy it. You little spoiled thing.” Chen Zhaoyue pinched her cheek, the pinkish-white skin squeezing her little mouth in the middle. The feel of Yiren and Xing Yao’s faces was truly of the same lineage.
In the end, Xing Yao took away a Pink Pig Balloon.
***
They turned into a narrow white alley, with Lin Yiren leading the way, while she and Chen Zhaoyue protected Xing Yao from the front and back. The Pink Pig Balloon bumped against the walls and brushed past the green plants hanging from windowsills.
“We’re out.”
As Lin Yiren stepped out of the alley, the sounds in her ears suddenly grew louder. People were coming and going on the quaint street. A few boys dressed casually walked past with their arms around each other’s shoulders, talking about going to the edge of the island after their meal to see the standing sea-eroded pillars.
A hand touched the back of her hand. Lin Yiren thought it was Xing Yao and reflexively slid her own hand into the other’s palm. But the moment she felt that warmth, which was broader than her own palm, she realized something was wrong. Her heart trembled, and she tried to pull back.
However, the hand, smooth as warm jade, quickly gripped her hand. Her four slender fingers were held in the other’s grasp, and their thumbs intertwined.
Chen Zhaoyue lightly pressed the softness in her hand, her voice carrying a pleasant laugh. “There are too many people. It wouldn’t be good if you got lost later.”
‘How could I possibly get lost?’ Lin Yiren thought to herself. But she pursed her lips and said nothing.
She was reluctant to let go; no matter how many concerns she had in her heart, she craved the warmth in her hand.
“Let’s look over there.” Chen Zhaoyue gestured toward the front right. The swaying balloon floated by her right side, which meant she must have taken Xing Yao’s hand the moment they left the alley.
They walked along the edge of the street, with umbrella-shaped poinciana trees on the left, filtering the sunlight into dappled spots.
“This street is a bit like a resort. We can come back here later to see if there are any restaurants,” Chen Zhaoyue said, turning her head. Since they were holding hands, they were close enough to touch if they turned even slightly, and their breathing was within reach.
Lin Yiren’s face remained a soft pink as she nodded like a chick pecking at grain.
This street was indeed a focal point of the island’s tourism development. Many small and medium-sized hotels and guesthouses were open in this area, and the neighboring residential houses were painted beautifully with white shutters facing the sea.
As they walked and looked, passing by other pedestrians, the weeds in the cracks of the bricks beneath their feet increased. Without realizing it, they had walked into an older street.
The road here was more rugged. Some houses had small courtyards, and the green ivy on the walls was a bit messy, creeping upward and hanging down simultaneously.
Lin Yiren turned her head left and right, saying, “This is a bit like my hometown, though the houses at my home were taller.”
“Hometown? Isn’t it Haishi?”
“No, my family moved to Haishi. I, um… I transferred there when I was in elementary school.”
Chen Zhaoyue arched an eyebrow; she hadn’t seen this part in the records.
But Lin Yiren did not intend to say more, only shaking their joined hands. “Let’s walk a bit further ahead.”
The tourists ahead gradually thinned out, while the sound of the waves became clearer. A few trees leaned diagonally against the houses.
“Let’s take a photo here,” Lin Yiren suggested.
Chen Zhaoyue prepared to take out her smartphone, but as she moved, she realized their two hands were still joined like glue. Turning her head, she saw Lin Yiren looking at her as well. Their clear eyes reflected each other, and a silence fell between them, as if they had accidentally wandered into a sea.
Finally, Lin Yiren’s hand slid past the plump pads of Chen Zhaoyue’s fingers, leaving reluctantly.
They walked to the base of a wall next to a canopy of shade. Lin Yiren picked up Xing Yao, while Chen Zhaoyue took out her smartphone and selfie stick from her bag, wrapping an arm around Lin Yiren’s shoulder.
“Xing Yao, do you want to hold the pig?”
Thus, the pink pig was squeezed in front of them.
“Here we go—”
***
Lunch consisted of steamed fish and braised tofu. After eating and resting for a while to avoid the peak heat of the sun, they played around the streets again until the sun began to sink.
“That beach is where Jiang Xiaoxiao and the others took photos before. The Boat Captain recommended it as well.” Lin Yiren held her smartphone, her face full of smiles as she stepped forward with her legs crossing. “We’ll eat directly by the seaside then, listening to music and feeling the sea breeze. It’ll be so comfortable.”
Chen Zhaoyue watched her small tiger teeth glisten in the sunlight; she was clearly very satisfied with her plan.
“There’s even a music festival tonight—Zhaoyue, isn’t that great?” The girl turned to look at her, her eyes shining like gemstones.
“It’s wonderful,” Chen Zhaoyue said with a tender expression.
“Hehe—my good daughter thinks so too, right?” Lin Yiren said happily, pulling Xing Yao into her arms again.
In the end, the rarely enthusiastic mother was pushed away by her daughter in rejection.
“I think I’ve figured it out. If you’re too proactive in hugging her, she’ll reject you,” Lin Yiren’s voice muffled from behind Xing Yao’s little hand.
“Hmph, I guarantee if you bury her in the middle there, she won’t reject you.”
“Wha—what are you saying?” The girl’s face turned bright red.
The color of the sky slowly tilted toward orange-red as they stepped onto the stone path leading to the seaside.
***
On the beach, some people were already taking photos, while others were walking in pairs along the coast, leaving two rows of footprints in the sand.
Lin Yiren and the others also walked with uneven steps on the fine, soft sand, waiting for the perfect moment for a photo. By the time Xing Yao had piled up her third sandcastle, Lin Yiren had picked up a large, round shell, and Chen Zhaoyue had taken more than ten photos of their silhouettes and side profiles—
The sun finally reached the point of hanging low but not yet setting, spreading warm golden light across the beach so soft it made one want to take a nap.
“Come on, come on!”
Xing Yao was picked up with a confused expression and placed between the two of them.
“The selfie stick isn’t quite working.” Chen Zhaoyue tried it out before putting it back in her bag. She looked around and saw a girl kicking the sand ahead.
The Eldest Miss walked over, putting on a gentle smile.
“Hello, could you help us take a photo?”
The girl looked at the beautiful young lady with long, flowing hair and nodded repeatedly.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, you’re welcome.”
‘The young lady’s gentle voice is so nice to hear!’
The girl watched as Chen Zhaoyue walked back to Lin Yiren’s side, and her already wide eyes lit up even more—what was the situation? Two beautiful young ladies and a very cute child. Even so, this was just too good to ship.
“We’re ready.”
She saw the two young ladies squatting next to the child, gesturing to her. The girl hurriedly adjusted the angle and snapped several photos.
Chen Zhaoyue stood up and walked over. Looking at the photos on the smartphone, a satisfied smile curled her lips.
“Um… Miss, can I ask a small question?”
“Hmm? Sure.” The smile on Chen Zhaoyue’s lips hadn’t faded yet, making her look extremely gentle.
“Are you and that lady…” The girl pressed her two thumbs together. “A couple?”
She couldn’t help but ask. The look this young lady had just given the one in the short skirt was just too suggestive.
Chen Zhaoyue hadn’t expected the other party to ask this. She pondered for a moment before saying, “I hope so.”
Her face still carried a smile.
‘Oh my god, it’s one-sided love!’ The girl covered her mouth in shock.
“What are you talking about?” Seeing Chen Zhaoyue chatting over there, Lin Yiren patted Xing Yao’s bottom. “Go see what Mummy is doing.”
She wondered how the photos turned out. She stood up and stretched in the sunset, her eyes squinting with pleasure.
Next, they could go eat… Hmm, why did the wind get stronger?
Lin Yiren realized her hair was suddenly being blown forward.
*Patter.* A drop of water fell onto her face. Lin Yiren looked up at the orange sky.
‘Is it an illusion?’ Her heart began to race.
“Yiren, run!” Chen Zhaoyue’s shout suddenly rang out.
A second drop, then a third drop of water fell.
Lin Yiren’s expression turned grim.
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