Chapter 22: Heartbeat

The Tavern by the Sea was crowded tonight, music swirling in the air, people coming and going.

Xia Yu followed closely behind Xu Baiyan, making their way further inside.

“Xia Yu, we’re over here!”

She turned toward the voice and saw Kk and Cheng Li along with a few others chatting with Song Yu’an’s group.

“We arrived late, so only got a small table, but it just so happened that Xiao Qiang and Yu’an were here too. They said we could all sit together.”

Song Yu’an and his roommates had recently been learning surfing from the Coach at Summer, so they were somewhat familiar with Cheng Li and Kk.

Since they bumped into each other at the same place and had a large booth available, everyone decided to share a table and hang out together.

Xia Yu hesitated for a moment, but they were already there.

Retreating now would seem odd, so she walked over.

Around the large booth, only two seats remained—one right next to Song Yu’an.

Just as she wondered whether to sit down, Xu Baiyan had already taken the seat to Song Yu’an’s right, then motioned to the seat to his own right.

He deliberately placed a space between her and himself.

Xia Yu took the seat, quietly exhaling in relief.

“We already ordered some stuff earlier. You two haven’t ordered yet, so pick whatever you want to eat or drink and order quickly,” Kk said, pointing to the QR code on the table.

Having eaten too much from the street stalls earlier, Xia Yu wasn’t hungry and only selected a small dessert.

Xu Baiyan casually ordered two dishes to share.

The bar was somewhat noisy, with other tables playing games.

While everyone chatted among themselves, Xia Yu leaned close to Xu Baiyan’s ear and whispered just loud enough for them both to hear, “Coach, thank you for earlier.”

Xu Baiyan glanced at her sideways.

“Thank me for what?”

“Well… you said I was chasing after you,” Xia Yu rubbed her nose sheepishly.

“I panicked back then. If you hadn’t said that, I wouldn’t have known how to explain.”

“Oh.”

Xu Baiyan’s lips curved slightly.

“Then how do you plan to thank me?”

The dim bar lights and loud music forced them to whisper closely, allowing Xia Yu to clearly see the faint smile on his face.

Xia Yu thought for a moment.

“Treat you to a meal?”

“Treat me to a meal again?”

Xia Yu cleared her throat.

“I honestly don’t know how else to thank you.”

“Hey, what did you buy at the street stall earlier?”

Xu Baiyan suddenly pointed at the bag by her feet.

Xia Yu hadn’t realized he’d noticed her purchase before.

She bent down and opened the bag.

“This? Just some handmade felt pendants.”

Xu Baiyan reached out his hand.

“Let me see.”

***

Xia Yu took out the item and handed it to him.

Xu Baiyan looked down for a few seconds, then picked up the little rabbit and placed it back in her hand, but kept holding the little fox pendant.

“Consider this a thank-you gift.”

Xia Yu was momentarily stunned, a sudden tension tightening inside her chest.

She stammered, “Th-this is a pair… they’re Couple Charms.”

Xu Baiyan glanced at her.

“I know.”

“Xia Yu, you usually can hold your liquor, right? Why didn’t you order any?”

Cheng Li suddenly looked over.

Xia Yu snapped back to reality.

“Huh? I’m not really good at drinking.”

Cheng Li said, “Don’t lie, you drank a lot of beer at the Bonfire Party last time at Summer.”

A short laugh sounded in her ear—it was Xu Baiyan.

Only he knew how the night really went.

Xia Yu’s ears flushed bright red.

“Beer has a lower alcohol content than cocktails, that’s why I drank so much…”

“But the specialty cocktails here are really good,” Cheng Li said.

“You can go to the Bar Counter and have someone recommend a low-alcohol one to try.”

Xu Baiyan turned his head toward her, a teasing tone clear on his lips.

“Be careful—some people lose control after trying those.”

Xia Yu:

“Who says I can’t handle a little? I just drank too much that night.”

“Is that so?”

His gaze didn’t blink, soft but with a subtle hint of ambitious challenge.

Xia Yu’s heart hammered wildly, and she unconsciously bit her lip.

It was a strange feeling she didn’t know how to handle.

Unable to think it through, she chose to escape.

“I’m going to the Bar Counter to order a drink!”

She stood hastily and walked away.

The hem of her skirt brushed against his knee.

Xu Baiyan glanced down and smiled faintly.

The people at the booth gathered together to play games.

But Song Yu’an didn’t join in. He took a few sips of his drink and glanced toward the bar.

Since entering the bar, he had been watching Xia Yu.

He saw her whispering closely with Xu Baiyan, so close they seemed to form a barrier, isolating everyone else.

This version of Xia Yu was unfamiliar to him.

The Xia Yu he remembered was always trailing after him, obediently calling him “Brother Yu’an.”

He never imagined that one day, there would be someone else in her eyes…

“Where are you going?”

When he finally couldn’t hold back his irritation and stood up, Xue Enjin grabbed his wrist.

Song Yu’an said, “I’m going outside for a bit.”

Xue Enjin’s lips twitched slightly.

“Yu’an, don’t be too concerned about other people’s business, okay?”

From the corner of his eye, Xu Baiyan’s finger twirled the little fox pendant, which was still gently swinging.

Song Yu’an knew it was the gift Xia Yu had just given him—the Couple Charms.

His gaze darkened.

“She’s not just anyone.”

At the Bar Counter, Xia Yu already had her specialty cocktail.

The bartender said this drink was called Summer Night—a mix of vodka and orange juice—perfect for someone like her who hadn’t really tried cocktails before.

Xia Yu had finished nearly half the glass, feeling it fresh and clean, not bitter.

Whether it was good or not, she wasn’t paying much attention.

Her mind was full of tonight’s chaos and the look in Xu Baiyan’s eyes just now…

“Xiao Yu.”

Someone sat down beside her, breaking her thoughts.

She knew that after tonight, Song Yu’an’s nature meant he would definitely come to ask her about it, so she wasn’t too surprised when he approached.

“Brother Yu’an.”

Song Yu’an glanced at her cocktail and got straight to the point.

“Do you really like Xu Baiyan?”

Xia Yu paused, now only able to nod.

“Didn’t you see it today?”

“That’s not like you.”

Xia Yu was confused.

“Why not like me?”

Song Yu’an turned to look at her, his eyes dark and heavy.

“How long have you known him? A month? And you’re already talking about liking or not liking? Don’t you think that’s reckless?”

Xia Yu opened her mouth, murmuring, “Can liking someone really be measured by time?”

“Of course! At least it needs time to be certain!”

Xia Yu no longer believed that.

She had liked him for many years and never received the same feelings in return.

What use is a liking built up over time?

Lowering her gaze, Xia Yu said, “Brother Yu’an, didn’t you like Senior Enjin too? And that was shortly after you met.”

Song Yu’an was stunned.

“That’s different.”

Xia Yu frowned. “How is it different?”

“We’re careful with our feelings, and we don’t confirm liking recklessly.”

“But liking is sometimes just impulse, right?”

“That kind of impulse is irresponsible!”

Is that so?

Xia Yu wasn’t sure, so she didn’t deny it.

Seeing her silent, Song Yu’an continued, “Enjin and I go to the same city and school, we have lots in common. If it’s not like, then we’re friends. If it’s confirmed, then it can develop. But you and Xu Baiyan are different—you’re not even from the same world.”

Xia Yu froze.

“Not from the same world?”

“Isn’t that so? You know Xu Baiyan’s background, right? Just look him up online. He’s a wealthy heir born with a silver spoon. Someone like him could have any girl he wants. Why would he like you? Why would he treat you well? Have you ever thought about that?”

Xia Yu’s chest tightened.

She’d always lived cautiously, feeling unloved and inferior, believing the good and exciting things in this world weren’t meant for her.

But having those thoughts laid bare by Song Yu’an’s blunt words still hurt.

“So you think someone like me isn’t worthy of someone better liking me, is that it?”

Song Yu’an hesitated.

“I mean someone like him could just be playing with you easily.”

Xia Yu suddenly felt rebellious.

“So I’m supposed to back down because of that possibility?!”

Song Yu’an was at a loss, probably not expecting the usually reserved Xia Yu to say that.

After a moment, he said, “Xia Yu, let me remind you, you’re only here for one summer.

After you leave, you’ll have no connection with him! You’re not suitable for each other!”

“But sometimes people from the same world aren’t compatible either.”

“Are you sure you want to be stubborn about this? Xia Yu, I barely recognize you anymore. You used to be so obedient and well-behaved—you wouldn’t do something so rebellious and absurd.”

“Is that so? But I don’t have to stay like that forever.”

“You—”

“Brother Yu’an, I think I don’t want to be the obedient good girl all the time anymore.”

Song Yu’an was stunned, as if sensing her stubbornness but also feeling like there was no point continuing the conversation.

After a moment, his face darkened with anger as he left the bar and headed outside.

Xia Yu didn’t want to argue with Song Yu’an, nor did she want him to be upset because of her.

But today, she suddenly lost the desire to pull him back.

Obedient, well-behaved.

Those words flooded her mind.

They had always been the labels she forced on herself because if she wasn’t obedient, she wouldn’t be liked, and yet…

She realized that living a life so restrained, cautious, and timid was suffocating, depressing, and boring.

She wanted to go crazy sometimes, to live without worries, without restraint.

Why couldn’t she?

“One more, please.”

The bartender looked up.

“The same one?”

Xia Yu shook her head.

“Anything stronger for a specialty cocktail?”

“There is—how about the Abyss?”

Without hesitation, Xia Yu said, “Okay.”

The flavor of the Abyss was far more complex than the Summer Night.

At first sip, it was a sweet and sour lemon cola taste, but soon her taste buds were overwhelmed by various unidentifiable liquors.

Xia Yu sipped and frowned slightly, feeling the impact, but after the shock passed, the aftertaste was quite pleasant.

She continued to savor it, letting the chaotic flavors wash over her.

“You’re quite bold,” a familiar voice suddenly whispered beside her.

Xia Yu tilted her head.

“What?”

“I mean, you actually dared to order that drink.”

She stared at her glass in a daze.

“The bartender said it was stronger.”

Xu Baiyan frowned and moved her glass away, his tone turning cold.

“What, did something he said just now make you waver again? Using alcohol to drown your worries?”

“It’s not to drown my worries. I’m just… a little confused.”

“Confused about what? He doesn’t like you, so just let go. There are plenty of people outside.”

Xia Yu’s heart jumped sharply, and she blurted out, “Are you included in those ‘people outside’?”

The air seemed to freeze for a second.

Realizing she misspoke, Xia Yu gripped her glass tightly.

“I—I meant… including you.”

She suddenly looked up at him.

Xu Baiyan stared intently at her.

“You said you were pretending to be chasing me, right? Then why don’t you try making it real?”

Xia Yu’s breath almost stopped.

In that instant, her heart pounded so fast it felt like it would burst from her chest.

So all the strange feelings he had stirred in her before were real.

She hadn’t misunderstood.

Her eyes flickered slightly, and perhaps aided by the alcohol, courage suddenly surged.

“Then… can I succeed?”

Xu Baiyan smiled lightly but spoke seriously.

“You can.”