At seven o’clock in the evening, the sky was completely dark.
Music floated over the beach, and the bonfire danced like a passionate heartbeat, gathering everyone together here.
“You go have fun, Cheng Li can watch things here.” kk said.
Xia Yu replied, “It’s fine, I can help out.”
“Help with what! You rarely come to Hai Cheng, hurry and experience the vibe of our evening party.”
kk pushed Xia Yu out the door.
The beach at this moment was filled with the smell of barbecue and fruity alcohol. Groups of people sat around the bonfire, chatting and laughing. Not far away, a band was performing live. It was a scene that felt exceedingly comfortable.
Since she was already outside, Xia Yu decided to compromise and enjoy this peaceful moment. She took a cup of juice from the shop, took photos with her phone, and strolled toward the sea.
After wandering for a bit, she sent all the photos to Lin Ying.
“Xia Yu! Over here, over here!”
Just as she was about to find a random spot to sit, she suddenly heard Cai Weihao’s voice.
Xia Yu looked over and saw a group of people not far away, several of whom she recognized.
“We’re playing a game, Xia Yu, come join us!”
Cai Weihao called her over enthusiastically. Beside him, Song Yu’an also gestured to the spot next to him.
Why did I have to run into them again?
Xia Yu felt helpless, but with everyone’s eyes on her, she couldn’t refuse.
“What a coincidence…”
“Yeah, sit down, the more the merrier.”
Cai Weihao moved aside and pulled her to sit between him and Song Yu’an.
“Everyone, this is our friend, let’s keep playing!”
There were about a dozen people present.
Aside from Song Yu’an and the others, the rest were tourists from various places, grouped together temporarily.
They were playing a simple game—Beer Dare.
A bottle of Beer was spun in the center, and whoever it landed on had to do the dare proposed by the previous person.
Xia Yu didn’t really want to play, but unfortunately, the round right after she sat down, the Beer bottle pointed straight at her.
The previous dare was to drink three full cups of Beer.
“It’s fine, I can drink for you.”
Song Yu’an said.
“Wow, a hero saving a beauty?”
“Lucky girl!”
Some strangers began to joke.
One even said, “Hey handsome, we agreed earlier, if you lose you have to do the dare yourself—no helping!”
Song Yu’an smiled, “She can’t drink, let me help her.”
“If you help, you have to drink double!”
Xue Enjin jumped in, saying they were too harsh, and stopped Song Yu’an: “Yu’an, you already drank a lot, let me help Xia Yu!”
Song Yu’an frowned, “Don’t push yourself, you can’t drink too much either.”
“I’m not pushing myself. Your little sister is my little sister too, no problem!”
As Xue Enjin reached for the Beer, someone else snatched the cup first.
“I can drink.”
Xia Yu didn’t feel she needed to be treated like a “little sister.”
She tilted her head back and downed the Beer in one go.
Song Yu’an was stunned, “Xiao Yu?”
Xia Yu smiled, “Three cups is enough for me. If you join in, you’d have to drink double—doesn’t seem worth it.”
With that, she picked up the second and third cups.
“Wow, Xia Yu, you’re something! Yu’an always said you couldn’t drink, so we never dared invite you out for Night Market at school.”
Cai Weihao said.
Song Yu’an looked worried, “When did you start drinking?”
Xia Yu swallowed the last mouthful, her brows furrowing slightly, “I’ve drunk at school before. I’m not always under your nose.”
Song Yu’an pursed his lips, about to say more, but someone else interrupted, “Alright, alright, impressive! Now it’s your turn to pick a dare, so we can start the next round!”
Xia Yu: “Alright… then, the next person who gets picked has to sing a song with the Band over there?”
“Deal!”
In the following rounds, the bottle never pointed at Xia Yu again.
Everyone was having fun, but Xia Yu was already thinking of an excuse to leave.
“Yes! Yu’an, it finally landed on you!”
This round, the Beer bottle pointed at Song Yu’an.
His roommates egged him on, “Come on, do the dare! Pick a girl here and drink a full cup of Cross-cupped Wine with her!”
Xia Yu paused. Aside from her and Xue Enjin, there was one unfamiliar girl.
So he had to choose one among the three.
There was no way he’d choose the unfamiliar girl, and as for her… he wouldn’t choose her either.
He’d definitely pick Xue Enjin.
Thinking this, Xia Yu glanced at Song Yu’an.
But just then, he turned his head and looked at her.
Xia Yu was stunned. She and Xue Enjin weren’t even in the same direction, so why was he looking at her?
Could it be… he’d choose her…?
“Yu’an, what are you hesitating for, hurry up!”
Cai Weihao prompted.
Song Yu’an cleared his throat, glanced at Xia Yu again.
She probably wasn’t good at drinking—her cheeks were already red from the three cups earlier.
He pursed his lips and finally turned to the other side, “Enjin.”
Xue Enjin’s eyes lit up.
She picked up her cup, “Me? Alright, let me save you then.”
“Thank you.”
Song Yu’an turned slightly, hooking his hand around Xue Enjin’s.
Xia Yu quickly averted her gaze.
So silly.
She was really silly.
Why did she have that fantasy just now, thinking he might choose her over Xue Enjin…
She was overthinking.
Even if they hadn’t confessed yet, it was only a matter of time.
For a moment, Xia Yu felt embarrassed by her own thoughts.
She laughed at herself and stood up amid everyone’s cheers.
Cai Weihao, sitting beside her, noticed first, “Xia Yu, where are you going?”
“I want to use the restroom, you guys keep playing.”
“Oh… okay.”
The night breeze was gentle, the bonfire blazing.
On another side, He Jiasen, who had been drinking with some friends at the table, was a little tipsy and leaned over to clink glasses with Xu Baiyan.
But after holding up his glass for a long time, Xu Baiyan didn’t respond.
“Bro, Baiyan! Let’s toast! What are you looking at?”
He Jiasen squinted, following his line of sight.
There were people standing and sitting everywhere on the beach, but he couldn’t see clearly.
“Hey?”
He Jiasen waved his hand in front of Xu Baiyan’s face, “What are you looking at?”
“Nothing.”
Xu Baiyan pushed his hand away and said coolly, “Just saw a wilted peach.”
The waves gently lapped at the beach, making that familiar, low sound.
Xia Yu avoided the crowds and wandered aimlessly for a while before returning to Summer Surf Shop.
Kk had probably gone out to play.
Only Cheng Li was busy in the shop.
Feeling down, Xia Yu sat on a beach chair outside the shop.
The Hot Dog Song Yu’an had given her earlier was left uneaten, and now she suddenly felt a little hungry.
Right next to her were the desserts and self-serve Beer she’d set out earlier.
She scanned the payment code and picked up a piece of Cake, then found it too sweet and poured herself a cup of Beer.
Beer and Cake—a strange combination.
But Xia Yu couldn’t be bothered to get anything else.
She ate and drank, watching the lively scene in front of her, letting her mind drift.
[All bikinis and muscle men! Damn! This bonfire party must be awesome!]
Her phone chimed. Lin Ying had replied to the photos she’d sent earlier.
Xia Yu smiled: [Yeah, it’s pretty good. Lots of people came to play.]
Lin Ying: [So Song Yu’an and the others are here too?]
That night Xia Yu ran into Song Yu’an in Hai Cheng, she’d already told Lin Ying about it.
Lin Ying had exclaimed at the drama of it all—Hai Cheng was so big, and yet they still ran into each other.
Xia Yu replied: [Yeah, they’re over there playing games.]
Lin Ying: [No way… what’s Xue Enjin wearing tonight, is it a bikini too?]
Xia Yu: [Everyone’s basically in swimwear today.]
Lin Ying: [What about you? Are you wearing a sexy swimsuit too?]
Xia Yu: [What for, I’m working today.]
Lin Ying: [Ahhh! What work! This is the time to compete! Damn it, you’re wasting that figure of yours! Hurry up and put it on!]
Xia Yu could almost picture Lin Ying flailing as she typed, and smiled, but then replied helplessly: [Ying Ying, let’s just leave it at that.]
Lin Ying: [What do you mean?]
Xia Yu: [I mean I’ve completely let it go. He likes Xue Enjin, and Xue Enjin likes him, so my feelings end here. And didn’t you say last time I shouldn’t be stuck on just one person…?]
Lin Ying: [Exactly! That’s right! I’m so glad you think that way! Look at all those muscle men on the beach—aren’t they all better than Song Yu’an?]
Xia Yu: [Yeah, so I’ll just keep admiring the muscle men.]
Lin Ying: [Damn it, take more photos for me!!]
Xia Yu laughed for a while, put her phone down, and took another sip of Beer.
The night grew deeper, her teasing smile fading, replaced by confusion and calm.
“Hey? You’re back, need anything?”
Cheng Li was finishing up the last shop chores, about to go find kk.
He’d just finished cleaning up behind the bar when he saw Xu Baiyan coming in from the door.
“There’s no water outside, came to get a bottle.”
Cheng Li replied, grabbing a bottle of Mineral Water and handing it over.
Xu Baiyan twisted off the cap and took a drink, his eyes drifting to the window.
Outside, someone was curled up on a beach chair.
On the small table beside her sat a half-eaten dessert and several empty Beer cans, scattered haphazardly.
“How long has she been sitting there?”
“Hmm? Who?”
Xu Baiyan put down the Mineral Water, “Xia Yu.”
“Huh?” Cheng Li followed his gaze, “That’s Xia Yu? I’ve been busy, didn’t notice. Just knew someone had been sitting there for a while.”
Xu Baiyan remarked casually, “Your staff is drinking so much Beer and you’re not paying attention?”
“I should keep an eye on it. But kk just called, said she drank too much, so I have to go check on her.”
Cheng Li thought for a moment, “Right, Xia Yu’s your student, you’re responsible too. Go check on her.”
Xu Baiyan: “…”
Another can of Beer was emptied.
Xia Yu had never drunk so much Beer before.
As she drank, she realized alcohol really was something.
It made her feel light and strangely excited, her mind buzzing.
Not a bad feeling. In fact, she wanted even more excitement.
She giggled stupidly, reaching for another can, but strangely, as soon as she reached out, the Beer can seemed to grow legs and bounced up, out of her reach!
Xia Yu frowned and looked up, only to find someone standing in front of her, looking down.
“My Beer…” she grumbled, reaching out.
But he didn’t give it back, instead placing it even farther away.
“Drowning your sorrows after a breakup?”
What breakup…
Xia Yu got a bit annoyed, glaring at him, “Don’t talk nonsense!”
“Oh, did I get it wrong?”
Xu Baiyan tilted his head, observing her drunken eyes.
“Didn’t you just slink back from over there?”
Xia Yu’s eyes widened, “I did not slink! I just… just didn’t want to play those games, so I left as an excuse!”
Xu Baiyan chuckled, not arguing, and sat down beside her.
“Alright, have some water.”
“No, I want Beer.”
“Drink water.”
“No…”
Xia Yu slumped in the chair, grabbing onto Xu Baiyan’s shirt.
“Go get me Beer, hurry up.”
With the courage alcohol gave her, she even dared to boss him around.
Xu Baiyan looked down at her hand.
“No.”
She kept tugging, shaking him.
“Why not?”
“Do you really need to drink away your sorrows?”
“It’s not… not for sorrow.”
“You like him that much?”
Xu Baiyan let her tug at his shirt, commenting, “Your taste is pretty average.”
“You… what do you know…”
Xia Yu didn’t like being talked about like this. She retorted, “No one ever walked me to school, ate with me, played with me. It was always him… he’s really nice to me, very gentle. Isn’t it normal for me to like him?”
“Nice to you. Gentle.”
Xu Baiyan nodded as if agreeing, then suddenly added, “But I see he’s nice and gentle to others too.”
Suddenly, she went quiet.
Xu Baiyan knew his words had struck a nerve, but when he turned to look at her, he was surprised to see her eyes turning red.
Such a strong reaction?
Xu Baiyan was startled.
Just as he thought he’d gone too far and wanted to say something to make up for it, she wobbled to her feet.
She was clearly drunk, couldn’t even stand straight, and after a few steps nearly fell to the side.
Xu Baiyan hurried over to steady her.
“Where are you going?”
“You’re so mean!” she slumped in his arms, soft and teary-eyed but glaring at him fiercely.
Xu Baiyan opened his mouth, not knowing what to say.
After a long pause, he finally managed, “Fine, I’m mean. Just pretend I was wrong.”
“But you weren’t wrong!”
“Others are better than me, more special! So it’s normal for him to be good to her, to like her.”
Xu Baiyan frowned, “How did you decide that he likes her and not you because she’s better than you, more special?”
Because it’s always been like that.
I’m not bold enough, not lively enough, not outstanding enough.
I’m always the one who isn’t liked, hic— I’m used to it…
As she spoke, she kept sliding down, so Xu Baiyan had to use his forearm to keep her upright, trying his best not to touch anywhere inappropriate.
But she was limp as a noodle, leaning against him.
Even through a layer of fabric, he could feel the softness and heat.
“You’re still young, how many people have you even met? Not everyone won’t like you… Stand up, stop moving!”
Xia Yu shrank back at his scolding, then suddenly said, “Really? Then would you like me?”
“…What?”
She grabbed his shirt, “If it were you, would you like me, or Xue Enjin?”
She asked seriously, her eyes unwavering, as if she wasn’t drunk at all.
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