Chapter 14 (2/2): Two Updates in One

Xu Baiyan saw his own dazed reflection in her eyes.

He felt his brow twitch and looked away, “Do you really have to compare yourself to others?”

“I want to compare, I have to… Tell me, if it were you, who would you pick?”

She kept tugging at his shirt, wrinkling it badly.

Xu Baiyan took a deep breath, then grabbed her arm, swung her behind him, and hoisted her onto his back.

He knew she was staying at Cheng Li’s guesthouse.

With kk drunk and unable to come, he could only take her back himself.

Carrying Xia Yu through Summer Surf Shop’s pebble path, out of the courtyard onto the palm-lined avenue.

Tonight there was a bonfire party, and the road was full of people.

Xu Baiyan carried Xia Yu, avoiding the crowd as he walked.

“You’re not answering because you’d still choose Xue Enjin, right? Why does everyone like her type, no one likes someone like me…”

On his back, Xia Yu’s mind was completely foggy, but her body was still energetic, leaving her in a contradictory state.

She lay on Xu Baiyan’s back, hands restlessly moving around his face.

Xu Baiyan couldn’t dodge, so he let her do as she pleased, “Stop… I didn’t say I liked her type.”

“Really?! You don’t like lively and cheerful girls?”

“No.”

“Sunny and bright?”

“No.”

“Talkative and sociable?”

“…No.”

“Then you’re not attracted to pretty girls who are great at Surfing either?”

She was so close, almost whispering in his ear, her breath hot against his skin.

Xu Baiyan tensed, his voice low, “Right, not attracted. Talk properly, don’t mess around.”

“You’re so nice.”

Xia Yu hugged him happily, rubbing her nose against his neck like a small animal seeking warmth.

“So that means, you’d choose me.”

He stopped in his tracks.

Xu Baiyan turned to look at her, and she looked back, leaning against his shoulder, her fluffy hair tickling under his collar.

It was a little itchy, and he couldn’t escape.

“Hey handsome, has anyone ever told you you’re really good-looking?” she suddenly said.

She leaned closer, blurting out, “I think you’re really handsome! Mmm… Since you’d choose me, then… do you want to try dating me?”

She spoke boldly, but her eyes were timid, as if nervously testing him.

Xu Baiyan knew she was completely drunk.

He chuckled softly, teasing her, “So bold? Do you even know how to date?”

Xia Yu didn’t know.

She looked at his brows, nose, eyes… and finally, her gaze slid to his lips.

Ah, maybe she did know after all.

Lin Ying talked about it all the time—passion, romance, hot kisses, wild love…

A sea breeze suddenly swept past, lifting her hair.

Xia Yu leaned forward and pressed her lips to his, moving slightly.

The world went silent, and the passing crowds became silent shadows.

Xu Baiyan froze completely.

The touch of her lips was unfamiliar and warm, leaving Xu Baiyan stunned.

A few seconds later, she squinted and pulled back a little, asking softly, “Is this how you do it?”

Reality and dreams blurred, as if in a trance.

The next morning, at eleven o’clock.

It was the first time Xia Yu had slept so late.

But remembering how busy she’d been yesterday, and that kk had given her half a day off, she finally relaxed.

She sat up in bed and rubbed her temples.

After a while, she picked up her phone and saw unread messages and missed calls—all from Song Yu’an.

[Where did you go?]

[Are you okay? Did you get drunk?]

[Did you get home?]

[Xiao Yu, call me back.]

[I called your shop’s boss, he said you’re back. Rest early, I’ll come see you tomorrow.]

Right… how did she get home last night?

She vaguely remembered feeling down after the games, coming back to Summer Surf Shop and drinking by herself. After that… she must have gotten drunk.

Her head hurt.

Xia Yu knocked on her head and lay on the blanket for a while. Suddenly, she shot up as if remembering something.

She’d gotten drunk, and someone carried her home.

On the way, she’d babbled endlessly, though she couldn’t remember what she’d said, only that she’d been extremely bold, even getting handsy.

Handsy…

Wait, wait—was that a dream, or real?

Cold sweat.

Her back tingled inch by inch, and in a very short time, Xia Yu broke into a cold sweat in the air-conditioned room because of the images in her mind.

If it was a dream, fine. If it was real… the person she’d gotten handsy with seemed to be Xu Baiyan?

“Hey handsome, has anyone ever told you you’re really good-looking?”

“Since you’d choose me, do you want to try dating me?”

“Do you know how to date?”

Fragments of conversation suddenly surfaced in her mind, and Xia Yu froze completely.

Impossible, how could she dare?

It must have been a dream, she must have mixed up reality and dreams.

How could she possibly have kissed Xu Baiyan!

Haha…

Ding-ling—

Suddenly, the phone rang. Xia Yu jumped and glanced at her phone.

When she saw the caller wasn’t the person in her mind, she finally breathed a sigh of relief. “Hello…”

“You’re finally awake.”

“Ah… Song Yu’an…”

He said, “Come downstairs.”

“Huh? You’re downstairs?”

“Yeah, let’s have lunch together.”

After washing up, Xia Yu went out. The Auntie from the guesthouse was cleaning the hallway.

“Xiao Yu, you’re up.”

After spending some time here, Xia Yu was familiar with the staff and greeted her, “Auntie, good afternoon.”

“Good afternoon, sobered up yet?”

“Huh? Yeah, I’m sober…”

“Aiya, you were a handful when you got back last night. Don’t drink so much next time.”

The tingling feeling returned. Xia Yu wanted to leave quickly, but she still held onto a sliver of hope and quietly asked, “Auntie, do you know who brought me back last night…?”

“Ah Baiyan, of course. Forgot? You were so rowdy last night, Baiyan had a hard time carrying you upstairs.”

Not a dream? Last night wasn’t a dream?

Her heart sank.

“Was there anyone else…?”

“No, just him. He’s a guy, so he didn’t want to go into your room, asked me to help.”

Xia Yu forced a mechanical smile, “Oh… thank you, Auntie.”

“No need to thank me, I didn’t do much.”

The Auntie leaned in, gossiping, “So, are you and Baiyan seeing each other?”

Xia Yu’s voice shot up, “No! Of course not!”

The Auntie looked skeptical, “Really? But you kept muttering about him dating you.”

Xia Yu had no memory of saying any of that. She was so embarrassed she wanted to fly straight back to Hangcheng.

“I said that? I… I was just drunk, Auntie, don’t take it seriously, please don’t.”

The Auntie clicked her tongue, disappointed, “Just drunk, huh… Alright, I thought Baiyan finally had a girlfriend.”

Walking out of the guesthouse, Xia Yu was still in a daze.

Song Yu’an saw her expression and asked, “Didn’t sleep well?”

Xia Yu looked up, coming back to herself a little, “Yeah… maybe I drank too much last night.”

Song Yu’an disapproved, “How could your coworkers let you drink so much?”

“They didn’t, I drank by myself.”

“Why did you drink so much?”

Xia Yu’s mind was a mess, and she mumbled, “No reason, I just wanted to.”

“Xiao Yu, when did you learn to drink? I never knew you could.”

“It’s not something you learn… Anyway, I won’t drink that much again.”

Xia Yu didn’t want to talk about why she drank, so she changed the subject.

“Yu’an-ge, why did you come over today? Where are Enjin and the others?”

“Enjin had something at home and went back for a couple of days. Weihao and the rest are still asleep.”

“Oh.”

“It’s just us for lunch, what do you want to eat?”

After last night, Xia Yu figured things out.

So when she saw Song Yu’an now, she was ready to treat him as just her childhood neighbor, nothing more.

“Anything, you choose.”

Song Yu’an ended up picking a nearby seafood porridge place, which was perfect since Xia Yu had drunk so much the night before.

“In the future, drink in moderation and stay safe.”

He set her bowl and chopsticks as he spoke.

Xia Yu just nodded.

Song Yu’an looked at her, noticing she was especially quiet today.

Ever since they’d met up, she’d seemed out of it.

“Are you still not feeling well? Want to get some hangover medicine after we eat?”

“No, no, I’m fine.”

“Then why do you look so listless?”

Song Yu’an habitually reached out to feel her forehead.

Xia Yu paused and dodged.

Song Yu’an’s hand hung in the air.

“What’s wrong?”

Xia Yu forced a smile, “Nothing, if I’m unwell I’ll tell you. Don’t treat me like a child.”

Song Yu’an was helpless, “I’m not treating you like a child, you just look off, so I wanted to check if you had a fever.”

He was used to treating her with such care.

She used to be used to it too, but they weren’t real siblings.

Sometimes, in front of others, such gestures really weren’t appropriate.

Xia Yu felt they needed to change how they interacted from now on.

“I’m really fine, I checked myself.”

Her tone was cool, with a subtle sense of distance.

Song Yu’an withdrew his hand, feeling a little uncomfortable.

Just as he was about to ask more, the food arrived, so he had to put it aside.

Later, they talked about other things and forgot to bring it up again.

After lunch, Xia Yu needed to hurry back to Summer Surf Shop for work.

Since it wasn’t far, Song Yu’an walked her back.

She didn’t expect to see Xu Baiyan as soon as she entered the courtyard.

He must have just finished lunch with Cheng Li and the others, standing lazily at the shop entrance.

Her heart skipped a beat, and she instinctively wanted to turn and leave, but it was too late.

Xu Baiyan had already looked over, meeting her gaze.

“I’m a bit thirsty, just going to buy a drink from your shop.”

Song Yu’an said beside her.

Xia Yu’s heart raced, feeling like she might go crazy…

But she knew she couldn’t just run away, so she braced herself and walked over.

Before she even got to him, her face was already burning.

Help… couldn’t he have just skipped coming to the shop today??

So embarrassing!!

“Coach… hi.”

As she got close, Xia Yu didn’t dare look at him and greeted him in a small voice.

Xu Baiyan glanced at her but before he could speak, she slipped away into the shop like an eel.

The alcohol had worn off, and so had her courage.

Xu Baiyan’s gaze deepened, but he also entered the shop, and as usual, sat in his usual spot.

“Hey Xia Yu!”

Just then, He Jiasen came in, grinning as he approached the bar.

“Have you eaten yet~”

Xia Yu saw Xu Baiyan sitting inside from the corner of her eye, but didn’t look up, answering softly to He Jiasen, “Yeah, I have. You?”

“I’ve eaten too. Here, I just bought this outside—Matcha Ice Cream, your favorite flavor.”

After spending some time together, everyone had gotten to know her a bit.

Xia Yu forced a smile, “Thanks, just a small thing. Oh right, do you want to try the Land Surf Board today? I can keep teaching you.”

“I don’t have time today, have to stay in the shop. Thanks, though.”

“Oh, how about tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow, we’ll see…”

“Alright~ Just call me if you’re free, I’m always around!”

He Jiasen didn’t leave after speaking, instead leaning on the bar and staring at her.

On the other side, from the moment He Jiasen handed over the ice cream, Song Yu’an had been paying attention.

This guy knew Xia Yu liked Matcha Ice Cream… and the way he was looking at her was clearly suspicious.

He Jiasen noticed the man watching him, and although he didn’t know why, he turned to look back and greeted him warmly, “Hey handsome, is there something on my face? Or do you want to get to know me?”

His outgoing nature was truly impressive.

Xia Yu saw Song Yu’an wasn’t responding, so she introduced quietly, “Jiasen, this is my friend from Hangcheng, his name is Song Yu’an. Yu’an-ge, this is He Jiasen, the shop owner’s cousin.”

Song Yu’an kept a neutral expression, “Oh, hello.”

He Jiasen smiled brightly, “Wow! A friend from Hangcheng, nice to meet you! When did you get here?”

“I’ve been here a while.”

“Really? Haven’t seen you before.”

While the others chatted lively, Xu Baiyan sat quietly in his corner, eyes closed, resting.

But after a while, someone broke the peace.

“Bro, who is that guy?”

It was He Jiasen, done with his fake socializing, sidling up to whisper in Xu Baiyan’s ear.

Xu Baiyan half-opened his eyes, glancing at the chatting pair, “Didn’t they say? Friend from Hangcheng.”

He Jiasen was on guard, “Just a friend? They seem pretty close, could he be… an old flame? Or maybe he likes Xia Yu? Or maybe Xia Yu likes him? Oh no, I haven’t even started yet and a rival’s come from far away?”

While He Jiasen kept muttering, Xu Baiyan’s mind flashed back to someone’s bright eyes and… soft lips from last night.

He suddenly felt irritable.

“Still like him? What kind of look is that.”

He Jiasen: “Yeah, what kind of look!”

Xu Baiyan glanced at He Jiasen, impatience clear, “Enough, get out, I want to sleep.”

“But my love rival’s still here!”

“Out.”

“Fine, but keep an eye out for me.”

Xu Baiyan turned away, ignoring him.

He Jiasen didn’t dare bother him anymore and left, looking back every few steps.

About half an hour later, Song Yu’an got a call from his roommate.

Cai Weihao and the others were heading out and called him over, so Song Yu’an didn’t stay any longer and said goodbye to Xia Yu.

It wouldn’t have mattered, except now there were only two people left in the shop.

Xia Yu still needed to clear the empty cups and plates left by other customers.

She glanced at Xu Baiyan, who seemed to be sleeping not far away, and silently prayed: Don’t wake up… just stay like that… please don’t wake up.

She tiptoed to the empty table near him, carefully gathering the dishes.

“Still hanging out with him? Looks like you’re determined.”

Just as she was about to leave, the person beside her suddenly spoke, his voice calm but tinged with the husky magnetism of sleep.

Xia Yu turned to look at him.

Xu Baiyan pulled down the magazine covering his face, his expression indifferent: “Didn’t you say last night you didn’t like him and wanted to try dating someone else?”