In the dim, drifting hours before dawn on the sea, it was as if all ambiguity was quietly allowed to take root.
A tiny seed hidden in her heart silently sprouted, making Ruan Xi’s heart itch with a tender longing.
Ruan Xi couldn’t manage to clear her mind of distractions, nor did she want to just crawl back into her own bed.
She slowly lowered the arm propped on the bed, lying at the edge, quietly watching Cheng Daichuan for a long time.
She didn’t know why, but she still felt dizzy, waves of discomfort coming and going.
There were voices in the corridor outside the door, but she couldn’t make out the words.
Why was no one sleeping?
But perhaps Cheng Daichuan was having a good dream, as the tight furrow between his brows gradually relaxed.
That’s how it should be.
Ruan Xi thought, once they woke up, she must keep Cheng Daichuan busy enough that he wouldn’t have time to dwell on unhappy things.
Every time-consuming activity on the Cruise Ship—they had to try them all.
Theater Performance, Shore Excursion, Infinity Pool, Star Cinema…
If that wasn’t enough, they could spend two hours at the Gym, then go dancing, stay up late to stargaze.
After squatting until her legs went numb, Ruan Xi finally took Cheng Daichuan’s hand and gently tucked it under his blanket.
After enduring so long, she finally crawled back into her own Single Bed and fell asleep almost immediately…
This sleep was especially deep.
She seemed to hear voices, but they were just as vague as the ones in the corridor at dawn—hazy, indistinct, quickly fading into silence.
Ruan Xi’s whole body ached.
She wanted to get up and move, but it was as if she was trapped in a nightmare, repeatedly dreaming of getting up, changing clothes, drinking water, washing up, again and again, before she finally managed to pry open her heavy eyelids.
The Curtain in the room was tightly closed, and only the Night Lamp was on.
Groggily, she reached for her Mobile Phone under her pillow, turned on the screen, and took a look.
It was only a little after six?
It felt like she’d slept for a century—how could it be just after six?
Ruan Xi truly felt she’d slept for ages, so long that she was a bit dizzy and nauseous, curling up under the blanket to ease the roiling discomfort in her stomach.
Ruan Xi heard Cheng Daichuan’s voice.
Right, where was he?
She poked her head out from under the blanket and saw that the bedding on the neighboring Single Bed was perfectly neat—he was gone.
His voice was coming from the direction of the Balcony behind the Curtain—
“Mm, it started at dawn.”
“I asked the Cruise Ship staff for Motion Sickness Medicine. I was prepared, don’t worry.”
“Ruan Xi? She’s still asleep. I’ll have her call you to check in when she wakes up.”
“That’s it for now, I’ll be in touch.”
As Cheng Daichuan spoke, he pushed aside the Curtain and walked in from the small Balcony, his gaze meeting Ruan Xi’s. “Finally awake.”
What do you mean, finally? He only woke up a little before her!
Now wasn’t the time to argue…
Ruan Xi looked pale as she clung to the edge of the bed. “Cheng Daichuan, I shouldn’t have slept in that down sleeping bag. I think I really have heatstroke—I feel like throwing up…”
Cheng Daichuan said, “It’s not heatstroke, it’s seasickness.”
The Cruise Ship had run into Stormy Seas. It had only been gently rocking at dawn, but the wind had picked up since, and there had already been several broadcasts reminding passengers to stay safe.
Ruan Xi had slept so soundly, she hadn’t heard a single announcement.
“No wonder I was already dizzy before bed last night.”
Ruan Xi gritted her teeth and slowly climbed out of bed despite the discomfort, her body unsteady—she nearly toppled over.
Cheng Daichuan caught her in time, holding her arm and helping her sit by the head of the bed, tucking a pillow behind her.
Had Cheng Daichuan already showered?
He smelled faintly of bath products, his whole person radiating a fresh scent.
The freshly washed Cheng Daichuan twisted open a bottle of Mineral Water and handed it to her. “Drink some water first, then—”
Ruan Xi didn’t wait for him to finish. Suddenly moving with agility, she jumped off the bed, not even bothering to put on her slippers, and rushed into the bathroom.
She shut the door and dry-heaved over the toilet.
Cheng Daichuan knocked on the door from outside. “Ruan Xi?”
Ruan Xi couldn’t throw up anything, but waves of nausea forced tears from her eyes.
She rubbed her damp eyes, dejected. “Can you not come in for now?”
She hadn’t locked the door, but she didn’t want him to see her like this.
Cheng Daichuan said, “Okay, I’m right outside. Call me if you need anything.”
Ruan Xi gagged a few more times, spat out a little bitter water, and finally the storm in her stomach eased a bit.
She slowly got up and pressed the flush.
Cheng Daichuan was still there. “Feeling better?”
Ruan Xi gave a muffled “Mm,” tidied her hair in the mirror, and opened the bathroom door. “I need to wash up, you don’t have to wait—go have breakfast first.”
Cheng Daichuan handed her the bottle of Mineral Water from before. “Breakfast?”
Ruan Xi rinsed her mouth and spat. “I checked, breakfast starts at seven. It should be about time.”
Cheng Daichuan looked at Ruan Xi and didn’t move.
Ruan Xi said, “I’ll come find you after I’m done.”
Suddenly, Cheng Daichuan asked, “Aren’t you hungry?”
Being asked, Ruan Xi realized her stomach was empty—she hadn’t thrown up anything just now.
But the nausea was still there, leaving her caught between hunger and a lack of appetite.
She eyed the suspicious curve of his lips. “Maybe a little. Why?”
“Come here, put this on, and we’ll go have dinner together.”
Cheng Daichuan took her by the arm, leading her two steps toward the TV wall. Ruan Xi didn’t know what he wanted her to put on, but first noticed his wording.
Did he just say “dinner”?
“Isn’t it seven o’clock now?”
Cheng Daichuan drew back the Curtain. The sky was heavy with clouds, the wind and waves fierce, the sea in turmoil.
He said, “It is, but it’s seven in the evening.”
Ruan Xi remembered her plan before bed—Theater Performance, Shore Excursion, Infinity Pool…
She’d meant to wear Cheng Daichuan out, but she ended up sleeping the whole day!
Slept until seven in the evening!
“Cheng Daichuan, what time did you get up?”
“A little after three.”
Good, at least Cheng Daichuan had been sleeping too.
Just call it catching up on rest.
Still, she felt a little embarrassed…
Ruan Xi stared at the Seagull Plush in a Navy Uniform and Cheng Daichuan’s sunglasses on the TV cabinet. “Why didn’t you wake me?”
“I tried.”
Cheng Daichuan said he’d given Ruan Xi a Motion Sickness Medicine in the morning—maybe the drowsiness was a side effect.
He tore open a plastic package. “No memory of it?”
Ruan Xi was surprised.
She shook her head, about to say she had no memory at all, when he pressed her head down.
“Don’t move.”
Cheng Daichuan suddenly leaned close, brushed aside the hair behind Ruan Xi’s ear, and pressed something cool to her skin.
Ruan Xi instantly fell silent, heart racing as she turned and met Cheng Daichuan’s serious gaze.
She shivered involuntarily.
Cheng Daichuan was applying a Seasickness Patch.
Maybe worried it wouldn’t stick, he pressed gently on it—light, ticklish, almost like a caress.
The worst part was, both sides behind her ears needed a patch. After finishing, Cheng Daichuan took Ruan Xi’s hand and applied another one to the inside of her wrist.
“…How many places are you going to put these?”
“That’s all.”
Ruan Xi withdrew her arm, not knowing what to do with it, and made a cool gesture—hands in her pockets.
Still pajama pockets.
“Ruan Xi.”
“Mm?”
“Why are you shaking?”
“After-effects of seasickness!”
Ruan Xi muttered, rubbing her arm, “Just like my Grandmother said, Grandpa really is a useless immortal. She always told him to protect me from Stormy Seas, but look…”
Cheng Daichuan lowered his head and chuckled. “Go get ready. When you’re done, we’ll have dinner.”
The Cruise Ship’s Toothpaste was better than the hotel’s—refreshing mint, so strong it made Ruan Xi grimace.
Thanks to the Toothpaste, she finally managed to cover up the tingling behind her ears from the patches.
Not feeling well, she didn’t bother dressing up, just changed into the simplest casual short-sleeved shirt and shorts. But less than ten minutes after leaving, she regretted it.
On the Restaurant’s floor, they ran into the pretty girl in the white dress from last night. Today, she wore a starry skirt and delicate makeup, her hair styled in loose waves, looking dazzling even in the dim corridor.
The girl wobbled into the Restaurant in her little heels as the ship rocked in the Stormy Seas.
Ruan Xi looked down at her own shorts, puffed out her cheeks like the pufferfish in the wall art.
Next time, she’d dress up before going out.
Ruan Xi turned to look at Cheng Daichuan.
He probably hadn’t noticed the girl, just handed their room card to the Restaurant staff at the entrance, and after registering, walked in side by side with her.
Unlike yesterday’s Sunset, the sky outside the tall windows was thick with clouds, the sea dark and tossing.
Staring out too long only made the dizziness worse, so they picked a table in the middle.
The Restaurant served fresh-squeezed fruit and vegetable juices.
Ruan Xi liked oranges, but since she was on vacation and her seasickness had eased, she wanted to try something new.
Her eyes landed on the Celery Apple Juice, and she pointed. “Hello, I’d like this one.”
She already knew the answer, but still turned to ask Cheng Daichuan, “Do you want anything?”
“Orange Juice.”
“Huh? Not getting Iced Cola?”
“I’ll have both. Iced Cola and Orange Juice, thank you.”
Ruan Xi stuck out her tongue at Cheng Daichuan. “You’re so thirsty.”
Cheng Daichuan said nothing.
Their drinks arrived. Ruan Xi eagerly took a sip of the Celery Apple Juice.
It was… hard to swallow.
Mouth full of healthy celery flavor, she glanced at Cheng Daichuan’s Orange Juice—once, twice.
The Orange Juice was getting neglected; he was only drinking the Iced Cola. What a waste!
Ruan Xi finally managed to gulp down the Celery Apple Juice. “Can you finish two drinks?”
Cheng Daichuan smiled and shook his head, pushing the Orange Juice toward her.
Orange Juice really was the best!
Ruan Xi happily bit down on the straw, then accidentally saw Cheng Daichuan’s Mobile Phone.
His lock screen wallpaper was a photo of Ais gnawing on a soccer ball.
Something occurred to her, and she suddenly asked, “Cheng Daichuan, did you dream last night?”
Cheng Daichuan asked, “Yeah, why?”
“You dreamed about Ais, didn’t you?”
“No.”
Cheng Daichuan was cutting his steak, but paused and looked up. “Why do you ask?”
The mood turned a little strange.
Ruan Xi was stunned for a moment. “Just… a wild guess. If it wasn’t Ais, then what did you dream about?”
Cheng Daichuan’s gaze landed on Ruan Xi’s lips.
She hadn’t put on the shiny lip gloss from last night’s dance, but her lips were still a lovely color.
He swallowed, then watched her reach over with her fork.
Ruan Xi unceremoniously forked a small piece of steak from Cheng Daichuan’s plate and popped it in her mouth.
Good food could always lift your spirits. Seeing Cheng Daichuan rub his brow, Ruan Xi chewed her steak and teased cheerfully, “Don’t be stingy, I took the smallest piece from your plate.”
She pouted. “I’ll let you try mine later.”
After swallowing, she asked again, “So what did you dream about? Tell me.”
Cheng Daichuan looked away. “Eat. Even if I told you, you might not be able to handle it.”