Cheng Daichuan didn’t seem interested in the Swimming Pool at all, his voice was calm: “You want to swim?”
Ruan Xi snapped her fingers with a fizzled-out sound: “Bingo～”
Actually, Ruan Xi was panicking inside.
Filming the vlog was a sudden whim, and she hadn’t expected Cheng Daichuan to come back so soon.
She quickly put away her phone, forced herself to stay calm, and walked past him as if nothing had happened.
When Cheng Daichuan called the Room Service Department again to request ice, Ruan Xi quickly walked to the bed, scooped up the Swimsuit laid flat on the single bed, stuffed it into her Straw Bag, and hid the towel she’d already packed deeper inside.
Cheng Daichuan was about to hang up the phone!
Ruan Xi scanned the room with an expression that barely allowed her to breathe—
She spotted the Fisherman Hat on top of the suitcase, leaned over, grabbed it, and placed it over the Straw Bag.
Only after finishing this series of actions did she sneak a glance at Cheng Daichuan, who was putting the receiver back on the phone, and then sat down on the single bed, outwardly looking unbothered as she tried to ease a certain burning sensation inside.
Ruan Xi could swim; she had played in Outdoor Swimming Pools a few times with friends from her hometown, and she could wear a two-piece Swimsuit.
Who doesn’t want to look pretty?
She had bought herself two sets of Swimsuits—
One set had a puff-sleeve camisole top and a skirt for the bottom; the other had a cropped short-sleeve top and shorts for the bottom.
The Swimsuit Aunt Shang had given her looked even better. Ruan Xi really liked it, and she was willing to wear it to the Swimming Pool.
What made her feel a bit embarrassed was:
Wearing a nice Swimsuit and going to the Swimming Pool with someone she liked.
She thought she’d get used to it after a while, right?
If she just treated him as a good friend, she probably wouldn’t be so nervous, right?
It’s just a Swimsuit!
It’s just swimming with a good friend!
Ruan Xi, have a little backbone!
He’s your good friend!
She didn’t know where the Cruise Ship was at the moment.
A refreshing sea breeze puffed the curtains, and in the distance, she could see several fishing boats anchored in the endless blue.
Ruan Xi watched Cheng Daichuan take out Mineral Water from the fridge with an indifferent expression and asked, “Is it hot next to the laundry room?”
Cheng Daichuan said, “Stuffy.”
Ruan Xi let out an “Oh” and continued watching him.
Cheng Daichuan didn’t wait for the ice to arrive, tilted his head back, drank a few gulps of Mineral Water, and then looked at Ruan Xi: “What’s up?”
Ruan Xi’s two long, fair legs swung beneath her creamy-yellow skirt, her ankles so beautifully shaped they were almost enchanting, her slippers dangling off her feet.
She patted the hat and Straw Bag beside her and said cheerfully, “Waiting to head out with you～”
The Room Service Department was quick— barely two minutes after the call ended, someone was knocking at the door.
Cheng Daichuan, with a slight headache, pulled his gaze away from Ruan Xi’s ankles, went to open the door, and received a bucket of ice from the staff.
Ruan Xi also said she wanted iced water, taking out a Glass Cup: “Do you have anything you need to bring? There’s still some space in my bag.”
Cheng Daichuan poured ice into the Glass Cup, then said as he poured Mineral Water, “Yeah.”
Ruan Xi held out her hand: “Give it to me. Is it big? If it’s too big, it might not fit…”
Cheng Daichuan: “……”
He had actually seen Ruan Xi sneakily hiding her Swimsuit just now.
She kept a straight face, with an irresistible sweet scent about her, like a little crab chased by the tide— scurrying sideways, squeezing past him in a hurry…
The Guest Room was only about 20 square meters—how could he not notice?
Cheng Daichuan could pretty much guess Ruan Xi’s intentions—
She was afraid he’d get bored and start overthinking things about his family, so she made sure to fill up all their time.
Even if she didn’t really want to go to the Outdoor Swimming Pool, she’d grit her teeth and drag him along to experience every kind of entertainment facility on the Cruise Ship.
Could anyone do this much for a friend?
Ah, right, they’re good friends.
He didn’t even know whether he should feel happy about it.
Cheng Daichuan glanced at Ruan Xi and said lightly, “It doesn’t take up space— Swim Trunks.”
Ruan Xi’s outstretched hand froze in the air, and she suddenly felt a bit of ringing in her ears.
Her ears were buzzing like boiling water.
“Yeah, that doesn’t take up much space…”
Cheng Daichuan shook his head and let out a low laugh, placing the iced Glass Cup into Ruan Xi’s palm: “Just teasing you.”
Ruan Xi drank half a cup of iced water, her voice still small: “Your… Swim Trunks…”
“I’ll bring my own stuff.”
“Oh, okay.”
Before heading out, Ruan Xi hesitated a bit, standing in the Living Room with her Straw Bag, zoning out.
Cheng Daichuan noticed: “Ruan Xi.”
“Mm?”
“If you don’t want to go, you don’t have to force yourself.”
“No, I just…”
Cheng Daichuan tugged on Ruan Xi’s bag strap, signaling her to wait, then walked up to her, bent down, and looked her in the eyes: “Tell me, what’s bothering you?”
Ruan Xi’s cheeks were flushed as she blinked: “Um…Cheng Daichuan, are you really going to walk to the Swimming Pool in a Bathrobe?”
Cheng Daichuan raised his eyebrows in surprise: “……Ah, sure.”
So, they wore Bathrobes to take the Elevator.
And met others.
Some people, like them, wore Bathrobes out; some just wore Swimsuits, chatting and laughing openly with their companions…
Ruan Xi tugged at Cheng Daichuan’s Bathrobe sleeve: “Cheng Daichuan, it’s really nice to have you here.”
Cheng Daichuan lowered his head in response to Ruan Xi’s gesture, catching a whiff of the sweet scent on her—like osmanthus in all seasons: “How so?”
Ruan Xi smiled with her eyes, glancing at the white Bathrobes they were both wearing.
She said, with so many people on the Cruise Ship, if she were by herself, she probably wouldn’t have the nerve to go out dressed like this.
“It’s really great to have a good friend by your side, isn’t it? Cheng Daichuan.”
The Elevator arrived at their floor.
Cheng Daichuan rubbed his brow as he walked out: “Yeah.”
The previous bout of extreme weather had left everyone feeling cooped up; there were more passengers on this deck than on the first day, laughter filling every corner.
The setting sun was a bit harsh.
Ruan Xi found an empty lounge chair, put down her Straw Bag, shaded her brow, and turned her head: “Cheng Daichuan…”
Before she could finish, she saw Cheng Daichuan unhurriedly untying the Bathrobe belt…
The Bathrobe opened, revealing a hint of lean muscle.
She caught a glimpse of his supposedly firm abs, and…the Swim Trunks were black. She quickly looked away, flustered, at the clear ripples of the pool: “Wait, why are you undressing already!”
Cheng Daichuan draped his Bathrobe over the back of the lounge chair and asked calmly, “Otherwise, should I soak in the pool wearing a Bathrobe?”
“…True.”
Ruan Xi’s mind raced:
This was definitely the best time to take off her Bathrobe—while Cheng Daichuan was getting ready to enter the pool, she could do the same.
If she waited until he was already in, he’d definitely start paying attention to her every move…
She’d only get more nervous.
Blushing would be the least of her worries— after all, the sunset could cover that up. But if she started walking awkwardly…
That would be truly embarrassing.
Muttering “good friend, good friend” to herself, Ruan Xi also untied her Bathrobe, hurriedly folded the hot fabric, placed it next to the Straw Bag, grabbed the handrail, and stepped down the pool stairs.
The water was a bit cool, making Ruan Xi shiver and hunch her shoulders, a clear dip in her neckline matching her delicate collarbones—a little bit sexy.
She didn’t notice at all: “Cheng Daichuan, you can swim, right?”
“A little.”
According to Cheng Daichuan, Madam Shang had always been interested in all kinds of fun classes. She was too busy with her own gardening to have time, so she sent him to quite a few.
Ruan Xi, still standing on the pool steps, tried to make conversation to ease her nerves: “Can you backstroke?”
“No.”
Cheng Daichuan was almost at the center of the pool, turning his head: “Can you? Want to rent a Life Buoy?”
Ruan Xi asked: “Is the water deep over there by you?”
“1.5 meters. Further out, it’s 1.8 meters.”
“A bit deep, let’s rent one.”
Cheng Daichuan walked back to Ruan Xi: “Orange one?”
Ruan Xi glanced over: “Orange or lemon yellow is fine. Ah, the lemon yellow one is already taken, let’s go with orange.”
“Okay. What did you want to say before we came over?”
Ruan Xi almost forgot: “Oh, I wanted to get some Ice Cream. Do you want Ice Cream or a Cold Drink?”
“Cold Drink.”
Ruan Xi waded toward the side: “OK.”
Cheng Daichuan asked: “Can you go by yourself?”
Ruan Xi smiled: “It’s the shallow area, I’ll be fine. It’s not even a meter deep, and it’s all kids playing here.”
“Lots of people, be careful.”
Ruan Xi made a fist: “For a good friend, I’d go through fire and water, no problem.”
After talking to the staff, Cheng Daichuan, with his 1.86m height, stood in the 1.2-meter deep Swimming Pool, his arm hooked around a bright orange Life Buoy.
He leaned against the pool edge, ignoring the glances from others, and looked over in Ruan Xi’s direction.
Ruan Xi was just stepping from the 1.2-meter area into the Children’s Play Area.
There was a Sliding Board and Bubble Balls, with so many kids in colorful Swimsuits it made her dizzy.
Ruan Xi dodged a few kids splashing each other, smiled at them, and continued toward the Mobile Ice Cream Cart.
Her skin was fair, her waistline tight, and she was covered in glistening water droplets.
Her Swimsuit top was a tie-up style, the bow tied perfectly.
Two bow straps hung down from the back of her neck, dripping water.
The water trails on her back, tinted orange by the sunset, slid over her smooth skin…
Cheng Daichuan wondered how Ruan Xi managed to tie such a neat bow behind her neck by herself— she hadn’t asked for his help, after all.
Thinking of this, Cheng Daichuan’s mind paused for a moment.
Of course, she couldn’t ask him for help. He was just a good friend, not her boyfriend.
Ruan Xi had emphasized “good friend” quite a few times today.
Cheng Daichuan narrowed his eyes, feeling a bit fired up by that title.
Ruan Xi was now standing in front of the Ice Cream Cart, looking at the Menu Board for drinks and Ice Cream.
Even from behind, you could tell she was struggling to decide.