Three or five floating bridges extended from the shore to the Jiangxin Pavilion, with tourists swaying back and forth to take photos.
Chen Zhaoyue pulled Xingyao’s hand as they walked to the edge of the pavilion, picked up the child, and leaned against the railing, striking a pose.
The radiance of youth and the gentleness of motherhood appeared together on her, drawing the attention of many passersby.
Lin Yiren fiddled nervously with the camera, searching for the right angle.
“Click.” She earnestly took a photo, capturing their smiles in that moment.
So beautiful.
In the photo, Chen Zhaoyue laughed freely, yet her gaze fell gently upon Xingyao.
Lin Yiren had once dreamed of photographing a girl she liked, and her heart began to beat a little faster. Did she like Miss Chen?
Chen Zhaoyue was beautiful and accomplished, gentle and attentive, and had helped her so much. Even though she sometimes made Lin Yiren do embarrassing things on a whim, she couldn’t control her heartbeat whenever she got close to Miss Chen.
But could Chen Zhaoyue possibly like her?
A shadow once again clouded Lin Yiren’s eyes.
If Chen Zhaoyue liked boys, she was no longer a boy. If Chen Zhaoyue liked girls, she herself couldn’t truly count as a girl. It felt like she was trapped in a dark space between the two, losing the upbringing of twenty years as a boy and unable to fit into the world of girls.
The feelings that had sprouted in her heart also peeled back the worries she’d hidden deep inside, making her movements slow and tinged with bitterness.
“Mommy, let’s take a photo together!” The sound of little footsteps ran over.
Lin Yiren stared blankly at Lin Xingyao tugging at her clothes.
A sudden breeze swept across the river, ruffling the child’s hair and blowing Lin Yiren’s bangs off her forehead, revealing her eyes.
The sorrow in her gaze was dispelled, replaced by happiness.
But if it weren’t for this fateful encounter, there wouldn’t be Xingyao, and she’d never have met Chen Zhaoyue.
***
Following the child’s wishes, the three of them stood together.
Chen Zhaoyue looked thoughtfully at Lin Yiren, then suddenly scooped up Xingyao, pulled Lin Yiren by the shoulder, and the three pressed close together, utterly intimate.
“Take a picture.”
Lin Yiren immediately felt her face heat up, and the places where they touched seemed to burn.
She quickly took a selfie of them, then broke away. “Don’t be so close.”
“We’re all girls anyway.”
“I’m not…”
“Girls are the cutest—soft and fragrant.”
Lin Yiren’s throat bobbed as she watched Miss Chen’s mischievous smile.
Could she really be that kind of girl?
Her thoughts spun in dizzying circles. She shook her head and decided to bury everything deep inside.
***
They reached the shore and boarded the boat.
“Everyone, please take a raincoat, put on your life jackets, and board in an orderly manner.”
Lin Yiren’s small ears twitched in confusion—why did they need raincoats?
Her question was soon answered.
The young lady in charge of handing them out brightened up when she saw them.
Wow, such a young, beautiful mother.
She handed a small raincoat to Xingyao, then said to Lin Yiren, “Sorry, the adult raincoats are all gone.”
“Why do we need raincoats?”
“You’ll pass under a little waterfall ahead and might get wet, but lots of people choose not to wear them. There’s also a changing area at the exit.” The girl patiently explained, and told them they’d have to wait for the next batch of raincoats if they wanted one.
While Lin Yiren was still hesitating, Chen Zhaoyue simply grabbed her and Xingyao and boarded the boat.
“Don’t worry, I brought extra clothes.”
But wait, didn’t I leave my own clothes…
Before Lin Yiren could think further, she was pressed down into her seat, with Chen Zhaoyue sitting next to her, hugging Xingyao.
The boat slowly set off.
The lush green mountains all around quickly drew everyone’s attention.
“Mom, look, a bird!” Lin Xingyao sat in Chen Zhaoyue’s lap, craning her neck excitedly.
Chen Zhaoyue couldn’t get enough of her chubby cheeks, glancing outside and answering softly.
Lin Yiren leaned back comfortably, watching the interactions by her side with a relaxed smile.
But just then, a loud voice rang out: “We’re coming up on the waterfall!”
Lin Yiren turned her head and saw clear streams falling from the mountains, forming a transparent curtain of water.
“Waaah!”
Screams erupted from up ahead.
The water fell in crisscrossing patterns, showering a lucky portion of the audience.
Lin Yiren watched people up front laughing together, and before she could react, the water was upon them.
She used her hand to shield Xingyao’s little head and saw that Miss Chen’s hair had been soaked on one side. Chen Zhaoyue shrank to the side.
“Haha… ahh!” Before she could laugh, a burst of water swept across her body, soaking her shoulder and thigh in an instant—she’d gotten the worst of it.
“Ahaha.” Xingyao giggled gleefully under her hand.
“You little rascal…” She poked Xingyao’s dimples but couldn’t help showing a smile herself.
The boat sailed onward; the Valley Entrance was not far away now.
But… as soon as they got ashore, Lin Yiren felt awkward.
The mountain spring water had soaked through her shoulder and thigh, sending a chilly shiver across her skin.
It was especially close to some rather sensitive areas, and Lin Yiren hugged her shoulders uncomfortably.
Good thing I wore black today.
At that moment, a pair of hands draped a sun-protective jacket over her from behind.
“Don’t catch a cold.”
“Mm…” Feeling Miss Chen’s gentle care, she nodded, cheeks flushing.
But the next words shattered her gentle filter: “Go take off your clothes.”
The ambiguous suggestion sent a wave of heat rushing through Lin Yiren. She tried to wave her away and escape: “I’ll change in the car.”
Quick as lightning, Miss Chen grabbed her arm and dragged her off.
“Xingyao, come along.”
***
There were changing rooms for tourists at the Valley Entrance, the men’s and women’s separated by some distance.
Lin Yiren watched helplessly as she was pulled into the women’s changing room.
A wave of humidity hit her as they entered. Inside, plenty of girls were already changing clothes, and the air rang with crisp chatter.
Unable to resist a peek, Lin Yiren caught sight of a girl swiftly pulling off her top, exposing a swath of pale waist and shoulder.
A rush of heat swept over her face, and she immediately lowered her head, clinging to Miss Chen’s clothes as if they were a lifeline.
She couldn’t help feeling a little inferior—even if she had what they did, she still felt like a hidden voyeur among them.
She stole a glance at Chen Zhaoyue’s expression, worried she’d make a bad impression.
But Chen Zhaoyue covered her mouth and laughed, “Why are you so shy?”
Miss Chen led them to sit down, changed Xingyao’s clothes, and turned to see Lin Yiren still dragging her feet with her head down.
Her eyes narrowed, and a sly grin suddenly appeared.
Lin Yiren, keeping her gaze low, didn’t dare move as pale long legs passed by nearby. Then she heard Miss Chen’s voice, sweet as a celestial song: “Since you’re so shy, I’ll help you change, then.”
Lin Yiren had no energy left to resist, but something felt off—she was about to shake her head.
But Chen Zhaoyue said, “Or is it that you actually want to look?”
That completely broke Lin Yiren’s last defenses. She closed her eyes and did whatever Chen Zhaoyue instructed.
“All right, lift your butt a bit.”
She felt a pair of hands slipping off her pants, her thighs exposed to the cool air.
Instinctively, Lin Yiren tried to cover herself.
Then something smooth and cold began sliding onto her foot.
Wait a minute, this doesn’t feel like pants.
Lin Yiren’s eyes flew open and saw a pair of slender, pale hands pulling a black, ultra-thin stocking up her leg.
“Why is it stockings?!”
Lin Yiren’s voice rose uncontrollably, and a flush swept from her cheeks down her neck. People around turned to stare at the girl wearing only a shirt and stockings, steam nearly rising from her head.
But Chen Zhaoyue ignored them, quickly pulling the stocking up to her thigh, then letting go with a snap—the stocking squeezing her soft thigh into a dimple.
Lin Yiren jumped in surprise, grabbing Miss Chen’s hands to stop her from putting on the other stocking.
But her hands weren’t doing much to block.
Chen Zhaoyue grinned recklessly. “If you don’t wear both, you don’t get to wear the skirt.”
So it’s a skirt, not pants?!
Lin Yiren tried to find her previous pants, but they’d vanished.
She realized Chen Zhaoyue hadn’t brought her own clothes at all—the outfit before her must have been prepared by her at some earlier point. She couldn’t believe Miss Chen had even packed this for a mountain outing.
Lin Yiren resigned herself and closed her eyes.
With her cheeks tinged shyly, the girl sat with her eyes closed, dressed in only a few garments. Chen Zhaoyue feasted her eyes on the sight, slowly helping Lin Yiren finish getting dressed.