Chapter 24 (1/2): Date

Accept what…..

Accept her “pursuit,” so does that mean they’re officially boyfriend and girlfriend?

That fast?

Is that normal?!

Xia Yu suddenly felt awkward and flustered, but deep down, she was eager to try.

That day, she had sworn to herself not to live a conventional, obedient, and ordinary life.

So what if she went a little wild for once…..

Fully geared up in her protective equipment, Xu Baiyan stood up and lightly patted her head: “Go give it a try.”

After a pause, he added, “Girlfriend?”

Xia Yu’s ears flushed bright red, but she didn’t want to argue.

She hastily glanced at him: “I’m going!”

Xu Baiyan’s lips curved slightly: “Mm.”

Inside the venue, there was a long track called the Pump Track.

It resembled a frozen ocean wave, requiring one to follow the undulating rhythm and coordinate the whole body to accelerate.

After practicing for a while in the Beginner Area, Xia Yu wanted to try this track.

Xu Baiyan agreed and explained how to move along this kind of terrain.

After finishing the explanation, he demonstrated several moves for her.

Xia Yu noticed that when it came to formal teaching, Xu Baiyan would return to the serious, focused, and slightly strict attitude he had when teaching her surfing before.

“Don’t stiffen your feet, watch out for the fourth slope.”

After a few attempts, Xia Yu gradually mastered the techniques for this track.

Xu Baiyan stayed by her side, occasionally giving directions.

Following his advice, Xia Yu looked ahead, took a deep breath, pressed her front foot on the nose of the board, and pushed off with her back foot.

Her strength was still insufficient; she had to put in all her energy when going over the slopes.

Luckily, this time she succeeded.

The wheels caught the momentum and shot high, crossing several slopes before rapidly descending.

The downhill speed was a bit too fast, and Xia Yu’s adrenaline surged sharply, with no sign of slowing down.

Tonight, she was truly wild, no matter how you looked at it.

Riding that speed, she slightly bent her body, preparing to rush down a big slope.

“Bang!”

Suddenly, someone grabbed her waist from behind.

She was lifted off the ground, and the land surfboard flew out directly.

“You’ve got some nerve.”

Xu Baiyan’s voice came from behind her, breath uneven, clearly having rushed over at high speed.

Xia Yu curled up like a shrimp in his arms, startled, then turned to look at him: “What’s wrong?! Why did you stop me?”

Xu Baiyan slowed the board under his feet and stopped in place: “Didn’t I just tell you to slow down after that slope? But you sped up instead. At this rate, you’re going to fall on the next slope.”

Only then did Xia Yu realize, “I thought I could handle it…”

“It’s dangerous. You’re not ready for this yet.”

“Fine.”

Seeing the obvious regret on her face, Xu Baiyan softened and said, “Practice more and get familiar with it before trying those difficult moves.”

Once the thrill faded, Xia Yu straightened her bent legs, only to realize that even when stretched out, her legs were still suspended off the ground—she couldn’t stand.

Looking down, she saw Xu Baiyan had lifted her with one hand, holding her waist firmly.

The effort made the lines of his stubble sharp and rugged; the tendons subtly bulged, almost revealing the wildness beneath.

Her ears suddenly burned.

She whispered softly, “You can put me down now.”

Xu Baiyan finally exhaled deeply. If he hadn’t accelerated to catch up, he probably would have seen her fall right in front of him.

He released her and set her down on the ground.

“Want to rest?”

“Sure.”

The two walked over to sit down.

Xia Yu took out a thermos from her bag and just as she opened the lid, she suddenly remembered something and quickly handed it to Xu Baiyan.

“Try it.”

Noticing the look he gave her, she immediately added, “It’s pure milk tea, I haven’t had it before.”

Xu Baiyan smiled gently.

“If you can drink it, so can I.”

Xia Yu hesitated, then, sensing his hesitation, stuffed the cup into his hand, “You drink first…”

She insisted, so Xu Baiyan didn’t argue.

He twisted off the warm yellow lid and took two sips.

Not far away, Haohau and the others were having a great time.

Xia Yu and Xu Baiyan sat side by side, not knowing where to look, so their gaze fell on them.

“Watching what?”

Xu Baiyan had finished his drink and returned the cup to her.

Xia Yu took it and said, “Watching Haohau and the others. They were already here when we arrived. I’m so tired from playing, but they’re still out there surfing. Such stamina.”

Xu Baiyan glanced at her: “Ever thought maybe you’re the one with poor stamina?”

Xia Yu smiled shyly, “I’m okay now, right?”

“Only a little better than when you first started surfing.”

Only a little?

She already felt she was doing great now.

Slightly dissatisfied, Xia Yu tilted her head back and took two sips of water.

Xu Baiyan kept looking at her quietly, then suddenly asked, “Where’d you buy this cup?”

“This? Near the school last semester. Why?”

Xu Baiyan smiled suddenly.

Xia Yu was puzzled, staring at her cup again, “Is something wrong?”

“Nothing wrong,” Xu Baiyan said slowly, “I just think it’s kind of… cute.”

Xia Yu froze, tilting her head to look at him.

He was looking at her, clearly talking about the cup, but his eyes gave off the strange impression that he was actually saying the cup’s owner was cute.

Damn… her ears burned again.

A night breeze blew, lifting her hair, and Xia Yu quickly pressed it down, trying to hide the flushed parts of her face.

“Bang!”

Not far off, someone attempted an Air Grab 360, failed, and their board hit the ground with a loud noise.

Xia Yu looked over and stammered, “You… you just taught me all night and barely surfed yourself. Do you want to go have some fun now?”

“What’s fun alone?”

Xu Baiyan stood up.

“You’re tired too. I’ll take you back.”

Xia Yu instinctively wanted to refuse since the homestay was nearby.

But then she thought, given their current relationship, maybe she shouldn’t refuse?

“Haohau.”

At that moment, Xu Baiyan raised his hand to call over the little boy from a distance, then bent down to take off Xia Yu’s protective gear around her waist and handed it to him.

“Brother Qi, are you leaving?”

“Yes.”

“Wait, I have a few moves I want to ask you about.”

“Next time, I have things today.”

“What things?”

“I’m taking this sister home.”

Xu Baiyan picked up Xia Yu’s bag from the ground with one hand and opened the other palm in front of her.

“Let’s go.”

Xia Yu froze, looking at his hand, then up at him.

He gestured for her to place her hand in his.

Haohau yelled, “Ew, you’re showing off!”

“Kids, stay out of it. Go play yourselves.”

Xu Baiyan didn’t wait for Xia Yu’s hesitation, taking her hand and leading her toward the exit.

Night had long fallen, and people stepping on boards came and went.

Xu Baiyan held Xia Yu’s hand and steered them aside, avoiding the incoming crowd.

Xia Yu lagged a step behind, and her hand instinctively clung to his.

This was probably the first time in her life she’d been properly held by a boy’s hand.

Not just the wrist or arm, but their fingers intertwined.

She could hear her heart pounding wildly against her ribs.

All night, it had been like an untiring little beast.

She secretly took two deep breaths to calm herself and adapt to this closeness.

“I’m actually not in a hurry to go back. You could’ve taught Haohau just now.”

She spoke, trying to shift the focus.

Xu Baiyan: “No mood to teach.”

Xia Yu looked up, hearing him say calmly, “Today’s for dating, not for real coaching.”

“Oh right, if I remember correctly, you’re off tomorrow.”

“Yes, a day off.”

“Wanna go on a date?”

He turned to look at her.

Caught off guard, Xia Yu swallowed and asked, “Where… on a date?”

Xu Baiyan thought for a moment.

He wasn’t experienced in these things, but having never seen a pig run after eating pork, he naturally knew that going out with a girl meant going on a proper date.

“There’s a movie showing recently that’s pretty good. We can watch that. What do you think?”

Her palms were slightly sweaty. Xia Yu quietly agreed, “I think… whatever is fine.”

Ah, watching a movie.

So sudden, so simple.

Were they really together just like that?

Xu Baiyan: “Then I’ll pick you up tomorrow.”

Xia Yu: “Mm.”

But she could accept it, even… somewhat looked forward to it.

Another restless night.

Every time she closed her eyes, the images of today with Xu Baiyan filled her mind.

Xia Yu hardly believed how, in just two days, their relationship had suddenly changed.

She barely had the courage to face it.

But this feeling was really not bad at all.

Every heartbeat with Xu Baiyan moved her.

This was probably what she had always wanted—a day that was neither ordinary nor boring…

The result of staying up late was that she barely got out of bed by ten the next day.

They had agreed to watch the movie at three in the afternoon and planned to have lunch together first.