“Hello, do you have any rooms left?”
“Yes, we have some on the top floor.”
“I’ll take one.” Chen Zhaoyue handed over their ID cards, looking back while she waited for the receptionist to process the check-in.
On the hotel sofa, Lin Yiren was gently drying Xing Yao’s hair with a towel. Her long hair had been tousled by the wind, hanging down on one side and obscuring her face, her hair clip sitting crookedly.
“Your room is ready. Here is your key card. The elevator is right over there.”
“Thank you.”
Chen Zhaoyue put the ID cards back in her bag, walked over to the sofa, and sat down.
Outside the hotel, rain pelted the floor and buildings while the wind howled. It was a sudden summer downpour, bringing a humid scent to the island.
“Good thing we ran fast; only a few drops hit us,” Chen Zhaoyue said with a smile, lifting a small damp patch on her shoulder to show Lin Yiren.
“Mhm.” Lin Yiren looked up at the dark spot and forced a smile. The smile faded quickly as she picked up the hot water nearby, took a sip to check the temperature, and carefully fed it to Xing Yao.
Whenever they weren’t making eye contact, the corners of Lin Yiren’s mouth would droop. She thought her messy hair could hide her expression, but Chen Zhaoyue noticed it anyway.
She could probably guess what was wrong.
‘How can I let Yiren know that I don’t mind these little hiccups during the trip?’ Chen Zhaoyue sighed to herself.
‘Maybe I should just confess and then do something fun to drown out her worries.’ The bold thought suddenly jumped out from her heart, ringing in her ears.
‘No, no, now isn’t a good time.’ She shook her head, dismissing the idea. Chen Zhaoyue twirled a strand of her hair, several plans flashing through her mind.
Just then, Lin Yiren stood up and said, “Let’s go up.”
Chen Zhaoyue looked up at her, seeing her delicate face in full again, glowing with a soft luster under the white overhead lights.
“Pfft,” Chen Zhaoyue suddenly burst into laughter, the corners of her upturned eyes trembling slightly.
“What is it?” Lin Yiren looked at her and then at herself, a confused expression on her face.
“No, it’s nothing. I just thought of something happy.” Chen Zhaoyue waved her hand and stood up before Lin Yiren could ask further. They packed their things and took the elevator upstairs with their daughter.
‘What could there possibly be to be happy about?’ Lin Yiren muttered to herself. Even though she couldn’t hear the whistling wind outside anymore, she could imagine the curtain of rain falling, likely covering the soft, golden beach in a layer of dark, muddy clothes.
***
Chen Zhaoyue naturally wasn’t thinking of some monumental news; she was laughing at herself.
If she wanted Yiren to know, she should just say it. Expressing herself and offering comfort — wasn’t that what she was good at?
Chen Zhaoyue looked at Lin Yiren’s jade-like profile, from her distant mountain-like eyebrows to the tip of her elegant nose, and down to her cherry-colored lips. She cared too much, like she was carefully protecting a piece of fine porcelain, which had made her lose sight of that simple question for a moment.
She laughed in spite of herself.
*Ding.*
The elevator doors opened, and they walked into the room. They turned on the lights, and the white glow illuminated the spacious area.
Lin Yiren walked to the window and pulled back the curtain. Their window faced the beach, where several green trees were swaying in the rain. She pursed her lips, closed the curtain, and turned back to organize their things.
They had originally planned to take the ferry back tonight, so even their clothes and toiletries were newly purchased. Thinking of this, Lin Yiren’s eyes dimmed again.
Switching on the warm yellow light in the bathroom, they helped Xing Yao bathe first. The little girl didn’t seem to care about the sudden rain. She was perfectly satisfied that her pink piggy balloon had been brought back safely to the hotel. She laughed happily during the bath, splashing droplets of water onto Lin Yiren’s chest.
Once a fragrant Xing Yao climbed into bed, Lin Yiren said to Chen Zhaoyue, “You go wash first.”
“Alright, I’ll be quick.” Chen Zhaoyue went in with her clothes and, as promised, came out after a short while.
However, Xing Yao, who was exhausted after playing for nearly a whole day, had fallen asleep before her Mummy could come out. Lin Yiren lay on her side next to her, leaving only a small bedside lamp on.
“Your turn,” Chen Zhaoyue said with a smile, her voice very soft.
Clutching the newly bought clothes, Lin Yiren walked into the bathroom and closed the door, creating a private space. She slowly sat on the toilet, letting her frustration out without reservation.
It was terrible. If they had been any later, they would have been soaked to the bone.
Fear and worry spread like water. Would Chen Zhaoyue be disappointed? Would she be tired? Would she… be unhappy?
Lin Yiren stroked the white stockings on her legs, the thin layer faintly revealing her skin. Chen Zhaoyue’s expression from this morning was still burned into her mind, along with the smiles along the way, and those sparkling eyes…
Everything was ruined. Lin Yiren pulled the hair clip from her head, tossed it onto the vanity, and pulled off her stockings. Her dress and short-sleeved shirt were all cast aside. She turned on the shower, and hot water poured down from her head.
Her heart was in a mess. ‘Would coming out naked make up for it?’ Lin Yiren looked down at herself, her thoughts running wild and aimless.
‘What am I thinking? How perverted.’ She felt that she was projecting too much gloom onto Chen Zhaoyue and quickly pushed the strange thought to the back of her mind.
***
Turning off the shower, she got dressed and headed out.
The room was dim, the only light source being the bedside lamp she had turned on earlier. One side of Chen Zhaoyue’s face was illuminated by the soft light, making her magnificent peach-blossom eyes look exceptionally gentle. Once Lin Yiren came out, Chen Zhaoyue’s gaze fixed on her, making her feel inexplicably nervous.
Chen Zhaoyue got up from the bed and walked straight over, reaching over Lin Yiren’s shoulder to feel her damp hair.
“Didn’t blow-dry your hair?”
“I was just about to get the dryer.” Lin Yiren leaned back slightly.
“I’ll help you. Let’s go to the living area.” Before Lin Yiren could say anything, Chen Zhaoyue grabbed the hairdryer and headed to the living room.
Lin Yiren could sense that Chen Zhaoyue had something to say. She followed obediently, as if she were about to face a trial.
The hairdryer was set to the lowest setting. Chen Zhaoyue lifted Lin Yiren’s long hair, her fingertips gliding through the strands with tenderness.
“Yiren.”
“Here.” Lin Yiren straightened her back.
“Hmph,” Chen Zhaoyue chuckled at her reaction. “Why are you so tense?”
“Because… today I… this evening we were supposed to eat on the beach, go to the music festival, and watch the ocean at night from the ferry.” The mellow voice and gentle fingertips made her sink into Chen Zhaoyue’s tenderness, causing her to unconsciously pour out her thoughts and emotions.
“But now — ” Lin Yiren looked down and tugged at the clothes bought from a nearby shop. “Zhao Yue, do you feel…”
“I’m very happy.” The sound of the hairdryer stopped abruptly. Chen Zhaoyue wrapped her arms around her from behind, resting her head on her shoulder. “From this morning, or rather, from the moment the trip started until now, I’ve been very happy.”
The soft voice was right against her ear, but Lin Yiren didn’t feel nervous like usual. It felt as if she were sinking into the softness of cotton; the heartstrings that had been pulled tight over the past few days suddenly relaxed.
“If anything, I’m sure I’ll be happy for the next few days as well.”
Lin Yiren turned her head, her eyes filled with confusion.
“Yiren, the most important thing about a trip is making memories. Eating our first meal here together, walking through Lantern Alley, buying a conch, laughing, and… running back together like we did before the rain started. Whether things go smoothly or not, it’s all wonderful.”
As Chen Zhaoyue said this, something occurred to her, and her tone took on a light, amused quality. “I still remember how you looked running against the wind. I was holding Xing Yao, and we were in such a rush, yet she was so happy. She probably thought we were racing. Thinking back on it now, I just feel so refreshed.”
Lin Yiren listened blankly, the surroundings briefly losing focus, leaving only the movement of Chen Zhaoyue’s red lips.
“Really?”
“Of course it’s true. Do you dare to doubt me?” Chen Zhaoyue placed her hand on her cheek, giving it a tug and then a rub.
“No, no! Hey — ” Lin Yiren covered her cheeks with both hands, but laughter spilled out of her mouth anyway, forcing her to press her lips tight.
The person in her arms had let go of her worries, and her overall aura became soft. Chen Zhaoyue also smiled with relief, letting go of Lin Yiren to restart the hairdryer and continue drying her hair.
“Did you used to worry about every little thing during your previous trips too?” Chen Zhaoyue gathered the ends of the hair and directed the warm air toward them.
“No.” Lin Yiren shook her head. When she traveled with friends before and ran into trouble, she would just go to the hotel and sleep.
“Then why were you so worried this time?” Chen Zhaoyue felt like teasing her again.
“Because I’m with you.”
*Thump.* Chen Zhaoyue’s heart skipped a beat, and a faint blush rose to her face.
“…And with Xing Yao,” Lin Yiren added weakly.