On Saturday morning, sunlight streamed through the hospital window, casting bright spots on the floor.
Chu You had already changed out of her hospital gown, wearing a simple T-shirt and long pants, her face carrying a rare expression of ease after these past days.
Lin Mo, having finished the discharge procedures, leaned against the door, watching her pack the pitifully few belongings she had, a faint, indiscernible smile playing at his lips.
“Finally, we can leave this place that reeks of disinfectant.”
Chu You took a deep breath, as if trying to expel all the medicinal smells left in her lungs, then impatiently pulled the somewhat reserved Xia Ji to her side, “Come on, last time we didn’t get to have any fun because of what happened. This time, we’ll make up for everything!”
“Okay…”
Xia Ji nodded obediently, her eyes shining with expectation.
Half an hour later.
Lin Mo’s car, which looked uncannily like an old Santana from a previous life, cruised steadily down the road leading to the outskirts.
With the window rolled down, the salty sea breeze poured in, tangling Chu You’s long hair and blowing away the last trace of illness between her brows.
Soon, they arrived at their first stop.
The seaside hunting grounds outside the city—the place where Gu Qiancheng had once set up Lin Mo.
After settling down in Bin Hai, Chu You had also been here a few times.
At this moment, she stood at the edge of a fishing boat, mimicking the boat captain as she threw the fishing net in a practiced arc.
Xia Ji, on the other hand, looked a bit flustered, clutching a green round bucket and staring at the live, wriggling mantis shrimp and crabs inside, her face full of resistance.
“Youjie…”
“I can’t do it. I’ve been afraid of these things since I was a kid!”
Xia Ji put down the bucket and hid on the other side of Chu You, saying aggrievedly.
This scene made Chu You burst into laughter.
“Pffft, hahaha… Don’t worry, just watch me! You only have one task today—eat, eat, eat!”
On the other side, Lin Mo glanced over with a fishing rod in hand, the corner of his mouth curving in an almost invisible smile.
Fishing and crabbing at sea was best at certain times and seasons.
By around eleven in the morning, the catch noticeably dwindled, and Chu You and Xia Ji, tired from playing, discussed with the boat owner and decided to head back.
Lunch was settled at the open-air restaurant of the seaside hunting grounds.
The seafood, freshly caught from the sea, was simply steamed or boiled, dipped in special sauces—so fresh and sweet it made you want to swallow your tongue along with it.
Chu You ate without any image to uphold, sucking on freshly peeled crab legs as she mumbled, “A thousand times better than the bland hospital food!”
By the time they left the hunting grounds and returned to the city, it was already past two in the afternoon.
After some whispering between Chu You and Xia Ji, they decided on their next destination: the mall, to watch a movie!
The recent blockbuster, , was all the rage.
They still remembered how the cosplay shop next to the amusement park was packed last time.
The three of them drove straight to the sixth floor of the largest mall in Bin Hai—all of it occupied by the cinema.
The movie was quite decent.
Aside from the slightly rough plot and a few too many setting bugs, it was overall a top-notch popcorn flick.
It was just that the male lead’s snarky, infuriating personality made Chu You lean in close to Lin Mo and whisper, “This guy gives me total Gu Qiancheng vibes at first glance!”
Lin Mo, hearing this, looked carefully at the male lead on the screen, who was showing off in front of everyone and running his mouth nonstop, then nodded in deep agreement.
After the movie, Chu You was still in high spirits, dragging Xia Ji straight to the commercial district downstairs.
In a tastefully decorated girls’ clothing store, her gaze was drawn to a white dress adorned with tiny flowers.
“Try this on.”
Without giving Xia Ji a chance to refuse, Chu You stuffed the dress into her arms and pushed her into the fitting room.
When Xia Ji shyly came out wearing the dress, Chu You’s eyes lit up and she immediately went into praise mode.
“Wow! Xia Ji, you look amazing!”
“This color really suits your skin!”
“The waistline is just right, makes your legs look so long!”
“Turn around, let me see… Perfect! This one’s it!”
A barrage of compliments rained down, making Xia Ji blush so hard it seemed blood would drip from her face, her head lowered, fingers nervously twisting the hem of the skirt.
By nature, she didn’t know how to refuse people, especially not Chu You, whom she regarded as a friend.
“This is my gift to you,” Chu You said, eyebrows dancing as she dragged Xia Ji out, not giving her the chance to change back.
“Next time, you get something for me!”
As the sun set.
Lin Mo’s old car slowly stopped by the roadside outside Bin Hai Park.
The sunset dyed the sky a warm orange-red, the clouds edged with gold.
Chu You and Xia Ji, in her new dress, got out one after another and entered the park, walking up the winding path toward the hillside.
The view from the top was spectacular.
You could see the glittering sea in the distance and the sun slowly sinking into the horizon.
A gentle breeze carried the scent of grass mixed with the distant sea.
Xia Ji gazed quietly at the scenery for a long moment before speaking softly, her voice tinged with an almost imperceptible longing, “This place is wonderful… If only I could always see such beautiful views.”
Hearing this, Chu You slowly closed her eyes, tilted her chin slightly, letting the evening breeze brush past her face, the corners of her mouth lifting into a free-spirited smile.
“If you never get tired of it, we can come here every week.”
Xia Ji was stunned, turning to look at her.
Chu You opened her eyes and looked back at her, her smile widening, her tone serious: “Shopping together, playing together, eating delicious food together, chatting together… Xia Ji, I’m your friend.”
She paused, then emphasized, “You can drag me to do anything you like, anything you want to do… even those crazy ideas that suddenly pop into your head.”
Xia Ji was still processing those words, her eyes a little dazed.
Chu You blinked, then suddenly reached out, pinching Xia Ji’s soft cheek with her fingers before briskly turning away and heading higher up the slope.
“Don’t zone out! Come on, let’s go higher—I heard there’s a famous Wishing Stone in Bin Hai Park? Let’s go make a wish!”
Watching Chu You’s energetic figure, Xia Ji finally realized the meaning behind her words.
A warm current surged in her heart, and her lips curved upward as she hurried after her. “Wait for me, Youjie!”
At the highest point of the park.
A strangely shaped, brown boulder stood in the center, densely covered with red slips of paper, each filled with wishes.
Beside it stood a wooden table with red paper and pens.
This was a nonprofit wishing spot set up by the park administration.
Chu You approached, picked up a red slip and a pen, and handed them to Xia Ji. “Here, this is for you.”
Then she picked up another slip for herself, grabbed a pen, and, without hesitation, wrote swiftly and boldly.
…
[May I be happy every day, may Xia Ji be safe and joyful, may Lin Mo’s Oracle go silent and turn into a Muggle so I can have him firmly in my grasp!!!り
After she finished writing, she held it up to inspect it, nodded in satisfaction, then tiptoed up and carefully stuck the red slip in a conspicuous spot on the Wishing Stone.
After all that, she peeked curiously at Xia Ji on the other side.
“Are you done with your wish?”
Xia Ji had just capped her pen and nodded lightly.
“Mm, I’m done.”
The two of them walked to the fence at the edge of the hill, leaning against it to continue admiring the magnificent, golden sunset.
Suddenly, Chu You spread her arms wide and shouted at the gradually darkening sky, “Heavens—come on, it’s time for work! Make sure to fulfill my three wishes!”
She deliberately emphasized her words, a sly smile on her face.
“Especially the third one! Take it seriously, did you hear me!”
This unexpected action startled Xia Ji, then she couldn’t help it and burst into laughter.
Chu You turned to look at her—the golden-red light outlining Xia Ji’s profile, the white floral dress fluttering gently in the breeze, making her look exceptionally bright and gentle.
With a slight tilt of her head, she asked, “What is it?”
Xia Ji pursed her lips in a smile and asked in a small voice, “…But Youjie, can you really make three wishes at once?”
Chu You squinted and nodded righteously.
“Is there a rule that says you can’t?” Xia Ji hesitated and shook her head.
“Then that’s settled!”
Chu You laughed even brighter, raising a hand to gently smooth Xia Ji’s wind-tossed hair.
“Remember, going all in is a kind of wisdom!”
She paused, moved closer, lowered her voice, and asked curiously, “So, what did you wish for?”
Xia Ji pursed her lips, shaking her head softly.
“If I say it… it won’t come true.”
“Oh? You actually believe that?”
Chu You raised an eyebrow.
Xia Ji shook her head again, her voice very light.
“I don’t believe… but I want to believe.”
Hearing that, Chu You didn’t press further, turning her gaze back to the distance.
After a moment of silence, she slowly spoke, her voice turning gentle.
“Looking at the scenery like this, it’s really beautiful, isn’t it?”
She raised her hand, pointing at the clouds colored by the evening glow.
“Xia Ji, let me teach you a little trick—when you’re feeling down, just look up at the clouds, see what shapes they make, see what they remind you of… It really works.”
Xia Ji followed her gaze, softly replying, “Mm.”
Where her eyes fell, the drifting clouds changed shape endlessly, like a toppled palette—brilliant and gentle.
For a moment, she was lost in thought, murmuring softly to herself…
“It really is… beautiful.”
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