On a rainy night, the school beauty knocked on my door and asked for shelter

"There are crabs and seashells over there! Get moving!" Zhao Yueyue saw that they were on a beach vacation, but the two of them were still lying on the sand. How could their relationship be progressing? It was just like being in school. So she immediately called out to them.

Seeing Zhao Yueyue and Huang Mao excitedly searching through the shallow puddle as if they had discovered a treasure, Chen Mo and Su Yuqing exchanged a smile, got up one after another, patted the fine sand off their clothes, and walked in the direction Zhao Yueyue pointed.

Following the area where the reefs and shallows intersected, I indeed saw some sand crabs, about the size of a fingernail, crawling sideways, as well as seashells of various shapes washed ashore by the waves.

Sunlight filters through the clear seawater, casting shimmering spots of light on the sandy bottom, where tiny schools of fish dart about.

Wearing only a swimsuit, Su Yuqing strolled along the beach side by side with Chen Mo, her bare feet sinking into the cool seawater, feeling the fine sand slip through her toes. This experience was both novel and filled with a sweet thrill for her.

The sea breeze caressed her skin without any obstruction, bringing a sense of freedom and making her clearly aware of the infinitely close physical distance between them.

As they walked, the two naturally grew closer.

Occasionally, an unintentional brush between the arms would send a subtle electric current through the air.

Su Yuqing could smell the scent on him, a mixture of sunshine, seawater, and his unique, refreshing aroma.

It seems that all that's missing between them is a trigger, and they can naturally start holding hands.

"ah."

Su Yuqing's scream was accompanied by a small sand crab fleeing in panic.

The little creature appeared out of nowhere and quickly crawled over her bare instep.

She instinctively took a step back, but the slippery sand beneath her feet made her lose her balance.

Chen Mo reacted quickly, smiling as he reached out and firmly supported her arm and waist. The moment their fingertips touched, they both felt a surge of excitement spreading from the point of contact.

Su Yuqing could clearly feel the warmth and strong support from his palm.

"Be careful." Chen Mo's voice was tinged with laughter. His gaze lingered for a moment on the conspicuous area where Su Yuqing had swayed uncontrollably due to her large movements, before immediately shifting to her cheeks, which were flushed with fright and embarrassment.

However, Zhao Yueyue's jeers and Huang Mao's snickers could already be heard, and other tourists nearby also cast kind, smiling glances at them.

Su Yuqing's cheeks burned even hotter, and the two separated almost simultaneously as if they had been electrocuted.

The next second, the two of them tacitly and casually bent down, pretending to be very interested in an ordinary scallop shell in the sand.

"Well, this seashell has a rather unique pattern." Chen Mo picked it up and examined it with great seriousness.

"Mmm...yes." Su Yuqing quickly echoed, though her heart was still pounding.

Despite their intimate physical contact in public, Chen Mo appeared completely at ease, but Su Yuqing felt a lingering heat on her cheeks, and her embarrassment made her subconsciously pull away a little further.

The group of eight spent the entire morning having a great time on the beach.

Zhou Hao and Lin Yu'an tried snorkeling in a slightly deeper area. Although their skills were still rudimentary, they were both quite excited when they saw the small schools of fish.

Qu Danwan and Zhao Yuanyuan were more reserved. They sat under the parasol, sipping their iced drinks while keeping an eye on the person who had caught their attention. Occasionally, when they looked up, they would exchange knowing smiles.

Huang Mao fully displayed his lively and playful nature, always secretly finding opportunities to splash water on Zhao Yueyue and play pranks on her, which drew constant laughter and scolding.

After the "crab incident," Chen Mo and Su Yuqing became somewhat distant again, but the subtle atmosphere between them remained. They would search for beautiful seashells together, discuss which stones had unusual shapes, or wade in the shallow water, watching the small fish swim around their feet.

Although they no longer touched each other, their eyes met more frequently, and an unspoken sweetness filled the air.

They played until the sun was high in the sky and the midday sun became quite scorching, at which point everyone realized they were getting hungry.

They put away their playful mood, returned to the parasol to replenish their fluids and take extra precautions against the sun.

Chen Mo naturally picked up the sunscreen spray, gestured for Su Yuqing to turn around, and carefully sprayed it on her shoulders, back, and arms.

The cool spray and the occasional touch of his fingers on her back sent a shiver through Su Yuqing, who obediently lowered her head and let him help her.

Lunch was a seafood stall that we had booked in advance on the island.

Under the huge sunshade, a long wooden table was filled with fresh seafood that had just been caught: steamed grouper, steamed scallops with garlic and vermicelli, salt and pepper mantis shrimp, boiled shrimp, delicious steamed sea urchin with egg, and the island's specialty seaweed soup.

The sea breeze carried a salty, fresh scent as everyone sat together, enjoying their meal and sharing the morning's events. Laughter and clinking glasses filled the air.

Zhou Hao mustered up his courage and peeled several shrimp for Qu Danwan. Qu Danwan blushed and thanked him softly.

Huang Mao got pricked by a mantis shrimp because he was too impatient. He yelled and was mocked by Zhao Yueyue, which brought another round of laughter.

Chen Mo carefully picked out the tenderest part of the fish and naturally put it into Su Yuqing's bowl.

Su Yuqing looked up at him, and he returned her a gentle look, as if it were the most ordinary thing in the world.

Su Yuqing felt a warmth in her heart, lowered her head and ate in small bites, but couldn't help but smile.

After a hearty meal, the afternoon's itinerary was to explore the island.

They rented several tandem bicycles and rode along the ring road.

A sea breeze blows in your face, and swaying coconut palms and blooming bougainvillea line both sides of the road, creating a breathtaking scene.

Chen Mo and Su Yuqing naturally rode together on one bike. He was in charge of steering and pedaling, while Su Yuqing sat behind him, gently holding his waist with both hands, feeling the pleasant breeze brushing against her hair.

Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled patterns that danced on her fair arms.

They visited a small lighthouse museum on the island, listened to local elders tell stories about lighthouses, took photos in front of an ancient Mazu temple nestled among green trees, and found a secluded little bay where the water was clearer and calmer than on the beach. The group couldn't resist going for a swim.

As evening fell, the setting sun painted the sky and the sea a mesmerizing golden-red hue.

Everyone abandoned their bicycles and walked barefoot along the beach after the tide receded.

The seawater gently washed over my ankles, leaving behind delicate foam.

Su Yuqing and Chen Mo lagged a little behind the group, their long shadows trailing behind them. The afterglow of the setting sun outlined their figures side by side, bathing them in a warm glow.

The sounds of friends laughing and playing filled the air, seagulls cried in the distance, and the gentle lapping of waves and the whistles of returning fishing boats filled the air. Chen Mo and Su Yuqing felt as if the whole world was immersed in a lazy and beautiful atmosphere. (End of Chapter)