Ye Zhi opened the car door before I did and got into the car.

I sat down in the driver's seat, started the car, and then asked Ye Zhi with a bit of embarrassment, "How do I open the convertible top?"

Ye Zhi pressed the button near the gear shift that could open the convertible top for me. The originally enclosed space immediately became unrestrained, and the sea breeze came more directly. It blew Ye Zhi's long hair, blew my sleeves, and stirred my heart that longed for freedom.

If I could, I would love to be here by Erhai Lake in Dali, not in Sanya... Although it's not as vast as the ocean, it feels more like home, because Dali is where Ye Zhi and I truly met... If you forget the troubles of the real world, every blade of grass and every tree there feels exquisitely beautiful.

...

After driving for a while, we finally stopped at a small fishing village with a particularly beautiful sea view. Then we went to a nearby seafood wholesale market and bought a king crab, an Australian lobster, and some shellfish. Although we couldn't have the seafood feast, the king crab was still very tempting!

Ye Zhi and I were still a bit polite to each other. When buying seafood, we both insisted on paying the bill. Then we compromised and I paid for the seafood, while Ye Zhi paid for the processing fee and the drinks.

If you calculate it, it's about right; this does maintain a very delicate balance between us.

...

When the restaurant owner brought out a plate of spicy clams, I couldn't wait to open two bottles of beer and hand one of them to Ye Zhi...

Ye Zhi was a little sad, but she still smiled and said to me, "I won't drink anymore. I still have to drive you to the airport later."

“It’s so boring for me to drink alone! ... I’ll just take a taxi later, you can have some too.” After a short pause, I added, “To be honest, I don’t like parting ways at places like airports, because it feels too goal-oriented... It’s better to walk here, on the way to the airport we can have time to reminisce about the seafood we ate, the beer we drank, and the things we said.”

Ye Zhi's voice was very soft: "I feel a little sad!"

"You don't want me to leave?... That's not like your usual decisive and efficient style!"

"Work is work, and feelings are feelings... Don't confuse the two."

I moved closer to Ye Zhi and said with a smile, "Okay, I'll separate the you at work from the you in your personal life... and then I'll ask you something out of pure curiosity: will there ever be a day when you'll put on an apron and whip up a lunch or dinner in the kitchen?"

"If you like this feeling, I can try it."

“Sure, if that day ever comes, I’ll go to the supermarket every day after work to buy some groceries to take home, and you can cook… We absolutely have to incorporate the basics of daily life into our lives.”

Ye Zhi looked at me and asked, "Do you particularly like this kind of life?"

"That's how my parents lived... I guess it's a matter of teaching by example... Although this kind of life is a bit boring, it's not bad. I think life doesn't need to be analyzed or have complicated rituals... The key is to manage it. Anyway, I think if you can manage the daily necessities well, you've already succeeded halfway in life."

"It sounds wonderful!"

"The future is bright... let's drink."

Ye Zhi finally took the opened bottle of beer from my hand, poured herself a full glass, and drank it all while I watched.

The moment she put down her cup, I looked out at the sea not far away, my heart filled with longing, but I was content... because I knew I wasn't just feeling this way. Ye Zhi, like me, was also saddened by the impending separation.

...

The night deepened, and Ye Zhi and I strolled along the beach. The beach was exceptionally quiet, which stirred my romantic thoughts... I picked up a twig and drew a huge heart in the sand, then collected many seashells to decorate it.

I found a passing tourist and asked him to take a photo of me and Ye Zhi together, and we stood in the heart that symbolizes love.

Honestly, it's been a very, very long time since I've done anything like this, but right now, I just have the mindset to do it...

After acquiring this extraordinary photo, I made an unprecedented post on my WeChat Moments, which featured the photo itself.

...

After I posted this, I received the most likes I've ever received, along with many comments, some of which were well wishes, others of curiosity... The most eye-catching comment was from Yang Sisi.