Summer 2009, Jeju Island
In the midsummer of Jeju Island, the clear blue sky seemed to have been repeatedly washed by the sea, pure without a trace of impurities. The cruise ship cut through the blue waves, and the waves crashed into white foam on the rocks. The sea salt condensed on the deck railings sparkled in the sun. A 14-year-old boy leaned on the railing of the cruise ship and looked into the distance. The sea breeze blew his golden hair into a mess.
The coastline is like a light golden ribbon, wrapped around dark green volcanic rocks. Occasionally, white seabirds fly over the waves, leaving behind a few clear cries. Ouyang Guang kicked his white sneakers that were splashed by the waves. The hem of his white shirt was rolled into waves by the sea breeze, revealing the belt buckle on his light blue jeans - it was a small silver skull, a "fashion item" that Chen Zheng forced on him.
"Why does this broken wind always make me angry?" Ouyang Guang muttered and tugged at his collar. The sea breeze from Jeju Island clung to his skin, like a layer of salt frost that could not be washed off. His fingertips touched the white jade Guanyin statue on his neck. The cool touch reminded him of his mother's advice before leaving: "Don't run around while wearing the Guanyin statue."
He raised his hand to play with his golden curly hair, his amber pupils half closed, the teardrop mole on the lower left side of his right eye was cut into a blurred shadow by his fan-shaped eyelashes - these eyes should be as clear as a deer, but now they are filled with fatigue for the graduation trip. Listening to the class teacher's voice explaining tomorrow's itinerary in the cabin, the muffled voice came through the glass, and a thin layer of sweat was already sticky on the back of his white shirt.
At this moment, Ouyang Guang regretted for the thousand and first time agreeing to this graduation trip - he just felt that this trip was extremely boring. Apart from following the large group of classmates every day and being dragged by He Ziqi, He Zilin and Chen Zheng to check in at scenic spots, he just sighed at the table full of kimchi.
The taste of kimchi from this morning's hotel breakfast still lingered in his stomach, sour and stale, like a vinegar-soaked sponge blocking his throat. He couldn't help but frown, remembering the scene when He Ziqi stuffed a kimchi rice ball into his mouth during the first day of hiking in the crater - the rice was cold and hard, and the kimchi was salty and bitter, far less delicious than the spicy fried squid rice balls in the convenience store. "The volcano is spectacular, but eating kimchi with rice every day is not as good as eating my mother's fried chicken feet at home." He unconsciously stroked the ring, his eyes swept across the orange orchard by the distant coastline, took out an orange candy from his pocket, peeled off the candy wrapper and put it in his mouth, thinking of the oranges he stole yesterday, the sour and sweet juice splashed on the tip of his tongue, finally diluting the monotony of the kimchi.
"I should have pretended to be sick..." He was interrupted by the noise behind him as soon as he finished speaking.
"A Guang!" The sound of the hatch being knocked open startled the seabirds resting on the railing. The red-haired He Ziqi leaned out half of his body, his canine teeth showing in his rogue smile, "Let's get off the boat and eat the seafood hotpot cooked by the sea women! The freshly caught octopus and squid tentacles are bubbling in the pot, and there's also your favorite spicy fried shrimp!"
"No." Ouyang Guang didn't even raise his eyelids, and unbuttoned two buttons on his white shirt, revealing his delicate collarbone and pale blue veins. His resistance to eating was written on his face, and he didn't want to waste time in front of the seafood stall full of fishy smell. But when he heard "spicy fried octopus tentacles", his Adam's apple rolled unconsciously.
“Stop pretending,” blue-haired He Zilin followed behind him, twirling his sunglasses on his fingertips, “Who bought out all the spicy fried squid rice balls in the convenience store yesterday?” The salty fragrance of the squid rice balls in his memory suddenly rose on the tip of his tongue. Ouyang Guang’s ears felt slightly hot, but he deliberately retorted in a cold tone, “That’s because he was too hungry.” He remembered that in the convenience store last night, Chen Zheng was running around between the shelves with a shiny green hair, He Ziqi was glared at by the clerk for secretly drinking soju, and he squatted in front of the refrigerator, hesitating for ten minutes in front of the spicy fried squid rice balls - in the end he bought four, and when he shared them with them, he lied that he “only ate one”.
“That’s right!” Chen Zheng, the green-haired man, popped his head out, with seawater dripping from the ends of his hair. “Guang, look at my hairstyle! Jeju Island limited edition lime soda!”
Ouyang Guang raised his eyebrows: "Are you sure it's not a joke?"
“Don’t mention it!” Chen Zheng slumped his shoulders, his green hair stuck to his forehead, making him look like a parrot drenched by rain. “That sister said green represents spring in Jeju Island, but my mom asked me during a video chat if I wanted to participate in the Plants vs. Zombies cosplay!”
He Ziqi laughed out loud, his red hair raised in an arrogant arc: "Minglang is Patamon from "Digimon"!"
"Fuck you!" Chen Zheng ran after him for two steps, but was stopped by the blue-haired He Zilin. He Zilin pushed his sunglasses and raised a gentle smile at the corner of his lips: "Okay, green hair is at least more pleasing to the eye than someone's red hair - like a moving tomato.
"Who are you calling a tomato?!"
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