Chapter 64 Gift "Will you accept my ring?"
This time there was no driver, and the two drove to the Shell exhibition area.
The car gradually drove out of the resort hotel and headed along the blue coast.
Shi Shang sat in the passenger seat with half of the window rolled down. The sea breeze with a fishy and salty smell blew across his face, feeling cool and making his hair messy.
The sky is blue and the clouds are white. Seagulls make noisy calls and fly across the clear skyline. The blue sea is calm and the view is wide. The sails of ships in the distance are clearly visible.
Coconut trees lined the road on both sides, and the beach was crowded with tourists of all kinds, the noisy sounds could be heard from far away.
Shi Shang held her face with her hands, without blinking, and quietly stared at the scenery outside the car.
The warm and bright sunshine shone on his face, and he let out a long breath, and then he felt a little more real about being on the island.
After looking for a long time, the boy looked away with regret, curled his lips, and muttered, "What a pity! I didn't get to go on any of the planned activities."
After so much effort to come to the island and make so many itineraries, they only completed the diving activity.
He never imagined that the suspender skirt would be so powerful, and he wasted three whole days in the villa.
If he had known this, he would have pretended not to see it.
Lu Tinghe, who was in the driver's seat, looked at him, his lips curled up slightly: "Shang Shang likes it. Let's find time to come next time."
Shi Shang: "...Not for now."
He doesn't want to come to this villa again in the short term.
The shell exhibition is held in an exhibition hall not far from the beach.
Here you can find not only special shells from the South Island, but also shell specimens, fossils, and derived handicrafts from world-famous waters, all of which are on display and for sale.
The exhibition area is very large and there are endless visitors.
When walking in a crowded place, Shi Shang felt embarrassed to hold hands with Lu Tinghe again. After coming out of the parking lot, she pulled her hand away from the other's palm.
Unexpectedly, before he could make any progress, the man took advantage of his unpreparedness and quietly came up to him, hooking his little finger and ring finger slowly with his fingers and tightening them silently.
He couldn't pull it back, so he turned around and glared. Lu Tinghe looked at him with that innocent look again, which made him seem like he was being unreasonable.
The two walked into the exhibition area, where there was a bustling crowd of people, all focused on different exhibition areas.
They blend in, and even if they hook their fingers together, they won't be noticeable.
Shi Shang raised the corner of her mouth slightly and let him do what he wanted.
Inside the exhibition hall, more than a dozen giant rare shells lie wrapped in dark blue velvet and are displayed individually in island cabinets, with labels next to them introducing their main information and owners.
The carefully designed dark lighting shines on them, perfectly showing their glossiness and making every subtle texture clear.
Miniature shells of various shapes and bright colors are divided according to territorial standards and placed in glass frames in different areas.
Shi Shang stared intently, exclaiming in surprise from time to time, her eyes becoming brighter and brighter.
Art is inherently interconnected, and looking at the dazzling array of shell exhibits, his creative inspiration was also stimulated.
The boy's eyes were burning as they slid across the lines of each shell, as if he wanted to store every detail in his memory.
He didn't notice that the gentle gazes of the people around him were on him from beginning to end.
After walking around for a long time, Shi Shang felt a little thirsty, but she was also lazy and didn't want to go to the drinks area outside to buy some, so she swallowed and thought she would just bear it.
Lu Tinghe chuckled helplessly, pinched his fingertips, and gently warned: "Shangshang, wait here. I'm going to buy some juice. Don't run around alone, and don't talk to strangers. Be careful."
Shi Shang looked up at him. The light in the exhibition hall made the man's eyes seem to be filled with starlight.
A bubble of happiness welled up in her heart, and Shi Shang's eyes curved into two crescents.
He didn't say anything, but Lu Tinghe always found out what he wanted at the first moment.
Is this what it means to be in sync with each other?
He also complained sweetly, why did Lu Tinghe always treat him like a child.
Thinking of this, he actually stood there obediently, silently browsing the introduction of the shell in front of him.
He looks serious, but in fact he forgets every line he reads and his mind is not on it at all.
He glanced around from time to time, quietly waiting for his lover to return.
A couple happened to be walking by. The young couple looked very sweet and affectionate, holding hands. Shi Shang's eyes couldn't help but be attracted by them.
The boy took the girl's hand and kissed her as if no one was around: "Baby, your hands are so beautiful. They will look even better when you wear the ring I bought for you."
The girl glanced at him and said: "We already have a lot at home, why do you want to buy more?"
"Of course I have to buy it this time," the boy kissed the girl's cheek again and explained seriously, "I did my homework in advance. The Austronesian people believe in the sea god, and their shells have also been blessed by the sea god."
"I heard that if you use the shells here to make rings, couples who wear them will surely have a long and happy marriage. My dear wife, wear them, wear them."
The girl tilted her head proudly and snorted, "You always say that. You bought so many that all ten of my fingers can't fit. How childish."
There was disdain in her words, but the look she gave the boy was gentle.
The two walked away laughing and joking. There seemed to be an invisible barrier around them. They only had eyes for each other and no room for anyone else.
Shi Shang watched them go away, lost in thought.
Soon, Lu Tinghe came over with two large cups of juice and handed the mango juice full of pulp to Shi Shang.
"Mango." Shi Shang inserted the straw and couldn't wait to take a sip. The sweet flesh immediately burst in her mouth.
The South Island has strong sunshine and suitable temperatures, and is rich in various tropical fruits, which taste much sweeter than the fruits in Beijing.
"So sweet!" His eyes lit up and he glanced at Lu Tinghe's cup. Light green juice was flowing in the cup, which looked very refreshing and delicious.
Shi Shang was curious: "What's your taste?"
Lu Tinghe: "Lime juice, you won't like it."
Shi Shang was not convinced. He hadn't even tried it, so how could Lu Tinghe be so sure that he didn't like it?
"How do you know if you don't try it?" He didn't hesitate and immediately swapped the juice in the hands of the two people.
Shi Shang bit the straw and took a small sip tentatively. Her face wrinkled instantly because of the sour taste. She quickly stuck out the tip of her tongue to let the sour taste in her mouth dissipate quickly.
So sour! So bitter!
There was no sweetness in the lime juice, it was sour, astringent and bitter. I really didn't know how Lu Tinghe managed to drink it.
He quickly stuffed the lime juice into the other person's hand and exchanged it for his sweet mango juice.
After drinking several sips, his complexion returned to normal.
Seeing the narrowness in the man's eyes, Shi Shang puffed her cheeks unhappily and said angrily, "Why did you think of drinking this?"
Shi Shang himself didn't realize that the more he stayed with Lu Tinghe, the more pampered and ill-tempered he became, and he couldn't stand any hardship.
That is the confidence that can only be gained by being loved and cared for unconditionally.
Lu Tinghe looked at him, his eyes filled with a soft smile.
His eyebrows raised and he teased, "I've been controlling my sugar intake lately and can't eat too many sweets. Otherwise, my abdominal muscles will be gone, and what if Shang Shang doesn't like me?"
Shi Shang raised the corners of her lips and whispered, "I like you, and I will still like you."
"Of course, abdominal muscles are also a big deal," he added seriously, "If you really don't have them, you should pay attention."
"Then let Shang Shang check every day from now on, okay?" Lu Tinghe chuckled, leaned over to the boy's ear, and blew into his ear.
Shi Shang's ears turned red from being teased. She hummed and nodded sullenly.
As they were strolling around, they came to the other side of the exhibition area, where various handicrafts and cultural products derived from shells were sold.
Shi Shang walked around silently for a while, his eyes constantly scanning the stalls, and finally found what he wanted to buy.
He nudged Lu Tinghe with his elbow and said in a frustrated tone, "Didn't we pass by a paint stall just now? Do you remember where it was?"
"I suddenly remembered that purple shell pigment is very rare and seems to be only sold here."
"Don't worry, Shang Shang is waiting for me here, I'll go buy it." The man touched his hair and comforted him in a gentle voice.
Shi Shang kept watching Lu Tinghe walk away and disappear in the crowd at the corner.
He then turned around and hurried towards the area where accessories were sold.
Not long after, the two met again, still tacitly understanding each other, hooking their fingers and walking side by side.
They strolled around the cultural and creative area, and Shi Shang was dazzled and bought a lot of things.
He bought relief decorations and shell paintings for Lin Zhuoran, and refrigerator magnets and postcards for Jiang Yaowen.
He also did not forget Senior Liu and Senior Wu, and picked out two gifts that suited their tastes.
When leaving the exhibition hall, Shi Shang was holding a lot of South Island specialty pastries, having reaped a great reward. Lu Tinghe was carrying two full paper bags and quietly stayed by his side.
The two went to a nearby specialty seafood restaurant for dinner.
In the restaurant, Lu Tinghe peeled shrimp for Shi Shang while watching him take out gifts one by one, fiddle with the wrapping, and busy himself with writing greeting cards.
The man immediately became jealous and said in a sour tone: "Shang Shang bought so many gifts for them, why didn't the boyfriend get any?"
Shi Shang paused, recalling the tips she had read online on how to deal with a jealous boyfriend. She then asked in a soft voice, "You have such a lovely boyfriend, and you're still not satisfied?"
Lu Tinghe's chest was filled with smiles. He scratched his nose with his clean fingers and said seriously, "Satisfied, very satisfied."
Thank fate for letting a rose bloom in his barren and boring world.
After dinner, the two drove back to the resort hotel, but they didn't rush back to the villa. Instead, they took a slow walk on the beach.
This beach belongs to the hotel and there are only a few tourists here and there. It is very quiet. Shi Shang and Lu Tinghe held hands and chatted as they walked.
Dusk was falling, the stars were shining brightly, and a cool breeze was blowing. Shi Shang stepped barefoot on the sand that had not yet lost its heat, listening to the sound of waves gently lapping against the shore. Her heart gradually calmed down.
Shi Shang licked her lips and touched the heavy box in her trouser pocket, as if she had regained her courage.
After they walked for a while, he tugged at the man's finger, called out to him, and said slowly, "Lu Tinghe... Actually, I also prepared a gift for you."
Shi Shang took out a small box from her pocket, held it carefully in her palm, and opened the secret button with her fingertips. A small and exquisite shell ring suddenly appeared in front of the two of them.
He raised his head, his eyes full of anticipation, and looked at Lu Tinghe quietly.
"Will you accept my ring?"
He knew that rings held some special meaning between human lovers.
Giving a ring is an expectation to take the next step with the other person and to be together forever.
He wanted to tell Lu Tinghe his feelings.
After seeing the ring clearly, Lu Tinghe was stunned for a moment, and the corners of his narrow eyes curved.
The magnetic and gentle voice said word by word: "Shang Shang, we are in tune with each other."
As if by magic, he pulled out a blue shell box from his pocket.
The shell lid was opened, and in the center of the light blue velvet, a ring lay quietly, shining silently.
I don’t know how long I’ve been waiting, but today, its owner was finally able to send it away.
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The author has something to say: They are a couple with a tacit understanding [lop-eared rabbit head][lop-eared rabbit head][lop-eared rabbit head]
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