Chapter 26
When Josh opened his eyes again, it was completely dark.
When traveling, the first day is usually the most exciting.
This is because most people are full of energy at this time and are eager to explore the unknown world.
After hanging up the phone, Josh tossed her phone aside and lay back down on the bed, her head heavy and throbbing. She felt like she hadn't slept enough, and she struggled in bed for a few more minutes before finally getting up.
After getting up, Josh quickly brushed her teeth and washed her face before heading out. Just before leaving, she suddenly remembered Chen Zhiyu's reminder on the phone, so she turned around, took a light jacket from her suitcase, and then went downstairs with her room key and phone.
There's a small window at the end of the corridor, and looking out, it's still all gray and gloomy outside.
While waiting for the elevator, Josh replied to Chen Zhiyu's message, telling him that he had already gone downstairs.
The elevator doors opened, revealing several tourists inside who were also preparing to leave. Each of them looked rather uneasy, suggesting they shared the same purpose.
The three agreed to meet at the entrance of the lobby. Josh took the elevator downstairs and went straight to the lobby.
The hall was more lively than she had imagined, with people in twos and threes, all yawning before they met.
Chen Zhiyu was alright, but Yao was sprawled in the corner, half-asleep, his eyes still closed, standing only by sheer willpower.
Josh only realized the time after going downstairs; it was around four in the morning. Summer days are early, and the morning temperature was rather cool. As soon as they stepped out of the lobby, a gust of cold air woke them all up.
Once his drowsiness was gone, Yao gradually returned to his talkative nature. He said they were lucky; the weather forecast showed that the next few days would be sunny, and they could see a perfect sunrise.
The hotel they stayed at was only a ten-minute walk from the beach, so the three of them walked there without looking for transportation.
When they arrived at the beach, they could see a crowd gathered around the perimeter, with all the front seats occupied.
"Good heavens, really good heavens." Yao, now fully awake on the way here, exclaimed, his first sound of the morning. "Did these guys not sleep all night? Or have they been stationed here the whole time?"
Josh checked the time; it was only a little before 4:30 when he arrived. Judging from the group of people on the beach, they might have actually been up all night.
Looking around, Chen Zhiyu saw the tents that hadn't been taken down yet on the beach, pointed at them and said, "The tents are still here."
The three of them walked a little further, and as they passed tents of all sizes, Yao was still envious, saying, "What a mistake. If we had known, we should have pitched a tent and slept here too."
Chen Zhiyu: "Wait until you've learned how to pitch a tent before you start making these comments."
Josh was amused by their conversation.
A cool sea breeze blew in, unobstructed and refreshing. In the distance, the pale blue sky was just tinged with a light pink, which was reflected hazily on the sea.
Life is truly amazing. The bustling crowd around me, some sitting and some standing, all holding up their phones, turning on their cameras, all gazing at the horizon with the same goal in mind.
The sky changes rapidly; in the blink of an eye, the weather shifts dramatically.
In the distance, mountains rise one after another, and the horizon where the sea meets the sky begins to shimmer with orange hues as the morning sun leaps above the horizon.
Suddenly, cheers and exclamations erupted around me.
Josh stretched, she loved this feeling. The sun was just rising as usual, but it felt romantic all the time.
A gust of wind swept across from the sea, making the rolling surface of the ocean resemble a flowing veil. A patch of orange-red hue dyed half the sky and reflected on the surging sea.
Feeling unsatisfied after watching the sunrise, they didn't go straight back. Instead, they found a breakfast shop in the morning sunlight, and the three of them faced the sea, ready to enjoy their breakfast while admiring the beautiful sea view.
The sun came out, the temperature began to rise, and Josh felt the warmth. He took off his coat, sat by the window, and quietly waited for the two to bring him breakfast.
Chinese style, Western style, steamed buns, fried dough sticks, tofu pudding, spicy soup, milk, sandwiches, etc.
Josh was surprised. "Why did you take so much? Can we even eat all of this?"
"I can eat it, I can eat it, I'm here, no problem." Yao patted his chest confidently.
Chen Zhiyu sat down next to her and pushed the milk in front of Qiao Xi. "Don't worry, he has a big appetite."
Josh thought he wouldn't have much of an appetite because he got up so early in the morning, but when faced with a table full of carbs, he picked one from the left and one from the right and ate quite a lot.
In the end, everyone ate until their eyes were glazed over, and not only that, they also wanted to take a nap and get some rest.
Seeing their condition, Josh couldn't help but worry: "We're not going to end up sleeping here for three days and three nights, are we?"
Chen Zhiyu said, "This place isn't big, and there aren't many places to visit. We can sleep when we're tired and play when we're awake. We have enough time."
Yao nodded approvingly, "Let's relax and have a good time, nothing too fancy."
With their words of comfort, Josh felt reassured: "Then we'll go out to play whenever I wake up."
Fortunately, the three of them shared the same view on travel. They slept in until noon and weren't too hungry when they woke up. Still excited, they officially began their seaside trip according to Yao Chen's planned itinerary.
Josh treated them to lunch at a seafood restaurant. They spent the morning resting and recuperating, and after lunch, they didn't ask to rest anymore. They had a great time all afternoon.
Yao Cheng is indeed someone who likes and is good at planning. The itinerary for the day was arranged very well, without filling the time too much, yet it was very comfortable, pleasant, and fulfilling.
“There’s a market here in the evening,” Chen Zhiyu said, putting down his phone. “There’s also an open-air cinema by the sea at night. If you get tired, we can go there.”
Josh loves trying new things. He's seen movies and been to beaches, but he's never actually experienced an open-air movie at the beach.
They ultimately decided to end their first day of travel by watching an open-air movie by the sea.
Josh found it novel; the seats in the movie theater weren't ordinary reclining chairs, but soft, inflatable sofas that could accommodate two people.
Josh and Chen Zhiyu found a decent spot in the middle and waited for the movie to start.
As night fell, under the deep blue night sky, on the open ground, the huge curtain trembled slightly due to the sea breeze.
The salty sea breeze carried golden sand particles that clung to the tourists' hot, exposed skin.
Night, starry sky, seaside, romance, and of course, unexpected encounters.
There were three people. Yao was alone, and he sat with a young man who was traveling alone. He looked like a college student, and the two chatted happily for a short while.
The young man was sitting with a gap between him and Josh. Before the movie started, he got up and went to Josh's side. "Excuse me, could you please give me your contact information?"
It's very straightforward and direct, without any beating around the bush.
Upon hearing this, Qiao Xi, who was holding her phone, looked up. Just as she was hesitating about how to refuse, Chen Zhiyu, who had been sitting silently to the side, suddenly reached out and snatched her phone. He casually put his arm around her shoulder and said in an unquestionable tone, "Sorry, she has a boyfriend."
Their intimate behavior speaks volumes.
The man paused for a moment, then looked back at Yao Chen, before turning back to look at Qiao Xi.
Josh smiled politely at the man and said, "Excuse me."
After the person left and returned to his seat, Chen Zhiyu handed the phone back to Qiao Xi, saying, "You're welcome, it's what I should do."
It seemed the young man had already inquired about Qiao Xi and Chen Zhiyu's relationship with Yao Chen before he arrived. If she had refused with a different reason, Qiao Xi wouldn't have felt so awkward. "He must have asked Yao Chen and knows that we are..."
"What are we?" Chen Zhiyu countered. "Who cares what he thinks? Do you like that type?"
The movie hadn't started yet, and the tourists were all talking amongst themselves. It was noisy all around, so they probably couldn't hear their conversation. Josh then answered quietly, "No, that's not it."
But later, she pressed further, "What if I like it?"
"What?"
Josh looked directly at him, and for some reason, suddenly asked, "What if I like that type?"
Chen Zhiyu looked at her and said, "He's not good enough for you."
Josh frowned curiously, "Not suitable? How do you know what kind of person is suitable for me?"
"I just know."
Josh hesitated, unsure how to respond. She turned away and stopped talking to Chen Zhiyu.
The two remained silent until the movie finally started.
Today's show is an old movie that tells the story of a young fisherman who meets the girl he loves on the beach, and the love story that unfolds from there.
Josh lay half-reclined, enjoying the comfort of the salty sea breeze blowing in from the beach.
The waves crashed against the beach not far away, one after another, making a soft, ethereal sound. It felt like a comfortable massage to the scalp. Before she knew it, Josh closed her eyes and fell asleep.
When Josh opened his eyes again, it was completely dark.
She found herself embedded in an inflatable sofa, her right side pressed tightly against a warm body. In her daze, her head unconsciously rested on Chen Zhiyu's shoulder.
Josh's arm was pressed against his, one hot and one cold, their arms overlapping. She didn't dare to move easily because she suddenly realized that Chen Zhiyu, who was sitting next to her, was holding her hand.
Their hands were clasped tightly together.
Her gaze shifted, following his figure to the right.
Chen Zhiyu lay beside her, one hand behind his head, staring intently at the movie screen, unaware that Josh had already woken up.
Josh looked him over, his eyes falling on his profile. Under the deep blue night sky, the clean lines of his face were clearly visible. Their shoulders were touching, and they could even hear each other's breathing.
Josh felt his heart pounding wildly.
Perhaps it was a habitual action, but in a corner where no one was paying attention, he hooked his finger, his soft fingertip resting on Josh's palm, and gently scratched it.
The edges of the nails were rounded, and it didn't hurt; instead, it had a tingling sensation.
Shock and tension gripped her heart, and her body went numb, starting with the hand he was holding and spreading to half of her body.
As if electrocuted, Josh shuddered uncontrollably.
Noticing the movement beside him, he reluctantly let go. Chen Zhiyu turned his head to look at her, as if nothing had happened, and asked in a low, deep voice, "Awake?"
His behavior was natural and his actions were open and uninhibited.
It seemed as if everything that had just happened was her illusion.
After a moment of confusion, Josh pretended to have just woken up, avoiding his gaze. As she sat up, she awkwardly curled her arms and absentmindedly responded with a "yes," before adding, "Yeah, I dozed off for a bit."
Chen Zhiyu remained in a semi-reclining position, staying by her side.
For a long time afterward, Josh stared straight ahead, not looking around. As the movie neared its end, the boy's sincerity finally earned the girl's father's tacit approval.
She watched the movie in fragmented pieces, feeling restless and confused.
If everything before was just baseless speculation, then this recent contact is proof of everything.
Thinking of this, Josh's throat went dry with nervousness. She picked up the fruit tea beside her to cover her panic, but the ice in the tea had melted, diluting its original flavor.
Water droplets covered the inside of the cup, wetting Josh's palm. She put down the fruit tea, opened her hand, and stared blankly at it, feeling the gentle breeze blowing through her palm.
Just then, the inflatable sofa beneath her suddenly sank, and Chen Zhiyu sat up beside her, took her wrist, and used a tissue to wipe away the water stains. His movements were natural, as if he had done it countless times before.
Josh couldn't accurately describe her current feelings in words. She felt flustered, angry, irritable, and furious, but upon reflection, she realized that she was mostly just confused.
Why? Why didn't you pull your hand away immediately after she noticed?
If you didn't realize it then, what about now?
Thinking of this, Josh awkwardly withdrew his hand.
"What's wrong?" Chen Zhiyu keenly noticed that something was off about her.
"I want to go back first."
"I'll go with you."
"No need." Josh's voice was too urgent, and his speech was too fast. Even Yao Chen, who was sitting one seat away, cast a curious glance in their direction.
Moreover, it was Chen Zhiyu standing right in front of him.
Noticing her own change in mood, Josh quickly softened her tone and smiled naturally, "You guys have fun, I'll go back by myself."
Chen Zhiyu stared at her intently, remained silent for a moment, and finally relented, "Then go to the hotel and send a message."
"good."
Watched by Chen Zhiyu, Qiao Xi stood up and walked towards the hotel without looking back.
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