Snorkeling, surfing
After saying that, Meng Yihe seemed to have exhausted all her patience. Without waiting for Cui Yu's response, she sat down on the sofa and prepared to take over the position.
Cui Yu was still lying on the sofa.
He stared at Meng Yihe for a few seconds, his lips curling into a smirk. He quickly sat up, gently pressed Meng Yihe's arm to stop him from sitting down, and said in a low voice, "There's no reason for the director to sleep on the sofa."
He stood up and gently pushed Meng Yihe back.
"Go back to sleep, I'm fine."
He pushed Meng Yihe back, but she persisted, her voice even lower: "You..."
“Like this.” Cui Yu interrupted him, stopping by the bedside, her voice carrying a clear hint of amusement.
"The bed is big enough, one person on each side, it's better than squeezing onto the sofa."
Meng Yihe glanced at Cui Xuyue, who was sleeping soundly on the bed, and then at the empty bed.
He was silent for a moment, then finally nodded.
The two of them quietly lay down on opposite sides of the bed, with enough distance between them, but the warmth and scent of the other person could not be ignored.
"Thanks, Director Meng," Cui Yu said softly, a hint of a smile in his voice.
"Shut up and go to sleep." Meng Yihe's muffled voice came from the other side. She was motionless, as if she had already fallen asleep.
The next morning.
Cui Yu woke up first. He blinked, adjusting to the light, and the first thing he noticed was the comfort of the bed beneath him—much better than the cramped sofa he'd been on the night before.
Then he realized he wasn't alone.
He turned his head slightly and saw that Meng Yihe was still asleep, facing him. Her brows, which were usually furrowed, were relaxed at this moment, and her long eyelashes cast quiet shadows under her eyes. Her breathing was even and shallow.
He slept soundly, seemingly without a single dream. His aloof demeanor softened considerably in his sleep, revealing a rare gentleness.
Cui Yu did not get up immediately, but just watched quietly. He found that Meng Yihe was sleeping very well, almost without moving, occupying half of his space without overstepping the boundary at all.
Just then, Meng Yihe's eyelashes trembled, as if she was about to wake up.
Cui Yu subconsciously closed his eyes, pretending to be asleep.
Meng Yihe opened his eyes. After a brief moment of confusion, he looked around to see where he was and who was lying next to him.
Consciousness quickly returned.
He was clearly extremely uncomfortable with waking up with someone around him.
He cautiously glanced at Cui Yu beside him and saw that the other seemed to be still asleep. He moved back a tiny bit, trying to create some distance without waking the other, his movements as careful as if he were afraid of disturbing something.
However, as soon as he moved a little, he heard a sleepy, lazy voice with a hint of laughter from the side: "Good morning, Director Meng."
Meng Yihe froze instantly, as if he had been caught red-handed. He quickly looked away, lay flat, and resumed his usual indifferent expression.
"……morning."
Cui Yu opened her eyes with a smile, sat up, and stretched: "It's so comfortable in bed. Thank you for taking me in, Director Meng."
Meng Yihe didn't respond to that, but instead threw off the covers and got out of bed. Her movements were somewhat hurried, as if she wanted to escape this overly intimate atmosphere immediately.
"I'm going to wash up."
Just then, Cui Xuyue, who was on the other bed, rubbed her eyes and sat up, yawning widely: "Brother, Brother Meng, good morning..." She was still half asleep.
"Good morning," Cui Yu replied with a smile, and got out of bed.
"Get up quickly, didn't we say we were going snorkeling today?"
The mention of playing immediately snapped Cui Xuyue to attention, and she jumped out of bed with a cheer.
After breakfast, the group arrived at the reserved snorkeling spot with great enthusiasm. The azure water was crystal clear and sparkled under the sunlight.
The dock was already quite lively.
Families with children are patiently helping their excited, running kids put on life jackets; several couples are snuggling together, laughing as they apply sunscreen to each other; a group of young people who look like college students are noisily competing to see who can dive the most dramatically; and some experienced diving enthusiasts are skillfully checking their equipment with focused expressions.
Brightly colored snorkeling gear was piled up together.
The speedboat swayed gently with the waves.
The roar of engines, the laughter of people, and the sound of waves mingled together, creating a vibrant and bustling atmosphere typical of a resort.
After the instructor explained the safety precautions for snorkeling and how to use the equipment, everyone couldn't wait to start choosing their masks, snorkels, and fins.
Xu Rui was the first to get dressed.
He jumped into the water with a splash, then popped his head up and shouted excitedly, "Wow! So many fish down there! They're so beautiful! Haozi, come down quickly!"
Wu Hao, while complaining that he was "too noisy," cautiously followed him into the water. Lin Xueyue and Shen Xinyi helped each other adjust their mask straps, encouraging each other with smiles. Zhao Lei had already dived down with his underwater camera, while Gao Yuan carefully observed a patch of staghorn coral a short distance away.
Cui Yu skillfully helped her younger brother Cui Xuyue check the equipment, ensuring that the breathing tube mouthpiece fit properly and the mask was leak-proof.
"Don't be nervous after you get down there. Breathe through your mouth, follow me, and don't swim too far," he carefully instructed.
"I know, bro!" Cui Xuyue was eager to try.
Cui Yu then looked at Meng Yihe beside him. Meng Yihe had already put on his mask and was holding a breathing tube. His expression was as serious and focused as ever, as if he were not preparing for entertainment but conducting a rigorous scientific investigation. He tried to bite down on the breathing tube and take a few breaths, his movements slightly clumsy.
"How are you? Is your breathing easy?" Cui Yu asked.
Meng Yihe glanced at him through the mirror, nodded, and didn't say anything, seemingly trying her best to adapt to this unfamiliar way of breathing.
“Relax,” Cui Yu smiled, “Just think of it as a project research trip to explore another world underwater.”
This analogy seemed to soothe Meng Yihe's initial discomfort. He took a deep breath and nodded.
Several people entered the water one after another.
The cool seawater instantly enveloped my body, and through the mask, a tranquil yet magnificent world unfolded before my eyes. Colorful corals resembled an underwater garden, with small fish of all shapes and sizes darting and playing among them. Sunlight filtered through the water's surface, casting shimmering dappled patterns of light—a breathtakingly beautiful sight.
Cui Xuyue excitedly pointed to a brightly colored butterfly fish, which was blowing a string of bubbles.
Cui Yu stayed close to him, keeping a close eye on his condition.
Meng Yihe was initially cautious and his movements were a little stiff, but he was soon attracted by the magnificent scene in front of him. He carefully observed the structure of the coral, the habits of the fish, and even tried to distinguish between different species.
Occupational diseases can surface unintentionally.
His movements gradually relaxed, and occasionally his gaze would be drawn to a group of bright blue fish that suddenly surged by, which he would quietly observe from the water.
Cui Yu swam over to him and gave him an "OK" sign.
Meng Yihe paused for a moment, then returned an "OK" gesture.
Through the mirror, Cui Yu could see a childlike wonder in his slightly widened eyes, a stark contrast to his usual cold demeanor, which made Cui Yu burst into laughter, and a string of bubbles appeared on his face.
Time flies when you're snorkeling.
When the instructor called everyone back onto the boat, they were still reluctant to leave. After climbing back onto the boat, everyone took off their masks, their faces flushed with excitement, and they chattered excitedly about what they had just seen and heard.
"I saw a clownfish! It was hiding in the anemone!"
"That staghorn coral is huge!"
"Zhao Lei, did you get a picture? Those silver fish from earlier!"
Xu Rui was still gesturing excitedly: "Haozi, did you see that big blue fish? It almost bumped into my face!"
Cui Yu helped her younger brother take off his flippers, and listened to everyone chattering with a smile.
He then noticed Meng Yihe leaning alone against the side of the boat, looking out at the sea. Her wet hair clung to her forehead, and her profile showed a rare peacefulness, even a hint of pleasure.
"How are you feeling, Director Meng?" Cui Yu walked over with two bottles of water and handed him one.
Meng Yihe snapped out of his reverie, took the water, and remained silent for a few seconds, seemingly searching for the right words. Finally, he gave a very characteristic assessment: "The ecosystem is very rich." But the slight upturn of his lips betrayed his true feelings.
Cui Yu smiled, unscrewed his water bottle and took a sip. He leaned against the ship's railing, watching his team members excitedly sharing their experiences.
Xu Rui was gesturing excitedly to Wu Hao about a fish he claimed was "super big" but might not actually be that big; Lin Xueyue, Shen Xinyi, and Zhao Lei looked at the photos Zhao Lei had just taken with his camera and exclaimed in surprise.
Cui Yu's gaze returned to Meng Yihe.
“It seems,” Cui Yu shook the water bottle in his hand, “that Director Meng is quite satisfied with the results of this 'underwater project survey'?”
Meng Yihe gave a soft "hmm," which was taken as an admission.
The speedboat cut through the azure sea, leaving a white contrail that gradually dispersed.
Night falls.
The beach is dotted with lights, from the bars along the way and sparklers lit spontaneously by tourists, while the waves gently lap against the shore, making a soothing gurgling sound.
After a satisfying meal, the group returned to the beach to enjoy the cool sea breeze.
Not far away, a group of young people sat in a circle, playing guitars and softly singing popular love songs. Their voices drifted on the wind, adding to the romantic atmosphere.
Further away, a couple is laughing as they chase the receding waves.
"Wow, this feels so good!" Lin Xueyue took a deep breath of the salty air and squinted his eyes contentedly.
“Yes, it’s much more comfortable than working overtime,” Shen Xinyi echoed with a smile.
Xu Rui and Wu Hao became interested in the group of guitarists and were eager to join them. Zhao Lei and Gao Yuan strolled along the water's edge, occasionally stopping to take pictures of the sea under the moonlight.
Cui Xuyue held the newly bought glowing bracelet in her hand and ran around on the beach, drawing glowing patterns on it.
Cui Yu and Meng Yihe lagged slightly behind, walking side by side, listening to music, feeling the wind, and looking at everything in front of them.
A vendor selling fluorescent hair clips and sparklers approached them with a smile: "Gentlemen, why don't you buy your little brother a hair clip or let him play with a sparkler? They'll look great in photos!" He pointed to Cui Xuyue, who was having a great time in the distance.
Cui Yu smiled, took out his money and bought a sparkler and a starfish hair clip that shimmered with blue light. He handed the hair clip to his younger brother who ran over, and then distributed the sparkler to the people around him.
Soon, warm, twinkling lights began to illuminate the team.
Xu Rui tried to write in the air with a burning sparkler, but burned his hand and yelled as he shook it off, which made everyone laugh.
Cui Yu also lit one and handed it to Meng Yihe next to him.
Meng Yihe seemed hesitant, but under the influence of the dancing light and the relaxed atmosphere around him, he accepted it. Holding the small, burning fire stick, he looked both focused and clumsy, creating an interesting contrast with the laughing crowd around him.
Cui Yu looked at his profile, illuminated by the glow of the fairy wand, which was now reflected in warm, dancing light spots, making it incredibly soft.
There's no backstabbing in the workplace, and no pressure to meet project deadlines; it's a warm and genuine sense of comfort.
The sun shone brightly on the third day.
After two days of relaxation, everyone's desire to have fun was even stronger, and their goal was to go skateboarding and surfing.
Artificial waves surge in the huge wave pool.
Many tourists have already tried it, some clumsily and some stylishly, under the guidance of the instructors.
Xu Rui was the first to rush over with a roar, but he fell flat on his face on his first attempt, choking on water. Wu Hao mercilessly mocked him, but he was not discouraged and climbed up to continue the challenge.
Zhao Lei was busy using his action camera to record everyone's embarrassing moments, especially Xu Rui's various fancy ways of falling into the water, and he vowed to make it into a "black history compilation".
Cui Yu was clearly experienced.
He quickly regained his footing on the board, moving smoothly with the waves, and even occasionally making a simple turn, which drew loud cheers from Cui Xuyue on the shore.
Meng Yihe stood by the pool, her brows slightly furrowed, as if analyzing a complex strategic plan. She carefully observed the rhythm of the waves and the movements of others, and hesitated to enter the water.
"Brother Meng! Come quick! It's super fun!"
Cui Xuyue, clutching her small surfboard, couldn't wait any longer.
Cui Yu slid back to the shore, laughing as he called out to Meng Yihe, "Director Meng, theory is no substitute for practice!" His face was covered in water droplets, and his smile shone brightly in the sunlight.
Meng Yihe glanced at him, as if she had been provoked, and finally picked up a board and calmly walked into the water, her movements somewhat stiff.
When he tried to stand up for the first time, he lost his balance and fell directly into the water. But he immediately surfaced, wiped his face, and showed no sign of discouragement in his eyes. Instead, his familiar competitive spirit was rekindled. He climbed back onto the board and continued to try, as if he were tackling a technical challenge.
Cui Yu was not far from him, playing with his own things while occasionally glancing at him. Seeing him fail again and again and start over again and again, the smile on his lips never disappeared.
Finally, when the right wave came, Meng Yihe successfully stood up!
Although his posture was still a bit stiff and his body was taut, he did manage to maintain his balance on the wave for a distance.
Cui Xuyue, who was on the shore, jumped up excitedly.
Wow! Brother Meng did it!
Cui Yu whistled, glided up to him, and shouted with a smile, "Not bad! Director Meng! Getting into the swing of things?"
Meng Yihe's lips were pressed tightly together with tension and effort, but upon hearing the sound, he still glanced quickly at Cui Yu, a hint of smugness flashing in his eyes. However, in that moment of distraction, another wave crashed in, causing him to sway and plunge into the water with a splash once more.
Cui Yu couldn't help but burst into laughter and quickly swiped over to see what was going on.
Meng Yihe emerged from the water, a rare hint of annoyance appearing on her face. Her wet hair clung to her forehead, making her look somewhat adorably disheveled.
He glared at Cui Yu, who was laughing happily, but said nothing. He simply gripped the board silently, preparing to face the next wave.
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