Song Shiman pouted in dissatisfaction, her cheeks puffing up as she asked, “What are you going to do during the summer?”
Sheng Qingxi hadn’t intended to keep it a secret. In her previous life, she had done the same thing during this summer, so she answered honestly, “I’m going to take on a part-time job.”
Everyone paused for a moment, especially Lin Ran, who immediately looked over at her.
Song Xingyu lowered his gaze and didn’t make eye contact.
Apart from Sheng Qingxi and Song Xingyu, the rest of the group came from wealthy backgrounds. None of them had ever worried about money—it had solved most of their problems growing up.
Song Shiman was momentarily stunned. “A part-time job? Do you urgently need money?”
Sheng Qingxi pressed her lips together. “I’ll be tutoring middle school kids. It’s through a volunteer from our orphanage. It’s safe, and I’m not in urgent need of money; I just want to save it.”
Xie Zhen and He Mo were dumbfounded.
*Our orphanage? What does that mean?*
Song Shiman looked at Sheng Qingxi, wanting to say something, but in the end, she remained silent.
Lin Ran directly asked, “Is it all set?”
Sheng Qingxi turned her head to look at him. His gaze was deep, his face half illuminated by the fire and half cast in shadow.
She answered softly, “Not yet.”
Without much thought, Lin Ran grabbed Lin Yanyan, who was sitting nearby. “We’ve got a middle schooler right here. She has her entrance exams next year. I think helping this little one is a more urgent matter.”
Lin Yanyan froze for a moment, but quickly caught on to what Lin Ran was saying and added, “Sister Sheng, I also need tutoring during the summer. How about you tutor me instead? My brother can drive you home afterward.”
Sheng Qingxi hadn’t expected Lin Yanyan to need tutoring as well. After thinking for a moment, she said, “I won’t charge you for tutoring.”
Lin Ran: “…”
Lin Yanyan hesitated before asking, “Then will you still go tutor those other kids?”
Sheng Qingxi smiled at her. “No, that place is pretty far. If I tutor you, there won’t be enough time to handle both. When you’re on break, just let me know what times work for you.”
Lin Yanyan glanced uneasily at Lin Ran. Their intention wasn’t to make Sheng Qingxi feel burdened, but rather to help her so she wouldn’t have to work so hard or worry about money.
Lin Ran, understanding Sheng Qingxi well, knew just how to soften her resolve. “If you don’t charge, I doubt this little girl will focus properly during class. Besides, our family has always paid tutoring fees, and my dad handles it. I don’t get involved.”
Lin Yanyan quickly nodded in agreement, “Sister, don’t overthink it. I was going to hire a tutor anyway. Plus… I really like you.”
She blushed after finishing the last part.
Lin Ran: ?
What was this little girl babbling about now? It started off well enough, but then she veered off track!
Lin Yanyan continued pestering Sheng Qingxi until they finally settled the tutoring arrangement.
By the second half of dinner, He Mo and Xie Zhen had both fallen silent, their minds reeling from the overwhelming information they had just learned. They were still trying to process the bombshell that had been dropped on them.
As they prepared to head out after dinner, the atmosphere lightened somewhat.
By the time the group set off, it was already dark.
Unlike the cloudy sky from the previous night, tonight’s sky was clear, scattered with tiny stars twinkling across the heavens.
The sea breeze carried a damp mist, but it wasn’t cold.
Summer was drawing near.
Song Xingyu, holding a flashlight, led the way, with Xie Zhen sticking closely behind him.
Behind Xie Zhen was Lin Yanyan, followed by He Mo. Further back in line were Song Shiman, Sheng Qingxi, and Lin Ran.
Lin Ran glanced over to see that Song Shiman was clutching tightly to Sheng Qingxi’s wrist. He wondered if she was hurting her with how hard she was gripping.
Sheng Qingxi quietly comforted Song Shiman.
Though Song Shiman was eager to see the fireflies, the moment they entered the woods, her mind was flooded with eerie scenes from movies. Countless terrifying thoughts sprang up, making her feel like she’d scare herself to death at any moment.
To reach the other side of the island, they had to pass through a dense forest. The path was relatively smooth, but the darkness grew thicker as they went on.
The island’s ecosystem was well-preserved. During the day, they frequently spotted small animals darting between the trees, but at night, the rustling noises combined with the wind made everyone on edge.
Xie Zhen trembled as he clung to the hem of Song Xingyu’s shirt and stammered, “Brother Song, wh-when will we get there?”
Song Xingyu’s voice carried a hint of amusement. “Pirate treasure isn’t so easy to find, you know.”
Song Shiman was a bit farther from Song Xingyu, and by the time the wind carried his words to her ears, all she heard was the word “pirates.”
Unlike the others, Song Shiman had actually seen pirates before. When she was young, her father had taken her on a trip through the Indian Ocean, a region notorious for its pirates. Their family ship had run into some at the time.
Her steps came to an abrupt halt, and she couldn’t stop herself from trembling.
It was an instinctive response—one she had no control over.
Tears welled up in Song Shiman’s eyes as she stammered, “Xiao Xi, I can’t do this. I want to go back, wuwuwu.”
Right now, only Dudu, her little guardian angel, could save her.
As soon as Song Shiman voiced her fears, Xie Zhen started feeling like he couldn’t handle it either. But there was no way he’d admit it in front of everyone, so he shouted loudly, “Mozi! What’s wrong with you? Why are you shaking so much? How about I take you and Song Shiman back?”
He Mo’s calm voice came from the back, “I’m right behind Lin Yanyan.”
There was a brief standoff between He Mo and Xie Zhen, but eventually, He Mo relented with a sigh, “Fine, I’m so scared. Take me back.”
Seeing this, Sheng Qingxi quietly held Song Shiman’s hand and said softly, “Shiman, let me walk you back.”
Song Shiman shook her head. “No, you go watch the fireflies for me.”
And just like that, their group of seven was suddenly reduced to just four.
Song Xingyu sighed. “Since everyone else is heading back, how about we go to the beach and look at the stars instead?”
All four of them knew full well that the pirate treasure in the cave was just a story. And as for the fireflies—who knew if they were even real?
Lin Yanyan sighed quietly, feeling that without Xie Zhen, the adventure had lost its fun.
Lin Ran turned to the remaining girls and asked, “Should we go to the beach or head back?”
Lin Yanyan glanced up at the sky and whispered, “Let’s go see the stars.”
In the city, it was rare to see so many stars in the night sky. While they might find this place a bit dull, Lin Yanyan loved it here. It was peaceful and beautiful.
So, the four of them changed direction and headed toward the beach.
As they walked, Lin Yanyan, intrigued by Song Xingyu’s mention of the stars, mustered the courage to ask him a few questions about constellations.
The two of them walked ahead, chatting about the stories behind the stars.
Lin Ran, as usual, took his time walking at the back, his eyes lingering on Sheng Qingxi’s slender figure in front of him.
Amid the quiet night, Lin Ran suddenly said in a low voice, “Sheng Qingxi, hold my hand.”
Sheng Qingxi’s steps faltered. She hesitated only briefly before reaching out her hand to him.
Lin Ran looked at the small hand extended toward him in the darkness and smiled to himself.
This girl—she didn’t know how to be jealous, didn’t know how to be shy.
The emotions that had weighed on Lin Ran for the past two weeks slowly began to fade. He finally understood—Sheng Qingxi was completely inexperienced when it came to matters of the heart. Her emotions and thoughts, those complex, difficult-to-explain feelings, were foreign to her.
She only knew how to be good to him in her own way.
And this kindness of hers—it came with no expectations, no demands for a response or result.
Lin Ran lifted his hand and clasped hers firmly, his grip warm and secure.
He let out a quiet sigh, barely audible, “Silly girl.”
Sheng Qingxi didn’t catch it and turned her head slightly, asking, “What did you say, Lin Ran?”
Lin Ran quickly suppressed his emotions and changed the subject to her upcoming competition. “When we get back the day after tomorrow to pack, don’t forget to bring your phone. I don’t want to lose track of you. Call me if anything happens, or even if nothing does.”
Sheng Qingxi nodded. “I know. Sheng Mama already packed everything for me.”
Lin Ran hadn’t paid much attention to what the Five-in-a-Row Championship entailed, but since Sheng Qingxi was participating, he figured he should look into it.
With a slight tug, he pulled Sheng Qingxi closer to his side. Though his mind registered how soft her hand was, his tone remained serious as he asked, “What made you decide to enter this competition?”
“There’s prize money,” Sheng Qingxi answered honestly.
Lin Ran frowned, his voice deepening slightly, “From now on, don’t buy me such expensive things.”
Sheng Qingxi blinked. “Did you like those gloves?”
Lin Ran sighed. Of course he liked them. Even if they didn’t fit perfectly, he practically wanted to wear them every day.
But he didn’t say that out loud. Instead, he started lecturing her, “If you’re going to save money, then really save it. Don’t waste it. Spending thousands like it’s nothing—how is that being responsible with your money?”
Sheng Qingxi quietly countered, “It wasn’t a waste.”
Lin Ran felt that Sheng Qingxi’s thinking was just off. She was normally such a sensible girl, but when it came to him, it was like she became a different person. All her principles and habits seemed to go out the window.
Was Lin Ran happy about this?
Yes, he was very happy.
And it made him feel like a complete weirdo.
—
By the coast.
The wind picked up, and the stars scattered across the sky reflected on the water, creating the illusion of a galaxy spilling into the sea.
Instead of heading to the sandy beach, they made their way to the rocky shore.
This was one of the highest points on the island. Looking back, they could see the distant lights of the camp flickering in the night.
A lone watchtower stood by the coast, like a silent guardian. The sea shimmered with ripples, and the stars twinkled on the water’s surface, occasionally swallowed by the rolling waves, only to reappear moments later.
If you looked carefully with a flashlight, you could spot hermit crabs slowly scuttling between the rocks.
Song Xingyu and Lin Yanyan gazed up at the vast, romantic expanse of the starry sky.
Meanwhile, Sheng Qingxi’s eyes were fixed on the dark sea, a familiar feeling of suffocation and descent washing over her.
Ever since the incident at the bottom of the pool, she couldn’t shake the sense of helplessness that often overwhelmed her. It kept bringing back memories of her previous life. In the latter half of that brief existence, she had lived solely for Lin Ran.
But now… could she still live for Lin Ran in this life?
Sheng Qingxi didn’t know.
Lin Ran silently tightened his grip on her hand, his gaze growing slightly heavier.
She was hiding something in her heart, something she couldn’t share with anyone.
Lin Ran shifted his gaze away, looking toward the bottomless sea.
In his eyes, the faint light of the stars was reflected, and his deep voice, carried by the salty sea breeze, reached Sheng Qingxi’s ears—
“Sheng Qingxi, I won’t like anyone else, nor will I be with anyone else.”
“Can you, can you wait for me?”