Xiao Chen's usually calm and rational face was now flushed with a faint red glow. The big lights were turned off, the ambiguous atmosphere was cranked up, and the room was filled with a hazy orange color.
Yu Na hadn't drank much either, but she had a clear head. However, because of Xiao Chen's bewitching gaze, her rationality was being stripped away bit by bit.
She moved closer to him, burying her head in the crook of his neck.
"Okay, I'll take responsibility."
The faint alcohol scent wasn't sharp or pungent, but rather carried a strange sense of stimulation.
Yu Na held him tightly, enduring this pleasurable sensation.
The drunkenness going to his head, Xiao Chen was less restrained than usual. Uncontrolled sounds issued from both their throats, colliding in midair.
Xiao Chen saw a layer of mist gather over Yu Na's eyes.
He gently kissed down, comforting her as he lingered on her lips. He explored inward, entangling with her, savoring her like a delicious piece of candy.
Under the starry island night, with the shadows of trees swaying about, there was no distance between them in the room.
Yu Na surrendered all her emotions to him, gave up making any moves, allowing her beloved to take her far away.
Thanks to the alcohol, they were more uninhibited than usual.
Yu Na was tormented until midnight before finally collapsing limply into his embrace, surrounded by his scent. Her heart settled down as her eyes slowly closed...
...
Having gone to bed so late the previous night, Yu Na simply couldn't get up the next morning no matter what.
After Xiao Chen had washed up, he lay next to her bed watching her, pinching her fair, rosy cheeks.
When it was almost morning, he called her name a few times and shook her, but this girl showed no sign of waking up.
So Xiao Chen decided to play a trick. Bracing his palm on the soft mattress, he pressed down and then pulled back, repeating this motion three times to simulate a shaking sensation.
He exclaimed, "Something happened, wake up!"
The beds here were extremely soft. Naturally, Yu Na was startled awake by the frightening sensation of shaking. She bolted up in bed, "What happened? Why is it shaking, is it an earth—"
Before she could finish speaking, she rubbed her eyes and realized nothing was actually wrong.
Outside the glass doors she could see deck chairs and a swimming pool, and beyond that the boundless jelly-blue sea.
The vast sky was clear and azure, with an airplane leaving behind a long, straight cloud.
Yu Na then turned her head back and saw Xiao Chen bent over laughing uproariously at her embarrassing state. "Hahahahaha! You're killing me!"
"............" Annoyed, Yu Na threw a pillow at him. "You tricked me!"
He kept on laughing. "I couldn't wake you up using normal means!"
"That's not my fault!" Yu Na pounded and slapped at him. "Who made you so...last night!"
"Oh—" Xiao Chen roguishly pulled her into his lap. "Does it still hurt?"
"I'm ignoring you!" Yu Na struggled free of him and got to her feet. A dull ache was starting to make itself felt more clearly now.
She spread her arms in command. "Carry me to get washed up."
"As you wish!"
After washing up, two dark-skinned staffers came in holding an exquisite woven tray laden with a colorful and abundant breakfast spread.
They introduced the food and Xiao Chen thanked them. Then he asked Yu Na, "Shall we go eat?"
Yu Na's eyes lit up. "Sure! Should we change into swimsuits?"
"Whatever you like, shorts are fine too."
They had a floating breakfast in the pool. Yu Na still decided to go change into a swimsuit.
It was a light blue halter top, with a loose bow tied casually over each shoulder. The open back design hinted alluringly at her figure.
Yu Na's hair was up in a high ponytail. Fair-skinned with a delicate pink glow, her legs were straight and slender, her waist lithe.
She noticed Xiao Chen's gaze and quickly covered up her full, rounded assets. "Hey, you!"
Xiao Chen clicked his tongue, speaking inappropriately shameless words in the calmest tone: "What's wrong with looking a couple times? We've done much more intimate things."
Yu Na: ?
Ignoring him, she went and sat by the poolside. Not seeing Han Chengxun or Lin Shuan around, she asked Xiao Chen, "Where's Shuan?"
"Playing tennis."
"...Ah? This early?"
To Yu Na's surprise, Xiao Chen casually replied, "Want to go?"
"I do."
"Hmm," A wicked smile surfaced in Xiao Chen's eyes. Sounding extremely sure of himself, he asked, "Seems you still have some energy left, want to...later?"
Yu Na nearly choked on her bread when she heard this.
She glared furiously at him, looking like she wanted to pounce over and bite him.
...
They spent those days enjoying the island.
Sometimes the four of them were together, sometimes the couples split up to play, and sometimes just the guys or just the girls.
Yu Na and Lin Shuan kept taking endless photos, while Han Chengxun and Xiao Chen played tennis. Xiao Chen also got his wish to go scuba diving with Han Chengxun.
The Spring Festival and Yu Na's birthday were only two days apart, so they stayed to celebrate her birthday before returning home.
On Spring Festival's Eve, Yu Na had something on her mind all day — whether or not to wish her parents a happy new year.
But she didn't say it aloud, struggling internally about wanting to but not daring to message them.
At the stroke of midnight local time...
Upon returning to their room, Xiao Chen suddenly asked, "Want to wish your parents a happy new year?"
Yu Na stared at him wide-eyed. "How...how did you know what I was thinking about?"
Looking distressed, she said, "I was also wondering today if I should wish them a happy Spring Festival, but..."
"But what?"
After a long silence, Yu Na honestly admitted, "I don't dare to."
Xiao Chen sat down beside her. "I think you should message them. Maybe they're also waiting to hear from you."
"After all, you're their daughter."
Encouraged by Xiao Chen, Yu Na finally decided to send holiday greetings to her parents.
Not daring to message her dad, she first opened the chat with her mom. After some hesitation she sent:
[Mom, happy new year to you and Dad. I wish you health and happiness!]
Send.
But Xiao Chen, sitting on the side, said, "You only messaged your mom. Won't your dad feel left out?"
Yu Na: ?
Xiao Chen put an arm around her shoulder, reasoning with her: "So shouldn't you also wish your dad a happy new year too?"
At the mention of her dad, Yu Na automatically resisted with excuses to avoid it: "...Actually my parents don't really celebrate much. It doesn't matter if I message or not—"
Xiao Chen cut her off. "Listen to me. Message both parents." You and your dad have always been estranged. This can't go on."
Caught in deep inner turmoil, Yu Na couldn't make up her mind.
So Xiao Chen gave her another nudge. In the end, she also sent a message to her dad—
[Dad, happy new year. I wish you success in your work and health in the coming year.]
Sending the message, Xiao Chen approvingly tousled her hair. "Now you're being good. If you're not speaking to your parents, how are we supposed to get married later?"
"...?"
It made sense, and she also knew things couldn't keep going on this way.
But Yu Na still fiercely poked his chin, looking as if she had seen through him: "So that was your motive all along!"
