Qin Yu and Luo Shangyu strolled along the seaside, eagerly imagining tomorrow’s volleyball match.Â
Suddenly, Qin Yu noticed the seawater rising past her knees, nearly soaking the hem of her skirt.
“Looks like the tide is coming in,” Qin Yu said, glancing toward the low-hanging sun on the horizon, “And it’s getting late!”
“Yes, we should head back. There’s a barbecue at the resort tonight—do you want to try it?”
“Barbecue? That sounds wonderful!” Qin Yu agreed without hesitation.
The sunset gradually sank, painting the sky a brilliant orange-red.
Further from the sun, pinks, reds, and oranges blended into a colorful canvas.
“So beautiful!” Qin Yu stopped to admire the view.
“Another day comes to an end,” Luo Shangyu also paused.
“Don’t you think sunsets are beautiful, Luo Shangyu?” Qin Yu asked, noticing Luo’s expression was calm and untouched by the scenery.
“I’ve seen too many sunsets. Probably over a hundred thousand by now—by the sea, on snowy mountains, across the grasslands. I’ve lost interest in them.”
“But you’re still watching the sunset seriously,” Qin Yu observed, looking at Luo Shangyu standing still, gazing at the fading sun.
“That’s because this sunset is the most unique one. It’s the sunset I’m watching with you.” Luo Shangyu turned toward Qin Yu, her pale green eyes reflecting Qin’s silhouette.
Qin Yu’s mind went blank.
That sentence carried too much meaning, leaving her stunned.
“The sunset with me… is special?” she murmured, her voice so soft Luo barely caught it.
“After all, you’re my best friend,” Luo Shangyu said, gently running her right hand over Qin Yu’s smooth white hair.
The sun slipped below the sea, the sky dimming until only deep blue and dark orange streaks remained.
Qin Yu and Luo Shangyu cast their magic and flew toward the resort hotel.
In front of the resort, rows of barbecue grills were already set up, with many tourists grilling delicious skewers.
Qin Yu’s two maids had secured a grill early and bought plenty of fresh skewers and seasonings from the hotel, arranging everything neatly, just waiting for Qin Yu and Luo Shangyu to start cooking.
Eager, Qin Yu sat by the barbecue, studying the grill carefully.
It was roughly the same design as in her previous life—a metal square iron box without a lid, filled with charcoal, topped by a square metal grate.
Luo Shangyu, however, was practiced, using magic to ignite the charcoal before grabbing a skewer of meat and placing it on the grill.
One maid was clearly impressed by Luo Shangyu’s skill.
When Luo Shangyu smoothly finished the routine, the maid hurriedly said, “Lady Luo, please sit back and relax. We’ll handle the grilling!”
But Luo Shangyu waved them off and said, “We finally got to come out and play. You should enjoy your vacation too. We’ll do it ourselves; you should rest.”
The maids, flattered, protested, “Master Yin instructed us to take good care of you…”
“This is an order!” Luo Shangyu cut in firmly.
Seeing her serious expression, the maids relented and started grilling their own skewers nearby.
“You’re so skilled!” Qin Yu watched in amazement as Luo Shangyu flipped, oiled, and sprinkled seasonings on the skewers with the practiced ease of a street vendor from Qin Yu’s previous life.
“Of course, I’m a pro at barbecue!” Luo Shangyu said proudly.
“Were you a barbecue vendor before?” Qin Yu was intrigued by Luo’s expertise.
“No, but my Shifu liked barbecue a lot, so she taught me. After practicing for a long time, I became this good.”
“Your Shifu?” Qin Yu asked, curious, this was the first time Luo Shangyu had mentioned her teacher.
“Yes. After my parents passed away, she stayed with me, teaching me magic and life skills. She loved barbecue.” Luo’s eyes glowed with fond memories.
“But a few years later, she left for the Northern Continent.”
In the Illusory Realm, only the Southern and Northern Continents existed, separated by the vast Central Ocean.
The Central Ocean was treacherous, with violent storms, shifting fog, and dangerous monsters.
In Qin Yu’s era, few could cross it, and even less so centuries ago.
Thus, the Southern Continent had only rough knowledge and legends about the Northern Continent’s geography and customs.
Cautiously, Qin Yu asked, “Did you ever hear from her afterward?”
“No, but I believe she arrived safely. After all, she’s a Ten-Rank True God-level expert!” Luo Shangyu’s confidence in her Shifu was unwavering.
***
The meat was grilled quickly: fresh beef skewers with a perfect balance of fat and lean.
The surface was crispy, and when Qin Yu bit in, her sharp canines pierced the crust, releasing savory juices mingled with the unique aroma of beef.
Though crispy outside, the interior was tender and slightly raw in the center.
Qin Yu carefully slid the beef off the hot metal skewer, making sure not to burn her mouth.
The spicy chili powder and fragrant cumin blended perfectly, releasing an exquisite aroma that blossomed in her mouth.
A single bite was pure satisfaction!
Before long, Qin Yu finished all the skewers Luo Shangyu had just grilled.
She looked at Luo Shangyu expectantly, silently begging for more.
Luo Shangyu took another handful of skewers, laid them flat on the grill.
The hot air heated the meat, fat like snowflakes melting and dripping onto the charcoal below.
Tiny yellow flames flickered, contrasting with the glowing red coals.
The skewers gradually turned from raw red to deep brown, filling the air with an irresistible aroma.
Qin Yu took a deep breath, the scent of beef satisfying her craving deeply.
She leaned closer to the grill, enduring the heat while greedily inhaling the meaty fragrance.
The fat crystals turned golden on the metal grid, sizzling and producing faint white smoke.
The smoke was a little overwhelming, so Qin Yu closed her eyes and breathed deeply, savoring the scent.
A soft rustling sound came as Luo Shangyu sprinkled cumin and chili powder onto the meat.
Heated cumin released its distinctive fragrance, piercing Qin Yu’s nose.
“How wonderful!” Qin Yu sighed.
Suddenly, an odd sensation hit her nose, mixed with the strong cumin scent.
“Buhao!” Qin Yu’s internal alarm rang—she’d inhaled too much cumin and was choking!
“Ah-choo!”
“Ah-choo!”
After a series of sneezes, Qin Yu finally recovered.
Rubbing her nose, she realized she’d overreacted, even shedding tears.
She grabbed a cold soda nearby and took two long gulps, the cold sting waking her up fully.
Watching Luo Shangyu silently laughing, mimicking Qin Yu’s exaggerated actions earlier, Qin Yu felt a little embarrassed.
“Luo Shangyu!”
After several more skewers, Qin Yu felt full.
The pure meat skewers were hearty and filling.
“Your skills are really masterful!” she complimented.
“Do you like them? I can make them for you next time!”
“Next time? When?”
“Anytime you want,” Luo Shangyu replied cheerfully.
“Anytime? Even in the middle of the night?”
“I’ll get out of bed to make it for you.”
“What if it’s a long, long time from now?”
“…” Luo Shangyu fell silent, not replying as quickly as before.
After a moment’s thought, she said firmly, “Even then, if you want it, I’ll make it for you.”
“We… won’t part ways… right?” Qin Yu asked cautiously, hopeful but afraid of the answer.
“No way. We’re best friends, aren’t we?”
***
Back in their room, Qin Yu carefully washed her feet.
After walking in the sea this afternoon, the dried saltwater left a sticky residue she wanted to clean thoroughly.
Afterward, she changed into fresh slippers and pajamas and stepped out of the bathroom.
Luo Shangyu had finished earlier and was already sitting on the bed.
The bed was a narrow single, but thankfully the maids had thoughtfully requested an extra blanket and pillow from the hotel, preventing them from fighting over covers in their sleep.
Qin Yu arranged the pillows side by side and realized that two pillows exactly matched the bed’s width—there was no room to spare.
Lights off, they both lay down.
Lying so close, their pillows and blankets touching, Qin Yu could hear Luo Shangyu’s breathing in the dark.
She turned on her side facing outward, ear pressed to the pillow.
The “thump thump” of their heartbeats intertwined, unrelated and unconnected.
After only a few minutes, Qin Yu grew curious if Luo Shangyu was asleep.
She turned inward, lying facing Luo Shangyu—and their eyes met, wide and staring.
Bathed in moonlight, Qin Yu saw Luo Shangyu’s clear pale green eyes.
Embarrassed, her heart started racing.
‘Stay calm, stay calm!’
Taking a deep breath, she tried to steady herself.
Slowly, she could hear only one breath and one heartbeat.
‘My breath and heartbeats are synchronized with Luo Shangyu’s! Is this what ‘chemistry’ feels like?’ Qin Yu was stunned, sensing something strange and subtle.
‘In my past life, even when I shared a bed with friends, it never happened. Maybe it’s because Luo Shangyu is my best friend that this happens?’ Qin Yu’s thoughts ran wild.
But after a tiring day and no proper nap, sleep soon swept over her.
Before long, Qin Yu’s thoughts slipped into darkness.