Jiang Ling looked at her teasing smile that was written all over her face, her hand trembling slightly as she gripped the sunscreen bottle. Gritting her teeth, she sat down beside her.
“Faster.”
Bai Xue rested her head on her arm, making her voice sound a bit muffled.
“Ah… I know, I know! Don’t rush me.”
At these words, Jiang Ling suppressed the odd flutter in her heart. She twisted open the cap, squeezed some sunscreen into her palm, rubbed it gently, and carefully placed her hand on Bai Xue’s slender, beautiful back.
The moment their skin touched, only one thought filled her mind.
So soft…
Then, unable to help herself, Jiang Ling’s fingers started moving, evenly spreading the sunscreen over the exposed skin. The cool yet slightly sticky sensation spread out, making Bai Xue squint her eyes and hum softly.
Of course, it was that teasing, deliberately softened, and utterly charming hum.
“…I don’t think I did anything to make you make that sound, Miss Bai Xue.”
Jiang Ling blushed deeply from the sound, feeling dizzy as she stopped her hands and bit her lip in protest.
“Pfft.” Bai Xue laughed, her body shaking slightly, even wiping a tear from her eye, “Sorry, your reaction was just too funny, hahaha…”
“That’s enough! I’m not your toy!”
Hearing this, Jiang Ling was annoyed too. With a sudden boldness, she placed her hand back and massaged harder in frustration, muttering under her breath, “Bad woman, bad woman…”
“Ah, right there, kimoji~♥”
“Ah, really, I don’t want you to apply it anymore!”
That seductive voice made Jiang Ling unable to even look Bai Xue in the eye. After hastily finishing the application, she put the sunscreen aside and ran off as if fleeing for her life.
Seeing this, Bai Xue laughed even louder, sitting up and lazily stretching her body before following after her.
They had already started playing in the shallower water. Mo Ran cheerfully scooped a handful of water and mercilessly splashed it at the approaching Jiang Ling.
“Eh? Pfft!”
Jiang Ling was caught off guard by the wave, immediately tasting the salty brine on her lips. But instead of displeasure, she burst out laughing and splashed back, “Take that, little Ran!”
After playing for a while, Jiang Ling suddenly remembered she hadn’t seen Fang Wannian yet, so she asked Lin Xiaoyu beside her.
“Where’s Nan Nan?”
“Knowing her, she’s probably hiding under the umbrella drinking a cold beverage.”
Lin Xiaoyu answered promptly before quietly slipping into the sea, flapping her body as if preparing to swim.
Jiang Ling followed her advice and went to the rest area. Sure enough, Fang Wannian was leisurely holding a pale blue drink, enjoying it thoroughly.
“Why aren’t you playing?”
Jiang Ling approached and slipped under the umbrella.
“Gulp… it’s so hot.”
Hearing this, Fang Wannian took another refreshing sip before mumbling something unclear.
She was wearing a wine-red one-piece short dress, cinched at the waist, with small black knots tied along the straps. Her snow-white, straight legs rested relaxed on the beach chair as she slowly swayed the drink in her hand.
“Leave me alone, you guys just go have fun… hey hey hey, don’t pull me!”
Fang Wannian spoke, trying to persuade Jiang Ling to leave her be so she could continue lounging. But she was suddenly surprised when Jiang Ling grabbed her wrist and started running toward the sea with unexpected strength.
Thrown off balance, Fang Wannian stumbled forward, having to put down her drink safely before pulling Jiang Ling back with all her strength. “Wait!”
Jiang Ling’s strength was no match for Fang Wannian’s. The only reason she was able to pull her earlier was because of the element of surprise.
“Ah, come on, let’s play together.”
Jiang Ling swung Fang Wannian’s hand gently, her voice unintentionally sounding a bit coaxing.
Her thoughts were simple — after all, it was Fang Wannian who had suggested coming to the beach, so Jiang Ling just wanted to enjoy it properly.
“I’m fine lying here.”
Fang Wannian frowned, clearly reluctant.
Seeing this, Jiang Ling’s heart sank a little, but she didn’t want to give up so easily. After all, Fang Wannian was the first person to bring her to the beach.
Suddenly, she remembered the manga Lin Xiaoyu had ‘forced’ her to watch last night, and her expression grew conflicted.
“I’m going back.”
When Jiang Ling fell silent, Fang Wannian turned around to leave.
Only to be stopped again.
Fang Wannian’s patience was wearing thin, about to say something when she noticed Jiang Ling slowly hooking her fingers through hers, their fingers interlacing tightly in an intimate hold.
Then, Jiang Ling slightly lifted her head and stared straight at Fang Wannian, her eyes glistening with moisture. “Can’t I?”
Seeing Jiang Ling looking so pitiful, Fang Wannian suddenly felt as if she had done something terribly wrong and unconsciously took a half step back. “Uh, well…”
“Really can’t?”
But Jiang Ling didn’t back down, pouting as she carefully tightened her fingers. Her voice sounded faintly like she was about to cry.
“Ah… really, okay, okay, fine!”
Fang Wannian was powerless against this guilt-inducing tactic and gave in with a resigned sigh.
Immediately, the little pitiful Jiang Ling who was about to cry just moments ago switched to a joyful smile.
“Yay!”
She tugged Fang Wannian’s hand and ran into the sea.
Being pulled by the arm, Fang Wannian felt like she’d been tricked but couldn’t explain why, so she could only helplessly join the others’ playful chaos.
Jiang Ling, having succeeded, silently apologized to Lin Xiaoyu in her heart: Sorry, I underestimated your messy, fluffy ball literature!
“Hey, Nan Nan actually came. Aren’t you the most obsessed with skincare?”
Mo Ran seemed to have discovered something new and splashed water toward her.
“Then don’t splash me if you know that!”
Fang Wannian said irritably, about to shift blame to Jiang Ling, but when she turned, she saw Jiang Ling’s radiant smile as she laughed with Lin Xiaoyu, competing to see who could hold their breath the longest.
“You wanna hold your breath with me? No cheating!”
“Mm-hmm.”
They agreed on the rules and dived underwater together.
Of course, Lin Xiaoyu was the clear winner, nearly flawless.
Jiang Ling couldn’t hold it long after entering the water, suddenly popping up with a small cough, “Pft…”
The blazing sunlight poured down onto the sea and cast a glow on Jiang Ling’s face, making her delicate skin shimmer.
Fang Wannian squinted, finding it a little dazzling.
Only later did she realize that the brightness wasn’t from the sunlight, but from Jiang Ling’s radiant smile floating in the sunlight-soaked water.
*
After playing for most of the afternoon, everyone was exhausted. They agreed to go eat to replenish their energy.
When Jiang Ling changed out of her swimsuit and put on her everyday clothes, she suddenly felt a burning gaze fixed on her.
She immediately turned around but saw nothing unusual, frowning in confusion.
Could it be her imagination?
But when she turned again, the gaze was unmistakable. Feeling strange, she took a few slow steps before suddenly spinning around.
“Uh!”
Not far off, a girl jumped back in surprise, nearly startled into a jump. Her eyes flickered nervously as she looked elsewhere, puckering her lips and whistling awkwardly, “Hoo hoo, hoo—”
“That’s not a whistle at all!”
Jiang Ling couldn’t help but say, causing the girl to awkwardly look back. She hurriedly and cautiously took two steps forward, lowering her head tightly and speaking hesitantly.
“Um, are you Jiang Ling from NOVA?”