APR 12

Zhong Su returned to his room to change into clean clothes, while Chen Huan reheated a bucket of bathwater and quickly rinsed off the sweat and dust.

After a full day of packing, traveling, and enduring nearly two hours of rough seas on the ferry, even the most physically fit person would be exhausted. Zhong Su and Chen Huan were no exception.

Neither suggested going out to find a restaurant. Instead, they tacitly placed the sandwiches they’d bought on the road into a frying pan, browning them on both sides. They quietly ate the sandwiches with mineral water before retiring to their rooms to rest.

After a quick cleaning, the room no longer reeked of mold and dampness as strongly as before, making it barely habitable.

Chen Huan patted the towel Zhong Su had spread over the bed and chuckled, “You’re really particular, aren’t you?”

“I can’t relax on a bed someone else has slept in,” Zhong Su said, tucking the four corners of the towel firmly under the mattress. “You choose—inside or outside?”

“Either way.”

“Then you take the outside,” Zhong Su said quickly, as if he’d already made up his mind.

Zhong Su stepped past Chen Huan and lay down facing the bare wall. With a soft click, Chen Huan switched off the bedside lamp, plunging the room into silent darkness. Only the old ceiling fan whirred overhead, its blades rustling through the air.

Zhong Su closed his eyes, trying to ignore the oppressive summer heat and drift off to sleep.

Moments later, the rustling of fabric broke the silence.

Zhong Su opened his eyes and turned over. In the faint moonlight filtering through the window, he saw Chen Huan deftly removing his tank top.

“Wait,” he blurted out, “you sleep… naked?”

Chen Huan held up the tank top he’d just taken off, glancing at Zhong Su with a puzzled expression. “In this heat? You sleep with clothes on?”

Zhong Su’s lips twitched. Isn’t that obvious?

He sat up straight, his tone serious. “I think we should clarify our sleeping habits before we go any further.”

“Clarify?” Chen Huan tossed the tank top casually over the chair back and sat on the edge of the bed, so close that Zhong Su could feel the warmth radiating from his body.

“Fine, I’ll go first: I sleep naked, take up at least half the bed, don’t mind you touching me, but you have to ask first—no random groping.”

Zhong Su couldn’t help but interrupt him. “I toss and turn in my sleep. If you’re not wearing clothes, I’m bound to touch you. What then?”

And besides, he thought, I have no intention of touching you at all.

“Then we’ll add another clause: if you touch me while asleep, it’s considered force majeure—no consequences, no blame.” Chen Huan had already lain down, his arms behind his head, looking utterly nonchalant.

Zhong Su paused for two seconds, wanting to say something, but seeing Chen Huan’s stubborn, thick-skinned attitude, he swallowed his words.

He pulled the thin blanket that had been kicked to the foot of the bed over himself and lay down again.

Moonlight streamed in through the window like liquid mercury, illuminating Zhong Su’s eyes. He could clearly see the sharp angles of Chen Huan’s profile. Chen Huan’s handsome features were edged with a wild, untamed quality, his slanted brows like a blade, sharp enough to pierce the heart.

Sensing the gaze, Chen Huan glanced at Zhong Su out of the corner of his eye. “Still want to say something?”

“No point. Nothing I say will change the situation.” Zhong Su snapped, then paused before asking, “Do you know how long we’ll be stuck here?”

During their hasty journey, Zhong Su hadn’t given it much thought. Now, in the quiet, he couldn’t help but ponder their future prospects.

Chen Huan chuckled softly, his voice brimming with confidence. “Don’t worry, Su’er. Even if the sky falls, I’ll hold it up for you. Just think of this as a vacation. We’ll be back in Yan Port in a few days.”

“Ah, of course—” He paused, as if remembering something, then turned to gaze intently at Zhong Su, his smile widening. “If you’re really bored, we could find some entertainment right now.”

A dark, mysterious glint flickered in Chen Huan’s deep black eyes, radiating a dangerous allure.

Zhong Su didn’t quite understand what Chen Huan meant by “entertainment,” assuming he was referring to playing cards or some similar game.

“Forget it. I’m not bored enough to play cards in the middle of the night. Go to sleep. We need to get up early tomorrow to find a convenience store nearby. I just checked my luggage and realized I didn’t bring enough bandages for changing the dressing.” Zhong Su turned his back to Chen Huan, closed his eyes again, and tried to ignore the heat radiating from Chen Huan’s body.

The ceiling fan creaked as it turned, blowing hot air that did nothing to dispel the sweltering heat. Instead, it carried the scent of Chen Huan’s shower gel—a crisp, lingering lemon fragrance—to Zhong Su’s nose, making it even harder for him to fall asleep.

Zhong Su frowned, enduring the discomfort for a long while before finally succumbing to exhaustion.

---

The next morning, Zhong Su woke at the first hint of dawn, roused by the loud crowing of a rooster. He hadn’t slept well the night before, and his eyes opened with a lingering sense of disorientation.

What’s going on?

Chen Huan’s sleeping face was inches away. The usually cold and sharp features were now softened in repose, his chest rising and falling rhythmically as he slept soundly.

Zhong Su froze for a moment, then remembered he had shared a bed with Chen Huan the previous night.

Careful not to wake the dark-skinned youth, Zhong Su gently lifted the covers and tiptoed out of bed.

With a creak of the old wooden door, he entered the bathroom, turned on the faucet, and waited for the pipes to shudder before the water flowed steadily.

He filled a rinsing cup halfway, squeezed toothpaste onto his brush, and began brushing his teeth until his mouth was filled with white foam. He then bent over and spat the foam into the sink with a whoosh, cupping a handful of cold water to splash on his face. The sharp chill stung his skin like needles, instantly banishing the last traces of sleepiness.

Stepping outside, Zhong Su squinted and surveyed his surroundings. Down the slope in the distance were rows of gray houses, beyond which lay a narrow road, but there was no sign of any shops.

He thought to himself, I should go find the convenience store and stock up on essentials before Chen Huan wakes up.

Just then, an elderly woman in a floral-patterned blouse appeared at the end of the dirt road. Leaning on a long wooden staff, she slowly herded a flock of ducks past the cottage. The ducks quacked noisily, occasionally flapping their wings and kicking up small clouds of dust.

Zhong Su gave the woman a harmless smile and raised his voice slightly. “Hello, ma’am. I’m a tourist visiting the island and need to buy some instant noodles and other daily necessities. Could you tell me where the nearest convenience store is?”

The old woman, who was hard of hearing, cupped her hand behind her ear like a makeshift trumpet and leaned closer, asking slowly, “What did you say?”

Zhong Su bent down and patiently repeated his question. “I’m looking for a convenience store—a shop that sells food and daily necessities. Do you know where one is?”

Finally understanding, the woman pointed down the dusty dirt road. “That way, young man. Just follow this road down until you see a red-roofed building. That’s it.”

“Oh, I see it now. Thank you!”

Zhong Su watched as the old woman herded the ducks toward the distant pond. One after another, the ducks leaped into the water, their red feet paddling contentedly, leaving ripples in their wake.

“Su’er.”

Zhong Su turned at the sound of his name and saw Chen Huan emerge, his hair still tousled from sleep. As he stretched, the hem of his shirt inadvertently lifted, revealing a glimpse of his taut, tanned abs. The smooth lines of his muscles resembled those of a newly awakened black panther, exuding a lazy yet coiled power.

“Up early, huh?” Zhong Su raised an eyebrow, teasing, “I thought you’d sleep till the sun burned your butt.”

Chen Huan yawned and replied lazily, “Mhm. What were you talking to that old woman about earlier?”

“Just asking for directions to the convenience store.”

“Did you find it?”

Zhong Su rolled his eyes and nudged Chen Huan with his elbow, scolding playfully, “Duh. Hurry up and get dressed so we can go buy breakfast. I’m starving.”

Following the dirt path the old woman had pointed out, Zhong Su and Chen Huan walked downhill for about fifteen minutes before spotting a red-roofed convenience store around a bend.

The store’s exterior was drab and worn, with peeling paint and a faded sign that read “Dingdang Store” in barely legible characters, exuding a rustic, lived-in charm.

To save electricity, the convenience store hadn’t turned on its lights in the morning, casting a thin veil over the merchandise on the shelves. Zhong Su’s gaze probed the dim interior, vaguely discerning an elderly man sitting behind the counter, fanning himself with a palm-leaf fan, while a girl beside him was engrossed in snacking.

The girl, Zhang Yueran, appeared to be around sixteen or seventeen, with a round face, almond-shaped eyes, and rosy cheeks like a ripe apple. During her summer vacation, she had come to the remote Seven Rock Island specifically to keep her grandparents company.

Crunching chips, she mumbled to her grandfather, “Grandpa, what’s for lunch today? Steamed fish again? I’m kind of tired of it.”

“Then what does my sweet granddaughter want? Grandpa will make it for you.”

Zhang Yueran pouted playfully. “I want a hamburger and fries, with lots of ketchup! When I’m at home, Dad always gives me money to buy them for lunch. I really like them.”

Zhang Liqin’s face crumpled in dismay. “Why does it always have to be foreign food? Your grandma doesn’t like that stuff.”

Zhong Su turned to Chen Huan to confirm, “You grab the food. I’ll ask the owner if they have any gauze.”

Chen Huan nodded casually, picked up a shopping basket by the door, and headed toward the food section. His tall, imposing figure looked oddly out of place with the bright red plastic basket.

Zhong Su walked to the cashier counter and asked the elderly shopkeeper, “Sir, do you sell medical gauze and bandages here?”

Zhang Liqin’s gaze lingered for two seconds on the thick bandages wrapped around Zhong Su’s arm before flicking to the imposing figure standing in the distance. He immediately understood that these two young men were no ordinary customers.

Having seen his share of trouble over the years, the old man knew that young people often had short tempers, prone to explosive outbursts at the slightest spark. He carefully set his palm-leaf fan on the glass counter and replied cautiously, “Yes, we have both gauze and bandages. How many rolls do you need? I’ll fetch them from the back right away.”

Zhong Su considered for a moment. Though the knife wound on his arm wasn’t deep, it was healing slower than expected. When he removed the gauze that morning to check, only a thin, pale pink scab had barely formed. At this rate, he wouldn’t be able to remove the bandages for at least another week.

“Three rolls of gauze and one roll of bandages for now,” Zhong Su said. “I’ll come back if I need more.”

Zhong Su’s voice was clear and even, like a refreshing spring that soothed the soul.

Zhang Yueran, who had been engrossed in munching on potato chips, looked up at the sound of his voice. When she saw Zhong Su’s face, she froze, forgetting to bring the chip she was holding to her mouth.

In her eyes, Zhong Su—injured, his lips pale from blood loss—was simply an irresistibly handsome man, a sight that stirred her protective instincts.

His slightly disheveled black hair framed a face that seemed even paler than usual, while his hazel eyes shimmered with a translucent, watery sheen. He exuded a fragile yet resilient beauty that made Zhang Yueran’s heart pound wildly, stirring an overwhelming urge to cradle him in her arms and protect him.

This young man is truly stunning, she thought, even more handsome than the male celebrities on posters.

Zhang Yueran’s face flushed crimson in silence. Just then, the old man emerged with the bandages and gauze.

“Young man, here’s what you needed—”

“Grandpa, I-I’ll ring up the customer. You just rest,” Zhang Yueran interrupted, grabbing a plastic bag and hastily stuffing the bandages and gauze into it.

Zhong Su didn’t even have time to check the gauze’s specifications or material. He could only watch her movements, his lips parting slightly as if to speak.

Zhang Yueran stole another quick glance at his face, her fingers unconsciously tightening around the bag. Summoning her courage, she stammered, “U-um, are you a tourist visiting the island? I haven’t seen you around the village before.”

“Perhaps… you’d like a guide to show you around the island’s attractions?”

Her voice was barely louder than a mosquito’s buzz. Zhong Su didn’t immediately realize she was speaking to him. Before he could respond, a heavy weight suddenly settled on his shoulder.

Chen Huan turned and casually draped an arm over Zhong Su’s shoulder, setting the shopping basket filled with instant food and daily necessities on the checkout counter.

He nodded toward the girl and said, “We’ll pay together.”

Chen Huan glanced sideways at Zhong Su, a smile still playing on his lips. “Su’er, we couldn’t find the cooling mat you wanted, only disposable bedsheets. We’ll have to make do.”

Zhong Su calmly accepted the situation. “I expected as much,” he said flatly. “We’re lucky this store even has disposable bedsheets.”

Chen Huan exuded a ruthless, sharp aura. Standing shoulder to shoulder with Zhong Su, they seemed to project an invisible barrier that immediately intimidated Zhang Yueran, silencing her.

Zhang Yueran shrank like a quail, dutifully tallied their purchases, and punched the total into the calculator.

Zhong Su glanced at the calculator display, swiftly counted out the corresponding bills, and pressed them onto the counter.

“Make sure nothing’s missing,” Zhong Su said. “Then let’s head back.”

“As long as I have my cigarettes, I have everything I need.”

“Smoker.”

Chen Huan shrugged, unbothered. “I won’t deny it.”

Zhong Su picked up one of the bagged groceries, while Chen Huan took the remaining two. They pushed open the door and walked down the slope toward their seaside cottage.