Love had always been something impossible to grasp. It was an urgent yearning, an intense desire to possess, a feeling that was difficult to put into words yet impossible not to express.
Ke Bu buried his legs in the sand. The sunlight wasn’t blazing, but it was warm. Su You Yan looked at his knee and asked, “What happened to your leg?”
“I hurt it accidentally a long time ago.”
That should have been the end of it, but Ke Bu reminded her, “At the very least, you should ask things like how it happened or whether it hurts.”
“Why would I ask about something I’m not interested in?”
“Then you shouldn’t have brought it up in the first place.”
Zhi Li arrived late, wearing blue swim trunks and sandals. Sunlight illuminated his hair and skin, making him look like a trap people would willingly throw themselves into. Seeing Zhi Li, Chu Hao Yu exchanged glances with Ying Xiu Jie, then struck a pose like Dong Cun Rui charging a bunker. “Comrades, our moment has finally arrived! Defeat the boss, seize the territory, and throw Zhi Li into the sea to drown!” Those stirring words inspired everyone. Zhou Xin He and Gong Zhu joined in as well, since it was a rare chance to go out and have fun. Rubbing his hands together, Ke Bu stood up. The masses had begun their rebellion. Everyone swarmed around Zhi Li. Seemingly oblivious to what he had just heard, Zhi Li calmly said, “You’re blocking the way.”
Elio’s Notes: Dong Cun Rui was a Chinese war hero famous for sacrificing himself to destroy an enemy bunker during the Chinese Civil War. In Chinese culture, his name is often used humorously to describe someone charging fearlessly into a dangerous mission or making a dramatic self-sacrifice.
“S-Sorry.” Everyone stepped aside for him. No, wait. This reflexive habit was terrifying.
“Zhi Li, where are you going?” Ke Bu asked.
Before Zhi Li could answer, several people grabbed him and lifted him up. Chu Hao Yu and Ying Xiu Jie made strange noises. “Heave-ho! Heave-ho!”
“Please don’t make such embarrassing sounds.”
“One, two, three—throw!”
Everyone hurled him into the air. Zhi Li flew out and splashed into the sea. The instant he hit the water, Su You Yan took out her black-and-red notebook. She actually carried it with her even to the beach. The sea soon became calm again. Children floated on swim rings, couples splashed each other playfully, yet there was no sign of Zhi Li. Ke Bu’s face turned ugly as he exchanged glances with Chu Hao Yu and Ying Xiu Jie. “Can Zhi Li swim?”
“Our school never had swimming classes. How would I know?”
“Don’t tell me…”
“No way. If something happened to Zhi Li, none of us would leave Yinguo Town with our bodies intact.”
Ke Bu was the first to jump into the sea. Before long, he felt something grab his ankle and drag him downward. Sinking beneath the surface, he saw Zhi Li’s face. His eyes widened. Struggling free, he burst back above the water and flailed about like someone in a horror movie. “H-Help!”
Ke Bu stretched out a hand for help, only to find those beasts on the beach whistling and looking elsewhere. Zhi Li stood up, shoved Ke Bu’s head underwater, then released him. Ke Bu surfaced, wiping water from his face, and stubbornly continued shouting, “Help!”
“If anyone wants to save him, come over,” Zhi Li said, tilting his head.
Everyone continued whistling and gazing into the distance.
“I’m going to die!”
“I’m just teaching you a lesson about how people in relationships get along.”
“Don’t suddenly say something that embarrassing! And since when does getting along with your lover involve killing me?”
“Looks like the lesson isn’t enough.”
Zhi Li shoved Ke Bu’s head underwater again. After releasing him, Ke Bu resurfaced, frowning as he spat out seawater. “It’s so salty. In that case, don’t blame me.”
Ke Bu leaped onto Zhi Li’s back and used his body weight to drag him down. “Then you can have a taste of this salt too, Zhi Li.”
Su You Yan bit the cap off her pen, spat it onto the sand, and opened her notebook. “Gong Zhu, Zhou Xin He, Chu Hao Yu, and Ying Xiu Jie stood by and did nothing. Adding a point.”
“That counts too?! You Yan, calm down,” Gong Zhu said.
Turning around, they saw that Chu Hao Yu and Ying Xiu Jie had already jumped into the sea. Each grabbed one of Ke Bu’s arms.
“Ke Bu, what are you doing?”
“Yeah, Ke Bu. If you’re this rough, you’ll end up getting dumped one day.”
The two dragged him away. Ke Bu kicked water furiously. “You two traitors! Didn’t you just say we were going to defeat the boss?”
“Don’t slander us. When did we ever say that?”
“See you in hell. The Tongue-Pulling Hell.”
Elio’s Notes: Tongue-Pulling Hell is the first hell in Chinese Buddhist and folk tradition, where those who lie, slander, or sow discord are punished by having their tongues pulled out. It is often referenced humorously when accusing someone of talking too much or speaking maliciously.
“The chances of you ending up there are much higher.”
Zhi Li shook his head, running his fingers through his wet hair. Droplets of water streamed down his handsome face. Did every little movement this man made have to be so captivating? Tilting his head, he poured water out of his ear and looked at Ke Bu. “I’ll be waiting for you in heaven.”
Pointing at him, Ke Bu declared, “You’re the least likely person to get into heaven.”
Holding a beach ball, Zhou Xin He suggested, “Let’s play beach volleyball.”
“You don’t seriously think I’d stand around like a bunch of idiots, smacking a ball while laughing, then clapping and laughing again, then saying, ‘Wow, it flew so high!’ before high-fiving each other and leaving behind a beautiful memory of youth, sweat, and friendship. Dream on.”
“Sure, let’s play.”
“What’s with all of you collectively ignoring me?!”
“What?” everyone asked in unison.
“Don’t imitate Zhi Li!”
Naturally relying on personal connections, Ke Bu teamed up with Zhi Li. Zhou Xin He paired with Gong Zhu, while Ying Xiu Jie partnered with Chu Hao Yu. Su You Yan was, of course, the referee. As for Zhang Luo, the shut-in, no one understood why he had come on this trip at all. He stayed in the villa the whole time surfing the internet.
Zhou Xin He and Gong Zhu were eliminated before long. After warming up, Ying Xiu Jie stepped onto the court, looking fired up with fighting spirit. Together with Chu Hao Yu, he formulated a battle plan. “Target the weak point on their team—Ke Bu.”
“Your rude battle plan is way too loud,” Ke Bu protested.
Sure enough, those two despicable villains sent every ball flying toward him. Ke Bu could barely keep up. Ying Xiu Jie jumped high and smashed the ball toward him. Just before it hit him, Ke Bu shouted, “Zhi Li!”
Zhi Li shoved Ke Bu aside and returned the ball one-handed. The ball slammed into Ying Xiu Jie’s head, knocking him to the ground. Clutching his head, he looked toward the referee. “Foul! Serious foul!”
The referee nodded and produced a yellow card. “Simulation.”
“Why am I the one committing a foul? And this isn’t even soccer!”
“Keep arguing and it’ll be a red card.”
Zhi Li wasn’t playing volleyball. He was assaulting people. Every ball was aimed directly at Chu Hao Yu and Ying Xiu Jie. Looking at him fearfully, Chu Hao Yu said, “This is basically attempted murder.”
Holding the ball in one hand and weighing it thoughtfully, Zhi Li lifted his eyelids and looked at the pair. “Did you really think I’d forget about being thrown into the sea that easily?”
Standing nearby, Ke Bu applauded enthusiastically. “Nice shot! That’s it, Zhi Li! Go!”
“Shut up, fence-sitter.” Zhi Li mercilessly exposed Ke Bu’s true nature.
In the past, winter vacation meant staying at home, staring into space, watching television, and sleeping. Now, as Ke Bu watched Zhi Li’s figure and listened to Chu Hao Yu’s and Ying Xiu Jie’s miserable screams, he felt that this was good. It was truly good. Time passed in this way, leaving behind memories that were gentle yet profound. Days with Zhi Li. Days with Gong Zhu, Zhou Xin He, Zhang Luo, Chu Hao Yu, Ying Xiu Jie, and Su You Yan. And he had even met Lan Yin, the woman who had shaken his heart and helped him understand Zhi Li more deeply. Sunlight slowly spread across everything. Warmth—just two simple words, yet the most wonderful feeling in the world.
“Zhi Li, let me take this one. Let them see how awesome I am.”
“Hurry up. The weak point is here. Counterattack.”
“You two idiots, stop giving me insulting nicknames!”
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