When Wen Ci woke, the room was completely dark.
The curtains blocked out every trace of light, leaving her aware only of the comfortable air conditioning and the silky bedding.
Still dazed, Wen Ci instinctively searched for her phone and lit the screen.
10:52.
She put the phone down and closed her eyes again.
Two seconds later, she shot upright.
What time was it?!
Wen Ci fumbled for the light switch.
When she saw the unfamiliar layout and décor around her, her thoughts finally returned.
Last night, she had… fallen asleep directly in Zhou Wu’s bed.
The space beside her was empty. Only a watch lay casually on the bedside table, proving that Zhou Wu had slept there as well.
After taking a moment to recover, she opened the electric curtains.
Beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows was a lush green landscape where sea and sky merged together, an expansive view impossible to see in the city.
Apart from the time she had been drunk, Wen Ci had not slept this long in years.
Without alcohol, she woke without dizziness and felt refreshed, clear-headed and completely at ease.
She casually pushed her sleep-mussed hair back, lowered her head and began checking her unread messages.
The moment she opened WeChat, Wen Ci released a breath of relief.
Fortunately, her mother had not checked on her that morning.
There were twenty-one messages.
Twenty were from Dou Yiqing, and fifteen of those were videos.
The number alone made Wen Ci smile.
Leaning against the pillows, she opened them one by one.
They were all live recordings.
Wen Ci was not particularly interested in the band. Their music was a little too noisy for her.
But Dou Yiqing loved them. Whenever lesson planning drove her mad, she would play their songs and dance wildly around her room.
The bar was crowded and deafening.
Wen Ci could not hear what the band was singing at all. She could only sense Dou Yiqing’s excitement and happiness.
Dou Yiqing shook the camera while singing along. She had clearly been drinking and shouted, “Wen Ci! Can you hear it? It’s so exciting! This feels amazing—”
Qin Yun’s voice appeared in the final video.
“Dou Yiqing, are you insane? Are you drinking alcohol like it’s water?”
Hearing this, Wen Ci’s smile faded slightly.
She lowered her head and typed.
**Wen Ci: Sorry, Yiqing. I fell asleep last night and only just saw your messages. The performance looked amazing! Are you awake? Did you drink last night?**
After waiting half a minute without receiving a reply, Wen Ci could not resist messaging Qin Yun.
He replied quickly.
**Qin Yun: Of course she’s f*cking fine. I’m the one who isn’t.**
**Wen Ci: Huh?**
**Qin Yun: Forget it. This is a personal grudge between the two of us… Don’t worry. She’s fine. She simply hasn’t woken yet and is sleeping like a pig.**
Wen Ci relaxed.
She decided to ask Dou Yiqing what had happened once she woke.
Wen Ci climbed out of bed barefoot and wandered roughly around the villa.
She did not see Zhou Wu.
So she picked up her clothes and dressed, sending him a message as she headed outside.
Before she had finished typing, Wen Ci opened the wooden gate outside the villa courtyard and nearly collided with Zhou Wu returning.
He wore a neat set of sports clothes.
A large patch of his grey sleeveless top was soaked, making it appear that he had just returned from a morning run.
Seeing her, Zhou Wu took a step back because of the sweat on his body.
“You’re awake?”
“Mm.”
Since he was standing directly before her, Wen Ci closed the conversation.
“Sorry. I accidentally fell asleep last night.”
Zhou Wu held the wooden gate open for her with one hand.
“What do you want for breakfast? I’ll have someone deliver it.”
“There’s no need.”
Wen Ci hurriedly waved her hands.
“Don’t trouble yourself. I can eat at the restaurant by myself.”
By herself?
Zhou Wu raised an eyebrow, then suddenly changed the subject.
“What is Ms Wen’s schedule today?”
“Read, then walk along the beach.”
Wen Ci added, “You don’t need to worry about me. I can arrange my own day and won’t disturb you.”
Zhou Wu nodded.
“Go and wash up.”
“All right, I—”
“Then come back for breakfast. Bring enough clothes and toiletries for the next two days.”
Zhou Wu looked at her in amusement.
“What did you think I sent them away for? We aren’t limited to sleeping together only at night.”
“…”
Saying something like that in broad daylight at the front gate made Wen Ci tighten her grip on her phone.
Her heartbeat quickened slightly.
“Of course, that wasn’t the only reason. Four people are too noisy. Two are enough.”
Zhou Wu lowered his eyes and lazily negotiated with her.
“Add me to your holiday itinerary too, Ms Wen.”
Wen Ci tightened her fingers and tried not to let her happiness appear too obvious.
With a calm expression, she agreed.
“All right.”
…
Wen Ci did not actually have any holiday itinerary.
Her motives for coming on this trip had never been entirely pure.
Once Dou Yiqing—the person who always planned everything—left, the only ways Wen Ci could think of to pass the time were reading and looking at the sea.
After they finished the brunch delivered by the hotel, Zhou Wu went into the study for a brief conference call.
When he came out, Wen Ci was sitting on the sofa reading, with a notebook beside her.
Zhou Wu approached and looked at the cover.
*Xiao Xiurong’s Intensive Explanation and Practice of Key Knowledge Points.*
Although he had gone abroad after high school, he still had many close friends in China and knew a little about these things.
“Are you planning to take the postgraduate entrance examination?”
“I’ve only been considering it slightly…”
Wen Ci returned to her senses.
“Have you finished working?”
She hesitantly held out two books she had selected.
“Would you like to read? I also brought a few books unrelated to examinations.”
Zhou Wu, who had disliked handing in homework in high school and occasionally slept in class yet always remained near the top of the year, shook his head.
“I don’t like reading.”
As expected.
Wen Ci awkwardly returned the books and once again felt embarrassed by how boring her interests were.
“All right.”
“How long are you going to read?” Zhou Wu asked.
Wen Ci froze.
“Any length of time is fine.”
“Until four, then?”
Zhou Wu glanced at the sunlight outside.
“It won’t be as hot then. I’ll ask someone to change the pool water, and we can swim for a while.”
He smiled carelessly.
“Shall I teach you?”
Wen Ci had never felt that study time passed so slowly.
She raised her head countless times.
Eventually, the clock finally reached four.
Standing in the bathroom, Wen Ci stared at the two strappy swimsuits she had brought.
She struggled for a long time over whether to wear the white or black one, but was too embarrassed to go outside and ask.
In the end, she selected white.
By the time she came out, Zhou Wu had already swum two laps.
Water ran over his deep-set, handsome features as he tilted his head towards her. The line of his Adam’s apple was clearly defined.
“What stroke do you want to learn?”
Wen Ci froze.
She had not expected him to genuinely teach her how to swim.
“Anything is fine. Something simple. I really am not good at water sports.”
The few thin scraps of fabric covering her offered very little sense of security.
Wen Ci instinctively tugged at the material beside her hips.
“Would it be easier to learn if I changed into the swimsuit I wore before?”
“Keep this one on.”
Zhou Wu reached out of the water and caught her ankle.
“Come down.”
In the pool, Zhou Wu held both her hands ahead of her and allowed her to float on the surface.
Wen Ci was extraordinarily fair, almost blending into the white swimsuit.
Although thin, she had long arms and legs, so she did not look particularly short.
She tried kicking twice behind her.
It did nothing.
Zhou Wu was completely responsible for pulling her through the water.
Before long, she could not resist trying to stand again.
After more than ten minutes and an unknown number of failures, Wen Ci wiped the water from her face and felt like the perfect example of a terrible student.
“Sorry. I genuinely have no talent for swimming.”
“It isn’t only swimming, is it?”
Zhou Wu pushed the wet hair away from her eyes and suddenly asked, “During the sports day in your final year of high school, were you the person who fainted immediately after crossing the finish line of the eight-hundred-metre race?”
“…It was the sports day in our second year.”
Caught off guard, Wen Ci paused for several seconds before answering.
“I caused you trouble then.”
Zhou Wu had not wanted to attend the sports day and had planned to sneak out of school.
As he passed the eight-hundred-metre finish line, Wen Ci collapsed directly in front of him.
Once he discovered she was his classmate, he had even suspected that Old Yu had deliberately sent her to stage an accident and trap him.
Remembering something else, Zhou Wu gave a quiet laugh.
“You were so bad at sports that you fainted after eight hundred metres, yet before you even woke up in the infirmary, someone came looking for you and said you’d also signed up for the three-thousand-metre race.”
“You really were impressive.”
Wen Ci covered her face.
“No one else wanted to run the three thousand metres.”
“And I didn’t faint from running. I had heatstroke.”
“Same difference.”
Zhou Wu released her.
“Let’s start from the beginning. Practise holding your breath first.”
Wen Ci submerged herself.
Zhou Wu waited above the water for a while, then followed her beneath the surface.
Wen Ci leaned against the pool wall with her legs bent, pinching her nose as her small face scrunched painfully.
Her hair had been tied carelessly, and the loose strands beside her ears floated slowly in the water.
A ray of sunlight entered the pool, making her skin appear to glow.
Zhou Wu counted the seconds in his head.
When she had nearly doubled her previous time, he moved closer, intending to lift her.
The moment he touched her, Wen Ci appeared unable to endure it any longer and burst above the surface.
They were extremely close.
Her breath struck Zhou Wu’s body.
Wen Ci’s face was red from holding her breath.
She inhaled desperately, while the thin swimsuit clung tightly to her skin, revealing faint involuntary peaks.
When she opened her eyes, water had gathered along all her eyelashes, making them appear soaked.
“Did I hold it longer than before?”
Zhou Wu gave a lazy hum.
“Was it uncomfortable?”
Wen Ci nodded.
She had just intended to say she could overcome it when Zhou Wu wrapped an arm around her neck.
His fingers pressed beneath her chin and lifted her face.
“I’ll give you artificial respiration.”
…
In the end, Wen Ci still did not learn how to swim.
It was their first time outdoors.
The air was hot and humid. Cicadas chirped continuously, and occasionally the wind caused the leaves to rustle.
Wen Ci lay on a lounger beside the private pool.
Every sound of nature made her feel embarrassed and stimulated.
The moment Zhou Wu straightened, Wen Ci hurriedly pulled the two pieces of her swimsuit back over her chest.
Zhou Wu laughed.
“There’s nobody here, Ms Wen.”
“I know.”
Wen Ci kept her eyes closed.
“But… it still feels strange.”
“All right.”
Zhou Wu expressed understanding and kissed her through the swimsuit.
“Then turn around.”
The lounger was too hard, so Zhou Wu placed his own clothes beneath her knees.
But they remained there too long, and a bruise still formed.
Afterwards, Wen Ci quietly explained to the man half kneeling before her, “It really doesn’t matter. It’ll disappear tomorrow.”
“It’s because of my constitution. My skin is thin, so I bruise easily.”
Zhou Wu applied ointment to her knee and gently massaged it with his fingertips.
His tone remained careless.
“Mm. Ms Wen is delicate. I’ll be more careful in future.”
Wen Ci:
“…That wasn’t what I meant.”
“I know.”
Once he finished applying the medicine, Zhou Wu lowered her long skirt and looked up.
“What is the next activity on our holiday itinerary?”
“Look at the sea?”
After answering, Wen Ci suddenly remembered the time.
“No. Shouldn’t we go for dinner? Are you hungry?”
…
In the end, the two activities were combined.
They walked to another beachside restaurant within the hotel.
Every sunset beside the sea was different.
Yesterday, the entire sky had been red and orange.
Today, it was covered in a thick, pale pink.
Wen Ci walked across the sand while replying to Dou Yiqing’s messages.
As expected, Dou Yiqing had slept through her hangover until the afternoon.
Fortunately, she seemed to be in good spirits.
Wen Ci reminded her to drink milk or honey water, then asked what had happened between her and Qin Yun the previous night.
Dou Yiqing had blacked out from drinking and replied casually:
**Dou Yiqing: I don’t remember. He’s insane. He ranted at me for ages without explaining what was wrong. Maybe I finally lost control and beat him up last night.**
Wen Ci smiled.
Her usual clothing style was elegant and fresh.
Almost any of her long dresses suited the beach.
Today, she wore a simple white dress.
The sea breeze lifted her skirt and hair, making them sway against the ocean dyed pink by the sky.
Zhou Wu walked with both hands in his pockets.
After watching for a while, he raised his phone.
They went to a quiet bar-style restaurant designed like a houseboat.
A captain sat in the second-floor wheelhouse playing guitar.
As it was dinnertime, the restaurant was full, leaving only a table in the farthest corner.
The space appeared to have been forced into existence by the restaurant.
It contained only one table and a long wooden bench, separated from the rest of the restaurant by several planks.
They could not see the other diners and could hear only the music.
Even the server had to turn a corner to enter.
Its only advantage was a private little window.
Calling it a small private room would sound flattering.
More honestly, it was a converted storage cupboard.
Fortunately, neither of them cared.
After half a bowl of pasta, Wen Ci was full.
Seeing that they had finished eating, the server brought in two bottles of alcohol as compensation for their poor table.
“These are our restaurant’s specially blended coconut cocktails. Only our bartender can create this particular flavour. Many guests visit specifically for this drink. Would you like to try them?”
Zhou Wu was just about to refuse when he noticed the curious look in the eyes of the person beside him.
He glanced at her.
“Do you want one?”
Wen Ci’s eyes clearly said that she desperately wanted to try it.
Slowly, she shook her head.
“No.”
Zhou Wu found it amusing.
He tapped the wooden table with one finger and told the server, “Leave them here, thank you.”
After the server departed, he pushed one glass towards her.
“Try it if you want.”
“Forget it.”
Because of what had happened before, Wen Ci hesitated.
“I have a poor tolerance. What if I become drunk again?”
“If you become drunk, I’ll take you back. What else would happen?”
Zhou Wu laughed.
“Besides, the alcohol content isn’t particularly high.”
“…”
The coconut cocktail looked almost identical to coconut water.
It was clear, sweet-smelling and transparent.
The only difference was the faint vapour of alcohol, and the miniature coconut shell placed against the rim.
In front of Zhou Wu, Wen Ci’s self-control automatically weakened.
She picked up one glass with both hands.
“Then… I’ll try one sip.”
She took a careful sip.
Zhou Wu lowered his eyes towards her.
“How is it?”
Wen Ci scrunched up her face.
“It’s delicious.”
Her expression reminded Zhou Wu of the previous time she drank.
Back then, she had also frowned as though she could barely tolerate it, then continued drinking one mouthful after another.
Her tolerance was terrible.
She was bad at drinking yet loved it anyway.
Remembering how she behaved when drunk, Zhou Wu subtly raised an eyebrow and indulgently said, “This place has several other famous cocktails. They’re all low in alcohol and won’t upset your stomach.”
“Do you want to try them?”
Wen Ci replied, “Maybe not…”
Ten minutes later, the entire coconut cocktail was inside Wen Ci’s stomach, and several more cocktails of different colours had appeared on the table.
“Do you drink often?” Zhou Wu asked lazily.
Wen Ci put down her glass.
“No. That previous time was the first time I drank.”
“Which time?” Zhou Wu asked casually. “At the wedding?”
“No…”
Wen Ci paused, then immediately changed her answer.
“Yes. Including today, I’ve only drunk three times.”
Alcohol made Wen Ci more talkative.
“My mother never allowed me to drink, but I always wanted to know what it tasted like.”
Zhou Wu nodded in understanding.
People were like that.
The more they were told not to do something, the more they wanted to try it.
“What else does your mother forbid that you want to do?”
Under the dim light, Zhou Wu’s eyes looked very dark.
He had also drunk several mouthfuls, and his voice was low.
“I’ll take you.”
Wen Ci froze and raised her head towards him blankly.
Zhou Wu smiled.
“Excluding crimes.”
Wen Ci’s heart pounded wildly.
She did not know whether it was because of the alcohol or Zhou Wu’s words.
Her gaze moved sideways towards the small box beside his hand.
Zhou Wu followed her eyes down and saw his cigarette packet.
He picked it up and placed it in a corner beyond her view.
“Don’t even think about this one.”
Then he laughed.
“What is going on, Ms Wen? You look so obedient. Why do you want to smoke and drink?”
*Weren’t you the one who said smoking could make you forget your troubles?*
Wen Ci looked at him.
In her haze, she seemed to return to the stairwell leading to the high-school rooftop.
A tall, slender figure sat one floor below her, holding a cigarette and looking upwards.
His voice had been careless.
“Which student is up there? Stop crying. It’s irritating.”
“Come down. I’ll give you one. After you smoke it, you won’t have any worries.”
At the time, she had sniffed and asked through her sobs, “Really?”
Seeming to realise she was a girl, Zhou Wu had paused.
“F*ck.”
He stood and left, abandoning only the words, “No. It’s a lie. Keep crying.”
Ten minutes later, the figure returned.
A plastic bag was passed through the gap in the stair railing beside her.
Inside were tissues, water and sweets.
Zhou Wu said nothing.
He did not even lift his head to look at her.
After placing the items there, he left.
The song playing in the bar changed.
Wen Ci blinked and returned to the present.
“All right.”
The phone on the table vibrated.
Wen Ci was about to check it when Zhou Wu casually asked, “Do you genuinely want to try?”
Wen Ci abruptly raised her eyes.
As though reacting physically before doing something wrong, her breathing quickened, her fingers trembled and her heartbeat pounded against her eardrums.
Wen Ci nodded.
With one hand, Zhou Wu tapped a cigarette out of the packet—
And placed it between his own lips.
He lit it, inhaled once, then caught the back of Wen Ci’s neck and pulled her forwards.
The taste of tobacco entered with Zhou Wu’s lips.
He released her quickly.
The unfamiliar, pungent flavour made Wen Ci turn away and cough.
Zhou Wu extinguished the cigarette and laughed in a low, lazy voice.
“I told you—”
The rest of his sentence was blocked.
Wen Ci turned back, gently cupped his face with her slender fingers and gave him a passionate kiss in return.
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