Chapter 53.1

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Chi Yin: “…”

“Pleaseee? Pretty please?” Qiao Ziman interlocked their fingers, squeezing tight as she leaned in, voice dripping with sweetness.

Chi Yin’s gaze softened. She tapped Qiao Ziman’s forehead lightly, her tone indulgent. “Okay.”

Qiao Ziman blinked. “That easy?”

Holding her hand, Chi Yin walked barefoot along the cool sand, matching their steps with the waves. “Didn’t I tell you? I’m not an Iron T. If it’s something you want, I’m always happy to oblige.” 

Then, with a teasing stroke against her palm, she added, “Besides… I enjoy it too.”

Qiao Ziman abruptly stopped in her tracks, eyes wide. “You… enjoy it?”

Chi Yin met her gaze head-on. “Of course. You wanting me like that—why wouldn’t I be happy?”

Qiao Ziman felt her ears heat up. After a moment, she frowned and blocked Chi Yin’s path. “Then why didn’t you let me be on top before?”

Chi Yin stroked her chin, a playful glint in her eyes. “I just figured you needed to let off some steam. After all, getting frequent nosebleeds can’t be good for you.”

“You—!” Qiao Ziman’s ears burned even hotter. She spun around, refusing to look at Chi Yin.

Chi Yin’s voice followed, laced with amusement. “Besides, you liked it too, didn’t you?”

Qiao Ziman: “…”

…Fine. Maybe a little.

“And if you wanted to switch things up so badly, why didn’t you just say so?” Chi Yin smirked. “What, were you mute?”

Qiao Ziman: “!!!”

“Chi Yin! You’re actually using my own words against me? You really know how to hold a grudge!” Qiao Ziman huffed. “You little black-hearted flower! Besides, I did say it before! You just twisted my meaning. What else was I supposed to do? Spell it out and say I was thirsting for your body?”

Embarrassed and annoyed, she shook off Chi Yin’s hand and stomped ahead. But after a few steps, she stretched out her arm. “Why are you still not catching up?”

Chi Yin bit back a laugh and quickly followed.

Qiao Ziman slowed her pace, eyes drifting toward the dazzling stars above. “Do you even know how to be romantic? You didn’t even try to coax me properly.”

Chi Yin turned her head, gazing at her with soft, affectionate eyes before pulling her into an embrace. Her voice brushed against Qiao Ziman’s ear, low and warm. “I do. But I have to wait until you cool down first. Otherwise, knowing you, you’d just get even angrier.”

“Chi Yin,” Qiao Ziman growled, biting her shoulder in retaliation. “So you’re saying I have a bad temper?”

“Well… a little,” Chi Yin admitted, glancing down at the fresh row of bite marks on her shoulder.

Qiao Ziman, suddenly guilty, blew on the spot as if that would help. “You’re really letting me eat you up, huh?”

Chi Yin chuckled.

“I’ll work on it,” Qiao Ziman murmured, bumping her shoulder against Chi Yin’s before lacing their fingers together again. “I’d never really want to be mad at such a sweet girlfriend.”

Chi Yin, ever indulgent, said with a smile, “A little temper is just part of the fun.”

Qiao Ziman looked at her, eyes bright, lips curling into a genuine smile.

“My girlfriend really knows how to talk.”

The salty sea breeze played with the hems of their clothes, their long hair intertwining in the wind—soft, lingering, inseparable. Before the breathtaking star-lit ocean, their figures pressed close together, a perfect picture of warmth against the cool night. After walking for a while, they finally grew tired.

Chi Yin headed back to the car and pulled out the supplies she had packed.

Qiao Ziman helped, but raised an eyebrow at the weight. “What’s so heavy?”

“A tent.”

Qiao Ziman’s eyes lit up. “Wow, you even know how to set up a tent? My girlfriend is amazing—so talented!”

Chi Yin pressed her lips together, an unreadable expression flickering across her face.

Qiao Ziman handed her the tools, watching intently as she worked. “So we’re not going back home to sleep?”

Chi Yin cleared the ground, took out the collapsible poles, and smoothly threaded them through the tent’s fabric. With practiced ease, she secured the structure in place, the frame standing firm within moments. “Tomorrow we have to help Mom move. Tonight is our last bit of alone time. Of course, we should make the most of it.”

Reaching into her bag, Chi Yin pulled out a can of beer and passed it over. “Want a drink?”

Qiao Ziman didn’t take the beer. Instead, she lowered her gaze, staring at the sand as if deep in thought. Then, she looked up, her eyes flickering mischievously. “So… are we doing it here?”

Chi Yin froze, fingers slipping, and the beer can tumbled onto the sand with a dull thud.

Qiao Ziman continued, her tone contemplative. “Here, though… it’s not exactly the best place. But… it does seem kind of exciting.”

Chi Yin: “…”

The “enjoyment” she had been referring to and the “enjoyment” her girlfriend was thinking of were clearly not the same thing. So this is what occupies her mind all day, huh?

Amused, Chi Yin suddenly leaned in close, her breath tickling Qiao Ziman’s ear as she teased, “I meant relaxing, unwinding, having a proper date. What were you thinking about?”

Qiao Ziman’s face instantly flushed. She averted her gaze, voice unnaturally stiff. “Obviously, the same thing as you!”

Chi Yin chuckled. “Sure.”

She leaned in again, voice laced with amusement. “Next time, then. I didn’t come prepared today.”

Qiao Ziman’s secret was ruthlessly exposed. Utterly embarrassed, she huffed, shaking off Chi Yin’s hand and turning away with a dramatic flick of her hair.

Chi Yin quickly followed, coaxing softly, “Alright, alright, I was just joking.”

Qiao Ziman smacked her hand away again and spun to face the other direction.

Chi Yin sighed, her voice playfully exasperated. “Didn’t you just say you wouldn’t get mad at such a sweet girlfriend?”

Qiao Ziman slowly shuffled back, keeping her head down and avoiding Chi Yin’s gaze. “Who’s mad at you? I’m just… just shy.”

Her girlfriend was adorably easy to soothe. Chi Yin couldn’t resist pinching her smooth cheek. “I want to kiss you.”

Qiao Ziman’s fingers curled lightly against Chi Yin’s palm. She smiled. “What a coincidence… so do I.”

Their thoughts aligned perfectly. They shared a look, slowly leaning in until their lips met in a lingering, affectionate kiss.

That night, under the bright moonlight, they nestled close together, bathed in the glow of the star-filled sky and bioluminescent waves. They whispered sweet nothings, their voices melting into the sound of the tide. And every so often, they’d steal another tender kiss.

No matter how many times they kissed, it never seemed to be enough.