Her long dress moved gently in the ocean breeze.
Shen Tian smiled.
"Strategic retreat."
She laughed.
"I heard Rose use that phrase."
"She stole it."
Qin Ruobing reached him.
Then...
They walked together.
For several moments...
Neither spoke.
Finally...
Qin Ruobing looked toward the ocean.
"You’ve changed."
Shen Tian glanced at her.
"Better or worse?"
She smiled.
"More."
"That’s not an answer."
"It is."
He waited.
Qin Ruobing continued.
"Stronger."
"More confident."
"More dangerous."
Then...
Her eyes moved toward him.
"But..."
"You still make time for everyone."
Shen Tian became quiet.
Qin Ruobing looked ahead again.
"Shuangxue notices."
His eyebrow rose.
"Shuangxue?"
"She pretends not to."
"She’s terrible at pretending."
Qin Ruobing laughed.
"Only around you."
Silence.
Then...
She looked at him again.
"And I notice too."
Their eyes met.
Shen Tian slowed.
Qin Ruobing stopped.
The ocean moved behind her.
Her cheeks became faintly pink.
But she didn’t look away.
Shen Tian smiled.
"Notice what?"
Qin Ruobing’s eyes narrowed.
"You know."
"Maybe."
"Shen Tian."
He laughed.
She shook her head.
Then...
Her expression softened.
"You don’t call enough either."
"Everyone is saying that today."
"Perhaps everyone is right."
"Impossible."
She smiled.
Then...
Her hand moved.
Her fingers gently caught his.
Shen Tian looked down.
Qin Ruobing followed his gaze.
Her cheeks warmed more.
But...
She didn’t release him.
Instead...
Her fingers slowly intertwined with his.
Shen Tian looked at her.
She stared toward the ocean.
Very calmly.
Suspiciously calmly.
"Beautiful view."
Shen Tian smiled.
"Very."
Qin Ruobing glanced toward him.
Realized he wasn’t looking at the ocean.
Her composure broke.
"Shen Tian."
"What?"
"You are shameless."
"Thank you."
She laughed.
Then...
Rested her head lightly against his shoulder.
Shen Tian didn’t tease her.
This time.
They simply walked.
. . .
From the main residence balcony...
Nine women watched.
Rose narrowed her eyes.
Tang Meilin leaned against the railing.
Chi Lingxi stared.
Bai Xue ate fruit.
Ling Shuangxue stood completely still.
Li Lian looked amused.
Ruan Yizhen crossed her arms.
Chu Mei looked toward Ling Shuangxue.
Chu Chuchu looked between everyone.
Silence.
Then...
Chu Chuchu spoke.
"Should we interrupt?"
Ling Shuangxue immediately answered.
"No."
Everyone looked toward her.
She froze.
Bai Xue smiled.
"That was fast."
Ling Shuangxue remained calm.
"Mother deserves privacy."
Bai Xue’s smile widened.
"Very mature."
Ling Shuangxue looked toward her.
"What are you implying?"
"Nothing."
Rose smiled.
Tang Meilin covered her mouth.
Ling Shuangxue looked back toward the beach.
Then...
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
Qin Ruobing was still holding Shen Tian’s hand.
Bai Xue noticed.
"You’re staring."
"I’m not."
"You are."
"I’m watching my mother."
"Hold Shen Tian’s hand."
Ling Shuangxue’s cheeks warmed.
"She can hold whoever she wants."
Bai Xue smiled.
"Very mature."
Ling Shuangxue turned.
"Bai Xue."
"What?"
"I can have your room moved."
Silence.
Bai Xue stared.
Then...
Slowly smiled.
"There she is."
. . .
Several hours later.
The island had settled.
Mostly.
Chu Zijin disappeared into the karaoke building.
Chu Luoshen toured the school.
Lin Yue disappeared into the medical center.
Bai Xue found the security operations room.
Which worried everyone.
Gu Qingya and Ling Shuangxue inspected the island’s business infrastructure because apparently CEOs couldn’t stop being CEOs even on vacation.
Tang Meilin followed them.
Li Lian and Ruan Yizhen went toward the beach.
Chu Mei and Chu Chuchu explored the villas.
Qin Ruobing joined Yin Suyi for tea.
Rose went to the training grounds.
Chi Lingxi stayed with Shen Tian.
For exactly seventeen minutes.
Then...
She was stolen.
By Chu Zijin.
"I need someone to hear the sound system."
Chi Lingxi stared.
"Why me?"
"Because Shen Tian is busy."
Chi Lingxi looked toward him.
He was sitting beside the pool doing absolutely nothing.
"Busy?"
Chu Zijin grabbed her hand.
"Very."
Then...
Dragged her away.
Shen Tian watched.
Silence.
Xu Ning appeared.
[Abandoned.]
"Peace."
[You don’t mean that.]
Shen Tian leaned back.
Then...
A shadow blocked the sun.
He opened one eye.
Ling Shuangxue stood over him.
Swimsuit.
Black.
Simple.
Elegant.
Shen Tian stared.
Ling Shuangxue’s confidence immediately weakened.
Her cheeks warmed.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"You’re staring."
"Yes."
Silence.
She froze.
Shen Tian sat up.
"You look beautiful."
Her face turned pink.
She looked away.
"You’re too direct."
"You asked."
"I said you were staring."
"Correct."
Ling Shuangxue stared at him.
Then...
She sighed.
But...
A small smile appeared.
She sat beside him.
For several seconds...
Silence.
Then...
"Mother likes you."
Shen Tian looked toward her.
"I know."
Ling Shuangxue froze.
His smile widened.
She narrowed her eyes.
"Of course you do."
"She isn’t subtle."
"Neither are you."
"True."
Ling Shuangxue looked toward the pool.
Then...
Quietly...
"I like you too."
Shen Tian became still.
She immediately continued.
"Don’t."
"I didn’t say anything."
"I know that face."
"What face?"
"That stupid satisfied face."
Shen Tian smiled.
Ling Shuangxue’s cheeks became redder.
"I’ve liked you for a while."
Her voice was quieter now.
"You know that."
"Yes."
She looked toward him.
Then...
Her expression became serious.
"But there are a lot of women around you."
"Yes."
"Too many."
"Probably."
She stared.
Then...
He continued.
"I won’t lie to you."
Ling Shuangxue became quiet.
Shen Tian looked directly at her.
"I’m not going to pretend you would be the only woman I care about."
Her eyes remained on his.
"I know."
"I won’t ask you to accept anything you don’t want."
"I know."
"If you decide this isn’t for you..."
He paused.
"...I’ll respect it."
Ling Shuangxue stared.
Then...
Her hand moved.
She placed it over his.
"You talk too much."
Shen Tian raised an eyebrow.
Ling Shuangxue leaned closer.
Her cheeks were crimson.
But she didn’t stop.
Then...
She kissed his cheek.
Soft.
Brief.
Warm.
She pulled back.
Shen Tian stared.
Ling Shuangxue’s composure immediately collapsed.
She stood.
"I’m going swimming."
Shen Tian caught her hand.
She froze.
He looked up.
"Shuangxue."
Her heartbeat accelerated.
Then...
He smiled.
"Thank you."
Her expression softened.
"Idiot."
She squeezed his hand.
Then...
Released it.
And walked toward the pool.
Shen Tian watched.
Xu Ning appeared.
[Host.]
"What?"
[That was surprisingly mature.]
Shen Tian looked offended.
"I’m always mature."
Xu Ning stared.
Then...
Both heard a scream.
"SHEN TIAN!"
He stood immediately.
Chu Zijin came running from the entertainment building.
"Emergency!"
His expression changed.
"What happened?"
She grabbed his arm.
(Author’s Note: IMPORTANT!)
SEND POWESTONES!!!
ALL SUPER GIFTS (Magic Castle, Space Ship, Golden Gachapon) = MORE ChapterS!

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