Qin Shuyi had gone wild with excitement.
In her over twenty years of life, the most thrilling experience had been riding roller coasters, and more recently, going racing with Ling Jue. But today’s adventures, soaring through the skies and diving into the sea, were truly unprecedented.
It wasn’t until dusk approached that she reluctantly came down.
Just like on the way there, Ling Jue carried her back on his back.
It wasn’t that she was being delicate—her legs were genuinely weak.
Against the backdrop of a sky painted with clouds, the tall man effortlessly carried his girlfriend on his back as they walked along the soft sandy beach. As they walked, he teased her, “Miss Qin Shuyi, who was it today that was all talk but no game?”
It had to be said that being good at having fun was also a kind of talent.
Unfortunately, Qin Shuyi’s luck wasn’t great, and her sense of balance wasn’t exactly stellar.
Even Xia Zhiyue and the others, who had followed the coach’s instructions, had surpassed her, while she remained only half-skilled.
But Ling Jue was uncharacteristically patient, eventually simply taking her along to play.
On his back, Qin Shuyi buried her face against the nape of his neck, gently nibbling the skin on the side of his neck with her neat, beautiful teeth, like a shy little kitten baring its teeth at its owner.
It didn’t hurt—it just made his heart itch.
Ling Jue shifted his hands under her bottom, lifting her slightly, a relaxed smile spreading across his face that even he hadn’t noticed.
He continued teasing her, “So, without me, who else could take you on adventures like this in the future? What will you do, Miss Qin? You’ll never find another boyfriend as amazing as me.”
No matter what, he, Ling Jue, was destined to be the most vivid and unforgettable stroke in Qin Shuyi’s life.
Qin Shuyi straightened her neck, admiring the beautiful scenery from a height she had never experienced before, and casually replied, “Yes, Ling Jue is irreplaceable.”
But, boyfriend, in a life of thirty thousand days, thrills and excitement are memorable embellishments, while peace and ordinary moments are the true constants of life.
You came, you made me live in that moment, and that was your purpose fulfilled.
She closed her eyes, comfortably feeling the gentle sea breeze brush against her cheeks.
…
Ling Jue first took Qin Shuyi back to the room to change her clothes.
Sitting cross-legged on the bed, she watched Ling Jue drying his hair and suddenly remembered something, asking curiously, “I didn’t see Xu Yan earlier, did I?”
Ling Jue turned the name over in his mind twice before barely connecting it to the woman Xie Muchen had brought along.
“Xie Muchen sent someone to take her back.”
“Back?” Qin Shuyi was surprised.
Why would she be sent back all of a sudden when everything was fine?
Ling Jue looked at her with amusement, his eyes filled with affection as he watched her round, surprised eyes. But his words were cold, “She wanted to talk about feelings with Xie Muchen, so it’s over.”
Qin Shuyi fell silent for a moment. “Didn’t Xie Muchen like her a lot?”
He had even asked Ling Jue to introduce her to resources before, which was rare for him to care so much.
Ling Jue sneered, “For some people, money is cheaper than feelings.”
No matter how much material wealth he gave, it didn’t mean he liked her.
Xie Muchen had always been the best at putting on a facade.
“Besides, the Xie family is selecting a marriage alliance partner for Xie Muchen. At this critical moment, he won’t allow any unstable factors to exist.”
Unstable factors.
He didn’t mention Xu Yan by name, but every word was a judgment against her.
Qin Shuyi knelt by the edge of the bed and suddenly reached out, pulling the towel from Ling Jue’s head and covering his face with it, manually silencing him.
He should just shut up.
He always said such off-putting things just when she was starting to feel deeply for him.
She wasn't about to inexplicably stand up for the unfamiliar Xu Yan, but knowing these men were no good, their condescending and dismissive attitude still infuriated her.
She thought he looked more handsome when he wasn't speaking.
Ling Jue thought she was playing with him and promptly pinned her down on the bed. The half-damp towel was tossed to the floor as the blanket billowed up and settled back down.
Under the dimly lit covers, he kissed her face repeatedly, chuckling affectionately, "Teasing me like this—do you not want to go for dinner anymore?"
Qin Shuyi lifted her foot and pressed it against his chest. "Get off."
Ling Jue regretfully kissed her calf, then threw off the blanket and lifted her out. He eyed her suspiciously, "I've noticed something—you only seem to be this mean to me."
Qin Shuyi felt not the slightest bit guilty.
"Aren't you my boyfriend?"
Ling Jue was convinced.
He pinched her cheek. "Only you would dare."
Before her, and aside from her, he had never imagined he could tolerate someone to this extent.
She was different from Xu Yan.
Qin Shuyi wasn't the ideal candidate for Mrs. Ling either, but because of this uniqueness, he thought, even if it was just for fun, there was no reason they couldn't keep playing this game for a long, long time.
This spontaneous love game—he was quite fond of it.
…
By the time the two of them arrived, a barbecue grill had already been set up by the beach.
Sitting beside Xie Muchen was a new woman, a young heiress from a slightly lower social standing.
Her eyes filled with admiration, she was now cupping her face, gazing at Xie Muchen as he spoke. Xie Muchen's expression remained gentle, no different from his demeanor during the day.
Xia Zhiyue's expression was complicated.
She hadn't expected Xie Muchen to be so perceptive. With just a simple request for a two-person surfing session, he had seen right through Xu Yan's intentions.
On the surface, he let Xu Yan enjoy herself happily. But as soon as she finished her lesson and stepped off the surfboard, she received the news from the butler, politely asking her to leave.
A bank card with an amount that would be a fortune to an ordinary person, a luxury car that would take her away and had already been registered as a gift—just like that, Xu Yan's brief romance came to an end.
She still remembered the shock and devastation on Xu Yan's face at that moment.
There wasn't even a proper goodbye.
The butler's casual remark, "The dance troupe's next performance is still waiting for Miss Xu, the lead actress," had struck at the very core of Xu Yan's existence.
She couldn't gamble her entire career.
She stopped in her tracks, unable to hold back her tears, and slowly, painfully staggered away from the beach, step by step.
Xia Zhiyue's gaze fell on Xie Muchen's face—framed by gold-rimmed glasses, refined and handsome.
Such a ruthless approach contrasted sharply with the man's warm, spring-like smile, sending chills down one's spine.
She then looked toward the Crown Prince at the center of the crowd.
It was said that Jue Ye was the most decisive and ruthless among these men—even Xie Muchen seemed gentle in comparison.
Had he dismissed his previous women in the same way?
If so, how would Qin Shuyi, the exception in his life, make her exit?
Watching the woman sitting by the bonfire with a shawl draped over her shoulders, calmly waiting for someone to feed her barbecue, Xia Zhiyue's mood suddenly lifted.
Even the best actors must bring a touch of genuine emotion when they immerse themselves in a role.
It might not be much for others, but for those who are emotionally scarce, it is everything they have.
Who would be unable to extricate themselves when the time came was still uncertain.
She was waiting for the show.
Unaware of the high expectations placed upon her, Qin Shuyi was currently tilting her head to look at the card in Ling Jue's hand.
Given Ling Jue's undefeated reputation in the game, everyone suggested that tonight's rewards and penalties be determined by drawing lots.
Each person would blindly draw a card, which would state the task they needed to complete that evening.
On Ling Jue's card, it read: Embrace a member of the opposite sex who is not your boyfriend or girlfriend for one minute.
In the crowd, someone stirred the bonfire, revealing a meaningful expression.
Suddenly, from outside the gathering, came the surprised and unexpected voice of a woman.
"Jue Ye?!"