Picked Up the Female Lead When She Was Young (GL) - Chapter 44

After breakfast, the four of them headed straight for the beach.

“I’m taking you to a nearby beach. Haicheng is right by the sea, and this area alone has three beaches. We’re going to the slightly smaller Silver Moon Beach. The sand here is finer than the other, larger one. The sun is a bit strong today. Did you all put on sunscreen?”

Song Zhuxue asked, but she felt the question was pointless.

“I brought tanning oil!” Lin Qiushui shouted in reply. Sunbathing, sunbathing! Although a rich second-generation, Lin Qiushui hadn’t traveled abroad or been to any islands because he refused to travel far—a rather humble rich kid.

Song Zhuxue’s expression was subtle, like she was holding back a laugh. “I don’t think this is a great spot for sunbathing, actually.”

When they arrived, Xia Wanshuang understood why Song Zhuxue said it wasn’t suitable.

The place was really crowded.

Looking down at the beach, while it wasn’t completely packed, it was enough to kill any enthusiasm for sunbathing.

“It’s summer vacation now, so many people come out to play,” Song Zhuxue explained. Haicheng had beautiful scenery and several tourist spots, so there were many visitors during the holidays.

Lin Qiushui was disappointed, hugging his tanning oil sadly.

However, that sadness vanished the moment he touched the seawater, and he happily began kicking the water. The sea breeze felt wonderful. Although the sun was strong, it didn’t feel scorching.

Xia Wanshuang looked out at the ocean. The surface was vast, and by looking far enough, you could see the water’s color change.

Even the clouds in the sky seemed gentle. Xia Wanshuang walked forward until the seawater covered her calves. She bent down, squinting her eyes in comfort.

Zhou Qinglang watched Xia Wanshuang’s back from the beach, walking closer step by step through the water. It was the same behavior she had engaged in for many nights in the past—constantly getting closer to Xia Wanshuang.

Zhou Qinglang was always following Xia Wanshuang’s footsteps. Deep down, she was still the child who looked up to her.

“Langlang, do you want to ride that?” Xia Wanshuang pointed to a nearby speed boat that was soliciting customers. Racing across the sea felt incredibly thrilling.

“Yes!”

The speed boat could hold four people. Xia Wanshuang called over Lin Qiushui and Zhao Tianhang. Song Zhuxue stayed on the beach, watching them and reminding them to be safe.

They had to wear life jackets on the speed boat. Xia Wanshuang fastened her buckle and waited for the boat to start.

The engine hummed, cutting a path through the water.

Lin Qiushui cheered softly, standing up to look at the surrounding scenery.

All they could see was the ocean. The boat rocked with the waves.

Xia Wanshuang held the railing, her hair messy from the sea breeze.

The feeling was incredibly freeing, as if the sea breeze was passing through your chest, cleansing your soul, and carrying you to a farther place.

In the middle of the sea, the driver stopped the speed boat, telling them they could take photos for a while. Xia Wanshuang looked down. The water was deep and dark blue. Staring for too long gave her a fear of falling.

“Sister, photo!” Zhou Qinglang walked over, calling to Zhao Tianhang to take a picture of her and Xia Wanshuang.

“Sure.” Xia Wanshuang was embraced around the waist by Zhou Qinglang and smiled for the camera.

With a click, the memory was framed.

••••

Xia Wanshuang and the others didn’t stay in Haicheng for long—about five days. After visiting all the sights they wanted to see, they decided to return.

On the way back, Lin Qiushui was slumped like a dead dog. “Traveling is exhausting.”

“You were the one having the most fun.” Zhou Qinglang put an earbud into Xia Wanshuang’s ear. Ignoring Lin Qiushui’s complaints, she put on the other one, closed her eyes, and listened to music with Xia Wanshuang.

The light and shadow outside the window flickered quickly across Xia Wanshuang’s face. Zhou Qinglang looked down at Xia Wanshuang’s profile, listening to the soothing music in the earbuds, silent. A strange emotion seemed to be brewing in her chest, something she couldn’t explain. It felt a little sour, yet also a little sweet.

Xia Wanshuang noticed Zhou Qinglang’s gaze and looked up, asking a question with her eyes. Zhou Qinglang merely stared blankly, giving no reply. Xia Wanshuang assumed she was just spaced out, smiled with curved eyes.

Coincidentally, the sunlight fell on her face, making Xia Wanshuang appear to be glowing in Zhou Qinglang’s eyes.

Her heart suddenly skipped a beat, then began to pound furiously. Zhou Qinglang didn’t quite understand it. She merely looked away in a panic, lowering her eyes to avoid looking at Xia Wanshuang.

The soft, sweet voice of Teresa Teng sang through the earbuds, mixing with the summer light and shadow, making her heart feel like the swaying branches outside the window, falling and rising.

“Let the time flow by quickly, I only care about you. I willingly breathe in your scent. How often in life does one find a true friend? Losing the power of life wouldn’t be a pity. So I beg you, don’t let me leave you. Without you, I can’t feel an ounce of affection.”

Zhou Qinglang secretly raised her eyes and glanced at Xia Wanshuang again, as if afraid of being discovered.

It was a fleeting look, as gentle as a butterfly resting on a flower, afraid of disturbing something.

That feeling of sourness, sweetness, and bitterness bloomed again.

Zhou Qinglang closed her eyes.

Youth doesn’t know the taste of love—that’s what moves people most.

••••

The end of summer vacation ushered in the high school years. Xia Wanshuang and the others all chose No. 1 High School, so they reported to the school together on the first day.

No. 1 High School had 12 classes. Zhou Qinglang and Xia Wanshuang were in Class 1, while Zhao Tianhang and Lin Qiushui were in Class 2.

“Someone finally got what they wished for! Are you so happy you’re about to fly?” Lin Qiushui teased. Throughout middle school, Zhou Qinglang had desperately wanted to be in the same class as Xia Wanshuang, but that dream never materialized for three years.

Zhou Qinglang was in a good mood and didn’t bother arguing with Lin Qiushui. She happily pulled Xia Wanshuang into the classroom.

“Sister, we’re seatmates now!” She could finally realize her long-held wish: having her homework alongside her sister’s, and being able to look at her sister during every class.

Since it was the first day, the teacher hadn’t immediately assigned seats. Students were allowed to choose their seats, which would then be slightly adjusted based on height before being permanently assigned.

Zhou Qinglang was one of the tallest girls, a fact that was noticeable in high school, just as it had been in middle school.

Because of her height, Zhou Qinglang was adjusted to a back row. Zhou Qinglang unwillingly walked toward the back, giving Xia Wanshuang a resentful and wronged look. No one could stop her from sitting with her sister. However, it wasn’t convenient to speak up yet. She would talk to the teacher after the initial adjustments.

Xia Wanshuang found Zhou Qinglang’s expression amusing. She thought it might actually be good not to be seatmates.

Since they were always together anyway, if Zhou Qinglang sat next to someone unfamiliar, she might make more friends.

However, the thought only lasted a moment; the desire to indulge her daughter won out.

“Teacher.” Xia Wanshuang raised her hand. The teacher turned his head to look at her, and the entire class’s attention fell on her.

“I’d like to sit next to Zhou Qinglang. My eyesight is quite good, so I can see even from the back.”

“Hmm… all right, go ahead and sit there then.” The teacher didn’t object. He was the type of teacher who didn’t advocate for different genders sitting together, especially since both Zhou Qinglang and Xia Wanshuang were quite pretty.

Given Zhou Qinglang’s height, she would definitely have been assigned a male seatmate based on height and gender ratios.

“Thank you, Teacher.” Xia Wanshuang winked her left eye at Zhou Qinglang, signaling that the matter was resolved.

Zhou Qinglang stood there, watching Xia Wanshuang approach, feeling her heart begin to beat rapidly again.

At that moment, Xia Wanshuang didn’t realize that sometimes, gentleness is a deep poison that can make a person numb and addicted.