Chapter 269: Summer, a Beach, Fireworks, and a Confession! (Epilogue 2)
Zhao Yuanyuan’s pat wasn’t heavy, but it was like flipping some kind of magical switch.
Huang Mao let out an exaggerated "Ouch!", and Zhao Yuanyuan, watching his dramatic performance, let out a snort of laughter.
Her clear laughter rang out in the quiet corner of the convenience store, carrying a sense of profound relief.
Both of them froze for a moment, then looked at each other and smiled again.
In that smile, there was still a hint of lingering shyness and the exhaustion from the storm they had just weathered, but more than that, there was a familiar feeling of "being back."
The icebergs of "Confession" and "Panic" that had stood between them had finally mostly melted away, thanks to their frank conversation under the streetlight and this deliberate effort to return to their normal dynamic.
What the future held was still unknown, but at least "good friend Huang Mao" and "good friend Zhao Yuanyuan" were standing firmly by each other’s side again.
And the seed of "like" was still quietly sprouting...
"Let’s go, let’s go, time to check out!" Huang Mao said, pushing a shopping cart piled high with food, his voice back to its usual energetic self.
As the two of them, carrying heavy shopping bags, pushed open the door to the B&B’s small courtyard, the lively sound of chatter and laughter from the living room instantly flooded out.
"They’re back, they’re back!" a sharp-eyed Zhou Hao was the first to shout.
Everyone’s gaze snapped to the doorway.
Zhao Yuanyuan and Huang Mao walked in, one after the other.
Zhao Yuanyuan’s cheeks were flushed, her forehead still dewy with a light sweat, and she was carrying a bag with the cake.
Huang Mao, for his part, was carrying drinks and snacks, his face flushed from the exertion.
But the most crucial thing was—the atmosphere between them!
It was no longer the stiff, avoidant awkwardness from when they left, the kind that felt like a vast river dividing them.
While you couldn’t call them overly affectionate, Zhao Yuanyuan was naturally turning her head to say something to Huang Mao, who was nodding in response.
A certain ease flowed between them... the kind of relaxed comfort that belongs to best buddies, now that they’d found it again.
The deliberately maintained "normalcy" was gone, replaced by a truly relaxed, natural state.
A brief, knowing silence fell over the living room.
It was as if everyone’s heart had been gently squeezed by an invisible hand, then slowly released.
Su Yuqing was the first to stand and go to them, an undisguised smile of relief on her face. She took the cake from Zhao Yuanyuan’s hands. "You must be tired, Yuanyuan. You bought so much."
"Not at all, not at all!" Zhao Yuanyuan shook her head, her voice back to its usual crispness. She looked at Huang Mao with a hint of smugness. "After all, Yellow Hair carried all the heavy stuff, hehe!"
Huang Mao played along and rolled his eyes, placing the drinks and snacks on the coffee table. "Yes, yes, of course. Her Highness Zhao is precious. It’s only right that this humble servant does the heavy lifting."
His tone was as punchable as ever.
"My strawberries have turned into a cake!" Zhou Hao said with a laugh.
"Perfect, I love cake!" Qu Danwan said, smiling at him.
Lin Yu’an and Zhao Yuanyuan also came over to help organize everything.
Zhao Yuanyuan’s gaze quickly swept between her sister and Huang Mao. Seeing that although her sister’s face was still a little flushed, her eyes were bright again and she no longer shied away when speaking to Huang Mao, she pursed her lips and smiled softly.
Chen Mo leaned against the arm of the sofa, watching Huang Mao and Zhao Yuanyuan as they, surrounded by everyone, handed out cake and drinks. Although there was still a hint of subtle awkwardness when their eyes occasionally met, causing them to quickly look away, their overall interaction had returned to its usual rhythm—Zhao Yuanyuan protecting her share of the mango cake, Huang Mao getting his hand slapped away when he tried to snatch it, and the two of them complaining about each other’s choice of drinks...
A truly relaxed smile, one filled with the satisfaction of ’a plan coming together,’ touched the corners of his lips. He picked up the oolong tea from the table, took a sip, and then looked at Su Yuqing beside him.
Su Yuqing was also looking at him. They exchanged a look that only they could understand, filled with relief and a shared, knowing smile that said, ’Looks like it worked.’
Su Yuqing leaned lightly against Chen Mo and whispered with a smile, "They’ve finally turned the page."
Chen Mo naturally wrapped an arm around her shoulder. His gaze fell on Zhao Yuanyuan, who was trying her best to get the biggest piece of mango cake onto her plate, and on Huang Mao, who, despite grumbling, "Be careful, you’ll get fat eating so many sweets," was still using the cake server to help her steady the piece onto her plate.
"Mhm," he hummed in agreement, a barely perceptible gentleness in his voice. "Now that they’ve taken the first step, the rest of the way will be easier. They just need to walk it themselves, at their own pace. The summer is still long."
The living room once again filled with warmth and boisterous energy, a mix of the aroma of food and the sound of the young people’s laughter and antics.
Even the night wind outside seemed to have softened, gently brushing past the window lattice, stirring the wind chimes, and creating a pleasant white noise.
After the late-night snack, everyone went back to their own rooms to get some rest.
When Chen Mo and Su Yuqing said goodnight to each other, they had the reluctance of a new couple that wishes they could stick together every moment.
"If you’re so reluctant to part, why don’t you just share a room? I don’t mind sleeping in the living room," Huang Mao said, unable to stand the sight of them looking back every few steps.
At that, Su Yuqing shyly turned back around and obediently went to her room.
Chen Mo, on the other hand, landed two solid punches on Huang Mao’s shoulder.
That night, all eight of them, each with different thoughts on their mind, found it hard to fall asleep for a long time.
This was especially true for Chen Mo and Su Yuqing. Before, being apart for a while was nothing, but tonight they felt particularly clingy. Without the other by their side, they felt a sense of unease and a restless, feverish itch in their hearts.
In the end, however, they both managed to quiet their minds and fall into a deep sleep.
The next morning was bright and sunny, with a refreshing sea breeze.
The morning sun filtered through the sheer curtains, gently waking the sleeping B&B.
The sea breeze, carrying its unique salty freshness, blew away the last lingering traces of the previous night’s subtle awkwardness and noise, leaving only a room full of tranquility and the unique energy of a summer morning.
Breakfast consisted of simple congee and side dishes, along with the B&B owner’s homemade fresh pork buns and seafood buns. Everyone sat around the dining table in a relaxed and harmonious atmosphere.
Yawning, Huang Mao habitually tried to snatch the last pork bun from Zhao Yuanyuan’s plate, only for her to deftly smack the back of his hand with her chopsticks with a sharp WHACK!
"HISS!" Huang Mao snatched his hand back, eyes wide. "Zhao Yuanyuan! You’re ruthless!"
"Serves you right! Who told you to always go after my food!" Zhao Yuanyuan lifted her chin triumphantly, stuffed the bun into her mouth, and puffed out her cheeks like a little squirrel that had successfully defended its hoard.
Her eyes held their familiar "ferocious glint," but upon closer inspection, there seemed to be something else—a new, barely perceptible spark.
Su Yuqing and Chen Mo exchanged a look, both seeing the amusement in the other’s eyes.
’Good. The familiar "war" mode has been rebooted.’
Meanwhile, Zhou Hao attentively placed the last seafood bun onto Qu Danwan’s plate, earning a faint smile from her in return.
Lin Yu’an and Zhao Yuanyuan, on the other hand, ate quietly without saying a word.
"This morning is our last half-day on the island. What does everyone want to do?" Chen Mo asked, putting down his bowl and chopsticks to poll the group.
[PS]: The Island Arc officially ends tomorrow. Quick preview: there will be a transitional Summer Arc, followed by the start of the University Arc.