"So my wife will absolutely never step into the entertainment industry," Long Yubei declared. Then, as though no one else existed, he leaned over and placed a tender kiss on Gu Lili's lips. "You just be my sweet, obedient wife."
"Aiyo," Liang He grimaced playfully. "Must you show off like this in front of a lonely bachelor?"
"If you know you're single, shouldn't you be out finding someone already?"
Liang He gazed out toward the distant sea. "It's not like buying vegetables—harder than it looks."
"My sympathies."
"Sympathies for what? I'm not the least bit pitiful."
"I wasn't referring to that," Long Yubei said with deliberate slowness, voice carrying across the camp. "I meant, it's quite something that you're already twenty-five and still… untouched."
Feeling mocked, Liang He couldn't help but fire back, "And how many days have you been deflowered? Don't come preaching to me."
"It's been months—not days."
Gu Lili finally couldn't bear it any longer. "Can the two of you discuss something a little more meaningful?"
Liang He chuckled. "Sister-in-law, now you see your husband's true colors. He always mocks me like this. You really should rein him in."
…
The beach they'd chosen was patrolled at night, with no outsiders allowed to intrude. Given the steep rental price, privacy was strictly enforced.
After washing up, the group stayed up late playing cards until midnight.
Long Yubei and Gu Lili retreated to their tent for the night, falling asleep quickly. Liang He, however, tossed and turned, unable to sleep.
He unzipped Shi Xiaotian's tent flap and found her sitting inside, watching something on her tablet.
He ducked in and zipped the flap closed behind him.
"What are you watching?"
"Comments under your Weibo posts."
He sat down beside her and glanced at the screen. Sure enough, she wasn't joking. "You care about what the internet says about me?"
"Just browsing out of curiosity. But, Liang-ge, what do you think about your fans calling you 'husband' all the time?"
"They're just playing around," Liang He said, stretching out and folding his hands behind his head. "No one really believes I'm their husband. Deep down, they all know that's impossible."
"You'll only ever be one woman's husband," Shi Xiaotian said softly, setting the tablet aside and turning to meet his gaze. "Have you ever thought about when you might get married?"
"Never crossed my mind."
"I'm guessing you won't marry until well into your thirties," she said knowingly. "Most male stars—especially the popular ones—tend to marry late."
"What about you?"
"I'd like to marry early, build a home, have a loving husband and an adorable child. But I've never even been in a relationship. I'm someone who'd rather go without than settle. So honestly, marriage feels like a luxury."
"Is there someone you like now?"
"There is."
Liang He's interest was piqued. "Who? Someone from our company?"
"Mm-hmm."
"An artist?"
"I'd rather not say," Shi Xiaotian replied, quickly changing the subject. "Because I know… there's no future for us."
Liang He raised an eyebrow. "So it's a male artist, then."
Shi Xiaotian's cheeks flushed with embarrassment. "Liang-ge, stop guessing."
"If there's no possibility, then don't let your heart wander."
Shi Xiaotian looked at him for a moment, hiding the emotion in her eyes. She said nothing.
Outside, the world was still, with only the rhythmic murmur of the waves filling the silence.
She picked up a book and flipped it open. Time passed. She realized Liang He hadn't said a word in a while. Glancing over, she saw that he had fallen asleep.
She gently pulled a blanket over him, her fingers light and careful, then let her gaze linger on his face.
The longer she looked, the deeper she fell.
In the time they'd spent together, she had found herself slipping further and further into love.