In fact, the trip to see the sea would last no more than two days.

She had dragged out her resignation for a week, waiting for Lu Huaicheng to return.

It wouldn’t hurt to delay it for another two days.

Moreover, a farewell trip before resigning was also the perfect ending she sought.

Thinking of this, Xia Liyang completely swallowed her words, her eyes curving as she sincerely and sweetly said, “Since you came back to celebrate my birthday, if I don’t agree, wouldn’t that seem particularly ungrateful?”

Lu Huaicheng smiled noncommittally and said, “I’ve had someone buy you some swimsuits; they’ll be delivered tomorrow morning. You can pick what you like. I’ll come to pick you up for the airport at 10.”

“Okay, thank you, Mr. Lu.” Xia Liyang nodded, then curiously asked, “But the closest sea to Jiangcheng is the East China Sea, right? Why would you go so far to take me to Lianzhou Island?”

“The temperature over here by the East China Sea isn’t suitable for escaping the heat; it’s not as pleasant as Lianzhou Island.” Lu Huaicheng paused, a smile at the corner of his lips, and said, “Besides, Lianzhou Island is actually my mother’s hometown. I used to go there often during summer vacations, so I’m more familiar with it.”

“Is that so?” Xia Liyang smiled, playfully poking his firm waist with her soft fingertips. In a teasing, gentle voice, she said, “So, Mr. Lu, you want to go there for nostalgia and conveniently take me to see the sea.”

“Let’s say it the other way around; that’s more appropriate.” Lu Huaicheng put down his coffee and grasped her mischievous hand. His gaze deepened a few shades, and with a low voice laced with a hint of barely-there threat, he said, “If you poke around like that again, I might just have to carry you to the bedroom.”

“…” Xia Liyang froze momentarily, hurriedly pulling her finger back from his grasp and placing it obediently back on her lap.

Although she had thought before that it wouldn’t be impossible to be intimate with him, when it really came down to it, she couldn’t help but feel nervous and scared.

Seeing her shy demeanor and her slightly flushed cheeks, Lu Huaicheng relaxed his brows and let out a soft laugh.

“I don’t think I said anything about carrying you to the bedroom to do anything, did I? You’re just jumping to conclusions.”

His dark eyes held a hint of laughter, like melting spring snow, with his deep voice flowing softly.

“…” Xia Liyang’s expression stiffened, and she awkwardly bit her lip, trying to salvage her dignity by saying, “I didn’t jump to conclusions; it’s just that you were too ambiguous.”

“Hmm, it’s my fault for not being clear enough.” Lu Huaicheng smiled gently, glanced at his watch, and decided not to tease her any further.

He elegantly stood up and said, “You should get ready for bed early. I’ll be heading back now.”

“Okay.” Xia Liyang’s tense nerves relaxed a bit as she stood up with him.

After seeing Lu Huaicheng off, Xia Liyang picked up her phone, which she had thrown on the sofa, and checked it.

Her chat with Xu Songnian was still stuck on his last question to her.

Not wanting to discuss that topic any further, Xia Liyang changed the subject: “Did you manage to get the keys and get home?”

However, Xu Songnian didn’t answer her question. Instead, he responded sarcastically, “You still remember me, your childhood friend?”

Xia Liyang furrowed her brows slightly and patiently explained to him, “Lu Huaicheng just left, and I only dared to use my phone now.”

Xu Songnian: “Come downstairs.”

Xia Liyang was taken aback for a moment, glanced at the time on her phone, and incredulously asked, “You’re not still at my place, are you?”

Xu Songnian: “Yeah, I’m waiting for you to come down.”

……

Xia Liyang’s brows furrowed even deeper. After sitting for a moment, she clutched her phone and got up to go downstairs.

“Xu Songnian! It’s late at night, what are you up to?”

As soon as she entered her apartment, Xia Liyang couldn’t help but glare at the man sitting on the sofa.

He slowly lifted his eyelids, his gaze somewhat obscure, “I just want to hear your explanation.”

“I’ve already said that Lu Huaicheng didn’t leave; I couldn’t get away!” Xia Liyang shot him an annoyed glance.

“It’s not that explanation; it’s about the question you didn’t answer.” Xu Songnian paused for a moment and reminded her in a heavy voice, “You’re about to resign, so why do you care so much about him?”

Looking at the unfamiliar emotion in his eyes, Xia Liyang recalled Lu Huaicheng’s words:

“Being a man, how could I not understand the way he looks at you?”

She couldn’t help but tighten her grip on her phone and slowly retorted, “Do you really need to care so much about this question? We’re just friends, right?”

Xu Songnian swallowed hard, his expression slightly complicated as he fell silent for a few seconds before saying somewhat stiffly, “As a friend, I’m just concerned about you. You’re now sleeping at his apartment, aren’t you afraid something might happen?”

“What could happen? He wouldn’t force me to do anything,” Xia Liyang furrowed her brows.

“How can you guarantee that he won’t force you? Do you know how unequal the power dynamics are between men and women? You’re really too naïve and lack experience dealing with men. If something really happens, you won’t even have time to shout!” Xu Songnian said anxiously.

“How am I naïve? Even if I’ve never been in a relationship, I’m an adult and have the most basic judgment ability!”

Xia Liyang was also fired up by his words and couldn’t help but retort, “And I don’t mind sleeping with him! Can you stop meddling in my affairs?”

Xu Songnian was taken aback, his thin lips pressed into a straight line.

The slowly lowering brow cast a deep shadow over his eyes.

He remained silent for a long time.

Long enough for her anger to cool down somewhat, and she began to regret what she had just said to him.

He was really concerned about her.

Xia Liyang lightly bit her lip and softly said, “Sorry, I spoke too harshly.”

“…” Xu Songnian moved his lips, fell silent for a moment, then slowly lifted his eyelids and asked with difficulty, “So, have you developed feelings for him?”

Xia Liyang was slightly taken aback, then immediately scoffed, “What nonsense are you talking about? How could I possibly like him?”

“You don’t like him, yet you say you don’t mind sleeping with him.” Xu Songnian’s dark gaze bore into her, as if trying to capture any micro-expression that appeared on her face.

“Well, I don’t dislike him…” Xia Liyang unconsciously averted her gaze, then threw the question back at him, “But what about you? Why do you care so much about my relationship with Lu Huaicheng?”

“…” Xu Songnian paused, his hands awkwardly slipping into his jeans pockets. His voice was flat as he said, “I’m not concerned about your relationship with him; I’m just worried about your safety.”

“Oh.” Xia Liyang pressed her lips together.

The air fell quiet for a moment, and both of them spoke in unison: “You…”

“You go first,” Xu Songnian closed his mouth.

“Actually, you go first,” Xia Liyang also fell silent.

Xu Songnian hesitated for a few seconds, then joked, “You don’t think I have any thoughts about you that go beyond friendship, do you?”

“It’s not that I think so; it’s just that Lu Huaicheng keeps misunderstanding…” Xia Liyang carefully searched for the right words, fearing she might ruin the atmosphere that had finally eased between them.

“He really likes to create imaginary enemies for himself,” Xu Songnian scoffed, though his gaze drifted.

Whether to call him cowardly or not straightforward, what he feared was not being rejected by her but that she would start avoiding him, and their relationship would never return to how good it used to be.

If he were to confess, it would have to be at the right moment.

Definitely not now.

“He really does…” Xia Liyang nodded, feeling relieved in her heart.

She thought Xu Songnian could never possibly be interested in her. It was all Lu Huaicheng’s fault for being so jealous that it made her anxious as well.

To be honest, if Xu Songnian really liked her, she wouldn’t know how to handle their relationship.

After all, she didn’t want to hurt him, nor did she want to be in a romantic relationship with him.

It just felt strange.

It was like suddenly one day, you transformed from familiar relatives into lovers.

“By the way, your birthday is tomorrow. I’ll finish work early and take you out for a big meal,” Xu Songnian changed the subject.

“I have to go to Lianzhou Island with Lu Huaicheng tomorrow…” Xia Liyang paused, then added quickly, worried he might be concerned again, “I’ll be back the day after tomorrow, and I’ll resign as soon as I return.”

Xu Songnian’s expression froze for a moment, his eyes shifting with complexity, before he smiled and said, “That’s fine. I’ll take you out to celebrate when you come back.”

……

The next morning, when Xia Liyang woke up, she saw several brand-new shopping bags placed at the entrance, containing various swimsuits and sun protection cover-ups.

There were everything from conservative one-pieces to sexy bikinis.

After picking and choosing for a while, she finally tossed a relatively conservative two-piece swimsuit into her suitcase.

She wasn’t sure how Lu Huaicheng had arranged for accommodations that night.

But she felt it was unlikely he would book her a separate room.

After all, they had slept in the same bed before.

To be safe, she went downstairs to the convenience store to buy a box of condoms and tucked it under the bottom of her suitcase.

Before the agreed time, Lu Huaicheng rang the doorbell of her house.

“Coming.”

As she hurriedly set down the sun hat she was trying on in front of the mirror, Xia Liyang rushed to the entrance and opened the door for him.

“Mr. Lu, you’re quite early,” she smiled with a curve at the corners of her eyes.

“Just came to see how you were packing,” Lu Huaicheng smiled slightly.

“Great timing! Can you help me decide which of these two hats looks better?” Xia Liyang swiftly led him into the bedroom and put the two sun hats on her head, which she had tossed onto the bed.

“That depends on which swimsuit you choose,” Lu Huaicheng said gently.

“I picked this one.” Xia Liyang bent down, rummaged through her open suitcase, and showed him the dark green two-piece swimsuit she had prepared.

He narrowed his dark eyes and examined it: “Quite conservative.”

“…You wouldn’t want me to wear a bikini, would you?” Xia Liyang slowly raised her eyes.

“Depends on your preference,” Lu Huaicheng smiled gently. “I’m just sharing my opinion.”

“I still prefer this. Bikinis are too difficult to wear outside,” Xia Liyang said shyly, biting her lip.

“Then you could bring one more, and just wear it for me inside,” he looked at her with a deep gaze, his tone a mix of serious and playful.

“…” Xia Liyang’s heart involuntarily raced a couple of beats faster. She avoided his burning gaze and said, “Please don’t joke around; just tell me which hat looks better first?”

“The one on your left hand,” he smiled a bit more broadly.

“Okay.” Xia Liyang quickly tossed the hat he mentioned into the suitcase. “I’ll go to the bathroom to see if there’s anything else I need to bring.”

“Mm.” Lu Huaicheng replied softly. As she hurried off in her slippers, he glanced at the shopping bags of swimsuits nearby.

His gaze finally settled on a retro red polka dot bikini among them.

With her fair skin and sweet aura, it should suit her well.

Thinking of this, Lu Huaicheng raised his eyes slightly and glanced at the half-closed bathroom door.

Without making a sound, he picked up the bikini from the shopping bag and tucked it into the bottom layer of her suitcase.

However, he was pricked by a corner of something like a cardboard box.

He couldn’t help but furrow his brow and instinctively raised his hand.

Then he saw a box of red Durex condoms hidden beneath the clothes.