As the ship docked, Qin Yao and Zhang Yufei got off and stood at the pier. Though their feet were firmly planted on solid ground, it still felt as though their bodies were swaying with the sea. The earth seemed to spin, and everything around them wobbled.

“Xiao Zhang, you’re shaking!”

“Qin Yao, you are shaking too!”

“Haha…”

….

“I feel dizzy at the dock. It will be fine after a while.”

Qin Yao and Zhang Yufei supported each other and walked forward. The island was small, and though it may not even be marked on a map, it was beautiful.

The highest point on the island was the lighthouse, and the island wasn’t much larger than a park. Walking along the coastline, one might walk the whole length in a day.

From the shore, they could see several stone-built houses. They weren’t very tall, mostly two stories, resembling ancient villages hidden in the lush trees.

Looking back at the vast blue sea, they couldn’t help but gasp in awe. “It’s so beautiful!”

The officers went off to take care of business, leaving Qin Yao and Zhang Yufei free to explore. Zhang Yufei, usually not very lively, had been cooped up on the ship for days and didn’t want to stay inside. She decided to join Qin Yao at the beach.

Qin Yao touched a jellyfish and immediately wondered if it was poisonous. She quickly stopped touching it. They explored the rocks, finding crabs and shellfish hiding in the crevices. Among them, there were many abalone clinging to the rocks.

Abalone… a rare delicacy, but she wasn’t in the mood to eat it.

“Are you new to the island?”

There weren’t many islanders, and it was rare for outsiders to visit, especially someone as young and beautiful as Qin Yao. Her pale skin shimmered under the sunlight, almost as if she were covered in mirrors.

The island’s children were curious about her, but they only stood in small groups at a distance, watching from afar, too shy to approach.

The adults weren’t as particular. A young man dressed in a white coat and red headscarf approached Qin Yao and the others to chat.

“…I work for the fishing company; this is my hometown,” the young man, named Fu Xiaoshan, said in a loud and clear voice. Although his Mandarin wasn’t perfect, it had a broadcast-style tone. With bronzed skin, handsome features, and a bright smile revealing a set of perfect white teeth, he was quite striking.

Fu Xiaoshan had a natural, unpretentious charm. His looks were the kind that felt refreshingly real.

He was warm and hospitable, and Qin Yao couldn’t help but ask him a few more questions, intrigued by this good-looking guy from the fishing company.

“Right, which spot has the best view? Go to the lighthouse,” he answered.

…

Chatting with a handsome guy was quite pleasant, and Fu Xiaoshan’s face fit Qin Yao’s aesthetic preferences, especially when he smiled. His expression was as cute and healing as a little puppy.

But, alas, “once you’ve seen the vast ocean, no water can compare; unless it’s the mist of Wushan, nothing else is cloud-like.”

She missed her little brother Gu Cheng.

“Xiao Qin, come join us for the bonfire party on the island!”

“What’s a bonfire party?”

…

After finishing official business, Gu Cheng and the others came out and happened to see Fu Xiaoshan circling around Qin Yao and the two girls. Zhang Yufei rarely joined the conversation, simply listening while Fu Xiaoshan beamed, even singing a few notes, making the two girls laugh.

Gu Cheng felt a jolt in his chest. His usually calm face turned icy, and the good mood he’d had upon arriving on the island quickly evaporated.

When Qin Yao smiled at him as she stepped off the boat, Gu Cheng secretly felt happy to himself for a long time, occasionally raising his hand to lightly scratch the corner of his mouth with his thumb. This had become a subconscious gesture of his recently.

The political commissar teased him, asking if he’d been eating too few fruits and vegetables, causing blisters on his lips.

Gu Cheng pressed his lips together and said nothing. How could anyone know the sweetness he felt inside?

At that moment, his little jar of honey had spilled, turning into a vinegar jar, full of sourness.

His sharp eyes stayed fixed on the young girl smiling ahead, her laughter like a blossoming flower in the sea breeze. Framing her soft face were flying strands of hair, and her pretty peach blossom eyes curved into crescent-shaped moons.

The enthusiastic young man had made her happy. There was clearly no spring here, but her smile turned the salty sea breeze into a warm spring wind.

If that spring wind had blown across his face, it would have felt like spring all over the land. But if it blew on anyone else’s face—well, forget it, he wouldn’t allow that!

Gu Cheng’s sharp eyebrows arched as his white military uniform fluttered in the sea breeze. Just as he was about to stride over angrily, the department head nudged Zhao Mingjin beside him, saying, “Xiao Zhao, are you jealous? Look, Xiao Qin is chatting with that young man, Fu Xiaoshan. He’s quite handsome.”

Gu Cheng’s steps faltered.

“What’s there to be jealous about? It’s just a guy. I’m not that petty,” Zhao Mingjin waved dismissively. “Probably just bored from being out at sea. If Xiao Qin is happy, I’m happy too.”

“That’s nothing. I don’t care. Women don’t like petty men.”

After saying that, Zhao Mingjin smiled confidently: “Fu Xiaoshan is good-looking, but I’m a smart, capable young officer, and I’m well-put-together too. If you compare the two, no one would choose him over me.”

Gu Cheng stopped in his tracks, thinking this guy was really asking for trouble. With his hands on his hips, he coldly said, “Head Nurse Ge introduced two young officers to to Nurse Xiao Qin before, but they didn’t work out.”

Zhao Mingjin, curious, asked, “Who were they?”

Gu Cheng realized he had slipped up and mumbled, “He Guangzhi, Doctor He.”

“Ah, who else?” Zhao Mingjin pressed.

Gu Cheng replied coldly, “I’m not sure.”

“Commander Gu, I didn’t expect you to have such wide-ranging news. Now I know I have competition,” Zhao Mingjin smirked.

The department head intervened, “Commander Gu doesn’t like to get involved in this. Don’t ask him too much, or you’ll annoy him.”

Gu Cheng remained silent.

Indeed, in everyone’s eyes, how could Commander Gu, known for being “cold and detached, loving no one,” ever do something as absurd as pretending to be a fishing company employee at the port, enthusiastically replaced others for the blind date, only to be rejected for being too old? And then, to top it off, he wrote love poems for three months and eagerly gifted canned goods and chocolates, just to be given a three-month trial.

If these things were known, his proud reputation as a tough leader would be ruined.

He had steered through many storms at sea, but this little chubby girl had him completely under her control.

Every move she made easily stirred his emotions.

Gu Cheng had faced countless winds and waves in his life, but he thought, perhaps this woman was the most terrifying storm he’d ever encountered.

“Xiao Zhao,” Gu Cheng walked over, leaned in, and whispered a few words.

Zhao Mingjin froze. “Commander Gu, no way, you want me to do this…”

“Those who can do more should,” Gu Cheng patted his shoulder.

Gu Cheng thought to himself: I am that petty man.

Taking a deep breath, Gu Cheng exhaled slowly, calming himself. He didn’t blindly rush forward.

Women don’t like petty men?

Gu Cheng, hold yourself back. At least during the trial period, don’t be petty.

Gu Cheng stood on a small hill, arms crossed, his eyes narrowing slightly against the light. Thinking carefully, he knew that, just like the saying, “The bird that sticks its head out gets shot,” although the situation was not in his favor and there were many hidden competitors around him, staying hidden was for the best.

He would watch and learn first, see what tricks these people were playing.

Qin Yao and Zhang Yufei had already noticed them.

Qin Yao waved at him and, as she got closer, saluted. Gu Cheng returned the salute, a slight smile curling his lips.

Then, brazenly, he raised his hand to wipe the corner of his mouth.

Qin Yao’s cheeks flushed. “…”

She bit her lip, thinking that impulsiveness was the devil. At the time, things had been so dangerous, and Gu Cheng had been so easily tied up by her. In the heat of the moment, she regretted it deeply!

A kiss on the corner of the mouth isn’t the same as a kiss between a man and a woman. Why make such a big deal out of it? In some foreign countries, people exchange good morning and good night kisses every day. Isn’t that just an expression of gratitude? Can’t she express her thanks to the PLA uncle^[1]PLA uncle” refers to a soldier or officer in the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China. The term “uncle” is used as a respectful and affectionate way for a younger person to … Continue reading in her own way?

But now, in front of so many people, what he did felt like silent Morse code, understood only by the two of them. It was a perfect example of playing a trick in plain sight.

Qin Yao once thought that the younger brother she knew, Gu Cheng, was a kind and innocent little “puppy” and that Commander Gu, the officer, was a stern and serious young military officer who rarely smiled.

But now…

Commander Gu, can you stop being so flirtatious?

Gu Cheng glanced at Fu Xiaoshan, who was half a head shorter than him, thinking that he was just a young, brash kid and not worth making a fuss over.

Ahem, he wasn’t old.

At the bonfire party that evening, a central bonfire was burning with smaller fires scattered around. Everyone gathered around, grilling fish, shrimp, crabs, and shells — everything could be roasted.

The island had fruit all year round. Mangoes, bananas, and pineapples were laid out on blue mats, all freshly picked.

The bananas here were especially sweet.

Qin Yao ate a banana and felt somewhat full. She eagerly squatted by the fire, roasting fish. She even had the time to relax.

Gu Cheng sat on a rock, drinking some low-alcohol rice wine. As veterans with a bit of time under their belts, they weren’t particularly interested in grilling seafood.

“Try some,” Qin Yao generously offered the fish she had grilled.

Zhao Mingjin was supportive, but Gu Cheng didn’t speak. He silently placed his own grilled fish on the colorful leaves in front of her, swapping it out for the one Qin Yao had grilled.

Qin Yao: “…”

“Your grilled fish smells really good, Nurse Qin,” the department head praised after taking a bite.

Gu Cheng nodded quietly, holding one fish in each hand.

“Commander Gu, how about a night of sea fishing?”

Since they had a couple of days to rest, the department head suggested night fishing. The island had all the fishing equipment they needed.

Gu Cheng refused, saying, “No, haven’t you had enough to eat?”

The department head didn’t mind his response. He just wanted to set up an activity for the young people. Qin Yao and Zhang Yufei had never tried night fishing for squid, and they eagerly agreed.

Gu Cheng: “…”

Young people really had so much energy. Qin Yao drank some rice wine and went to bed early. By three or four in the morning, still before dawn, she was already out on the fishing boat with the locals, fishing for squid.

The fish followed the light, and the boat was surrounded by lights, with clear groups of fish swimming toward them.

Qin Yao thought, what’s the point of fishing? Let’s just cast the fishing net.

But fishing was a relaxing activity.

She caught several squids and felt a great sense of accomplishment. Qin Yao laughed. The silly squid squirted ink when they were caught, and she was lucky enough to dodge it, not getting inked in the face.

While looking at her catch in the dim light, something grabbed her hand. A warm hand pressed against her palm, making it feel like it was being scorched.

She turned her head and met a pair of eyes as dark as ink.

Gu Cheng was focused on the sea, his expression cool and distant, as if he had just casually come over to her side. No one seemed to notice that he was holding her hand.

Qin Yao felt somewhat uneasy. It wasn’t physical discomfort, but emotional discomfort. If Gu Cheng were like other men, openly pursuing her, she might not feel this way.

Perhaps he was afraid of being rejected and losing face as Commander Gu. Or maybe he didn’t want people to know he had gone out of his way to help with blind date, afraid that Head Nurse Ge would make fun of him. There were many reasons she could come up with, but she couldn’t help the discomfort in her heart.

Qin Yao pulled her hand away from Gu Cheng, catching another squid. She seized the opportunity and deliberately flicked it, spraying a jet of ink right across Gu Cheng’s handsome face.

Qin Yao smiled faintly and said with a double meaning, “Commander Gu, this is what it means to show you some color.”

Gu Cheng: “…”

He awkwardly wiped the ink off his face. Seeing the smug look on her face, he was angry but couldn’t say anything.

The department head overheard Qin Yao’s comment and thought, “This girl is quite bold. She even dares to tease Commander Gu.”

Qin Yao casually added, “I was just joking, Commander Gu. You wouldn’t mind, would you?”

“No,” Gu Cheng replied.

The department head glanced at Zhao Mingjin, then raised his voice: “Let me make a joke too.”

“This year is a great year for relationships. The young people meet this year, get married next year in the Year of the Ox, and have a baby tiger the year after. How wonderful!”

Zhao Mingjin: “…”

Gu Cheng: “…”

Qin Yao: “…”

It seems the “color” she showed earlier wasn’t enough.