Chapter 19 : I Like Seaside Cities

Seeing her sitting on the bed enjoying the breeze, Zhou Tingyue noticed a vendor outside the window selling watermelons.  

Although private business was still technically not allowed during this time, there were always people sneaking around near train stations trying to make a little money.  

“Wait for me here. I’ll go down and buy you a watermelon to cool you down!”  

Hearing him mention watermelon, Song Shiwei suddenly felt a bit thirsty.  

She nodded. “Okay, but go quickly and come back soon. The train will be leaving soon!”  

Zhou Tingyue smiled, nodded, stood up, and strode toward the train door.  

After a short while, Song Shiwei saw him approach the old man selling watermelons and start selecting one.  

The watermelons were large, well-grown, and looked incredibly juicy. The vines were still fresh, making it clear they had just been picked from the field!  

Zhou Tingyue didn’t buy much, just one that wasn’t too big.  

Since knives were considered dangerous and not allowed on the train, he asked the old man to cut the watermelon for him, put the pieces into a net bag, and then carried it back on board.  

As soon as he stepped back into the carriage, he saw Song Shiwei staring at the watermelon in his hands with eager anticipation.  

She was obviously looking forward to it.  

He smiled as he returned to his seat, placing the watermelon on the small table between them. The moment he opened the net bag, the fresh, sweet fragrance of watermelon filled the air.  

Song Shiwei, already feeling thirsty, found her mouth going dry just from the smell.  

Zhou Tingyue grinned and handed her a thinly sliced piece.  

“Eat quickly! It’ll cool you down!”  

Song Shiwei didn’t bother pretending to be polite. She took it and started eating happily.  

Of course, she didn’t eat too messily, but she also wasn’t overly delicate. After all, in her previous life, she had been a food blogger. She had eaten countless delicious foods, and every one of her live broadcasts would attract hundreds of thousands of viewers online. She had been a major influencer with tens of millions of fans!  

Not only did she enjoy eating good food, but she also knew how to cook all kinds of delicious dishes including ancient recipes!  

Watching her eat watermelon was a pleasure in itself. With every bite, the crisp, juicy texture was evident, the sweet nectar dripping slightly. The aroma of fresh melon wafted through the carriage, making those around her unconsciously swallow their saliva.  

Zhou Tingyue was sitting closest to her. He hadn’t felt particularly thirsty before, but after watching her eat, he suddenly had the urge to have some too.  

So, under the envious gazes of the other passengers, he also took a piece and began eating in large bites.  

Many people in the carriage couldn’t stand it anymore. Watching them eat without being able to join in was pure torture!  

Someone shouted toward the window, “Hey, old man, give me a watermelon too!”  

“Me too! Cut one up for me!”  

“I want one as well!”  

“Save one for me too!”  

— 

In just a few minutes, the old man had sold more than a dozen watermelons!  

While eating, Song Shiwei couldn’t help but grin.  

It seemed she still had the talent to be a food influencer!  

The watermelon Zhou Tingyue bought was quite big, around twelve or thirteen pounds. Without the rind, it was still about eight or nine pounds.  

Song Shiwei ate five or six slices before feeling full and stopping.  

The rest ended up in Zhou Tingyue’s stomach.  

In reality, he was full too, but he didn’t want to waste it. Leaving the leftover watermelon in the hot, stuffy train carriage would make it inedible in no time.  

Since they had filled up on watermelon, the two of them didn’t end up eating the pancakes Zhao Huili had prepared for them.  

Song Shiwei dozed off for a while, and by the time she woke up, it was almost three o’clock in the afternoon.  

Finally, they arrived in Qing City.  

Qingshi is a coastal city, and the air carried a salty, humid scent.  

Song Shiwei took a deep breath. This was the smell of the sea!  

It had been so long!  

In her previous life, as a food blogger traveling the world, her favorite places had always been seaside cities.  

After all, she was born in a small fishing village in a coastal city and had grown up by the sea. She was an excellent swimmer, and as a child, she often followed her grandfather to the shore to catch small fish and shrimp when the tide was low!  

Seafood had always been her staple food.  

Even after she became a food host, she frequently promoted her hometown’s marine industries for free!  

Now, standing in a seaside city she hadn’t seen for so long, she felt an indescribable sense of peace.  

Zhou Tingyue noticed her relaxed expression and couldn’t help but smile.  

“You like seaside cities?”  

Song Shiwei grinned and nodded.  

“Yeah! It feels so comfortable! Away from the noise of the city, and at night, I can hear the sound of waves crashing against the rocks! It’s amazing!”  

It was like natural white noise.  

Seeing how much she liked it, Zhou Tingyue felt relieved. He had been worried she might not adapt well, especially since their destination was an island completely surrounded by the sea. Aside from the stationed military troops, the only other inhabitants were local villagers.  

The locals lived off fishing all year round, and the army also primarily ate seafood. Fresh vegetables were rare, as the island’s land was limited, and arable farmland was even scarcer.  

For people from inland regions, adjusting to such an environment wasn’t always easy.  

Even when he first arrived, it had taken him nearly a week to get used to it.  

He remembered how his stomach had acted up the first time he ate all sorts of seafood, keeping him awake at night in pain.  

Back then, he hadn’t realized that many seafood varieties were naturally cold in nature. People with sensitive stomachs could easily get stomachaches from eating too much.  

So before heading back from Beijing, he had stopped by the service center to buy 20 kilograms of white flour and 20 kilograms of corn flour just in case the little girl had trouble adjusting. That way, he could make her noodles, steamed buns, and other familiar foods.  

Even after they boarded the ship, Zhou Tingyue kept a close eye on Song Shiwei, worried that once the excitement wore off, she might get seasick.  

But even after two hours at sea, they were nearly at their destination, and she hadn’t shown any signs of discomfort. Instead, she had happily run outside to enjoy the sea breeze.  

Zhou Tingyue thought to himself, she really does love this place!  

By the time they arrived on the island, it was almost six o’clock. Fortunately, summer days were long, and the sun had only just begun to set.  

The half-sunken sun cast a brilliant red glow across the shimmering sea, scattering golden reflections across the waves. White seagulls circled in the sky, their cries mingling with the soothing sound of waves crashing against the rocks.  

It was breathtaking.  

Song Shiwei followed Zhou Tingyue toward the military base, completely immersed in the beauty around her.  

Along the way, they occasionally passed villagers heading toward the beach, exchanging friendly greetings with them.  

Qilian Island wasn’t very large, the distance from the ferry dock to the military entrance was only about seven or eight miles. Luckily, along the way, they encountered some friendly locals who offered them a ride on their carts.  

When they finally reached the military base, soldiers were standing guard at the entrance. Zhou Tingyue showed his ID, and the guards immediately straightened up, their expressions shifting as they quickly saluted.  

“Hello, Chief!”  

Zhou Tingyue returned the gesture with a sharp, standard military salute.  

Then, the two of them carried their luggage into the military compound.  

As they walked, Zhou Tingyue remembered that he would probably need to report to his team before heading home.  

“Weiwei, I’ll take you back to the courtyard first. I have to report to my team, but I’ll be back soon.”  

Song Shiwei, who had been curiously looking around, nodded.  

“Okay!”