I'd Rather Starve to Death, Die of Exhaustion, Jump from Here...

"Ding-a-ling..."

The wind chimes rang crisply, their lingering notes piercing through the crashing layers of ocean waves.

Leng Yaozhu stepped out first, having changed into a sexy red bikini. There was neither too much nor too little fabric, just enough—like two patches of sunset pressed against her chest.

The curve of her waist was fully revealed, her fair skin gleaming beneath the sunlight like warm jade polished by a master craftsman.

As she walked, she raised a hand to tie up her flame-like hair. With a flick of her fingers, her red hair was gathered up, revealing her snow-white neck.

Gu Yue followed close behind, her jade-like bare feet stepping across the fine sand and leaving shallow footprints.

The girl wore a light-blue one-piece swimsuit, its skirt reaching only the tops of her thighs and lending her a youthful air. Her shoulder straps were neatly tied, and beneath her collarbones was a faint, soft fullness, like a flower bud not yet fully bloomed.

Compared to Leng Yaozhu, Gu Yue was practically insignificant.

Li Jinsheng held a surfboard as waves continuously washed over his ankles. His mouth hung open in a wide "O," and he had no idea what to say. His gaze first fell on Leng Yaozhu, then drifted to Gu Yue, before ultimately returning to Leng Yaozhu.

The difference in importance was obvious.

Seeing Li Jinsheng's vacant stare, Gu Yue quietly moved closer. She recalled what her teacher had just told her: Li Jinsheng liked her; he simply did not know how to express it.

That was why he had always been trying to get her attention!

Leng Yaozhu slowly stepped forward, patted his shoulder with her delicate hand, and smiled sweetly. "Li Jinsheng, doesn't Gu Yue look beautiful today?!"

Only then did the boy snap back to his senses. He looked at Gu Yue and gave her a thorough once-over. At that moment, as though Lord Wisdom had possessed him, he said, "Gu Yue, I just remembered! So you're a girl!"

The instant those words left his mouth, it seemed as though someone had pressed pause on the entire world. The sea breeze abruptly stopped, the waves fell into deathly silence, and even the birds in the sky ceased flapping their wings.

Gu Yue said nothing. The flush on her face spread from her cheeks all the way to her ears.

A woman's blush spoke louder than any words in the world.

Leng Yaozhu was incomparably awkward at that moment. Was that something a ten-year-old child would say?

How had he developed such a personality that was doomed to die single?!

The next second, a dull explosive sound answered for her.

Gu Yue's fist shot out like a dragon. Space caved in beside her wrist, and Li Jinsheng's chest sank inward. By the time he reacted, he had already been blasted into the shallows. The water exploded into a translucent curtain, refracting the boy's bewildered expression.

"I've always been a girl! Li Jinsheng, is something missing in your Brain?!"

The waves rushed in once more, then receded, leaving the boy floating face-up in the shallow water, staring at the sky in utter confusion.

Hidden in the shadows, Di Tian—still lightly injured from the Golden Trident's attack—had never felt so reassured by anything in his life.

If that thing could somehow charm Master away, then even the Dragon God could reappear, and all the clansmen who had died in the Dragon God War would have to come back to life.

Li Jinsheng spat out a mouthful of salty seawater, still unable to figure out what he had said wrong. He had no idea that, in Di Tian's heart, he had already been promoted to the human Di Tian trusted most—without equal.

Before the seawater had even covered his ears, Li Jinsheng had just propped himself up when Gu Yue approached over the wet, soft sand. Her skirt fluttered lightly in the wind.

Angrily, she raised her foot and planted it on his face. The force was neither too heavy nor too light—just enough to press him back into the water.

"Will you dare make me angry again?" Her voice was not loud, yet all the waves wisely retreated, as though frightened by the terrifying aura around her.

Li Jinsheng stared into the darkness before him, utterly indignant. Damn Silver Dragon King! She actually used her original power to beat me!

Damn it, I can't beat her!

I'll endure this for now! Avoid her edge!

Gritting his teeth, he said, "Gu Yue, I won't dare again!"

Gu Yue could clearly sense his unwillingness. She lightly twisted her toes and said again, "Say it again. Will you dare?"

"I won't!" This time, the boy answered decisively, something called conviction gleaming in his eyes.

Just wait. One day, I'll definitely surpass the Silver Dragon King.

Not far away, Leng Yaozhu watched with her arms folded. She casually tapped against her arm, as though calculating how long the two would fight this time.

Seeing the boy thoroughly subdued beneath Gu Yue's foot, she gave a soft laugh, turned, and walked toward the beach umbrella. She leisurely lay down on the beach mat.

Only then did Gu Yue reluctantly withdraw her foot. This thing was just asking to be beaten. Why did a perfectly good person have to grow a mouth?

She lowered her head and looked at Li Jinsheng, who was still lying in the water like a dead fish washed ashore by the sea.

"Get up! Stop playing dead!" she tossed out before turning away.

The boy continued staring blankly at the sky, ignoring her.

The waves continuously struck the shallows, exposing a smooth seashell.

Gu Yue wore a happy smile and did not look where she was stepping. Her heel slipped, her center of gravity instantly tipped backward, her skirt flew up, and her whole body fell back.

"Plop."

The seawater splashed up in a small fountain, and she landed squarely on Li Jinsheng's face as he was still spacing out—soft and springy.

The world fell silent for two seconds.

A wave crashed in with a splash, supplying the unfinished ending.

Gu Yue's entire body froze, and the tips of her ears instantly burned scarlet.

Staring into the darkness before him, Li Jinsheng seriously suspected Gu Yue had done it on purpose. This time, she had actually humiliated him like this!

In the distance, Leng Yaozhu lay on her side beneath a beach umbrella and smiled calmly. "Being young is wonderful! So full of youthful energy!"

Gu Yue stood up, clutching the hem of her skirt, her voice so low it was nearly drowned out by the waves. "Just now... I'm sorry. I stepped on a seashell."

Li Jinsheng wiped the water from his face, sat up, and smiled airily. "I'm fine! It was just an accident... I'm not holding a grudge at all!"

Yet inwardly, he silently swore, I'll remember this humiliation—this grudge!

Sooner or later, I'll get it back with interest!

The young man rose from the sea and walked beneath the beach umbrella. Leng Yaozhu lay on her side, presenting a breathtaking sight. She raised a hand, placed her palm atop his head, and gently ruffled his hair with motherly warmth.

"Put some sunscreen on me." She handed him a tube, her tone casual and relaxed.

Li Jinsheng took it and squeezed a little into his palm, the milky-white liquid slipping through his fingers. Kneeling on one knee in the sand, he placed his palm against Leng Yaozhu's back and moved gently, as though caressing a precious piece of porcelain.

Leng Yaozhu narrowed her eyes, her gaze settling on Gu Yue in the distance. The girl was currently lowering her head to brush sand off her skirt, her earlobes still flushed red like the evening sun.

"Jinsheng." Her voice was low but smiling. "You actually like Gu Yue, don't you?"

Li Jinsheng's fingers froze, his eyes full of bewilderment. I like Gu Yue? Could I possibly like that old woman?

It'd already count as kindness if she didn't beat me to death!

And I could still like her?

Even if I starved to death, worked myself to death, or jumped into the sea from here, I'd never like Gu Yue!

Leng Yaozhu smiled and explained to herself, "I know you like her. Kids your age don't know how to express their feelings. You're all so immature."

"So you like using your own ways to get girls' attention. Am I right?"