The Female Elf by the Sea

"Um, didn't you say before that you'd never seen the ocean?"

Shen Lang's grip on Su Lexuan's hand tightened slightly. "So, do you want to go play on the beach?"

"Mm."

Su Lexuan nodded expectantly, and the two of them walked across the fine sand toward the sea.

Su Lexuan wore flats and white thermal stockings, so they could only stroll along the edge of the waves.

"Sh-Shen Lang, what do you do now?"

Su Lexuan suddenly spoke, quietly tightening her hold around Shen Lang's warm hand at the same time.

Feeling Su Lexuan's soft fingers press against his palm of their own accord, Shen Lang was instantly overjoyed. A sense of indescribable accomplishment filled him, and he nearly stumbled over his words.

"Don't laugh at me, but I write novels at home now."

"Really? What kind of stories do you write?"

Of course, Su Lexuan knew about web novels. She occasionally went to Tomato Novel herself to read romance novels and pass the time.

Unlike Shen Lang's blind date, Su Lexuan did not ask about his salary or benefits. Instead, she asked what genre he wrote.

After all, one had been looking for a sucker to fleece, while the other had been looking for a sweet romance.

"Ahem, wuxia and stuff like that. It's all fighting and killing, not something girls would like. I've already padded it out to over a million words."

"That's still pretty good. At least it's work you like."

Su Lexuan smiled without minding at all. "I never expected you to be such a great writer, Senior."

"Haha, 'great writer' is an exaggeration."

Shen Lang handed the Sugar Painting to Su Lexuan. "I'm just earning enough for porridge. I don't even know whether I'll stay in this line of work in the future."

The two chatted idly as the sea breeze blew around them, leaving a string of footprints of varying depth across the beach.

With the system's help, they talked about everything from their campus lives to their plans for the future, then their roommates. They chatted about whatever came to mind, with no pattern to it at all.

Most couples were like this in the beginning.

As long as they held each other in their hearts, even doing nothing but sitting together could make their feelings heat up quickly.

Bright moonlight spilled across the glittering sea, reflecting the two laughing and talking together.

Ding! Su Lexuan's Favorability toward the host has increased by 5 points. Current Favorability: 22. Please keep up the good work!

Girls really did become more emotional at night. After merely ten or so minutes of conversation, Su Lexuan's Favorability had risen by a full 5 points.

Shen Lang could also clearly feel Su Lexuan standing closer and closer to him.

Whenever the conversation became especially lively, she would unconsciously lean against Shen Lang's shoulder, truly like a lively and adorable girlfriend.

Only after realizing it would Su Lexuan shyly pull away, though Shen Lang's reflection remained in her clear eyes the entire time.

Who knew how long passed before they finally stopped before a stretch of jagged rocks.

"There's no path anymore!"

Su Lexuan looked at the dark rocks ahead, her tone clearly tinged with disappointment.

Shen Lang turned back in surprise to look toward where they had entered the beach. "We walked that far?"

"Hehe, time just passes quickly when you're chatting."

"That's true, haha..."

They chuckled softly. Looking at each other's faces so close at hand, they inexplicably fell silent again.

Just then, the system presented its options.

1: Put an arm around her slender waist, press her against the rocks, and kiss her passionately!

2: Ask expectantly: No one can see us here, right? May I pinch your little feet in white stockings?

3: Stroke her face, gaze deeply into her eyes, and kiss her gently!

"Should I take her home?"

Shen Lang fought fiercely with himself. To be honest, he was a little unwilling to simply let Su Lexuan go back like this.

But aside from option two, weren't the other two options a little too extreme?

He had only known Su Lexuan for a few days. This was only their second meeting. Would she hit him if he just kissed her like that?

Shen Lang suddenly spoke. "Um?"

Su Lexuan jumped in fright. "Huh? Wh-what is it?"

"N-Nothing."

"Oh..."

After exchanging a glance, they shyly looked away again, but their hands remained clasped.

At that moment, the surroundings were completely quiet.

The sound of waves crashing against the rocks was especially crisp.

The leaves of the ginkgo trees planted in the park along the shore rustled softly in the sea breeze.

What the hell am I being timid for? There's nothing to be scared of!

Shen Lang encouraged himself inwardly. Then he released Su Lexuan's slightly sweaty hand and slowly raised his own toward her fair, delicate profile.

The system had presented two ambiguous options at once, which meant Su Lexuan could accept him kissing her here deep down.

He secretly reminded himself that if Su Lexuan showed any sign of unwillingness, he would immediately cancel the follow-through and find an excuse to brush it off.

Shen Lang did not want the female elf he had finally encountered to be scared away by his rash behavior!

Under Su Lexuan's slightly dazed gaze, Shen Lang's hand slowly came to rest on her delicate, flawless cheek, gently caressing it.

Just as Shen Lang had imagined, a girl's face was soft and smooth, though its temperature kept rising.

The instant his fingers touched Su Lexuan's cheek, her whole body trembled. She seemed to have guessed what Shen Lang was about to do.

At that moment, Su Lexuan really wanted to ask Shen Lang, "What exactly is our relationship now?"

But for some reason, in this quiet night, with no one around.

Su Lexuan did not want to speak and interrupt the romantic atmosphere. She merely pursed her lips and looked at Shen Lang involuntarily.

She didn't object? That means...

Under Su Lexuan's gaze, Shen Lang slowly bent down, their faces drawing closer and closer.

Shen Lang could even smell the sweetness coming from Su Lexuan's lips. It was the scent of the Sugar Painting they had bought earlier.

Would it be even sweeter inside?

Thump, thump...

Feeling the warmth of Shen Lang's fingers and his face getting closer and closer, Su Lexuan's heart pounded wildly. Her lips trembled slightly as both hands tightly clenched the hem of her skirt.

Soon, Shen Lang's nose touched Su Lexuan's pert little nose, and his lips pressed against her soft, sweet lips.

His first impression was softness, with a faint sweetness to it. He could also clearly smell Su Lexuan's increasingly heavy breaths.

Since it was his first kiss, Shen Lang had no experience. He could only clumsily press his lips against Su Lexuan's like this.

If he had not been worried that Su Lexuan would reject him, Shen Lang would have wanted to imitate the movies and slip his tongue inside.

After their lips remained pressed together for several minutes, Shen Lang gradually released Su Lexuan's burning cheeks and stared in disbelief at her stunned, astonished face.

Shen Lang had never imagined that after knowing Su Lexuan for less than a few days, on the first time he had asked her out, he would receive this female elf's first kiss.

Su Lexuan seemed to suddenly come back to her senses. Turning around in extreme embarrassment, she covered her flushed cheeks and muttered to herself in disbelief.

"Su Lexuan, what is wrong with you? How long have you even known him? This was your first kiss!!!"

In the stillness of the night, amid such a leisurely and elegant setting.

Yet by the sea stood two young people experiencing first love, both troubled by their blushing faces and racing hearts.