Sunlight scattered like flecks of gold across the sea. Wave after wave of azure water washed onto the beach, then retreated into the sea with the fine, soft sand.
Not far away, rows of homes stood on raised wooden stilts to keep out the rising tide. Their white Phoebe Nanmu walls were topped with thatched roofs, and Hammocks made from coarse hemp rope hung inside, covered with white velvet sheets. Shell ornaments in assorted colors dangled above the windowsills, casting multicolored spots of reflected sunlight around the rooms.
Mu Xu Ye wore a dark gray tank top. The fabric clung to his body, leaving his full chest muscles nowhere to hide, while the definition in his bare arms shifted in and out of view as he moved.
Qi Shu Yu lay in the Hammock, secretly aimed his phone at Mu Xu Ye, and pressed the shutter. The flash went off at the same time as the shutter sound.
Qi Shu Yu scrambled to turn off his phone and pretended nothing had happened.
Mu Xu Ye put down what he was holding and walked over to Qi Shu Yu. He took the phone from him, looked at the photo, and smiled. "Nice shot. It's just..."
Mu Xu Ye leaned closer to Qi Shu Yu. "Why take it in secret?"
Qi Shu Yu stammered, "I, I was... I pressed it by accident. I wasn't sneaking a photo..."
The more Qi Shu Yu spoke, the less convincing he sounded. In the end, he simply ducked his head and tried to make himself inconspicuous.
Mu Xu Ye returned the phone and lay down with Qi Shu Yu.
Qi Shu Yu glanced at Mu Xu Ye, who was resting with his eyes closed, and quickly saved the photo to his album.
Although they had been