The seaside grew livelier after sunset. Lights dotted the darkness beneath the sky, and the beach, still fairly restrained by day, became a carnival at night.
Shouts, screams, and clinking bottles made up a release that belonged to the young alone.
The two of them did not linger. After reserving diving equipment for the next day, Ding Ding took Little Bai back to their room.
Beyond the floor-to-ceiling window, waves washed against the cliff. The guesthouse owner had told them the room faced east, and they would be able to see the sun rise from behind the cliff the next morning. Bai Congming was excited and would not let Ding Ding draw the curtains.
Presumably no one would be walking around in a place like this anyway, so Ding Ding let him have his way.
There was a lounge chair by the window, cushioned so softly that once someone lay down, they would not want to move.
No, that was not quite right. Only Ding Ding did not want to move.
"Shower!"
"In a minute," Ding Ding wheedled. "Let me hold you first."
The lights were off, but the light in their eyes was enough for them to make out each other's faces.
Bai Congming let him hold him once, then again, and again, until he finally ran out of patience.
"We need to shower!"
Seawater clung to his skin. Although he had rinsed off briefly, he still felt very uncomfortable.
Ding Ding hummed. "Together?"
Something seemed to occur to Little Bai, and he covered his bottom. "Not together!"
With that, he shoved Ding Ding away, dashed into the bathroom, and locked the door.
Ding Ding laughed outside, thinking how wonderful these days were.
It seemed that all the trials and hardships of the past had brought him a Little