How About We Date?

Half a minute later, Lu Zhe handed Ning Shu a bottle of warm water. "Wash with this!"

"What's this?"

"Don't ask. If you do, it's sterile water!"

"Lu Zhe, you..."

"There's no other way right now. This is your only choice. Keep suffering, or actively deal with it. You decide!"

With that, Lu Zhe set the bottle down and walked away.

Ning Shu stared miserably at the bottle and muttered in a tearful voice, "Heavens, you might as well toy with me till I die!"

She gritted her teeth and started rinsing!

That unbearably itchy sensation finally eased, but inside, she was more of a mess than ever.

"Done?"

"Mm!"

"Then let's go!"

She didn't move!

Seeing that she hadn't followed, Lu Zhe turned back. "What's wrong?"

"Let's date!"

"Huh?"

Ning Shu sniffled and said with a hint of pleading, "J-just... can't we date for just one day?!"

"What?"

"We date for one day, then break up tomorrow!"

Lu Zhe could tell that despite her dirty-minded exterior, Ning Shu was actually a very traditional girl.

She cared a great deal about crossing the line beyond friendship with a boy, unless he was her boyfriend.

If he refused her even now, she might suffer for a long time!

They would break up after a day anyway, so he might as well play house with her!

At that thought, Lu Zhe nodded. "Okay!"

Then he held out his hand. "Can we walk together now, my goddess of a class president?"

Ning Shu pressed her lips together, nodded hard twice, sniffled, and stepped forward to put her hand in Lu Zhe's.

The island wasn't large. Although its central area was a little steep, it wasn't very high, and the two of them reached the top in half an hour!

They looked around. Sure enough, there was nowhere higher!

A large banyan tree grew at one end of the high ground's two-hundred-odd-meter ridge!

Lu Zhe took out his pen and notebook and began observing and recording the island!

By his estimate, the island was only about the size of twenty soccer fields, surrounded by sea on all sides!

In the middle were high ground and dense forest, with beaches and coastline all around!

This left him somewhat disappointed!

Just then, Ning Shu pointed toward the west coast. "Look, there are so many coconut trees on that side of our island!"

Lu Zhe analyzed it. "The ocean current flows from north to south, carrying coconuts from that island over here. They pass along the west side of our island, take root there, and grow into coconut trees!"

"So that's why! Let's go that way later and pick some to take back. Then we'll have fresh water for tomorrow!"

But even if they had fresh water for tomorrow, what about after that?

This island's freshwater resources were far too scarce!

So scarce that they couldn't meet five people's daily needs.

What if...

They moved to another island??

Lu Zhe nodded and began studying the island opposite them!

The two islands were far apart. He could vaguely make out a volcano with a green summit, which clearly hadn't erupted in a long time!

The island was probably quite large, at least much larger than the one they were on, because even standing on the summit, he couldn't see its lowest portion!

By then, the sun was making the ground gleam, and the stifling heat descended on them again!

A wisp of smoke slowly rose from the beach to the northeast!

That was the direction of their camp!

"Let's rest a bit and head back later!" Lu Zhe said.

Ning Shu nodded. "Okay!"

The two leaned back beneath the banyan tree together!

Looking at the nearby beach, the distant waves, and the island out on the horizon, both of them had countless thoughts running through their minds!

"Lu Zhe, what do you think we should do if the rescue team never finds us?"

Lu Zhe thought for a moment. "Stay alive! I believe a fishing boat will pass by here eventually!"

"Will it take a long time?"

Lu Zhe pondered for a while, then shook his head. "I don't know!"

Ning Shu sighed and watched the sea for a little longer. "Let's give this island a name!"

Lu Zhe's interest stirred. "That's a good idea!"

Ning Shu thought for a moment. "Since the five of us ended up stranded here together, how about Five-Person Island?"

Lu Zhe shook his head. "Sounds like a five-nut mooncake. We might as well call it Egg Yolk and Lotus Paste Island, or Rose and Red Bean Paste Island. Both taste better than five-nut!"

"Pfft!" Ning Shu couldn't help laughing again and gave him a light punch. "Be serious!"

"Mm, I'm being perfectly serious..."

Ning Shu thought for a moment. "But five-nut, five-nut... it really does sound like a mooncake! The island's shaped a bit like a goose egg, so let's call it Egg Yolk Island. As for the one opposite..."

"It has a volcano, so let's call it Volcano Island!"

"Okay!"

Then she took out two bramble berries and handed one to Lu Zhe!

Ning Shu said happily, "Here, a toast to the day we can return to our homeland and our school together!"

Lu Zhe found it a little childish, but considering that a positive, optimistic heart was also essential to surviving in the wild, he decided to play along!

"Here's to never failing a class once we're back!"

"Hahaha!"

They clinked their little berries together, then tossed them into their mouths at the same time!

Then they looked at each other and couldn't help laughing!

Ning Shu laughed. "I feel like we're being so silly!"

"That's you. I'm much more normal!"

"You're awful!" Ning Shu gave Lu Zhe another light pinch!

"Were you born under the sign of the big white goose? Why are you pinching me again?"

"You think I pinch just anyone?" Ning Shu pursed her lips smugly. "I only pinch people I'm close to. If we're not close, I don't even want to touch them!"

"So I should feel honored?"

"Of course..."

Without noticing, they had drawn a little close. Their faces nearly touched, and both felt a little shy and awkward!

They both adjusted their sitting positions!

Ning Shu smoothed the hair beside her ear, looked at the clouds on the horizon, and quietly said:

"How about we kiss..."

"What?"

Lu Zhe was a little surprised and thought he'd misheard!

Blushing, Ning Shu raised her head. "Whatever you say, we're boyfriend and girlfriend for a day! Since we're breaking up soon, we might as well take this chance to do something a boyfriend and girlfriend should do. Then we won't have dated for nothing!"

"That does make some sense, but..."

The moment she heard "but," Ning Shu put on a stern face and held up a finger. "I'm telling you, this is a one-time opportunity. Once you pass this village, you won't find this shop again!"

"Then this really is a precious opportunity..."

"Cut the useless talk. Just answer me! Are we kissing or not?"

"We are. I'd be missing out if we didn't!"

"Come on, then!"

"Come on!"

They closed their eyes, leaned forward, and let their lips gently touch!

Like a dragonfly skimming the water, the touch couldn't have been lighter!

Yet it made Lu Zhe's heart stir a little.

In that same instant, Lu Zhe felt Ning Shu tremble all over!

"What's wrong?"

"N-nothing. It was my first kiss, after all. I'm a little excited..."

"Mine too..."

"Stop pretending! I saw you kiss Qianqian, and you kissed Guo'er too!"

"With Qianqian, that was drinking water. With Guo'er, it was purely an accident!"

Hearing Lu Zhe quibble like that, Ning Shu wasn't angry at all. Instead, she smiled with pursed lips. "Then it's settled. Neither of those counts. This one with me is your real first kiss!"

"All right. Exclusively certified by Brother Zhe!"

Ning Shu smiled with pursed lips. "You know, Lu Zhe..."

"Hm?"

"I've read so many romance novels, and I just wanted to fall in love in college! But I never found the right person. Today..."

She let out a breath, tears glistening in her eyes, yet her face shone with a warm smile. "I, Ning Shu, have finally fulfilled that wish!"