After Confessing To My Childhood Friend - Chapter 27
Chapter 27: Dinner by the Sea
◎ I haven’t had enough yet ◎
The white sand was a bit scorching underfoot, dotted with tiny shells buried among the grains. Children, accompanied by their parents, built colorful sandcastles and beach sculptures.
Chen Mengyin pulled out her camera and asked a group of kids if she could photograph them with their creations. Delighted, they posed, beaming big smiles. More children noticed and asked their parents for permission, and Mengyin happily obliged.
Xie Zhirou watched quietly from the edge of the crowd, bathed in gentle wind and the salty tang of the sea. Mengyin’s bangs fluttered in the breeze, catching the sunset light.
When the crowd slowly dispersed, Mengyin wiped sweat from her brow and looked for Zhirou. She soon spotted her standing beneath a coconut tree, delicate in her flowing floral dress.
Mengyin lifted her camera, capturing the scene—waves shimmering on the lens.
“You been waiting long?” Mengyin jogged over, camera in hand.
Zhirou calmly pulled out a pre-opened coconut. “Not at all.”
“Where did you get that?” Mengyin didn’t take it but sipped through the straw. “Is it cold?”
“Mm, want more?” Zhirou offered.
“I’ll save it for later,” Mengyin said, shaking her head.
“Let’s go wade in the water and get some photos.” She took Zhirou’s hand and led her to a quieter stretch; they dipped their toes into the cool sea, water washing away sand from their feet.
Mengyin quietly snapped a series of photos, then lowered her camera, still savoring the moment.
“Zhirou, hold the coconut and smile.” Playing photographer, she guided Zhirou through various poses against the sunset backdrop.
The sun dipped below the sea horizon, painting the sky in blushing pinks and gold flecks that mirrored on the lilac sea.
They sat on the shore as the heat faded into a comfortable warmth. Most beachgoers had left, returning to their hotels to rinse off the salt and sand.
“Shall we go back?” Mengyin felt her initial excitement fade into tiredness—and that familiar hunger. Lunch had been simple; now her stomach rumbled.
Zhirou nodded, dusting off sand, standing to help her up.
Lights lit up across the shore. Mengyin hopped over discarded items left behind by visitors; staff would later collect them at lost-and-found.
“Go wash up first; I want to download the photos.” Back in the room, Mengyin set about transferring her photos to her phone to admire later before sleep.
Zhirou followed, dried off with a disposable towel, and wore a lightweight jacket over her dress.
When Zhirou emerged, Mengyin was seated cross-legged on the sofa, texting rapidly.
“I’m clean now.” Zhirou sat beside her.
“Great—just blocking a moment to send these pics.” Mengyin shared them in their group chat; friends Qīngqīng and Xuělíng, stuck doing homework at home, replied with long voice messages teasing them.
Zhirou watched as Mengyin goofed off, a slight amused glow in her calm eyes.
“I’m going to shower—feeling sticky.” Mengyin planted a peck on Zhirou’s lips, but before she could stand, Zhirou captured the kiss and held her tight.
Zhirou cupped Mengyin’s face, fingers tracing her reddened lips. “That’s the model fee.”
Mengyin grinned and planted another kiss. “You haven’t been paid yet—saving the rest for tonight.”
Suddenly alone on the couch, Zhirou slumped, dark hair partially concealing a fox-like gaze. Cheeks were tinted red; while the kiss left no lipstick mark, her lips glowed temptingly.
Mengyin gulped, half convinced Zhirou was a mesmerizing enchantress luring her into passion.
“I—I’m going to shower!” She fled off to the bathroom, and Zhirou smiled at her retreat.
Soon after, staff arrived at their door, guiding them to the second-floor terrace for their seafood feast. The chef prepared dishes like lobster and king crab tableside, asking how they preferred each cooked. It was a feast that satisfied both their appetites and their spirits.
They lingered afterward, sipping mojitos on the terrace and watching the sea breeze.
“Is this ‘under the same moon on the sea, apart we are near’?” Mengyin mused, drunk for the first time—the minty-citrusy rum was both cool and intoxicating.
Zhirou took a sip and blinked sleepily at the night scene.
“Zhirou… hug me.” Snuggled in drunk affection, Mengyin planted wet kisses along Zhirou’s ear and neck, demanding hugs.
Zhirou lowered her mojito, scooped Mengyin up, and asked gently, “Ready to go back?”
Mengyin nuzzled into her hair, nodding weakly and curling into her embrace.
“Carry me?” she teased, small drunken insistence.
“Sure, but stand up first.” Zhirou turned, and Mengyin happily wrapped her arms around her neck.
Cradling her legs, Zhirou bounced gently. “Hug tight.”
Mengyin squeezed her neck, face beaming.
They walked slowly back to the room—Mengyin felt like drifting on clouds from Zhirou’s arms.
At the door, a small struggle ensued as the drunk Mengyin fumbled with the card. Zhirou softly scolded, took the card, and opened the door.
“Still can walk?” Zhirou helped her inside and closed the door gently.
Mengyin tried to walk, but her legs collapsed. Without Zhirou’s support, she’d have fallen.
“Ugh, this carpet nearly tripped me,” she teased, leaning into Zhirou.
“That carpet’s a troublemaker,” Zhirou teased back.
Cuddling her close, Mengyin kissed her cheek earnestly. “Smile for me.”
Zhirou lifted Mengyin onto the bed and asked, “Why do you want to see me smile?”
Mengyin whispered in her ear, “Once you smile, I’ll tell you.”
Zhirou smiled gently—and before the smile fully bloomed, Mengyin’s warm, wet tongue brushed against her cheek.
Zhirou paused, stunned that Mengyin was licking her face.
Mengyin mumbled sleepily, “Where did your dimples go? I haven’t had enough taste yet.”
She nuzzled closer, feeding Zhirou little kisses that coaxed a laugh out of her.
Before she knew it, Zhirou swooped in with a breath-stealing kiss scented with mojito wind. Mengyin had no strength to resist; her tongue went numb, and she drifted in the haze.
“Oops… gently…” she murmured as Zhirou’s grasp tightened, realizing she might bruise later.
Sensing her plea, Zhirou slowed down, tenderly kissing and then moving to massage Mengyin’s thighs, eliciting tiny whimpers.
Zhirou kissed tears away and planted soft, damp kisses on her ear—like icy rain warming the flood of emotions.
Mengyin’s fragile sobs fell silently against the sheets.