Paul looked up in astonishment, his gaze shifting between the two who had casually sat down beside him. However, Renly showed no intention of introducing them; his self-assured demeanor acted as if there had never been an extra person. Or perhaps, from the beginning, they had been four people, and there was no issue worth discussing.
This left Paul somewhat at a loss.
Turning to look at Andrew, Paul cast a questioning glance, only to find Andrew adopting a familiar attitude, as though he was accustomed to Renly's behavior.
Scarlett crossed her legs and seated herself directly, smiling as she introduced herself, "Scarlett."
Seeing this, Andrew and Paul followed suit with their introductions.
Scarlett chuckled softly, her slightly husky voice carrying a hint of sensuality. "I hope I'm not disrupting your men's gathering."
"If you're planning on taking Renly away, that would be a disruption; but if you're ready to join us, that's a revelry," Andrew's smooth reply successfully livened up the atmosphere.
However, Scarlett glanced back at Renly with a meaningful expression. "Actually, I tried to invite Renly to leave with me earlier, but he declined. So, I'm not entirely sure whether I've come here to interrupt you or to join you."
Such straightforward words caused Paul to burst into laughter immediately, while Andrew remained composed, a playful smile gleaming in his eyes. He mockingly waved his hand, pretending to be flustered. "This is merely a gathering of men, not a date."
Unintentionally, Renly got a good tease.
Andrew had expected Renly to be flustered, or at least respond in some way, but Renly didn't say a word. He merely turned his head and sized up Andrew, scrutinizing him from head to toe, his critical gaze laden with judgment, as though Andrew's appearance wasn't as bad as his eyes made it out to be. With just one look, Andrew was left disconcerted.
Scarlett laughed even more merrily. "Rest assured, whether it's a gathering or a date, I'm an open-minded person, and I'll understand." With a single jest, she overturned the three of them. Gazing at Andrew and Paul's perplexed expressions, Scarlett couldn't help but raise her chin slightly, her mood soaring.
However, as her gaze returned, she saw Renly's face, calmly unyielding. Amusement glittered in his eyes. "Open-minded, you say." He lightly tapped his chin. "Then, how many people have you tried at once?"
A simple sentence carried myriad implications. Scarlett's pupils subtly contracted. She was about to retort, but she unexpectedly saw Renly lean over without warning. His action, without beginning or end, caught Scarlett off guard. Instinctively, she lifted both her hands, attempting to fend off Renly's approach.
Unforeseen, her palms landed on Renly's chest. The warmth of his body seeped through his summer shirt, scalding and refreshing, while the woody aroma lingered beneath her nose. Caught off guard, space compressed to its limit.
Just in that moment of daze, Renly's voice echoed in her ear, "Three o'clock direction, paparazzi spotted."
Her chaotic thoughts halted in an instant. Scarlett held her breath, her gaze turning toward the direction Renly indicated. As expected, she spotted Elliot Cort, the paparazzo they were avoiding, among the crowd. He appeared to be strolling along the beach, but his eyes were sharp, scanning the crowd. He was getting closer to their location.
"What should we do?" Scarlett couldn't help but feel a bit agitated. These paparazzi were like gum stuck to the bottom of a shoe – no matter how you tried to shake them off, they clung on.
If the paparazzi spotted her with Renly, things would only get more complicated. Now Scarlett began to question whether she should abandon Renly and leave on her own. Was that the wise thing to do? She must have been out of her mind earlier to believe Renly could handle the paparazzi.
"Do you want to go surfing?" Renly's response left Scarlett baffled. "Huh?" Her puzzled voice slipped out.
"Surfing," Renly repeated again, creating distance between them. Scarlett then saw the faint smile at the corner of his mouth. In that moment, a surge of youthful vigor and exuberance burst forth, much like the golden sunlight glistening on the tips of the waves.
Before Scarlett could process it further, Renly had already stood up and nodded to Andrew and Paul. "I'm heading back. Got plans tonight." With that, he strode confidently toward the beachside bungalow.
Only now did Scarlett react. She had always been the one in control, but the situation today wasn't playing to that tune. It made her feel somewhat out of sorts, but oddly, the sensation wasn't unwelcome.
Nodding at the two dumbfounded men, Scarlett stood up as well and followed Renly's footsteps.
Watching the two disappear into the beachside bungalow, Andrew wore a playful smile. With great interest, he said, "Did Renly just ditch us and leave with a beauty?"
Paul's mouth hung open, and he nodded dumbly. "Uh... seems like it."
Following Renly's footsteps into the bungalow, Scarlett was greeted by an array of surfboards neatly lined up against the wall, exuding a mix of the ocean's scent and the aroma of sun. Renly was proficiently conversing with the store employee. "Yes, I can return it to Waikiki. A few hours will be enough."
"What an odd request. However, that's not a problem. I'll call the Waikiki branch."
Scarlett was a sea of question marks, completely unable to comprehend Renly's actions. Still, she kept her mouth shut and quietly observed Renly as he selected a surfboard. Despite the urgency of the situation, he was meticulously going through the choices. Scarlett turned to look outside, only to spot the paparazzi getting closer step by step.
Scarlett hastily turned around, pretending she was also choosing a surfboard.
"Let's go." Renly's voice came from behind. Scarlett suddenly turned around and found herself facing a massive surfboard. It was obviously chosen based on Renly's height – a white surface with a palm tree pattern in green. Delicate light blue patterns were carefully outlined beside it. It was the result of his careful selection.
"And then?" Scarlett felt Renly's thought process was incredibly strange. Their ways of thinking seemed to be worlds apart. Was it the difference between men and women, or was it unique to Renly?
"We're going surfing." Renly hoisted the surfboard onto his shoulder. "How about it? Interested in learning how to surf?"
Scarlett finally began to grasp the situation. She cast a confirming glance at Renly, and her suspicions were validated. They were planning to use the surfboards as cover and leave this place.
On a sunset beach, amid a surfing competition, this was the most perfect concealment strategy. No one would pay attention to two figures carrying surfboards. Moreover, the surfboards were wide and long enough to openly block one side of their vision, brazenly allowing them to slip away right under the paparazzi's noses.
No wonder Renly had been so serious about choosing the surfboard.
"Yes, I'm very interested in learning how to surf," Scarlett beamed, spreading her arms in a welcoming gesture.
Under Renly's guidance, Scarlett shouldered the surfboard. The weight was substantial, prompting her to jest, "Isn't this height difference a bit unfair?"
"That's why I'm walking in front," Renly replied. Leading the way, he carried most of the weight on his shoulder. The surfboard was chosen to match his height and weight, so it posed no burden for him. He could easily carry it alone. However, Scarlett's involvement was needed to avoid the paparazzi.
Following Renly, Scarlett left the bungalow single file.
As they had just left, Scarlett saw Elliot approaching from the opposite direction. She instinctively lowered her head, trying to evade his gaze. However, Renly, standing in front of her, calmly shifted his angle, completely blocking Elliot's line of sight. He then stepped forward with steady strides, continuing on.
Scarlett lowered her head and passed under the surfboard, catching a glimpse of Elliot's shins. He halted in his tracks, standing still and surveying his surroundings. Their proximity was unnerving, and Scarlett could even sense the danger in the air. Her heartbeat quickened. However, Renly's steps remained unwavering as they continued forward. Scarlett matched her pace with his.
She brushed past Elliot, the space between them so slight that she could practically feel his gaze brush over her arm. Her back muscles tensed. What if he recognized her from her back view? They were too close. What if he caught a glimpse of her profile?
The anxious thought made her steps falter slightly, causing the surfboard's balance to shift. Then, Renly's voice came from ahead, "Hey, steady down. Don't get too worked up."
The composed voice held a hint of amusement. Scarlett couldn't help but smile. Her steps regained stability, and they continued forward, gradually widening the gap between them and the paparazzi. No calls came from behind, and Scarlett's unease began to settle.
Unexpectedly, they managed to evade the paparazzi just like that – in such close proximity. They didn't raise any suspicions or create any chaos. They left smoothly.
A faint smile curved Scarlett's lips. Only now did she take notice of the scenery on either side. "So, where are we heading?"
"Surfing. Didn't I just say that?" Renly's voice, tinged with a smile, drifted over with the breeze. Scarlett couldn't contain a chuckle. "But based on your direction, it's neither the parking lot nor the beach. So where are we heading for surfing?"
"Here." As he spoke, Renly halted and hoisted the surfboard, setting it upright on the ground.