The boat docked fifteen minutes later. After feeding the waterbirds at the bow of the ship, Yu Zhiwan threw the plastic bag into a trash bin and disembarked with the others.
Pei Yujang waited for her at the bow, ready to help her down. Knowing that Yu Zhiwan's legs were still not fully recovered and that descending stairs could be tiring, Pei Yujang bent down to offer her a piggyback ride.
The state didn't promote early romance among high school students, but the restrictions weren't very strict either. Education on love and sexuality started at a young age, so Pei Yujang didn't think it was inappropriate to carry Yu Zhiwan on her back, and Yu Zhiwan jumped onto her back without hesitation, more agile than the birds.
Their destination was a resort area on the island, about one or two kilometers from the dock. The autumn sun was shining brightly, making it quite warm despite having applied sunscreen. Pei Yujang squinted her eyes and soon spotted Jiang Wenxiu running over.
The school activity was not cheap, and naturally, they wouldn't let the students carry their luggage. Everything had been arranged to be delivered to their rooms. Jiang Wenxiu bought two bottles of cold water and carried a small backpack with two foldable umbrellas inside.
She eagerly opened one of the umbrellas to shield Pei Yujang and Yu Zhiwan from the sun.
Pei Yujang immediately asked, "Why aren't you holding it for your girlfriend?"
Hearing the word "girlfriend," Jiang Wenxiu felt a bit embarrassed but also annoyed. She coughed and awkwardly changed the subject, commenting on how hot the sun was today and how Pei Yujang must be feeling hot while carrying Yu Zhiwan. She offered to hold the umbrella instead.
The two young girls might have had a disagreement, but Pei Yujang didn't dwell on it. She was about to enjoy the convenience of having someone help when Yu Zhiwan's gentle voice came from behind:
"Did you two have a fight? Are you mad at her, or is she also mad at you?"
At this moment, the autumn sun was scorching the ground, but Yu Zhiwan, resting on Pei Yujang's back with a small fan on her hat, was quite cool and in the mood to listen. She hooked her arms around Pei Yujang's neck, occasionally lowering her head so that Pei Yujang could also enjoy the cool breeze, and looked at Jiang Wenxiu.
Jiang Wenxiu, who had been holding back her thoughts, was prompted by Yu Zhiwan's question. She glanced at Pei Yujang, snorted, and then began to pour out her frustrations to Yu Zhiwan:
"I asked my senior earlier, and she said that the accommodations here have six to twelve people sharing a villa, depending on the size. So, I thought that if we weren't staying in the same building, we could switch with someone else. But guess what she said?"
"She told me she had already arranged to stay with Ding Fang, another classmate! And she didn't tell me earlier! When I asked why, she said they wanted to study together—study! We came out here to relax, and she still wants to study!"
Jiang Wenxiu, who disliked studying, couldn't understand why Shen Jiayu would want to focus on studying even during a rare opportunity to unwind. Their school didn't separate arts and sciences until the second year, and the academic workload in the second year was particularly heavy. They had to complete two subjects a year ahead and achieve a passing grade, which meant an additional year of study.
Jiang Wenxiu had been eagerly looking forward to this chance to have fun. She had been so frustrated that she even had a fight with her mother, Fan Zhaozhao, last week when she took away her gaming console.
To Yu Zhiwan, the little arguments between these two girls seemed like trivial jokes. After Jiang Wenxiu finished her story and looked up, she saw Yu Zhiwan smiling, which made her feel aggrieved. Then, she heard the Omega's soft voice:
"Then why don't you join them? You can tell her that you want to study too."
Jiang Wenxiu's mind went blank, and she quickly rejected the idea.
"I..."
Yu Zhiwan's expression became serious, her usual smile fading. The Omega's stern demeanor made her look particularly authoritative. Staring intently at Jiang Wenxiu, she asked firmly:
"Jiang Wenxiu, do you like her?"
A blush rapidly spread across the young girl's face. Embarrassed, she hesitated before responding with a determined nod.
"When you like someone, it's not about forcing yourself to do things you don't want to do, but at least you should want to improve yourself for them, right?" A gentle breeze carried a wave of heat over Yu Zhiwan's forehead. Jiang Wenxiu thought she saw a mark on Yu Zhiwan's forehead but quickly dismissed it as a trick of the light, perhaps due to the highlights in her hair. The Omega's tone was calm yet unwavering:
"If you like someone, but you're unwilling to improve or become stronger for their sake, then how can you say you truly like them? Liking someone comes with the responsibility of wanting to spend your life with them. If you're just looking to have fun—then don't go after Shen Jiayu, find someone else."
Why couldn't she go after Shen Jiayu?
Although Yu Zhiwan hadn't known Jiang Wenxiu for long, this was the first time she had spoken to her in such a way, like someone with more experience. Jiang Wenxiu was filled with questions but didn't know how to voice them. Confused and irritated by the lecture, the rebellious teenager bolted.
She left the umbrella on the ground, and Yu Zhiwan sighed. She slid off Pei Yujang's back, picked up the umbrella, dusted it off, and opened it again.
Pei Yujang, worried that she might be upset, patted Yu Zhiwan on the shoulder and reassured her:
"Don't be mad. She's not a bad person; she was just spoiled growing up and can be a handful."
Pei Yujang wasn't particularly fond of Jiang Wenxiu's attitude. The way she used to treat the original owner of her body was quite disrespectful. Regardless, the original owner had never actively confronted her, and yet, despite living in Pei Junhuai's house, she had been so rude to his daughter—it was pretty over the top.
But Jiang Wenxiu had helped her a few times, and Pei Yujang hadn't forgotten that. The day Liu Huanran had tried to corner Yu Zhiwan at the company, it was Jiang Wenxiu who had chased him away. Even though they hadn't been on good terms then, Jiang Wenxiu had still stepped in to help the Omega, proving that she wasn't all bad.
Yu Zhiwan shook her head. How could she be angry with a young girl?
"That Shen Jiayu must come from a poor family. Xinghan High School has a quota for disadvantaged students, and while the tuition is high, it's waived for those in need. The other day, I saw her name in the teacher's office. She's the top scorer on the monthly exam, with very high marks."
Such high scores were rare for a school like Xinghan High School, which didn't have as strong an academic reputation as some public schools. Her scores would stand out even across the entire Yicheng district. The school needed students like Shen Jiayu, and Shen Jiayu needed financial aid, so it was mutually beneficial.
Yu Zhiwan had noticed during the car ride that Shen Jiayu was using an old iPad, likely a second-hand one worth a few hundred yuan. The country's electronics market updated quickly, so prices dropped fast. Her earphones were also the cheap wired kind, costing only a dozen yuan, showing that Shen Jiayu was very frugal.
A serious girl like that would definitely aim for a prestigious university in the future to secure a brighter future for herself.
"So, if Jiang Wenxiu just wants to date for fun, I don't want someone like that to be disturbed."
Pei Yujang listened to her analysis and then chuckled as she looked at the group ahead:
"You're starting to meddle in other people's business now, huh?"
In the past, Yu Zhiwan had always been indifferent to things that didn't concern her. Pei Yujang found her change interesting. But whether due to embarrassment or something else, Yu Zhiwan quickly changed the subject, asking if she wanted to try the island's famous fruit later.
The island's most famous fruit was the "Golden Pomelo," aptly named for its golden-yellow exterior. They were sold everywhere on the island, including mini versions that were especially cute.
Along the way, Pei Yujang noticed someone carving designs into pomelo skins and couldn't help but comment:
"How long will that pomelo skin last? Won't it spoil after a while? And they're charging 20 yuan per character—you could buy a whole pomelo for that."
Yu Zhiwan's eyesight had only recently recovered, so everything was still new to her. Since she wasn't lacking in money, she casually told Pei Yujang, "I want one."
Pei Yujang thumped her chest and declared, "I can make one for you!"
As soon as the words left her mouth, Pei Yujang realized she had spoken a bit too loudly, drawing the attention of several nearby vendors. She quickly grabbed Yu Zhiwan and hurried a short distance ahead. Now that they had fallen behind the main group, Pei Yujang simply carried Yu Zhiwan princess-style and jogged in the hot sun.
The island was called Qianshui Island, named after the thousand streams that once flowed into the lake, creating a spectacular sight. The lake itself was vast, the largest freshwater lake in the country.
The resort was located on a slightly elevated area of the island, offering warmth in winter and coolness in summer, with large trees providing ample shade. By a stroke of luck, Pei Yujang, Yu Zhiwan, Jiang Wenxiu, Ding Fang, Shen Jiayu, and another girl were grouped together in a spacious, three-story villa. From their location, they could see the distant lake.
Pei Yujang was satisfied with the accommodations and chose to stay on the top floor with Yu Zhiwan. The top floor was a converted attic but had insulation, so it wasn't too hot. Most importantly, there was only one bedroom and a bathroom, along with a small garden—perfect for them.
The other girl was very outgoing and enthusiastic. She was from a different class but didn't seem shy at all. She introduced herself to everyone right away. Pei Yujang recognized her as the girl who had asked for a photo with her earlier—her name was Jin Duo.
Jin Duo had two braided pigtails woven with colorful threads, giving her a vibrant, lively appearance. She ran up and down the stairs, eagerly helping everyone with their luggage. After settling in, she came over to chat:
"The view outside is so beautiful. Should we have a barbecue tonight?"
Jiang Wenxiu, now in a better mood, told her that their homeroom teacher had forbidden barbecues, worried about the risk of fire.
Pei Yujang, who had just come downstairs, overheard and said, "It's okay, I can do the grilling if you want. We can even catch fish to grill."
She could swim, and outdoor barbecues were her specialty. It would taste even better if they had some seasoning. Pei Yujang hadn't been this relaxed in a long time and was in a great mood. But then Jin Duo, always full of ideas, exclaimed:
"Isn't this place connected to the ocean? What if we run into sharks?"
Ding Fang playfully slapped her on the arm and laughed:
"That's impossible—there's no way sharks would be in a lake."