"Come over here, try on this swimsuit..."
"I don't want a swimsuit!"
"Then how are you going to go in the water like this?" Chu Ge coaxed patiently, "Even if you have magical powers protecting you, it'll look strange on the beach dressed like this, you'll stand out from everyone else."
"I don't have to go! I can just stand here and watch. Why go to the beach? Why go in the water!"
"You've already come all this way... it's not easy..."
"I won't!"
"Don't you want to experience the life of modern girls?"
Qiu Wuji retorted angrily, "Is this what you call the life of modern girls?"
Chu Ge said matter-of-factly, "Aren't they girls? Look at their joyful smiles as they run on the beach. Look, there are even little girls."
Qiu Wuji looked through the shed and saw several little girls running barefoot on the beach, and other children building sandcastles, their faces beaming with joy.
Seeing this scene, Qiu Wuji's stern face softened somewhat.
The kids are wearing swimsuits too, which seems perfectly normal...
Who knows? Back then, seeing office ladies in short skirts and black stockings on the street seemed normal, but in some people's eyes... So what's abnormal isn't the clothing, but the filthy hearts of some people, right?
As if sensing the meaning in her eyes, Chu Ge immediately lay down and gave up: "Yes, it's me who's filthy, not the clothes, so wear whatever you want, it's fine..."
Qiu Wuji scoffed: "Too bad you're here."
Chu Ge: "..."
"Never mind." Qiu Wuji tossed her ponytail and casually picked out a bikini: "Little girls wear them, I have nothing to be coy about. Anyone who dares to give you lewd looks, watch your eyes!"
"Yes, yes, I won't, I definitely won't." Chu Ge was overjoyed: "Hey, wait a minute."
Qiu Wuji turned around: "What trouble are you causing now?"
"That one you're holding is at most an A-cup, you can't wear it, try this one..."
"Get lost! You can already judge by sight, huh!" Qiu Wuji kicked Chu Ge, snatched the bikini from her hand, and stormed into the women's changing room.
She was dumbfounded as soon as she entered.
So much white... If a pervert walked in here, wouldn't he be thrilled?
Qiu Wuji nervously extended his divine sense; this was something he couldn't afford to be seen.
Seriously, was he really going to undress in front of so many people? Everyone seemed so casual, even chatting.
Looking at everyone's relaxed demeanor, Qiu Wuji hesitantly began to undress. One after another, all eyes turned to him, and the eyes of every woman, young and old, lit up.
Where did this fairy come from? So beautiful!
Even undressing is so slow and graceful, so elegant!
"Wow, handsome young man!" The girl at the counter exclaimed in amazement at Chu Ge, "I've never seen such a beautiful girl before!" Chu Ge looked up at the sky.
That's a girl? That's your great-grandmother!
"Of course, I've never seen such a handsome young man before either."
"?" Are you trying to sell me something?
"Young man, would you like some sunscreen?" The girl immediately began enthusiastically promoting, "Oh, and here are the prices for renting a deck chair and a parasol..."
The girl handed him a form.
Chu Ge's heart bled as he stared at the string of numbers on the bill, but for his ulterior motives, he had to endure the pain.
"Rent it all, including sunscreen, two boxes!" Chu Ge grabbed the items and dashed into the changing room, quickly changing and standing at the entrance to the corridor.
Never before had he felt so anxious waiting for someone, pacing back and forth like a husband anxiously waiting outside a delivery room.
The one about to appear was Qiu Wuji in a swimsuit!!
"Click," someone opened the changing room door and walked out of the corridor. Chu Ge quickly went to greet them: "Qiu...uh, sorry, I mistook you for someone else..." It was just an unfamiliar young woman, quite alluring, who looked at Chu Ge with a meaningful gaze: "Handsome, are you hitting on me?"
"Huh?" Chu Ge quickly backed away: "Misunderstanding, no offense." The young woman stepped forward: "Then...what's your WeChat?"
"?" So you hit on me? Chu Ge was dumbfounded, not knowing how to respond for a moment.
The young woman smiled and sized up Chu Ge. This man was so handsome, with great muscles, and seemed quite honest? Wow, are there still men like this in the world these days? She hadn't intended to flirt, but now she couldn't resist.
"What's wrong, handsome?" The young woman deliberately leaned closer, reaching out to run her hand across his chest muscles. "Did you forget your phone? Or... hide it... somewhere?" Her hand slid down, seemingly searching for the phone.
Chu Ge jumped back in fright, bumping into the wall. "No, I mean, miss, I'm waiting for someone..."
"Oh? Not me?" Chu Ge could tell the girl was probably doing it on purpose, just for fun? But he really didn't want to play along. What if Qiu Wuji saw them and caused some messy misunderstanding? He'd be in big trouble!
He blurted out in a panic, "I have a girlfriend! I'm not waiting for you!"
As he spoke, the young woman's shoulder was tapped.
She turned around and saw the stunning beauty who had captivated everyone in the dressing room standing behind her with a smile: "Excuse me, he's waiting for me." The young woman paused, the phrase "a perfect match" immediately flashing through her mind. She quickly said, "Sister, don't misunderstand, I was just teasing him. Your boyfriend is very handsome, a perfect match!" Qiu Wuji's eyes almost flashed with murderous intent, but she forcibly suppressed it, offering a flawlessly polite smile: "Thank you." The young woman hurried away, and Qiu Wuji's gaze finally fell on Chu Ge, scrutinizing his bare upper body, and she subtly curled her lip.
He can attract attention like this? What's so interesting…
Only a little bit interesting.
Seeing Qiu Wuji's protective, mother hen-like expression of displeasure, Chu Ge was secretly pleased. He chuckled, "See? I'm a cadre who can withstand the test, right?"
"If you hadn't come out with me, you'd probably be completely disoriented after being groped a couple of times, wouldn't you?" Qiu Wuji sneered. "A lecher like you can withstand the test? You're kidding me."
"What you're saying isn't entirely unreasonable, but since you're already here, other assumptions don't exist!" Chu Ge declared righteously, "As long as Qiu Wuji is here, Chu Ge will never stray from her again!"
"Pah! What do you mean 'with me'? Do you even have 'you'?" Qiu Wuji turned and walked away. "Stop spouting those sweet nothings like a male protagonist from a book; they're so cringeworthy!"
Despite saying that, her steps were quite light. Chu Ge followed her, walking alongside her, stealing glances at her.
Qiu Qiu in a bikini.
So beautiful… It truly showcased her fair and delicate skin, and her perfect figure encased in a swimsuit—the kind of beauty that would get censored if described further.
But…but, but why do I suddenly feel a little reluctant to let her go out and be seen by others?
Chu Ge was deeply confused. Was there something wrong with his mindset…?
Right, what if other men tried to pick her up, and then a fight broke out? I'll beat them to a pulp!
"What are you thinking about?" Qiu Wuji looked at him strangely. "You tricked me into coming here with all that talk, but now that we're on the beach, you're just standing there silently."
"Ah, nothing, nothing." Chu Ge smiled and took her hand. Both of them were barefoot, their feet uneven as they walked slowly towards the sea.
The sea breeze blew in their faces, slightly damp, cool and refreshing. Barefoot on the beach, the waves washed over their feet and receded, carrying an indescribable rhythm that gradually calmed Chu Ge's wandering thoughts.
He hadn't actually been here many times, let alone been born and raised here; he probably hadn't seen the sea as many times as Qiu Wuji had.
But now, returning, his feelings were completely different.
Because she was by his side.
The swimsuit Qiu Qiu he had longed to see before suddenly seemed meaningless… The true meaning was this: holding hands, standing side by side with her. Even without saying a word, his heart was at peace.
Qiu Wuji squinted, letting his disheveled hair drift, gazing at the vast, boundless horizon where the sea and sky met.
This was the boundless sea and sky in autumn.
The water rippled, reaching straight to the horizon; at the edge of the world, water and sky met.
Just like now, under the sunlight, their reflections on the beach, hand in hand, seemed like one person.