Oh no! I've only been a freshman and I've already been targeted by a mean upperclassman.

Yan Xi's hair was blown to the right side.

She reached up and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

The light from the phoenix hairpin flashed briefly as my fingers passed over it.

Li Chen unpacked his backpack.

Take out the thermos.

Unscrew it.

I took a sip to check the temperature first.

almost.

Hand the cup over.

Yan Xi caught it without looking at him.

I took a sip.

"What are you pretending for?"

"Red dates and goji berries. The boss gave them to me. He said he cooked them himself."

"You tested the temperature for me."

"You burned your mouth with tea last time. You'll frown if it's above 65 degrees Celsius. I remember that."

Yan Xi took another sip.

Give him back the cup. The rim of the cup is still where he just drank from.

Li Chen took it. The cup still held the warmth of her lips. He screwed the lid on and put it back in his backpack. He didn't wipe it.

"Li Chen".

"Um."

"Your travel guide says sunset is at 17:12."

"right."

"It's 3:40 now. There's still an hour and a half left."

"Um."

"Are you planning to sit here for an hour and a half?"

"You don't want to sit?"

Yan Xi did not answer.

Her gaze fell on the distant sea.

The line between the sea and the sky became increasingly clear. The sun began to sink below the clouds. The light warmed.

"I've never ridden it."

"What?"

"At the beach. Sitting quietly. Doing nothing. Waiting for the sunset."

Her voice became flat.

Li Chen turned to look at her.

Yan Xi's profile was clearly defined in the backlight. Her nose bridge, eyelashes, lips, and jawline.

She didn't laugh. Nor did she frown.

I was just looking at the sea.

A very quiet gaze.

It was as if she was looking at something she had always known existed, but had never had time to see.

Li Chen looked away.

He took the packet of seaweed and almonds out of his pocket.

Tear it open.

I picked the biggest one and held it to her lips.

Yan Xi turned her gaze over and glanced at his fingers.

Open your mouth.

Bite down.

Her lips brushed against his fingertips.

Li Chen pulled his hand back 0.3 seconds slower than usual.

"Are your fingers no longer cold?"

"Yes. The gloves are warm."

"The gloves are thin. I measured the thickness. Two millimeters. They're not very warm."

"But you bought it."

Yan Xi chewed on an almond, without replying.

Her right hand moved off her knee and rested on the rocky surface between the two of them.

The fingers were slightly spread apart.

Li Chen placed his left hand on top. Palm to palm.

The leather of the gloves provided insulation against her body heat. She could feel it. But there was a layer separating them.

He took off his gloves.

Hold it with your bare hand.

Yan Xi's hands were ice cold.

His hands weren't warm either, but they were two or three degrees warmer than hers.

The two people held hands in the cold wind.

He didn't speak.

The sound of the waves filled every gap.

The sun slowly sank below the horizon.

The clouds were tinged orange, then magenta, and then purple.

The light spread across the sea, breaking into countless golden ribbons.

The shadows of the rocks stretched long, pressing down on the beach behind them.

Yan Xi leaned her head closer.

She put her arm around Li Chen's shoulder.

It's very light.

Her hair clung to the fabric of his windbreaker. The end of the hairpin pressed against the nape of his neck. It was cool.

"Your shoulders are harder than the pillow."

"Should we switch sides?"

"No need. You can see the sunset from here."

The moment the sun sinks below the horizon.

It was collected.

The sea changed from gold to deep blue. A thin orange line remained on the horizon.

The wind picked up.

Li Chen wrapped his arm around her shoulder, pulling her two centimeters closer to him.

Yan Xi did not resist.

Her fingers tightened slightly in his palm.

My phone vibrated.

Li Chen didn't move.

There was another earthquake.

Yan Xi's voice muffled in the hollow of his shoulder.

"Take a look. Just in case it's your mother."

Li Chen took out his phone with one hand.

It's not his mother.

Group 302.

[Wang Qiang: This is a photo I took alone in the library, recreating Li Chen's old seat. Empty chair. Empty table. Empty cup holder. Things have changed. Please like this post to comfort me.]

The accompanying photo shows an empty seat in a library reading room. A bottle of mineral water and half a bag of potato chips are on the table.

The following are the replies:

[Zhao Zixuan: Eating potato chips isn't allowed in the library. You'll get yelled at by the librarian.]

【陈默：样本补充——王强在厉辰离开后第一天的行为表现：1.独自前往图书馆占座（过去从未有过，历史概率为0%）；2.模仿厉辰的饮品摆放位置（水杯放在右手侧15cm处，与厉辰习惯一致）；3.在群内发布煽情照片寻求关注。诊断：分离焦虑。轻度。】

[Wang Qiang: Shut up!!! I just want to read in peace!!! Is that not allowed!!!]

[Zhao Zixuan: Your act of taking photos and posting them in the group doesn't really support the claim of "quietly reading a book."]

Li Chen typed a line of text.

[Li Chen: Alive. The sea is beautiful. Don't think about me.]

Send it. Lock screen.

Yan Xi lifted her head from his shoulder.

"Wang Qiang?"

"Separation anxiety. Chen Mo's diagnosis."

"Has he never sat in a library before?"

"No. I was the one who dragged it last time."

Yan Xi's lips curved slightly.

"You have a greater influence on your roommate than you think."

"You have a greater influence on them. Chen Mo's last report stated that your indirect contribution accounted for 43%."

Yan Xi gave a soft hum.

"Only 43."

It got completely dark.

The sea surface turned into a single, dark patch. Only the lights of fishing boats in the distance shone intermittently.

"Let's go back." Li Chen released her hand and stood up.

He jumped off the rocks first. His feet landed on the slippery rock surface. He steadied himself. He turned around.

Chao Yanxi stretched out her hands.

Yan Xi sat on the edge of the reef, looking at him.

three seconds.

She extended both hands.

Li Chen grasped her wrist and caught her.

She stumbled when her foot landed, and her body leaned forward.

Li Chen put his other hand on her waist.

The two people were standing very close.

He was so close that he could see the curve of her eyelashes.

Yan Xi did not back away.

She tilted her head back and looked into his eyes.

"You were right not to take off your gloves when you grabbed me."

"What?"

"You used your bare hands when you picked me up. The rock surface is salty and alkaline. You have two scratches on your hands."

Li Chen looked down at his palm.

Indeed. Two shallow white scratches. Not deep. No blood can be squeezed out.

"It's okay. It doesn't hurt."

Yan Xi took his hand.

Turn it over.

She looked down for two seconds. Then she gently pressed her thumb next to the scratch.

"Go back and wipe it with iodine."

"Does the guesthouse have iodine?"

"I brought it."

Li Chen's fingers curled slightly.

"Did you bring iodine?"

"You've had much more serious injuries outside than this. You think I don't know? You developed calluses on your palms from moving those display boards last time. You have an old injury on your right knee from playing basketball. You've been hiding it well, but when you run, your right foot lands at a 1.5-degree angle different from your left."

Li Chen stood still.

The wind was blowing from the sea. It was cold.

But his palms were warm.