I'm in Mota, and they all want me to confess my feelings!

That guy would probably be interested in this kind of thing, right?

Perfect timing! We can also invite Cat's Eye Stone to go for a walk in Qiqiu together, just like a trip.

Oh, and that bastard Cat's Eye Stone...

You must be having a lot of fun now, right?

For so many days, I haven't even sent a single message, let alone made a phone call.

He took my money and lived a life of debauchery with other women...

Upon thinking of this, Koleta's face immediately darkened. But after a few seconds, she simply let out a long sigh.

What else can we do?

That was Duanmu Yan's private life, and it was also the reward he deserved.

Since the money has been given, it's none of my business how he spends it.

She understands all these principles.

But somewhere in my heart, it still feels like there's a pebble stuck in there, an indescribable awkwardness.

Koleta picked up the terminal, hesitated for a moment, and then dialed Duanmu Yan's number.

After a few beeps, the communication was connected.

"Hey, Second Miss...why, what's wrong? Is there something you need?"

For some reason, Duanmu Yan's tone was strange, and his breathing was rapid, as if he was barely responding while running.

"What are you doing?" Coleta asked, frowning. "Why does it sound like that? I think I heard... someone breathing?"

"I am here--"

Before Duanmu Yan could finish speaking, a girl's soft moan, tinged with timid pleading, suddenly came from the terminal.

"I don't want it anymore, Mr. Duanmu... I'm a little scared."

"We have to keep going even if we're scared! If we're afraid of this step, what will we do later?"

"Ugh... It's so cold! I don't want it!"

"We must hold on!"

"Ah...you're in! Mr. Duanmu, I feel so unwell..."

"Listen to me, you'll get used to it and feel comfortable gradually."

Koleta was stunned at first, then seemed to understand something and abruptly cut off the communication.

She slumped back into her chair, covering her face, which had instantly turned bright red, with her hands, her body trembling slightly.

"That bastard Cat's Eye Stone... what is he doing?!"

"Are you that impatient?"

"Bastard! Bastard!"

"But... I'm his girlfriend!"

……

……

Meanwhile, in the Rijoli Islands.

"Yes, Phoebe, just swim slowly like this... Are you starting to get used to it?"

Duanmu Yan held Phoebe's hand and patiently guided her to practice her movements in the shallow water. He had heard Phoebe mention before that she couldn't swim and was afraid of the sea, so he decided to take this opportunity to teach her.

Despite her fear, Phoebe, encouraged by him and Abu, cautiously ventured into the sea.

"Then I'll have to let go, okay?" Duanmu Yan asked tentatively, looking at Phoebe, who was nervously closing her eyes.

"No! Absolutely not! If you dare let go... I'll never speak to you again for the rest of my life!"

Upon hearing that he was going to let go, Phoebe immediately shook her head frantically, clinging tightly to his arm with both hands, her whole body frozen in place.

Duanmu had no choice but to smile and sigh.

Just then, Abu flew the terminal to his ear, and he remembered the call that had just been interrupted.

"Second Miss? I was just teaching Phoebe how to swim."

"Hello? Second Miss? Can you hear me?"

"...Strange, why did it hang up?"

Forget it, forget it.

Let's explain to the second young lady after this is over.

The most important thing right now is to teach Phoebe to swim.

"Hmm? You've already finished the call?"

Abu tossed the terminal back onto the beach, rubbed his eyes, and yawned.

"I'm so sleepy... I'm going back to sleep for a while. Wake me up when it's time for dinner."

Before the words were even finished, it had already transformed into a golden light and disappeared back into the sound mark on the back of Duanmu Yan's hand.

"Mr. Duanmu... is it okay now?" The blonde girl thrashed about in the water, clutching Duanmu Yan's arm tightly, her voice trembling. "I... I think it really doesn't matter whether we learn to swim or not! Let's go back to shore, okay?"

“No, we can’t give up halfway through a task.” Duanmu Yan shook his head decisively, his tone resolute. “Besides, you are a priest of the religious order, and you should learn to overcome your fear.”

But I really—

"Stop talking, Phoebe. Come on, I'm going to speed things up now!"

"No, no! This is too fast, I can't take it!"

……

……

At dusk, the setting sun bathed the fine sand in a warm golden hue.

Phoebe sat on the beach, hugging her knees and burying her slightly flushed cheeks in her arms. She didn't look up until Duanmu Yan handed her a fresh coconut, her eyes still filled with lingering sadness.

"Are you angry?" he asked softly.

Phoebe shook her head, took the coconut, and took small bites of the straw. The sweet juice slid down her throat, making her relax a little.

"No... I know Mr. Duanmu meant well."

Her voice gradually faded.

"It's just the sea..."

The girl looked up, a fleeting, almost imperceptible pain flashing in her iris-purple eyes.

In that instant, she felt as if she had returned to the icy, all-consuming seawater of her childhood.

But then, another image appeared before her eyes—in the pitch-black abyss of the sea, he held her hand, like a beam of light that pierced through all fear, making her heart pound.

That was another small but real miracle, uniquely hers.

The girl unconsciously rubbed her fingertips, blinked hard, quietly wiped away the moisture from the corners of her eyes, and looked at the figure beside her again.

"Yes! I will not let Mr. Duanmu down!"

"Why are you suddenly so energetic?" Duanmu Yan tilted his head to look at her, then smiled with relief. "But it's good that you're not angry. I was just thinking about how to coax you if you were really angry."

He continued in a relaxed tone, "But someone as gentle as Phoebe, no matter what I do, as long as I sincerely apologize, you'll forgive me, right?"

“…That’s true.” Phoebe puffed out her cheeks slightly, “but it just doesn’t feel right coming from Mr. Duanmu.”

"In short, although I will always forgive Mr. Duanmu, Mr. Duanmu should not deliberately provoke me!"

"I know, I know."

The twinkling lights shimmered in the sky, lingered on the beach at sunset, and drifted between the waves.

There was no human noise, no roaring vehicles, only the sound of the breeze rustling through the leaves, and—

The strangeness between them (6) (e) ju two heartbeats.

Volume 1: Chapter 73 He couldn't help but hum softly.

"Mr. Duanmu, it's time to get up."

The morning sunlight streamed through the curtains, and Phoebe had already changed into her religious robes.

She tiptoed to Duanmu Yan's sleeping mat, squatted down, and gently poked his cheek with her fingertip.

Duanmu Yan frowned with his eyes closed, rolled over and pulled the blanket tighter around himself, mumbling indistinctly, "Mmm... I know... I'll get up now..."

"Mr. Duanmu!"

Phoebe poked him a couple more times, but he remained fast asleep.

Finally, the girl could only sigh in resignation, squat down to the side, rest her chin on her hands, and look helplessly at the person who was staying in bed.

With the Kuroshio Current subsiding and the whales returning to tranquility, the crisis in the Rijoli Islands has finally come to an end.

According to the order's rules, Phoebe should have returned to Laguna immediately after completing her mission.

But Duanmu Yan's voice kept echoing in my ears:

"Since we're already here, why not relax for a couple of days before leaving?"

"If you don't tell and I don't tell, how will the religious order know?"

"Phoebe, this swimsuit really suits you!"

She ultimately couldn't resist his advances—or rather, she secretly wanted to stay a little longer.

So he reluctantly agreed and managed to steal two days of leisure on the island.

Today is the day we agreed to return home.

however……

Phoebe looked at Duanmu Yan's unguarded sleeping face and sighed softly.

Memories of the past two days flooded her mind—the azure sky, the soft clouds, and those precious moments that were incredibly valuable to her.

Although two days is but a fleeting moment in a lifetime, for her, it has become a treasure she would never want to forget.

She was slightly lost in thought, then a serene smile spread across her lips.

"Mr. Duanmu, don't stay in bed any longer, we should go."

But happy times always come to an end, and Phoebe wasn't sad about it at all.

Because she firmly believes that this small and peaceful daily life will surely return one day in the future, in another form.

"Okay... I understand... just five more minutes, just five more minutes..."

Duanmu Yan continued to mumble incoherently, showing no sign of waking up.

Phoebe was about to reach out and push him again when her gaze inadvertently fell on the blanket covering him—there seemed to be something propping up a small section in the center, its shape straight and upright, like a stick hidden inside.

"Huh? What's that...?"

Why was there a stick in Mr. Duanmu's quilt?

"Won't it be uncomfortable to sleep like this?"

She tilted her head slightly, her iris-purple eyes filled with confusion.

The innocent girl had almost no knowledge of certain things, so she naturally couldn't understand what the "strangeness" under the bedding meant.

She even naively guessed: Could it be a stick used for self-defense?

But if it's for self-defense, why not keep it by your pillow or near your hand, instead of hiding it in that other place?

Phoebe couldn't understand it.

She instinctively reached out, wanting to gently touch it and find out what it was. But as soon as her fingertips were halfway out, she quickly pulled them back and shook her head.

"No, no... I can't touch Mr. Duanmu's things without his permission."

"That would be very rude."