In the hum of the motorboat's engine, Dubian Che snapped back to reality.
He reached out his hand, and Kiyono Lin's slender fingers clutched his, the other hand bracing against the deck.
Together, they exerted effort, and she tore herself from the embrace of the sea.
The smooth expanse of her back came into view for Dubian Che.
Her fair, translucent skin, the light blue swimsuit clasp;
A hint of a defined waistline at the edge of her swimsuit, just revealing the vest line;
On her rounded, firm legs, droplets of water cascaded...
In that instant, Dubian Che truly believed that beauty, to a certain extent, could make one forget to breathe.
'Why, when I first met her, did I only find her pretty and feel nothing else?' Dubian Che pondered, trying to divert his attention.
The ladies approached on their motorboats.
"You fled the battlefield, you've lost, Lin," Jiutiao Meiji said, looking down on Kiyono Lin from her lofty perch.
"Who got hit more?" Kiyono Lin retorted with a cold smile, "Think it over, who really lost?"
"'My heart's favorite is me,' 'who got hit more,' you're quite good at excusing your failures," Jiutiao Meiji scoffed.
"It's just that some people refuse to accept the truth, unwilling to admit that their victory is a sham."
While the two exchanged verbal shots, Dubian Che admired Jiutiao Meiji's figure.
It didn't matter whether she wore a swimsuit, Dubian Che had seen Jiutiao Meiji in all sorts of poses countless times, but it still wasn't enough.
The white swimsuit with its ruffle edge, the attractive belly button, and the full bust.
He really wanted to spread his arms and pull her into his embrace.
"Is Lin still playing?" Mrs. Kiyono asked.
"No, I'm good." Kiyono Lin dried her hair with a towel, and then picked up the inflatable mattress that was lying on the deck.
"What about you, Mr. Dubian? Will you join us?" Mrs. Kiyono's gaze shifted to Dubian Che.
Dubian Che glanced at Kiyono Youko's motorboat, taking in the view of his lady's back, waist, and hips.
A posture that normally would not be exposed.
"I'm with my Meiji," he said.
"My Meiji~" Mrs. Jiutiao echoed his words in a sing-song voice.
"My Meiji!" Dubian Che affirmed with a laugh, "Isn't that right, my Meiji?"
Jiutiao Meiji raised her hand and aimed a water gun at him, spritzing his shirt with a forceful jet of water.
"Don't hold me back, my Che." She held the water gun upright, assuming an arrogant stance.
"I won't disappoint you, my beautiful princess!" Dubian Che stood up.
After a brief preparation, Dubian Che was in charge of driving the motorboat, with Jiutiao Meiji shooting; on the other side, Mrs. Jiutiao drove, with Mrs. Kiyono shooting.
"Meiji, give it up!" Mrs. Kiyono exclaimed excitedly, her delicate short hair fluttering in the sea breeze, adding to her charm.
"I'll take care of mother and daughter together," said Jiutiao Meiji, her tone frosty.
"Oh la la, so arrogant. It seems necessary to show you the prowess of the Kiyono women!"
The shooters were at each other's throats, and the riders were engaged in their own exchange.
"Mr. Dubian," said Mrs. Jiutiao, "let's see who's faster, shall we?"
"Sure, but it's my first time, Zhenji, ah..."
Before he could finish, Jiutiao Zhenji had already twisted the throttle, and the motorboat zoomed off. Nᴇw ɴovel chaptᴇrs are published on novel·fire·net
"Take this!" Simultaneously, Kiyono Youko turned and shot at the two of them.
Dubian Che simply tilted his head, avoiding the incoming spray, and then, the stream hit Jiutiao Meiji.
"Let's go!" Without waiting for her to finish, Dubian Che twisted the throttle.
Jiutiao Meiji wrapped her left arm around Dubian Che's waist, water gun in hand.
Under the sunset, the glittering sea surfaced as two motorboats chased each other, leaving behind laughter, taunts, and the sound of waves.
Kiyono Lin, left behind, tied the inflatable mattress to the yacht deck with a thin rope and laid down with satisfaction.
Her upper body propped on the mattress's headrest, a beach towel covered her slender, smooth legs, which were straight, crossed, and completely relaxed.
At four in the afternoon at the end of July, it remained hot, but not unbearably so.
At this time, lying on the sea, feeling the breeze, sunbathing, and bobbing with the waves was utterly comforting.
The setting sun draped her in a veil of red, utterly mesmerizing.
With her eyes closed, the sunlight cast the shadows of her long lashes across her cheeks.
She reflected on the recent events.
Their eye contact left a sweet and warm aftertaste at the bottom of her heart.
That scene was tender and intimate, with a warm current rippling in Kiyono Lin's heart, nearly lulling her to sleep in the ocean currents.
The other four played on their motorboats for a while, then took out swim rings to play with; when they tired, they sat on them.
Dubian Che's body soaked in the sea, his arms resting on Jiutiao Meiji's swim ring, his chin propped on top.
Her delicate, beautiful profile was right by his lips.
"This pose is a bit like the final scene of 'Titanic,'" Dubian Che murmured, "'You have to survive, you have to live. You're gonna die an old lady, warm in her bed, not here tonight, not .'"
His lips occasionally brushed against her smooth cheek, almost kissing.
"I will live," said Jiutiao Meiji, reading the line without emotion.
She pressed her finger to Dubian Che's forehead, nudged him lightly, and he let go of the swim ring, falling into the sea.
"Gurgle, gurgle~" Bubbles rose to the surface.
Sitting on the swim ring, basking in the sunset, Jiutiao Meiji closed her eyes, her mouth curving into a smile.
"Pfft, ha!" Dubian Che resurfaced, "I'm back."
"Welcome back," Jiutiao Meiji responded with evident pleasure.
Resting his arms on the swim ring, his body swaying with the waves, Dubian Che couldn't help but say while looking at her beautiful profile:
"Winning that ticket was the best thing that ever happened to me; it brought me to you."