Once they finished laughing, Xiao Yunhua and Qiang Yue went to the small shack on beach to enjoy a snack-like breakfast.
The two spoke more and more, getting to know each other well.
They played, as suggested by Xiao Yunhua, a game of twenty questions. She got to know his favorite food, and he got to know hers.
She got to know his favorite color, and he got to know hers.
Then, after deciding that they've wasted enough silly questions, Xiao Yunhua boldly asked the man if he had a girlfriend.
She knew he didn't, but she just needed the confirmation. As expected, the man was flustered.
But in the end, he shook his head. "Don't have much time to date. On duty twenty-four-seven."
Xiao Yunhua nodded. He fired the question back at her, and she honestly answered. "I did date, but he and I broke it off."
Their questions seemed like they were on a first date. And by how much they both enjoyed it, their 'first date' was going very well.
Qiang Yue hesitated on asking her his next question, but he asked anyways. He asked her how long they were together.
Hearing the question, Xiao Yunhua panicked on the inside. If she were to say that they were together for a long time and broke it off very recently, then he would surely assume that she was using him as a rebound.
Instead, she decided on a small white lie.
"For a month or so. Broke it off a long time ago." The more she lied, the more uncomfortable she felt. She despised being lied to, yet here she was, being a hypocrite.
The man had chosen to be honest in regards to her grandmother's condition, yet here she stood, lying, in return.
Ignoring the hammering guilt, she smiled and their conversation continued.
Finally, it was the afternoon. Qiang Yue couldn't continue to hide his exhaustion, so he decided to tell her that he desperately needed a rest.
Xiao Yunhua saw that she hindered his rest and slightly panicked, but the doctor reassured her that it was alright and no harm was done.
Bidding Qiang Yue goodbye, Xiao Yunhua was sitting alone in the snack shack, sipping on a tropical smoothie.
Feeling the stares of strangers and no longer able to endure, Xiao Yunhua stood up and went to the restroom. She took off her sundress and only her swimsuit remained.
After enduring the hot sun for so long, it was about time that she went for a swim in the water.
She left the restrooms and felt lustful eyes pricking her skin. No matter if it was her performing or her in a swimsuit, Xiao Yunhua felt uncomfortable with the constant, lustful stares being thrown at her.
This problem, she never had to deal with in her past lifetime.
And despite secretly enjoying the attention as she was now beautiful, deep in her heart, she was still an insecure eighteen year old girl.
She may have aged, but mentally, she was too emotionally naïve to deal with many things.
Xiao Yunhua's small side bag couldn't contain her sundress nor could she couldn't leave it on the sand as she swam because it could be stolen.
Instead, she asked the employee running the snack shack if he could watch her things for her.
As a young, hot-blooded man, he could only nod his head yes after seeing her charming smile.
With the ease of knowing her things were safe, Xiao Yunhua walked towards the water.