Family and children... were actually quite distant concepts for the two of them.
After returning home from eating fried chicken, they happened to receive a call from Si Nan, inviting them over to the apartment to play games. Someone had dug out a box of Monopoly and Ludo, and they could also play poker or mahjong with small bets for New Year's luck. Chen Yi immediately got excited—he was skilled at cards and well-versed in various games, clearly an old hand who effortlessly won a hefty sum, only for Miao Jing to lose it all back in the end.
They stayed up all night before returning home to sleep.
After having hotpot on New Year's Day, Chen Yi didn’t say where he was going but made a sudden trip out. Miao Jing stayed home packing their vacation luggage, and eventually, the two headed to Bogotá Airport and boarded a flight to the Caribbean.
San Andrés Island.
Chapter 51: Marry Me? (Part 2)
San Andrés.
This small island was quite famous in the Americas, with its rich Caribbean charm and mesmerizing seven-colored sea. Unlike resort-style boutique islands, it retained a primitive, rustic flavor. When Miao Jing and Chen Yi landed, they were the only two Asian tourists on the island.
It was a truly carefree time. Bathed in the humid Caribbean sea breeze, the sea before them was a spectrum of colors, shifting in gradients like a massive sapphire—crystalline, translucent, a glass sea, a jelly sea, so pure it made the sky seem rough and dull in comparison.
Chen Yi crossed his arms: "This swimsuit of yours... how..."
"Bought it in Medellín," Miao Jing said casually. "It's a designer piece."
It was the embroidered swimsuit she had bought during her last business trip in Medellín. Though not a bikini, it was vibrant in color and uniquely designed. Two lightweight strips of fabric intertwined from a deep V-neckline down her chest, with only a few delicate colored beads on the sides. The curves were subtly hinted at, her figure curvaceous and alluring, her legs long and slender, her skin as fair as snow. She stood out strikingly on the beach.
Accustomed to her usual style of dressing, her sudden bold and dazzling appearance took him a little by surprise.
They lounged on the private beach of their hotel, soaking up the sun, occasionally tempted to dip into the water. The bar was right by the shore, where they could order cocktails anytime and get pleasantly tipsy. The island's signal wasn’t great, making phone scrolling feel unnecessary. Instead, they chatted, splashed in the water, sunbathed, and played beach ball.
The weather wasn’t too hot, with brief showers every day. The island was small, so they rented a scooter to cruise along the coast. Chen Yi wore a floral shirt with only one button fastened, the fabric flapping against Miao Jing. She draped a sheer long shirt over herself, her figure so light she seemed to float. They stopped wherever they pleased—drinking coconut water by the sea rocks, playing in the glass-blue waters. At one point, a blue lizard darted past her feet, startling Miao Jing, who shrieked and clung to Chen Yi’s neck. He planted a quick kiss on her flustered face, offering a perfunctory comfort, then aimed the camera at the lizard for a series of shots.
This place was also a paradise for water sports—cliff diving, snorkeling, yachting, and sailing were all worth trying. In short, they could indulge in the water to their heart’s content. Not far from the main island was a tiny islet, dense with coconut shadows and pristine white sand, accessible by wading through knee-to-waist-deep water. Tourists were everywhere, splashing and playing, children kicking vigorously in inflatable rings within the reef-enclosed area, their laughter carrying far across the water.There was a party at the hotel that evening—a chartered yacht sailing to nearby waters where a group of European and American tourists gathered to gaze at the stars in the middle of the ocean, drink, and dance. They returned at midnight to continue the second round at a bar, where salsa dancing grew passionate and wild, and conversations buzzed with fervor. Eventually, Chen Yi, likely drunk out of his mind, leaped onto the stage, tore off his T-shirt, and recklessly danced a breakdance with the performers.
The screams were a bit too exhilarated. Miao Jing covered her forehead, unable to bear the sight, and wanted to retreat to her room to rest. But Chen Yi dragged her to the beach to sober up in the breeze.
The night wind was cool and slightly briny, darkness enveloped everything except for the shimmering glimmer on the sea's surface. Chen Yi's nicotine craving hit again, but he had no cigarettes on him. Pinning Miao Jing down on the beach, he kissed her, his lips sliding downward with burning urgency, his restless fingers stirring up a reckless heat.
"Chen Yi!!" Miao Jing panicked. "Are you insane?"
He lowered his voice: "Shh, no one's here. I'll be quick, five minutes, just five minutes is enough."
Miao Jing gasped sharply, clutched his head with all her might, and flipped over with immense effort, smashing his face into the sand. Half of his handsome face was coated in fine grains, his mouth full of sand, leaving him grimacing in a comically absurd manner.
Caught off guard by the humiliation, Chen Yi cursed fiercely under his breath, wiped his face, and reached out to grab Miao Jing's arm. But she agilely dodged, leaving him clutching only the hem of her skirt.
"Miao Jing, if you've got guts, don't run!"
"I don't have any guts!" She dashed swiftly back toward the hotel.
Footsteps and the slap of flip-flops closed in from behind, the sound of the wind mingling with her laughter and screams. A firm arm wrapped around her waist, causing her to stumble and tumble onto the sand with him.
"Now you can't escape. I'm going to do whatever I want."
His tall, heavy frame pressed down on her. Miao Jing, both embarrassed and amused, pounded his shoulders: "Act normal!"
"What's abnormal about me?" Both arms encircled her waist as he rolled with her across the sand, covering her face and body in fine grains. Suddenly, a cool sensation washed over them—a gentle wave crashed over their faces. Miao Jing closed her eyes, letting the seawater rinse away the sand.
Chen Yi released her, keeping only one hand entwined with hers. Side by side, they lay in the sea, allowing the waves to climb their shoulders, soaking their bodies in the chilly water while both gazed up at the stars above.
"Want to talk about something?"
"About what?"
"What are you thinking right now?"
"Being alive is wonderful."
They both laughed in unison.
"The beach at midnight is dangerous. If we lie here motionless, we might not see tomorrow's sun."
Dripping wet, he drew closer, covering her, pinning her wrists, interlacing their fingers, and lowering his head to plant soft kisses on her lips.
"Then let's kiss first... Mmm... a bit salty..."
Under the starry sky, they shared a lingering night kiss.
Chen Yi lifted her from the water: "Let's go back to the room. Just wait till I have my way with you."
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