A Quiet Homecoming

Ju Jinghuan carried the watermelon to the car, and when he noticed Fu Liangxia glancing at the small convenience store twice along the way, he paused. "Want to take a look inside?"

Fu Liangxia thought for a moment, then nodded. "I want to see if they have any fruit platters or something." Having only watermelon seemed a bit too plain.

The hotel the school had booked wasn't exclusively for the camping students; there were also scattered wealthy tourists staying there.

When Fu Liangxia and Ju Jinghuan walked in, their two striking Asian faces drew the attention of many, but neither of them seemed to care.

Fu Liangxia figured that most of those looks weren't directed at her, but at the person beside her.

Ju Jinghuan lived up to his name—gentle as jade, like the tender second male lead straight out of a manga, impossible not to notice.

Especially compared to the tall, burly Western men around, he appeared even more refined and elegant.

As for Fu Liangxia, she didn't think she had the sultry figure or smoldering gaze of a blonde sweetheart, so she assumed she wouldn't draw much attention.

In her own eyes, she was just a passerby, much like her role in this book.

Fu Liangxia carefully picked out fruits.

The tropical fruits looked vividly colorful, with an allure quite different from what she was used to back home, making it hard for her to choose.

Ju Jinghuan pushed the cart beside her, watching her select, but before long his gaze drifted from her fingertips up to her profile.

To be honest, Ju Jinghuan wasn't someone who fell easily. He had always been clear about what his life would look like: study hard, attend a top university, build an impressive resume, then inherit the family business and, in due course, marry a noble lady of similar status.

So youthful infatuation held no meaning for him.

He also believed that those of his class, with clear heads, thought similarly—like the F4.

Even Su Xingshu, who appeared the most unrestrained, had a ruler in his heart and never engaged in out-of-line romances.

But this semester, an anomaly had appeared. Fu Liangxia's arrival was like tossing a pebble into a still lake, rippling through his ordinary days.

Ju Jinghuan admitted that Fu Liangxia was indeed very pretty, with an indescribable air about her that inexplicably stirred a desire for curiosity and exploration.

But he didn't think he would be one of those affected, nor did he expect the F4 to be swayed by her.

Honestly, Fu Liangxia wasn't the most beautiful or the most innocent he'd ever seen. Yet she carried a certain spirit that couldn't be ignored.

After all, they were the Four Great Families; facing those of a higher class, people couldn't help but feel uneasy.

But Fu Liangxia didn't at all. She acted naturally, even at ease, as if the F4 were no different from anyone else.

Ju Jinghuan, lost in thought, stared a bit too long and earned a puzzled look from her.

"What's wrong?"

Only then did Ju Jinghuan realize his rudeness. He quickly but discreetly averted his gaze, though the tips of his ears flushed red.

"Nothing. Done picking?"

Fu Liangxia nodded. "Mm."

She was about to grab her items to check out when a hand stopped her.

Ju Jinghuan took a semi-transparent box from a nearby shelf and said, "Let me pay. Might as well grab a speaker while I'm at it."

Fu Liangxia finally got a clear look at the box and the delicate English logo on it. She fell silent for a moment.

A Bluetooth speaker worth tens of thousands, and he called it "grabbing one while I'm at it."

"What you picked isn't expensive either, so don't be polite with me." With the speaker in one hand, he held a card between his fingers, smoothly offering it to the cashier while blocking her.

Fu Liangxia could only thank him, feeling a bit embarrassed. "It was supposed to be my purchase, and now I've made you spend on it."

Something she said seemed to strike Ju Jinghuan as amusing. The corner of his mouth lifted, and he looked down at her, saying, "This much isn't exactly spending."

"Besides, these fruits you bought to share—will I be included?" He blinked, feigning hurt.

Fu Liangxia laughed along. "Of course."

As they spoke, Ju Jinghuan had already deftly connected his phone to the Bluetooth speaker, and its rich sound flowed out: "You came to me one summer night… And from the world you sent my girl…"

He casually glanced down at her, and just as the last trace of dusk faded into the sea, he smiled as the streetlights flickered on.

A gentle evening breeze blew, lifting his hair. Fu Liangxia, momentarily mesmerized by the aura Ju Jinghuan exuded, remembered he was still holding a bag.

Afraid he couldn't see the path clearly, she naturally reached out to adjust the bag for him and took over the cart.

Ju Jinghuan paused, a flicker of surprise crossing his eyes, then, as if nothing had happened, he placed the bag into the cart and took back the handle.

In the distance, waves crashed against the shore. After a few steps, Fu Liangxia suddenly realized a tall figure was standing not far off, having been watching them for who knows how long.

Cheng Xingzhou had initially planned to return to the villa to get the schedule, and to check on a certain girl who had been missing from the beach for a while. But he'd barely walked a short distance when he saw the person he was worried about approaching with another boy, chatting and laughing.

The evening breeze carried a faint tune, and starlight shone over the girl's gentle smile.

"Where did you go?" Cheng Xingzhou walked over, looking down at her.

Fu Liangxia glanced up, taking in his arms—which were exposed because he'd rolled up his sleeves for grilling—and pointed at the cart. "Since you're all working so hard, I brought some fruit."

Ju Jinghuan turned to meet his gaze, lifting his lips in a faint smile. "Let's eat together."

The way he said it made it seem like they were the hosts and Cheng Xingzhou the guest.

Cheng Xingzhou frowned, eyeing Ju Jinghuan, whose deep gaze was sharp; when he smiled, the corners of his eyes tilted upward, giving him a sly, fox-like look.

Meeting Cheng Xingzhou's stare, Ju Jinghuan didn't seem bothered at all. He raised an eyebrow, a hint of subtle aggression lurking in his eyes that contrasted with his gentle appearance.

But Cheng Xingzhou simply looked away, as if dismissing his provocation.

Ju Jinghuan's smile faltered slightly, his eyes darkening for a moment.

Fu Liangxia didn't notice their silent exchange. The cart couldn't be pushed on the sand, so they had to carry everything over.

She bent down to pick up a fruit platter from the cart, but before she could straighten up, a pair of hands took the items from her arms.

Cheng Xingzhou: "Let me take it."

Fu Liangxia looked at him, slightly surprised.

As if reading the confusion in her eyes, Cheng Xingzhou said flatly, "Don't want you passing out again."

Fu Liangxia was speechless for a moment, then puffed her cheeks indignantly. "I'm not that weak."

Cheng Xingzhou looked down at her, his eyes filled with unguarded mockery, as if reminding her of the near-drowning incident not long ago.

Fu Liangxia: "…Stupid world will."

Ju Jinghuan watched their interaction. The tone was plain, but he could sense a certain unusual familiarity in it.

The way Cheng Xingzhou looked at her wasn't entirely innocent.

"Weren't you heading back from this direction, President?" Ju Jinghuan walked on the other side of Fu Liangxia, dragging the watermelon, and asked casually. "Is it okay for you to come with us?"

Reminded, Fu Liangxia also recalled that Cheng Xingzhou had been coming from the beach, seemingly headed back to the villa.

Had he forgotten something?

Then she heard Cheng Xingzhou say calmly, "It's fine now."