Trip (3)

The next morning, Yuan Shun woke up earlier than the others out of habit.

He ate a light breakfast in the kitchen when he noticed Fang Qi walking down the stairs, scratching his bed hair. He entered, pouring himself a glass of water, gulping it down.

"Rough night?" Yuan Shun questioned him with an unfriendly, sarcastic smile.

Fang Qi met his eyes directly, nodding.

Yuan Shun's eyes widened, nostrils flaring. He couldn't get a wink of sleep knowing that Fang Qi followed Shi Yen into her room, doing God knows what. He shouldn't care; she could sleep with anyone if she wanted. But, still, he was pissed.

Fang Qi craned his neck, rubbing his eyes. "My neck hurts because I didn't order a comfortable mattress for my room."

"Your room?" Yuan Shun questioned.

"Yes, Shun. Where else?" Fang Qi replied. So, he did return to his room last night...

Yuan Shun then watched as Fang Qi ascended the stairs, returning to his bedroom.

Not long after, Shi Yen had come down with Shizi, energized, wearing tight leggings and a sports bra. Her hair was tied up in a delicate braid, and she widened her eyes, surprised to see him.

Yuan Shun remained silent as he watched her feed Shizi, allowing her pet to go outside after to roam free. She then went back to the kitchen to make herself a smoothie, and then she offered him some after.

"Thank you," he replied.

Shi Yen then sat across him, colliding their gazes as she downed her smoothie. "Are you going to work out?" she questioned him.

"I'm going for a run," he said before he added, "Would you like to join me?"

Shi Yen grinned while narrowing her eyes. "Do you want to race?" she challenged him. Her leg was still sore, but it was tolerable.

Yuan Shun's lips unconsciously curved upward. He leaned back in his seat, looking at her with challenging eyes. "All right," he told her. "But we need someone to watch us to legitimize the race."

Shi Yen nodded. "I'll go get Fang Qi," she replied. She then stood up to walk away when Yuan Shun reached across the table, grasping her wrist.

"Leave him," he told her, "He's tired."

Shi Yen narrowed her eyes. "Well, everyone else is sleeping," she said.

"Then we can go on our own. I'm sure I'll be many steps ahead of you," he countered.

Shi Yen's mouth gaped. "Unlikely!" She said.

They both stepped outside to stretch out their bodies before they went to find a trail, carrying water packs on their backs. They spent nearly a half-hour walking, admiring the view, and carrying a pleasant conversation that didn't lead to bad tension.

Yuan Shun asked her about Master Wong, and she told him that she trained students on some mornings when she had the time. And he was rather impressed by her work ethic.

They arrived at the end of the trail, in the middle of a forest, to make their way back.

They both stretched again, positioning themselves apart for the race.

"On three," Yuan Shun said.

Shi Yen nodded, and when Yuan Shun counted to the last number, they took off.

They dashed down the trail, sweeping away the wood chips that crunched beneath every step. Side-by-side, they were swift and agile, graceful without stumbling. Yuan Shun launched himself ahead of Shi Yen, and he sped up effortlessly.

Noticing he was ahead, he took a moment to look behind him, not finding Shi Yen.

Yuan Shun's furrowed his eyebrows as he looked around, still running. He glanced towards his left, finding that Shi Yen took a different route. It was a more challenging trail, but she skipped, leapt, and ran with graceful exerted force and fleet-footed agility.

Shi Yen was not only determined to beat him, but she was also determined to make him look like he lost by taking the easy trail.

Yuan Shun re-focused, propelling himself to go faster, to use full-force.

He could see the beach ahead as he descended down a slope, which hindered his movement slightly. He picked up the pace again, passing Shi Yen.

He reached the beach, running down a wooden dock, where the house was the destination.

Yuan Shun didn't notice that Shi Yen had caught up to him. Not until they reached the beach house—the finish line—and she had toppled over him because they had crashed into each other.

A groan escaped from both their mouths from the slight pain. Shi Yen was on Yuan Shun, lifting her head to look down at him.

"Are you okay?" she questioned.

Yuan Shun grunted. "Yes," he replied. "Are you?"

"I'm fine…" she said, placing her hands on each side of him. She then smiled, and a breathless laugh escaped her. "Did I win?"

Yuan Shun's lips curved upward as he chuckled. "I think I won, darling."

She pursed her lips. "No, you didn't."

"Yes."

"No."

"Yes."

"Nuh-uh," she giggled.

Yuan Shun smiled, and it made Shi Yen catch her breath.

"It was a tie," yawned Fang Qi, stepping out onto the deck with some of the others, coming after him.

Shi Yen lifted herself from Yuan Shun, and she hauled him to his feet. They patted down their clothes, trying to remove the sand that clung to their bodies. They then chugged their waters.

"You saw?" Shi Yen questioned breathlessly.

"Yeah," Fang Qi drawled. "We saw the end of it, and it was certainly something."

Shi Ailin and Yuan Xinyi stepped forward, looking at them with shy smiles.

"Anyways," Fang Qi continued. "We're going down to the water. Let's go."

The seven of them then headed towards the docks, where kayaks and paddleboards were placed out for them to choose from.

The Luo brothers dove in the water, opting to swim as Yuan Xinyi and Shi Ailin stood on their paddleboards, trying to maintain balance.

Fang Qi laid down on the dock to soak in the sun.

Shi Yen and Yuan Shun looked at each other, wondering if they were both thinking the same thing. They then dashed towards the life jackets, each grabbing a kayak afterwards. They both hopped in and began to race across the water.

Left. Right. Left. Right. They pushed and paddled against the current until their arms grew bone-tired.

Shi Yen stopped, needing to rest the aching pain. Yuan Shun paused, feeling the same way.

Their kayaks floated softly with the water rattling against them, and they took the time to admire the distant view.

The sun cast over them brightly, and Shi Yen undid her braid, allowing the wind to breeze through her wavy hair. She took a deep breath. "Isn't it beautiful?" she asked Yuan Shun.

"Yes," he agreed.

Shi Yen then smiled, broad and honestly.

Yuan Shun widened his eyes.

He then picked up the paddle again, steering his kayak back to the shore. Puzzled, Shi Yen followed him until they pulled up to the docks, catching up with the others.

They then walked back to the house to eat a late lunch followed by rounds of beach volleyball until they dipped themselves into the water again, returning only when the sun began to set.

The seven of them built a campfire nearby, all gathered around.

Shi Yen had fallen asleep on a beach towel, and Shizi curled up nearby. Yuan Shun watched Shi Yen intensely, itching to join her.

But he decided otherwise.

His body ached, so he left, wanting to go to the spring bath that wasn't too far from the house.

He picked up his towel and some clothes from his room before taking a five-minute walk from the villa to the outdoor spring that was prepared by those employed by Fang Qi.

He washed up thoroughly before he entered the small pool of Luke-warm to steaming water, soothing out his strained muscles. He sat down, tilting his head back, facing the stars.

He sighed deeply, running his fingers through his hair, tousling it to the side.

He relished the water and minerals when fifteen minutes later, he heard a feminine voice ask, "Can I join you?"

Yuan Shun lifted his head suddenly, facing Shi Yen, wearing a wrapped towel around her body.

"I know that some places typically have separate baths for men and women, but knowing Fang Qi, he most likely didn't care about people of the opposite sex sharing," said Shi Yen.

Yuan Shun chuckled and nodded. The only problem was, he was stark naked beneath. He thought to let her in now, so he could exit after she had finished.

Shi Yen removed her towel, unveiling her slender and round body. Yuan Shun's eyes widened.

Unreserved, she displayed a full view of her bare body. Some part of him wanted to be a gentleman and look away, but another part of him couldn't.

She then submerged into the water; her hair splayed around her. He then realized she was a siren—a dangerously beautiful and seductive siren.

Yuan Shun looked away, pretending to be interested in a nearby tree.

Shi Yen sighed, allowing the water to undo the knots and strains that wearied her down.

Yuan Shun could feel her stare locked on him. He swallowed hard, trying not to feel her devouring gaze. It made his body strain. He then stood up carelessly from the bath, his entire frame going into her full view.

Shi Yen's eyes gaped.

Yuan Shun continued to leave, dressing into his clothes and returned to the house immediately to take care of himself.