Deep Sea Rendezvous

Chapter 4: Mark of the Sea

The night sea remained the same, with gentle waves caressing the shore before retreating silently, as if they had never existed. The faint moonlight reflected on the water, stretching endlessly toward the horizon.

Lin Xian crouched down, tracing a few lines in the sand with his fingertips. But the moment a wave swept over, all traces were erased without a single mark left behind. He stared at the now-empty sand before him, the corners of his lips curling slightly as he murmured under his breath:

"The sea is really good at… keeping secrets."

Beside him, Song Yu stood tall with his hands in his pockets, his gaze not on the ocean but in the distance, where small boats drifted in the vast darkness.

The sea breeze blew past, carrying a chill that made Lin Xian shiver slightly. He stood up, dusting off the sand on his hands, then turned to look at Song Yu.

"What are you thinking about?"

Song Yu didn’t look at him. His voice was calm and indifferent: "Nothing."

Lin Xian tilted his head, clearly not believing him, but he didn’t press the issue. He took a few casual steps toward him before suddenly speaking:

"How old are you?"

Song Yu glanced at him briefly and replied simply, "Eighteen."

Lin Xian raised an eyebrow, his eyes carrying a hint of amusement. "I'm nineteen."

Song Yu said nothing.

Lin Xian pretended to cough, then spoke seriously, "Technically, that means you should call me ‘ge’."

Song Yu smirked slightly, his eyes filled with disdain. "Do you really think I would?"

Lin Xian didn’t give up. "Just one time. I won’t mind."

Song Yu gave him a cold glance, as if deciding whether it was worth wasting his breath. In the end, he just let out a quiet scoff and didn’t respond.

Lin Xian chuckled to himself, finding it amusing to tease him.

For a moment, silence hung between them. Then Lin Xian suddenly said, "Fine, if you won’t call me ‘ge,’ at least add me on WeChat."

Song Yu turned to him, his gaze calm like a windless sea. After a brief pause, he took out his phone, opened WeChat, and held up the screen.

"Scan it yourself."

Lin Xian didn’t hesitate. He quickly pulled out his phone and scanned the QR code. A second later, a notification popped up, confirming that they were now friends.

But just as he was about to put his phone away, his eyes landed on Song Yu’s username.

“Yu Hai?” He read it aloud with a curious tone. "Sounds like it has something to do with the sea."

Song Yu took his phone back, his lips curling slightly—though his expression remained unreadable. "Think whatever you want."

Lin Xian raised an eyebrow. He felt like Song Yu was deliberately avoiding the topic, but he didn’t push further.

The sea breeze grew stronger, carrying a coldness that seeped into their skin. Lin Xian shivered slightly, instinctively pulling up his collar before glancing at Song Yu.

Under the moonlight, his tall figure stood silently amidst the vast space. For some reason, Lin Xian felt that this person had a unique presence—not the usual cold and distant type, but more like a rock standing firm against rushing tides, unshaken no matter the storm.

A sudden thought crossed his mind.

"Hey, if I jumped into the sea right now, would you jump in after me?"

Song Yu immediately frowned, his sharp gaze locking onto him. "Do you have a death wish?"

Lin Xian burst out laughing. "Relax, I'm just kidding. No need to react so strongly."

Song Yu continued staring at him, his voice low but carrying an unmistakable seriousness. "That’s not something to joke about."

Lin Xian blinked, then suddenly chuckled. "Alright, alright, I won’t joke about it anymore. Stop looking at me like that—I'm actually scared."

Song Yu averted his gaze, unwilling to continue the conversation.

A while later, Lin Xian yawned lazily and said, "It’s getting late. I’ll head back now."

Song Yu gave a slight nod.

The two of them walked together for a short distance before reaching a fork in the path. Lin Xian turned to look at him, the corners of his lips curving into a subtle smile.

"See you later."

Song Yu didn’t reply, but his gaze lingered on him for a second before he turned and walked away.

Lin Xian watched his retreating figure, his smile fading slightly. He lowered his gaze, picked up a small seashell, and tossed it toward the sea.

The waves carried it away, as if it had never existed.