Chapter 93: Special Extra: Yu Qing

The birthday party hosted by the guesthouse owner that day brought the guests closer together. The next day, a few girls invited Yu Qing to join them for a trip to Sunset Beach.

Yu Qing didn’t have a strict schedule—she was happy to go with the flow. The girls were very friendly, so she agreed. Including her, there were six girls in total. Since they were heading to the beach, they had to prepare sunscreen, hats, swimsuits, and other items.

Yu Qing packed a shoulder bag. She wore a white camisole top and loose, casual long pants, paired with a hat. Her skin was fair, her collarbones beautiful, and she had a naturally slender elegance. With her tall figure, people kept sneaking glances at her along the way.

They arrived at Sunset Beach around 4:30 in the afternoon, the peak time for visitors. Almost all of the lounge chairs rented out by the restaurant were taken.

One of the girls, named Xiao Yao, went to ask about the price and looked at the menu. When she came back, she had a troubled expression and said, “I think it’s a bit expensive. You need to spend a minimum amount. If I had known, we would’ve brought our own chairs.”

The sound of the waves roared as the sea and sky blended into one. It was truly a beautiful sight. Yu Qing gently asked Xiao Yao about the price. After hearing it, Yu Qing raised her eyebrows and smiled, saying, “Renting two is about right. I’ll pay 50%, and you girls can split the rest?”

Xiao Yao was stunned. “How could we let you?”

Yu Qing replied, “It’s fine.”

Smiling, she walked up to the restaurant to talk to the staff.

That night, they sat together and chatted. Yu Qing learned that most of them had just started working. One of the girls had quit her job because she couldn’t stand her boss’s constant scolding and was traveling to heal.

When Yu Qing paid, she suddenly felt a sense of happiness. She thought of her own studio, where everyone got along well. She and Wen Yang never pulled rank; they always made decisions together and slowly expanded their business. She had a great income and could afford what she wanted, and even help others a bit when traveling. It felt really good.

She used to be troubled by difficult clients and hated how Liu Yu tried to suppress her. Sometimes, a single comment from a client would bother her endlessly. But now, looking back, everything seemed to be moving in a better direction.

These two things gave her confidence. What else was there to worry about? If she didn’t have a man, she could take her time looking. What she already possessed was more than enough.

Thinking this through, Yu Qing smiled and turned to rejoin Xiao Yao and the others.

They felt a bit embarrassed—it was like taking advantage of her generosity. Xiao Yao pulled Yu Qing’s arm over and sweetly helped her reapply sunscreen. The other girls also called her “big sis” warmly.

Yu Qing noticed how carefully they calculated everything they ordered, so she simply ordered a few extra drinks. After all, she could afford it. As long as everyone was happy, that was what mattered.

The girls became even more cheerful, their eyes sparkling with joy.

Yu Qing lay on a beach chair, watching the sunset. The sky turned red at the edges and gradually, the whole sky was painted crimson. The sunset was breathtakingly beautiful, as if she were floating between heaven and earth. The sound of waves was like music, gently lapping the shore. Yu Qing cleared her mind and simply enjoyed the moment.

Xiao Yao picked up her camera and took photos of Yu Qing.

So striking—short hair, beautiful and tall, with a confident air. She was like a goddess in human form.

When Yu Qing had rested enough, she got up and took out her own camera to start shooting.

Xiao Yao stood next to her and asked, “Sis, is that a Qingyang camera?”

Yu Qing smiled, “Yes, it is.”

“It’s so dreamy. I love it,” Xiao Yao said.

Yu Qing smiled, “I love it too.”

As she took pictures, Xiao Yao commented, “Sis, your photography skills are really good.”

Yu Qing replied, “Not bad, I can manage,” and laughed.

Nearby, a few boys had been watching her for a while. Soon, two of them came over to talk to her. She looked up—the boys looked like typical athletes.

Yu Qing smiled and shook her head. “I forgot my phone.”

The two boys quickly responded, “No problem, just give us your number.”

Yu Qing raised an eyebrow.

A few seconds later, she agreed and typed her number into one of their phones—but she quietly changed the last digit.

After they left, Xiao Yao leaned over and giggled, “Sis, they were watching you for so long. Definitely because you’re so pretty—they were just waiting for the right chance to ask for your number.”

Yu Qing smiled and looked ahead at the sky.

So this is why people say you should get out and travel—the world is big, and you meet all kinds of people.

Later, Xiao Yao dragged Yu Qing to go swimming. Yu Qing hadn’t swum in a long time. Standing in her swimsuit and looking at the sea made her feel a little dazed. Once she dove in and lifted her head above the water to see the sky glowing in the twilight, a song popped into her head—“Cinderella”:

—”Back then I might’ve been a princess, without a feathered fan…”

“…But I was noble.”

“I swore I’d never be trapped by the most fickle sea.”

Yu Qing smiled, dove back into the water, and let a wave push her toward the shore. She floated there—heaven and earth were free, and so was she.

“Don’t move, sis, I’ll take a photo of you!”

One of the girls who couldn’t swim was watching their belongings. She grabbed a camera and ran over to snap a photo. Yu Qing got out of the water, put on her sunshirt, and was tying the strings when the girl took another shot.

That night, after showering and changing into pajamas, Yu Qing turned on her computer to sort and edit photos.

She was heading to a new destination the next day—an early solo trip to bike along the coastline. She had edited quite a few landscape shots.

Yu Qing posted them to her Moments. She didn’t share many pictures of herself—just one of her lounging on a beach chair in a white camisole top with the sunset behind her, another of her in a long sunshirt looking into the camera (taken by the girl), and one of them clinking glasses together. The rest were all scenic shots.

Not bad.

After posting—

Xu Xu happened to see them and replied: “These photos are really well taken.”

Yu Qing was slightly stunned when she saw the reply, then smiled broadly.

She replied: Of course. Do you know who my mentor is?

Xu Xu raised an eyebrow.

Maybe that opened the door—Xu Xu sent her a private message:

Xu Xu: “The boxing game just updated with new maps and features. Try it out when you have time.”

After such a long time, seeing his message again didn’t stir any strong emotions in Yu Qing. She understood what he meant. He was speaking to her as the owner of a gaming company, and she was someone who liked that game. He was just reminding her about the update and inviting her to try it out.

Also, as a friend, he knew exactly what kind of games she liked.

Yu Qing smiled and replied:

“Okay, I’ll give it a try when I have time.”

Xu Xu: “Alright.”

Then neither of them said anything else. She didn’t intend to message him again either. After being rejected, people naturally learn to maintain distance. Being friends is not an excuse to stay close.

This kind of distance was just right. She no longer had to think about telling him everything. And if she turned around one day and found there was no one to talk to, then she would simply learn to digest everything on her own.

Loneliness wasn’t really scary. Even alone, she could do many things that made her happy—like swimming, or meeting new people. Casual acquaintances were just passing connections. Once parted, they would naturally fade.

Just like the girls she met today.

They all had plans the next day. Xiao Yao and her best friend were going on a food trip, another girl was staying an extra night, three others were headed to the forest, and Yu Qing herself was going to the coastline.

It was fun to meet.

And there were no regrets in parting.

The next day, Yu Qing wore pants and went cycling along the coast, riding from beginning to end all by herself.

The following week, she changed guesthouses, stayed at a hot spring resort, then headed to places like Yangshuo.

That day happened to be her godson’s one-month celebration. She went out during the day but got caught in the rain and came back soaked. After drinking some hot water and taking a shower, she sat by the window in her loungewear to video chat with Wen Yang.

Wen Yang wore a dress and had just finished her postpartum month. Her skin was fair and rosy, her brows curved in a smile—she looked radiant.

Yu Qing said, “Show me my godson!”

Wen Yang smiled and turned the camera. The baby was wearing a red onesie, a bracelet on his tiny wrist, and a longevity locket around his neck. His eyes were round and lively—he was absolutely adorable.

Yu Qing gasped, “I want to squish him!”

Wen Yang smiled, pinched the baby’s cheek, and showed it to Yu Qing.

“I did it for you.”

Yu Qing laughed, “You’re such a bad influence now, Yangbao.”

Wen Yang chuckled softly.

She looked up at Yu Qing and asked, “Are you having fun?”

Yu Qing met her gaze. The two sisters locked eyes, and Yu Qing smiled and nodded.

She said, “Yangbao, I understand what you mean—when you have no desires, the heart is truly free.”

Wen Yang smiled.

“Yu Qing, you’re really amazing. You’re beautiful, successful, and capable. Things will only keep getting better for you.”

Yu Qing nodded.

“Mm. I think so too.”

The two chatted for a while, then hung up. Yu Qing’s throat felt itchy, so she coughed a few times and quickly drank some water.

She rubbed her neck and pulled a blanket over herself, settling onto the tatami by the window to watch the rainy night outside.

It was getting late—around 10:30.

Her phone rang.

She checked—it was Secretary Jiang, who had sent a few photos of her godson. The pictures were beautifully taken.

Jiang Yue followed up with a message:

“Designer Yu didn’t come today, what a pity.”

Yu Qing smiled and replied:

“You sent me the photos, and I had a video call with Yangbao too, so it’s not a loss.”

Jiang Yue: “Keep the photos well, Designer Yu.”

Yu Qing: “Will do.”

Jiang Yue: “What are you doing right now, Designer Yu?”

Yu Qing: “It’s raining—I’m watching the rain.”

Jiang Yue: “It’s been raining in Yangshuo these days. Don’t forget to bring an umbrella when you go out.”

Yu Qing: “Okay.”

After chatting with him for a bit, she set her phone down.

A moment later, a food delivery arrived. Yu Qing opened the door to receive it and was surprised to find it was cold medicine. She paused, looked at the number on the bag—it seemed like Secretary Jiang’s.

Maybe it was easy to remember, or maybe because he had sent her delivery before, she recognized it. She picked up her phone and took a photo to send to Jiang Yue.

Jiang Yue: “The weather’s been unpredictable lately. Best to keep some medicine on hand, Designer Yu, just in case.”

Yu Qing felt a bit warm inside and replied:

“Okay, thank you, Secretary Jiang.”

Jiang Yue: “You’re welcome.”

Yu Qing got up to boil water and took the medicine. Inside the bag, just like last time, was a small pouch of White Rabbit candies.

After finishing the medicine, she ate a candy—sweet and comforting.

Sansukini: I’m not guessing who she’s paired with at this point. But I think Yu Qing was just in love with the idea of being in love, at this point. It’s not really a good thing because you’re in love with the feeling, not the person.

I thought Xuxu was good, but now I really like Secretary Jiang.

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