A Salty, Sensual Kiss

[Island Literature + Redemption + Moody, Achingly Sweet]

[Good Girl + Genius Painter]

Just when Xia Shu most wanted to die, someone pulled her out of the water.

The man was cold and fierce.

Xia Shu always felt like he was about to hit someone at any moment.

But his face was so handsome that she forgot to be afraid.

She was terrified of him, yet couldn't help sneaking glances at him.

Later, she discovered that he only looked fierce.

He would sit by the sea and paint all night, just so she could wake up to a complete sunrise painting the next day.

He would give her the only raincoat and get soaked himself, then stubbornly say, “You were ugly to begin with. Now you're even uglier.”

He would push peeled shrimp in front of her. “Eat.”

He would dive into the deep sea just to find her the prettiest seashells.

Later, she didn't want to die anymore.

But summer was already over!

-

That summer, a girl from the city came to Misty Isle.

She was as delicate as a blobfish, crying at the slightest touch.

She often crouched beside his easel to watch him paint.

He found it annoying. “Do you even understand what you're looking at?”

She said, “No, but your paintings are beautiful.”

He put on a tough act, but secretly smiled to himself.

Later, she secretly entered one of his paintings in a competition.

“Who told you to meddle?”

“Your paintings are so good. I want the whole world to see them.”

-

“Lu Ci, can you stop staring at me all the time?”

“If I don't keep an eye on you, what if you jump into the sea again?”

“I only did it once.”

“Was once not enough?”

-

“Lu Ci, teach me how to paint.”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“If you learn, you won't watch me paint anymore.”

-

“Lu Ci, why are you here again?”

“The medicine hasn't worn off yet. Let me indulge myself a little longer.”