155: Seaside scenery

The summer air at The Beach exuded a refreshing feeling that seeped into the soul.

A breeze blew from the sea, carrying salty, damp moisture that brushed gently against the skin, soft and gentle, instantly washing away the heat of the day.

The Beach was already bustling with activity—clusters of campfires danced in the night, illuminating groups of people sitting around, talking and laughing.

Tents of all shapes and sizes were scattered like mushrooms on the higher parts of The Beach, and Young Man sat on colorful moisture-proof mats, drinking and chatting.

The air was filled with the aroma of barbecue and the laughter of Young Man.

A row of small shops along the shore glowed with warm yellow lights. In front of the coconut stalls, fresh, emerald-green coconuts were displayed. At the drink stands, colorful juices looked especially tempting under the lights. The charcoal fires at the barbecue stalls were roaring, and even the small beach tavern was packed with people.

Led by the class cadre, Chen Li and his group headed straight for the spot they had already claimed—a spacious open area on the east side of The Beach, where an old wooden boat used for decoration was grounded nearby; its mottled hull held a unique charm in the night.

The thoughtful class cadres had outlined the boundary with small white stones and hung twinkling camouflage lights on the surrounding branches, decorating this little corner to be both cozy and unique.

The students who arrived first were already busy in the open space—some were taking bags of ingredients out of boxes to sort them, others were adjusting the position of the charcoal braziers, and one boy was squatting on the ground, digging a pit for the charcoal fire.

"You've come at the right time! Come help skewer the meat..."

"Dazhuang, go find two flat stones; we need them to set up the grill!"

"Oh no, that's terrible, we forgot to buy soy sauce. Who can make a run to the convenience store?"

The overlapping calls, laughter, and the sound of the waves wove together; although busy, it was filled with joy.

Everyone had just finished dinner, and there was still some time before the actual barbecue, but the miscellaneous tasks like starting the fire, preparing ingredients, and setting up the grill had to be arranged in advance.

Chen Li and the others, who hadn't been assigned any tasks, looked around, searching for Liu Nansheng and her group.

They had arrived a step earlier than Chen Li and his group and had sent a message earlier saying they were drinking coconuts at the entrance of the convenience store.

Soon, Chen Li found them at a coconut stall.

The lighting at The Beach at night was dim. Although there were many streetlights and shop lights, there were far fewer prying eyes than during the day, which made them feel much more at ease.

"Why did you guys just arrive? Do you want some coconut? It's super sweet!" He Min waved at them, holding a coconut with a straw inserted.

Zhong Hao patted his stomach: "I just drank a lot of beer at the restaurant, and I'm still bloated now."

Liu Nansheng walked up to Chen Li holding her coconut and handed it to him: "Try it, it's really sweet."

Chen Li lowered his head and took a sip from her hand, the clear, sweet coconut juice immediately spreading in his mouth.

Yu Lulu excitedly pointed to a dark stretch of beach in the distance: "Shall we go walk on that beach over there?"

This girl from the inland Tianfu region had absolutely no resistance to the sea, her eyes sparkling: "It looks so mysterious over there!"

Liu Nansheng was the first to respond: "Okay."

In fact, they had long noticed that uninhabited beach. The white sand glowed softly under the moonlight, and layers of waves, like white lace, brushed against the shore again and again.

It was just that the girls hadn't dared to go over alone earlier—it was too dark, and it would be troublesome if they ran into bad people.

Now that Chen Li and his group had arrived, they immediately felt a sense of security and couldn't wait to explore that dark beach.

There were almost no lights or tourists there, but under the moonlight, the outline of the pure white sand and the rolling waves were clearly visible, possessing a unique, tranquil beauty.

Zhong Hao scratched his head, his tone hesitant: "I heard that beach isn't very safe; hooligans often hang out there... maybe we shouldn't go? Some girls were indeed harassed there before."

What he said made sense.

That beach was in a remote location, far from the main scenic area. It had neither lighting nor people, which was precisely why it had become a 'prime spot' for hooligans to gather.

Otherwise, such a beautiful beach would have long been occupied by tourists.

Zhong Hao wasn't afraid of trouble, but he was looking at his girlfriend He Min, his sister-in-law Yu Lulu, and Liu Nansheng and the others beside him.

If they really ran into trouble, the three boys might not be able to protect everyone completely.

In his view, it wasn't worth letting the girls take risks for the sake of a beach.

Upon hearing this, Liu Nansheng immediately cast an expectant look at Chen Li, her eyes clearly saying 'I want to go'.

Chen Li casually put his arm around Zhong Hao's shoulder: "Hey, since when did you become so cautious? Let's go. With us here, how could we let the girls get hurt?"

Liu Zhao also leaned in and put his arm around Zhong Hao's other shoulder: "Exactly, if there's a situation, can't us three big men protect them? We can at least hold out until we call for help."

Seeing the two of them looking so calm, most of Zhong Hao's concerns inexplicably dissipated.

Although he couldn't explain why, Chen Li's calmness really infected him. "Alright, since you both say so, if I keep insisting, I'll just be a buzzkill."

"Great!"

The girls cheered instantly, and Yu Lulu jumped happily and ran towards The Beach.

Zhong Hao shook his head helplessly, but his eyes were filled with doting affection.

He Min keenly sensed this change and gently squeezed his hand.

Indeed, since they started dating, Zhong Hao had become much more steady, considering everyone's safety before doing anything.

Perhaps this was the sense of responsibility that naturally arose after having someone to protect.

Chen Li walked forward with his arm around Zhong Hao's shoulder, the sea breeze blowing against their clothes: "Trust me, it's really fine."

Zhong Hao sighed, but his tone had softened: "You, you just spoil them. Given the looks of Nansheng and Lulu, if we really run into hooligans, it's bound to cause trouble."

"Let's go, let's go! If you don't come, we're going to go explore by ourselves!" He Min turned back and waved from not far away.

Chen Li smiled and gave Zhong Hao a push: "Let's go, if we drag our feet any longer, they'll really run off out of sight."

The three of them quickened their pace, catching up with the laughter ahead.