Beauty Snake - Chapter 26

Chapter 26: Don’t Surf Too Hard, It’s Easy to Overdo It!

Ding—

Yao-yao-yao: “A-Fei! You’re in City S?”

The notification chimed. Ji Yunfei saw the sender: her college best friend, Su Yao. She was startled for a moment, then remembered that Su Yao had moved to City S for work after graduation. She must have seen the post on her friend circle.

FFF: “For work, haha. It happened to fall on a weekend, so I’m staying a few days to play”

Yao-yao-yao: “It’s been so long! Since you’re here, how about Sister Yao takes you surfing?”

Yao-yao-yao: “I recall a certain someone loved finding spots to surf back in college…”

FFF: “I’d love to, Sister Yao!!”

Ji Yunfei couldn’t help but smile at the familiar tone. This girl hadn’t changed a bit since university—and she still knew her so well.

The next day, Ji Yunfei prepared her gear early and headed to the beach. The sea breeze blew gently through the strands of hair on her forehead; it was incredibly soft.

“Ah—nostalgia—” Wearing a blue-and-white wetsuit and cradling her beloved surfboard, Ji Yunfei strolled under the warm sun. Gazing at the vast, boundless ocean, she felt a surge of excitement.

“A-Fei?” As she closed her eyes to enjoy the breeze and sun, a familiar voice called out from behind.

Turning around, she saw a tall woman running toward her. Long, sea-blue hair flowed freely behind her, swaying with the wind and carrying a unique charm. Her clear, bright eyes looked toward Ji Yunfei with a smile, and the shallow dimples at the corners of her mouth were instantly endearing.

“Su Yao?” Ji Yunfei found it hard to connect the person in front of her with the “Big Sister” in her memory who used to wear eyeliner up to the sky and loved “non-mainstream” hairstyles.

“What? Stunned by my beauty?”

“Don’t fall in love with me~ Sister is just a legend~” The woman winked at her.

“Ew—” Ji Yunfei shuddered. Yep, Su Yao was still Su Yao, always using that kind of talk to tease her.

“Alright, you. Since it’s been so long, shall we settle this on the waves?” Ji Yunfei arched an eyebrow, looking provocatively at the equally well-equipped Su Yao. Her voice couldn’t hide her excitement.

“So eager to get schooled? Sister Yao will grant your wish!” Su Yao didn’t back down, patting Ji Yunfei on the shoulder and leading her toward the vast sea.

Before long, both of them dove into the azure water. As the waves rose and fell, Ji Yunfei slowly reclaimed the feeling of her college surfing days.

“Not bad! You’re still so skilled after all this time!” Ji Yunfei stood lightly on her board, riding the waves as if she and the ocean were one. Her stylish form drew gasps of admiration from Su Yao.

“Woohoo—thrilling!” Ji Yunfei glided through the water, the wind whistling in her ears. Excitement turned her cheeks rosy. How long had it been since she had indulged like this? She couldn’t remember.

However, the weather is unpredictable, and accidents often strike when least expected.

Ji Yunfei had gone a bit wild, constantly challenging more aggressive waves, her eyes filled with a manic fervor.

Another wave surged…

Ji Yunfei skillfully stepped onto the board, extending her arms for balance and leaning slightly forward, ready to use the wave’s power to rise. But at the exact moment the wave was about to lift her, she suddenly felt the board beneath her feet jerked off-course by a powerful, hidden undercurrent.

“Crap, I overdid it…”

Her heart sank. She instinctively tried to adjust her center of gravity to stabilize herself, but the undercurrent was too strong. Her feet slipped, she lost her balance instantly, and the beast-like wave slammed her down.

The moment she was hit, there was a deafening “boom” in her ears, like a thousand noises crashing in at once. Seawater rushed into her nose and mouth; the salty, bitter taste filled her senses, bringing a sharp sting of pain.

“Mmph—”

Ji Yunfei struggled reflexively, her hands clawing at the water and her legs kicking desperately to reach the surface. But the waves seemed determined to trap her—one after another, they dragged her deeper into the abyss. Every struggle was futile.

As she sank further, her consciousness began to blur…

She had no strength left to fight. She felt her vitality draining away bit by bit, and a surge of fear and despair rose in her heart. Her body grew heavy, drifting helplessly with the pull of the ocean.

“Ji Yunfei!” Through the haze, she heard a shout, but she couldn’t hear it clearly underwater.

“Xie Yin?” The first thought that flashed through her mind was that Xie Yin had come to save her…

“A-Fei!” The call came again. Ji Yunfei forced her eyes open, and what greeted her was sea-blue hair and Su Yao’s eyes, filled with worry and panic.

“It’s not Xie Yin… it’s Su Yao…” Ji Yunfei admitted to herself that in the moment of clarity, she didn’t feel relief at being saved; instead, she felt a strange sense of loss.

Splash— Her arm was lifted, and she felt herself pressed against a shoulder that wasn’t very wide but was warm and reliable. Su Yao pulled her through the surface.

Finally free from the ocean’s grasp, Ji Yunfei was laid flat on the sand. The air was filled with the chaotic sounds of the crowd and people shouting.

“Ji Yunfei! Wake up!” Su Yao’s voice was loud. Ji Yunfei wanted to respond, but she simply couldn’t.

“Ji Yunfei!” A clear, cool female voice rang out. Compared to usual, that voice seemed to be trembling.

Ji Yunfei wondered if the water in her ears was causing hallucinations… she actually thought she heard Xie Yin’s voice…

Truly crazy…

“Ugh—”

The piercing white light of the hospital room made it hard for her to open her eyes. The faint scent of disinfectant lingered in her nose. Ji Yunfei shielded her eyes with her left hand and forced them open.

She saw the standard hospital ceiling. She was lying stiffly on the bed, an IV drip attached to her right hand.

But the most conspicuous thing… was Su Yao, sleeping soundly by the bed. The dark circles under Su Yao’s eyes made Ji Yunfei feel a wave of guilt and heartache.

“Mmm… you’re awake?!” Hearing her move, Su Yao woke up. Seeing Ji Yunfei conscious, her voice jumped several decibels.

“Yeah… thank you…” Ji Yunfei felt awkward for causing so much trouble, her voice stuttering.

“Why are you being polite with your Sister Yao?” Su Yao smiled and reached out, giving Ji Yunfei’s head a rough, affectionate ruffle.

“One after another, everyone loves ruffling my hair… I’m going to go bald sooner or later…”

Knock, knock, knock—

A sudden knock at the door broke the harmonious atmosphere. Su Yao motioned for Ji Yunfei to stay put, then marched to the door with an aggressive air, as if a demon was trying to break in.

Click. Su Yao closed the door behind her. Ji Yunfei could hear muffled voices outside—not loud, but enough to know a conversation was happening.

“A-Fei, there’s someone outside claiming to be your boss. She wants to see you. Do you want to see her?” A while later, the voices stopped and Su Yao returned, looking a bit helpless.

“This person rushed forward the moment I dragged you ashore. She’s been coming to the hospital constantly these past few days wanting to see you… but I wasn’t comfortable letting a stranger in, so I’ve been guarding the door… refusing to let her in.”

Hearing this, Ji Yunfei closed her eyes and fell back onto the bed.

So she hadn’t been hallucinating before she passed out; that really was Xie Yin’s voice.

But why was Xie Yin still in City S? Shouldn’t she have returned to City C long ago? Ji Yunfei frowned. She didn’t want to think about it—Xie Yin probably had her reasons. Maybe she stayed behind to spend time with Rika? Regardless, it couldn’t be because of her.

“Sister Yao, please tell her I don’t want to see anyone right now…” Ji Yunfei sighed. She truly didn’t have the energy to put on a mask and face Xie Yin as if nothing had happened.

Su Yao nodded and went back outside. Moments later, Ji Yunfei’s phone vibrated.

Snake-Scorpion Beauty: “Rest well. I’ve approved half a month of leave for you; no rush to come back.”

Snake-Scorpion Beauty: “I happen to have some temporary business in City S, so I’ll be staying here for the next two weeks as well.”

Snake-Scorpion Beauty: “Let me know when you’re discharged. I’ll come pick you up…”

Ji Yunfei wished a manhole cover would fall from the sky and crush her. How could it be this coincidental? She just wanted some peace to move on from her sadness—why was it so hard?

FFF: “Okay, CEO Xie. But don’t worry about picking me up; Su Yao will help me.”

Snake-Scorpion Beauty: “Why are you suddenly being so formal…”

FFF: “I’m not… isn’t this how a subordinate should talk to a superior?”

Snake-Scorpion Beauty: …”

Snake-Scorpion Beauty: “Fine, I understand. Take care of yourself. Let me know if you need anything.”

FFF: “Understood!”

“Aaaaah!” After replying, Ji Yunfei tossed her phone aside and pulled the blanket over her head to scream, but she was intercepted halfway.

“What is wrong with you, acting like this all of a sudden?” The blanket was pulled back, and Su Yao’s teasing eyes appeared before her.

“Sister Yao—save your little sister—!” Ji Yunfei grabbed Su Yao and started dramatically wailing about her misery, making Su Yao giggle.

Just as Ji Yunfei was getting into her performance, Su Yao pushed her away by the forehead. She tossed her blue hair back, sat down beside Ji Yunfei, and said with a smirk:

“Tell Sister Yao: what exactly is making our little A-Fei so miserable?”

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