Chapter 5

After resting for a night at the guesthouse, Qin Yao woke up early. Following the recommendation of the waitstaff, she walked to the nearby bay, stepping on the light yellow beach with her bare feet to watch the sunrise.

The golden dawn colored the entire sea surface. Up close, the waves were turbulent, crashing onto the beach countless times, but the distant sea seemed incredibly calm, with clear blue water lying still.

The gentle sea breeze brushed against her face, and taking a deep breath, the pure fresh air purged her entire chest, making her feel invigorated.

"So beautiful! So comfortable!"

Stepping onto the island felt like entering another world. As dawn broke, it was the romantic colors of a fairy tale.

Qin Yao carried her shoes, walking barefoot across the beach, leaving a trail of footprints. After a leisurely stroll, she put her shoes back on and looked at the leaning coconut trees in the distance, which had a somewhat enchanting exotic charm. A smile tugged at the corner of her mouth.

No wonder the island was destined to be a great vacation spot.

With a good environment and a good mood, Qin Yao composed herself and forgot about the events of the previous day. She had only known Gu Cheng for a few days, after all, and considered it a fleeting romantic encounter.

Back at the guesthouse, breakfast was a simple coarse grain porridge and steamed buns. After finishing breakfast, she called her best friend Chen Baozhen to let her know she had arrived on the island.

"YaoYao, you're here! Wonderful!"

Chen Baozhen instructed her on how to get to the military base family courtyard. She would need to take the island's diesel bus first and then be picked up by a military jeep from the base.

Chen Baozhen was excited on the phone, while Qin Yao's expression remained indifferent. She wasn't the real Qin Yao and didn't share any sisterly bond with Chen Baozhen. She also wasn't sure about the true nature of their relationship.

Maybe it was just superficial sisterhood?

There was a bus at eight in the morning. Qin Yao boarded the bus with her luggage. On the bus was Tian Shuyun, who looked surprised to see Qin Yao.

Isn't Qin Yao an educated youth?

Tian Shuyun sat at the front of the bus. Qin Yao stowed her luggage and sat on the second row by the window. The sunlight was just right, and outside, the coconut and banana trees were lush and green. The sunlight shone on the thick green leaves like jade, casting a glow on Qin Yao's face, making her skin appear as flawless as white jade.

Tian Shuyun turned her head and saw Qin Yao's delicate cheeks, feeling a pang of jealousy.

The other night, with a flashlight in the cabin, it wasn't very clear, but someone said Qin Yao had delicate and pretty features. Tian Shuyun thought, even if she weighed 140 pounds, how pretty could she be?

White, truly white. Among everyone on the bus, Qin Yao was the whitest.

Not a dull white, but a glowing white with a hint of red, like freshly peeled lychee, lustrous and tempting.

Recalling the few times she called her "ugly," Tian Shuyun's face burned with embarrassment. She turned her head away, not wanting to look at Qin Yao anymore. A fat person was still a fat person, no matter how white they were.

Besides, she might marry better than Qin Yao. Tian Shuyun was visiting her cousin, hoping to marry an army officer like her cousin did. Meanwhile, Qin Yao was chatting up a fisherman.

Most of the passengers on the bus were ordinary islanders. The majority wore white clothes. The men had white shirts, dark skin, and brown conical hats, with baskets containing things that gave off a fishy smell mixed with the overly sweet scent of tropical fruits.

"Little sister, you should wear this for protection," a middle-aged woman kindly offered, seeing Qin Yao's fair skin and knowing she had just arrived on the island, worried she might get sunburned.

"Don't think it's not hot now; the sun is quite strong."

The island's sun was harsh, with intense ultraviolet rays. The sea breeze was refreshing, so it didn't feel hot, but it was easy to get sunburned.

"Thank you, sister," Qin Yao accepted the conical hat without hesitation, wearing it at an angle to shield herself from the sunlight outside the window.

The bus ride lasted four or five hours. Qin Yao couldn't decide if sitting on the bus was worse than being on a boat, both feeling like being fish in a net, thirsty and struggling.

When she got off the bus, a military jeep from the base was waiting to pick her up.

Qin Yao approached, carrying her luggage. Tian Shuyun hurried over, saying loudly, "Comrade, do you know my sister? Her name is Bai Qiuling."

Bai Qiuling? So she's indeed the protagonist.

"Oh, Comrade Tian Shuyun, right? My sister-in-law mentioned you. Quick, get on the bus," the young driver, in his twenties, with a slim face and dark skin, said kindly. His thick eyebrows gave him a honest look. He took Tian Shuyun's luggage and placed it in the back.

Tian Shuyun opened the door and, when she looked back at Qin Yao, gave her a smug and showy look.

Qin Yao walked over with her luggage.

Tian Shuyun stuck her head out of the window, "What are you coming over here for?"

Qin Yao ignored her and spoke to the young driver, "Hello, Comrade. I'm Qin Yao."

The driver, surprised, took a moment to react, "Oh, Comrade Qin Yao, we were just waiting for you. My sister-in-law asked me to pick up both of you. Leave the luggage; I'll take care of it. Please get on the bus."

"Thank you, Comrade," Qin Yao handed him a package of fried snacks like cat ears, "a little snack, have a try. How long have you been waiting? Have something to eat."

"This... this is too much," the young driver said, but his eyes couldn't leave the package of fried snacks.

At twenty years old, with a huge appetite, he rarely got to eat such tempting snacks except during festivals.

Qin Yao's father was a chef, so she had easier access to fried snacks without waiting for special occasions.

After a bit of back and forth, the young driver happily accepted and tried a few pieces of the snacks. Qin Yao got on the bus.

Inside the bus, Tian Shuyun's mouth watered at the sight of the small package of fried snacks.

After getting on the bus, Qin Yao glanced at her indifferently and ate a couple of pieces to fill her stomach, firmly refusing to share.

As a contrast, they were naturally on opposite sides.

Qin Yao had no interest in ingratiating herself with the original protagonist or building a relationship with her. Especially when the original protagonist's cousin, Tian Shuyun, was of such low character, there was no need to get involved.

Her current goal was to "find a job" and try to stay on the island.

After eating a few pieces of fried snacks, the young driver, Huo Wei, who had been in the army for three years, opened up. His aunt, Ge Yunxia, was the head nurse at the Military Hospital.

"My aunt loves to play matchmaker," Huo Wei said, holding the steering wheel with a meaningful look.

The two young girls behind them said they were here to visit relatives, but perhaps they were also looking for a partner.

Life on the island is tough, but the Navy provides good support and benefits, including border defense allowances and voyage subsidies calculated by the hour. There shouldn't be major financial difficulties.

Qin Yao looked fair and plump. Her family is in the capital, in a big city. She might not be willing to find a partner here, Huo Wei tentatively opened his mouth.

Qin Yao didn't respond, and Tian Shuyun hurriedly asked, "Who is the best unmarried male officer here?"

Huo Wei was startled, "The best? Captain Gu."

After saying that, he glanced back at Qin Yao, then continued looking forward.

Captain Gu is a tough nut to crack. According to his aunt, she enthusiastically introduced several matches to him, but he wasn't interested. The young girls from the art troupe, hospital, and school all fell for him and begged Ge Yunxia to introduce them. Ge Yunxia was annoyed.

It was only when Captain Gu's family arranged for someone that there was a much-talked-about matchmaking. Chen Baozhen, a delicate girl from the city, had an extraordinary demeanor and appearance, but it didn't work out. Captain Gu didn't like her, and she was intercepted by the older officer Gao Jianguo who came to watch.

Gao Jianguo, from a rural family, joined the army young and had some education. He was seen studying by lamplight at night and was recommended by his superior to attend military school. Gao Jianguo seized the opportunity, performed well, and was assigned to the fleet, becoming a deputy regiment leader at a young age, an outstanding young officer.

Gao Jianguo's family conditions were poor, but he was excellent. He had high standards and didn't settle for ordinary girls. When he met Chen Baozhen, he seized the opportunity and impressed others.

A city girl from the capital, fair and well-educated with parents of cadre status, marrying such a girl was enviable.

But life isn't just romantic; it's also about daily necessities after marriage. The delicate city girl couldn't handle life on the island, causing the couple to argue frequently, much to everyone's surprise.

Many officers sighed: "A wife should be virtuous."

A delicate city girl couldn't sustain a family; a capable homemaker was needed.

After that, many male officers became more pragmatic in finding partners. Huo Wei's aunt often used Chen Baozhen's case as a negative example to advise officers not to focus too much on a girl's appearance or family background, but on whether she could manage a household.

Huo Wei had heard this many times, but couldn't mention it in front of Qin Yao today. Qin Yao was Chen Baozhen's good friend.

"He must be an outstanding comrade." After asking, Tian Shuyun smiled at Qin Yao, "Qin Yao, you look so fair and delicate, obviously from the city. If you want to find a partner here, they'll definitely introduce you to the best, Captain Gu, remember that."

Tian Shuyun smiled with hidden intentions, trying to embarrass Qin Yao, setting her up to fail.

"I don't need to." Qin Yao ate a honey walnut, sweet and crispy, with a smile.

"What? Do you really like that fisherman?" Tian Shuyun exaggerated.

Qin Yao smiled, "Yes, I like fishermen, or rather, I like young and handsome ones."

"You don't like young ones? You prefer mature and steady officers? I think you and Captain Gu are quite suitable. He's excellent, older and still single, maybe he prefers practical women who can manage a household."

"Xiao Huo, how old is Captain Gu?"

Huo Wei was silent for a moment, feeling a chill, "Captain Gu is thirty."

"That's not young." Qin Yao smiled, "At his age, he'd prefer practical women who can manage a household. If he liked young and beautiful, he would have found someone by now."

She patted Tian Shuyun's shoulder, "You seem very capable of managing a household. Seize your opportunity."

Tian Shuyun: "..."

Though knowing the probability was low, she couldn't help but hope, what if there was a chance? If she married better than her cousin Bai Qiuling...

Huo Wei drove in silence, feeling a chill thinking about their conversation regarding Captain Gu.