The crackling of the burning firewood at night was enough to lull anyone into a daze.
Leaning against the cave entrance, Zhang Liu gazed out at the sea under the starlight and moonlight. Once again, he confirmed there were no lights from a rescue ship on the horizon. He let out a bored yawn.
The sea breeze swept into the cave, softened by the warmth of the bonfire at the entrance. What was once a cool draft now felt cozy, making him even sleepier.
Pinching his index finger with his thumbnail, a slight sting snapped him back to alertness.
Noticing the flames dwindling, he tossed another piece of wood into the fire. The flames eagerly licked the new fuel, and the cave filled with the gentle crackle of burning bark and the faint sizzle of moisture evaporating from the wood. The sounds were soft, almost soothing.
It should be Anya's turn soon, right?
Glancing at the bright moon, now halfway across the sky, Zhang Liu turned to look at the two girls sleeping behind him.
Compared to Qin Ruoshuang, who slept neatly with her head resting on her arm, her breathing steady and calm, Anya's sleeping posture was a bit... chaotic. Not only was her head nestled against Qin Ruoshuang's chest, her lips smacking softly, but her bare, pale feet were also rubbing against the foam board beneath them. From Zhang Liu's angle, her pink calves and smooth thighs were fully exposed.
If he wanted to, he could easily lower his head and catch a glimpse of the black triangle beneath her skirt.
But Zhang Liu had only done that once—by accident, when he was lying in the cave, bored, and happened to glance over. He hadn't looked again since.
At their age, full of youthful energy, too much stimulation was a dangerous thing.
Should I wake Anya up for her shift? He glanced at the sky again, noticing the moon had crept further along, and hesitated.
Just then, the eerie howls of wolves pierced the night, right on cue.
"Awooo…"
"Wooo…"
The mournful, drawn-out cries sent shivers down his spine.
The smacking sounds from inside the cave stopped abruptly. Zhang Liu turned to see both Anya and Qin Ruoshuang wide awake, their eyes fixed on him.
"It's fine… go back to sleep," he said with a reassuring smile, quickly averting his gaze.
Anya's sleeping posture was really something else.
Not only was she using Qin Ruoshuang's 36C chest as a pillow, but her drool had soaked through Qin Ruoshuang's school uniform, turning the fabric semi-transparent and revealing far more than intended.
Feeling the damp chill on her chest, Qin Ruoshuang touched the spot instinctively, then glanced at Anya, who was wiping drool from the corner of her mouth with an apologetic grin.
"Hehe…" Anya let out a sheepish chuckle before promptly rolling over and falling back asleep, her eyes shut tight.
As for her night watch duty? Completely forgotten.
Zhang Liu kept an eye on them, feeling a mix of helplessness and amusement as Anya drifted off again. He had no choice but to lean back against the cave wall and continue his vigil.
The wolf howls didn't stop; they grew louder, more intense. Behind him, Anya's soft lip-smacking resumed—she was out cold again.
This girl's got some nerve, Zhang Liu thought, shaking his head. Yesterday she said she couldn't sleep because the wolf howls scared her, and now she's out like a light.
He reached out, brushing his hand against the ancient rock wall, perhaps millions of years old, and felt a pang of introspection.
Fate's a funny thing.
To think he'd spend two nights in a row on this deserted island with Anya and Qin Ruoshuang—two girls he'd likely never cross paths with again after graduation. And there'd surely be more nights like this to come.
Just then, a faint rustling sound came from the side of the cave.
It wasn't the sea breeze brushing against the rocks.
Something was stepping on the sand outside—a sound so faint it was nearly drowned out by the howling wolves.
Zhang Liu held his breath, straining to listen. As the rustling grew closer, his heart pounded harder. His hand tightened around the sharp wooden stick Anya had picked up earlier.
Click… click…
After the rustling stopped, a strange new sound took its place.
His nerves tightened further, but the clicking continued, relentless.
What is that? What's out there?
Fear screamed at him to stay put, to avoid whatever danger lurked outside. But his courage—and the rational part of his brain—urged him to act.
Better to face it now than wait for our condition to worsen and die slowly.
Reciting his favorite JOJO line in his head—The greatness of humanity lies in the noble stance we take against fear!—Zhang Liu took a deep breath.
He glanced back at the two sleeping girls, his gaze lingering as if it were a final farewell.
He pulled a burning piece of wood from the fire and stood up.
The moment he moved, the clicking outside stopped instantly.
In the midst of the wolves' howls, it was as if he and whatever was outside had reached a silent standoff.
Neither moved.
But the burning wood in his hand was growing hotter, the warmth turning to a scalding heat against his palm.
Then, the rustling started again. Unable to wait any longer, Zhang Liu hurled the burning wood toward the sound, gripping his stick defensively and peeking out cautiously.
In the firelight, a white shape darted around the bend of the mountain near the cave.
He caught a glimpse—it looked like a goat or something similar.
His eyes fell to a nearby puddle, noticeably half-empty. It dawned on him that they might not be the only ones using this water source.
But a goat? That was fine. Herbivores didn't attack humans.
Breathing a sigh of relief, Zhang Liu turned back—only to find Qin Ruoshuang standing silently behind him.
His eyes widened in shock. Startled, he stepped back, forgetting he was at the cave's edge. His foot slipped, and he began to fall backward.
"Hey!" Qin Ruoshuang let out a soft cry, lunging forward to grab him and yanking him back.
The sudden pull shifted his momentum, and instead of falling out, he stumbled forward—right into her.
The force knocked Qin Ruoshuang onto her back, but Zhang Liu instinctively cushioned her head with his hands before it hit the ground.
In the chaos, Qin Ruoshuang, losing balance, clung to the only thing she could—Zhang Liu's head—pulling it tightly against her chest.
What's happening?!
His cheeks were pressed against something soft and warm, her arms squeezing his head with surprising strength. Zhang Liu could barely breathe, let alone speak.
When he tried to open his mouth, he accidentally took in a piece of soft flesh through the thin fabric of her uniform.
Panicking, he shook his head to free himself, only to realize his tongue was brushing against a sensitive spot. Terrified, he froze.
Qin Ruoshuang, feeling the warmth against her chest, froze too.
Her hands still clutched his head, her slender legs instinctively wrapping around him.
But when she felt something firm pressing against her from Zhang Liu's body, she didn't dare move either.
The cave was silent except for the crackling fire, Anya's soft lip-smacking in her sleep, and the rapid, unspoken heartbeats only the two of them could hear.