Chapter 1, The Reversal (Part 1)

It is now around five or six in the morning, and the sky is just beginning to brighten. Having consumed half a bottle of cheap liquor and three cups of a local drink, she is suffering from a splitting headache and an unbearable thirst. Whether it is the alcohol or the comfort of a stranger, both are merely temporary stimuli. In the stillness of the morning, all that remains in her heart is a deeper sense of sorrow and helplessness

William Butler Yeats "The White Bird"

Songxi did not know when to stop, turning to the side, gripping even tighter. Ye Fei also paused, and in the silence of that moment, her heartbeat suddenly quickened. Indeed, he extended his arms and held her tightly in his embrace, his breath warm against her ear, stirring her heartstrings. Ye Fei did not shy away; she even relished this long-awaited intimacy, simply closing her eyes and resting her head in the crook of his shoulder.

I am captivated by those countless islands, those coastal paradises of Danan

"How could this be?" Song Xi laughed heartily, "You are lying."

The boy in front is about to kiss

Ye Fei took a large towel from the inn and walked all the way to the beach, intending to rent a set of snorkeling equipment. Recalling the ambiguous actions with Song Xi from the previous night, she felt somewhat regretful about her frivolity. Upon reaching the edge of the beach, she unconsciously slowed her pace, contemplating which direction to turn.

There, time will surely forget us, and sadness will no longer draw near

While she was hesitating, she heard Song Xi calling her name. He approached with a bright smile, holding a plastic bag, and patted Ye Fei's shoulder, asking, "You drank quite a bit yesterday, do you have a headache? Have you had breakfast?" His demeanor was calm, as if nothing had happened.

Therefore, she cannot be considered to have suffered a loss, can she

"So... do you have a boyfriend?" he asked in a low voice

I apologize. She stepped back, placed the flip-flops properly, and asked once more, "Is it possible to rent a mask and fins here?"

Song Xi's smile is both warm and sincere. He recommended several sightseeing routes to Ye Fei that avoid tourist crowds, as well as affordable and quality restaurants. He often reminded her not to drink too much, lest she find it difficult to return. About an hour ago, he mentioned that the most famous reggae band in his country was performing at the beach next door and asked Ye Fei if she wanted to go to the concert with him. He also said that the bartender over there is his good buddy, and they could drink to their heart's content. About an hour ago, he mentioned that the most famous reggae band in his country was performing at the beach next door and asked Ye Fei if she wanted to go to the concert with him. He also said that the bartender over there is his good buddy, and they could drink to their heart's content.

I want to go snorkeling, first I will rent a mask and fins

But that photograph has already explained everything. Ye Fei hurriedly booked a flight to Southeast Asia after browsing through the island scenery in her collection. Some friends supported her decision to go out and relax, while others worried that she might be in a daze and unable to take care of herself. However, not many knew about her romantic island dream, among them was her senior Bai Xia, who had already graduated. Bai Xia often went on vacations to the seaside and provided Ye Fei with plenty of travel advice. She said, "I know that if you want to go, no one can stop you. What you need is a farewell ceremony, consider it a closure, so you won't keep thinking about it later. Let go of this burden, and the future will be easier to navigate."

The other party was tall, with pronounced facial features that gave him a strikingly handsome appearance. However, his expression was indifferent, exuding a strong sense of pressure as he looked down at Ye Fei from a superior position

What is everything

He remains succinct, "don ' w."

Suddenly, a flicker of fire ignited in the shadows of the bushes. The faint light illuminated half of a face, which held a freshly lit cigarette. He was unaware of how long he had been sitting on the deadwood by the beach; though he remained silent, the curve of his lips betrayed a sense of mockery and disdain. The dim, bright red burned in Lei Fei's heart, causing her pain, and she hurriedly pushed aside Song Xi, stammering an apology before fleeing in a panic

"We are separated." Ye Fei raised her head, leaning slightly backward, "It is too far apart."

Oh? Is that so? Then, tell me, tell me everything. Ye Fei heard her own frivolous words, laced with provocation

After drinking a large glass of water, she could no longer fall asleep. Ye Fei stood barefoot on the cold tiles of the bathroom, numbly washing her face, staring at a gloomy and dull face in the mirror, feeling somewhat regretful for coming here, truly a dual self-torture of both mind and body. She took out her passport and flight ticket order, sitting cross-legged on the floor, staring blankly at them. Why did she come here? Because Ye Fei had seen photos of this island online, one of which particularly resembled her ideal Eden, a scene that could only appear on calendars and computer desktops: blue skies and azure seas, palm trees swaying gracefully on the white sandy beach. All along, it had been her ideal honeymoon destination. Xu Pengcheng had told Ye Fei before going to the United States that with so many small islands in the Caribbean, there must be one that could match her imagination. Ye Fei believed that after a year and a half, he had not forgotten to search for such an island; it was just that he had fulfilled the promise he made to her with another woman.

"Then it would be a long story." He lowered his head, his lips close to her ear, "First, you need to tell me where you live."

"I might have had a bit too much to drink," Ye Fei said, feeling embarrassed, "I hardly seem like myself anymore"

Ye Fei found herself unable to move, struggling to breathe, and gradually becoming aware—was this a dream, a nightmare? But why, even when feeling as if she were suffocating, could she not wake up? With all her strength, she opened her eyes, and only then did her tightly constricted throat relax. She realized she was lying on the wooden floor of her room, the strong sea breeze blowing in at night, her right arm completely numb, feeling like a piece of stone. She vaguely recalled stumbling upon returning home at night, collapsing onto the floor and crying uncontrollably. After a while, exhausted from crying, she wanted to curl up and rest. Then, she remembered nothing more.

Whenever he drinks too much, it is highly likely to see Xu Pengcheng. He indeed arrived as scheduled, tall and handsome just as Ye Fei remembered. He stood on the rugged cliffs of this island, his clothes fluttering, while the surging waves crashed against the rocks, splashing pearls of water. The bright blue sky under the blazing sun was dazzling, and Ye Fei could not see his expression clearly. He opened his arms, so close that Ye Fei could leap into his embrace with just a single bound. However, her feet seemed rooted to the ground, unable to move an inch. The more anxious she felt, the more rigid her body became, to the point where she could not even lift her arms. The sunlight was blindingly bright, yet it felt bone-chillingly cold on her skin. She watched helplessly as another girl walked past her, leaving behind a mocking laugh. Xu Pengcheng's gaze was fixed on that girl, embracing her tightly, as if Ye Fei did not exist at all.

Ye Fei rubbed her temples, recalling the solemnity of her departure. However, upon arriving at the island, she became listless, unwilling to go anywhere, wishing to wash her face with tears and indulge in a drunken stupor. Yet, the notebook she carried listed the wishes she had accumulated over the years; even if it was merely a task, she had to fulfill them one by one. After flying thousands of kilometers and exhausting all her savings, it was not to hide in a room with air conditioning. Wasn't it to fulfill all those wishes she once fantasized about achieving together with Xu Pengcheng? In this lifetime, she would never touch them again. She was here to miss Xu Pengcheng one last time fiercely, and then bury all the memories.

Thus, Ye Fei allowed him to hold her hand as they walked onto the beach illuminated by the full moon. The silver light danced among the undulating waves on the sea, resembling fine threads that wove an endless tapestry of satin.

In the intimate moments, Ye Fei was certainly aware of what might happen next. A vague figure flashed through her mind, and her head throbbed as if it were about to explode. She did not want to think, did not want to remember that person! If this were a play, she would rather perform with all her might, with no reason to stop. She did not want to leave Song Xi's warm embrace, willingly swept away by his passion, even if it meant sinking into the abyss, never to return.

However, on Christmas Day, Ye Fei came across a photo online that depicted a blue sky, azure sea, lush mountains, and a stretch of sandy beach, everything as she had imagined, only the characters in the picture had changed. The girl posted a photo of herself with Xu Pengcheng in Jamaica on K, where he had his arm around her shoulder, and she was tightly wrapped around his waist, nestled in his embrace. She certainly did not forget to tag Xu Pengcheng in the photo, so this picture appeared prominently on his homepage update. Ye Fei and Xu Pengcheng's mutual friends fell into silence, with no one responding. However, he had so many new friends; some praised the beautiful scenery, others extolled the golden couple, and there was even a local guide from Jamaica who commented: "What a lovely pair, your eyes look very similar."

He slowly uttered two words: "ly (for diving only)"

The classic tunes of the band drifted from afar, and the audience sang in unison, their voices resonating through the air. Ye Fei felt the silent tide wash over her feet, the white sand slipping between her toes. She felt as if she were sinking just a little bit.

Thus, I gathered my spirits and opened the notebook. The next item is to go snorkeling at the coral reef to observe tropical fish

Everything about ... ... men

Following the direction he pointed, Ye Fei walked along the beach for about 200 meters. On her left, there was a relatively large diving shop. Outside was a platform made of wooden planks, beneath which were two square pools made of cement, next to a row of clothes drying racks. Ascending the steps, several wooden tables were placed under the corridor on the first floor, with hammocks hanging nearby. Through the half-open door, one could see the neatly arranged diving equipment inside.

Song Xi raised the pocket in his hand and said, "I bought breakfast at the market, let's eat together!"

No.

Ye Fei no longer asked further and turned to leave

A simple stage was set up on the beach, with intense spotlights illuminating the surroundings as if it were daytime. Most of the crowd consisted of young people from Europe and America, swaying their bodies and waving their arms to the deafening music. The girls wore tank tops or strapless dresses, while the men casually donned t-shirts or went shirtless. Ye Fei squeezed among them and danced for a while, soon covered in a layer of sticky sweat. Song Xi pulled her to sit near the bar, where a few other tourists were chatting in English with various accents, sharing their experiences from the journey, each person shouting loudly to compete with the giant speakers. She could basically understand, but every time she wanted to speak, she had to think about her wording and grammar, and not wanting to shout at the top of her lungs, she found it hard to join the conversation. She simply joined everyone in downing three drinks.

Soon we will distance ourselves from the tedium of lilies, roses, and flames

Ye Fei suddenly felt like a fool

The entrance to the beach has been enclosed by a wooden fence, and several locals are standing at the entrance selling tickets, the price of which is not cheap, enough to enjoy a meal of curry crab at a food stall

Ye Fei inexplicably felt a sense of dread and mustered the courage to ask, "So where can I rent it?"

At the beginning of December last year, he called and said: "We are currently unable to communicate properly and need to take a moment to calm down. I will not be returning home this winter break, as meeting would only lead to arguments." Ye Fei, in her anger, threw the books on the table all over the floor, but she couldn't bring herself to smash her laptop as well, which indicated that some rationality still remained in her heart. As she bent down to pick up the scattered items, she began to reflect on her actions. She called her close friends, had dinner with them, and asked whether she had been too arrogant and failed to understand the difficulties Xu Pengcheng faced while studying abroad; whether she should not resort to the silent treatment every time they argued, waiting for him to come to her and apologize. After a round of criticism and self-criticism, Ye Fei gradually calmed down, chose a novel depicting long-distance relationships, and wrote a heartfelt long letter to be tucked inside the book, which she sent to Xu Pengcheng via FedEx. How traditional and elegant a romance it was! She thought about how moved he would be upon receiving this Christmas gift, and whether he would immediately buy a plane ticket to fly back to her side.

Upon arriving at the island, Ye Fei encountered every person with kind eyes and a warm smile. However, the individual before her wore an expression of impatience, mixed with a hint of mockery, and the curve of his lips seemed familiar.

Ye Fei did not know what reggae was, but upon hearing that there would be free drinks, she immediately nodded in agreement. Recently, she had been craving alcohol, particularly enjoying the state of being half-drunk and half-awake, feeling as if she exuded an alluring charm from head to toe

Oh, it's too far away..." Songxi raised an eyebrow, "You do not understand men.

This is all written for foreigners. Song Xi held Ye Fei's hand, greeted the doorman, who smiled knowingly and did not ask further, and then placed a fluorescent stamp on the back of Song Xi's hand.

For the past few nights, she has been going to the Monkey Bar to have a few drinks. Occasionally, she opts for mixed cocktails such as Coconut Breeze, Blue Coral Reef, and Mojito. Most of the time, like the locals, she drinks the cheapest local wine, which comes in deep brown bottles. Its flavor resembles rum but is much coarser in processing, with a strong taste upon entry. However, it is affordable, and when paired with a can of cola or pineapple juice, along with a small bucket of ice, she can drink until the bar closes.

The man turned around and scrutinized her from head to toe, his gaze lingering on Ye Fei's flip-flops. His thick brows furrowed slightly as he spoke: "shoes off." Although he had a face that appeared to be of Asian descent, he uttered those two cold English words.

As long as we are the white birds floating on the waves, oh, my beloved

He is half a head taller than Ye Fei, with slightly curly hair falling over his forehead, bright and deep-set eyes, and a straight nose. To anyone who looks at him, he presents a vibrant and handsome face.

A tall man with his back to Ye Fei was holding a long-handled broom, clearing the floating sand and fallen leaves on the platform. She approached him and politely asked in English, "Excuse me, may I rent a set of snorkeling equipment"

There it is, look! Song Xi extended his hand and pointed, "After finishing the rental, come back for breakfast!"

The band on stage was performing energetically, and Song Xi noticed that Ye Fei was utterly bored. He pulled her up from her seat and shouted, "It's too noisy here, shall we go for a walk by the seaside?"

Ye Fei lowered her head and saw the man barefoot, with a plastic basin for rinsing feet placed on the steps. Next to it was a sign that read, "Please take off your shoes." She had just not noticed and had stepped up wearing flip-flops, leaving a trail of white sand on the wooden floor he had just cleaned

This scene froze before Ye Fei's eyes, resembling a photograph on a computer. A voice in her heart was shouting: "He is mine, he is mine! Give him back to me!" However, she could not open her mouth, let alone utter any cries; her entire being felt as if it were sinking into an endless sea, the sensation of suffocation both real and intense

She has truly lost her mind, even failing to call Xu Pengcheng. Shouldn't she be crying out in anguish and questioning him? Yet, Ye Fei does not dare to. In her heart, there are a thousand venomous words cursing that girl, but she cannot utter a single harsh word to Xu Pengcheng. Ye Fei knows that her friends will think she is weak, narrow-minded, and unworthy. However, most girls, when faced with such situations, first blame the vixen who has stolen their man, which is why the scene of the legitimate wife tearing apart the mistress always garners applause. Ye Fei knows that her friends will think she is weak, narrow-minded, and unworthy. However, most girls, when faced with such situations, first blame the vixen who has stolen their man, which is why the scene of the legitimate wife tearing apart the mistress always garners applause. As for the person she has loved deeply, or still loves, no matter how much resentment she harbors, it can never surpass the pain. By not listening to his voice, she does not have to hear him say those resolute words in person. Ye Fei does not want to confront the harsh reality directly; she fears that she will collapse. By not listening to his voice, she does not have to hear him say those resolute words in person. Ye Fei does not want to confront the harsh reality directly; she fears that she will collapse.

His name is Songxi, and he is twenty-two years old. Ye Fei has known him for only two days. Exiting through the back door of the inn where she is temporarily staying, she walks along a narrow alley for about thirty to fifty meters until she reaches the seaside. A row of shops lines the edge of the beach, and Songxi works at the first bar on the left, Monkeybar, where he mixes drinks and sells alcohol, occasionally strumming his guitar and singing a couple of songs. Like other young locals, his skin is tanned to a bright brown, and around his neck hangs a polished shell pendant. On his left arm, he has a tattoo of a totemic shark that moves with the swing of his arm, gliding over his taut and smooth muscles.