Under the eerie howls of wolves, the moonlight, once faintly bright, now cast a pale, gloomy glow. It felt almost like a scene from a zombie movie, chilling and unsettling.
Curled up tightly within a shelter of foam boards, Qin Ruoshuang whispered, "Are they coming to eat us?"
"No way," Zhang Liu replied confidently. "We've got a clear view from here. If a wolf were coming, I'd spot it right away. Plus, wolves don't usually attack creatures bigger than themselves—that's just not how the jungle works. And most importantly, this sandy beach isn't their hunting ground. Wolves like to chase and pounce in open spaces, not here."
His three-point explanation was meant to soothe the trembling girl beside him.
"Really?" Qin Ruoshuang's voice softened, her fear easing slightly at his words.
"Of course!" Zhang Liu said with conviction. "Have you forgotten I'm the top student in our grade? Any other questions?"
"No…" Qin Ruoshuang murmured, feeling a bit more at ease. She nestled deeper into the makeshift foam shelter, seeking comfort in its flimsy warmth.
But despite his bold words, Zhang Liu was riddled with guilt. The three reasons he'd given were pure fabrications, thrown together on the spot. His only "outdoor experience" came from a handful of wilderness survival videos. He knew next to nothing about wild wolves. He'd only said it to calm Qin Ruoshuang down. If a pack of wolves did show up, they'd be helpless.
Better to prepare for the worst and hope for the best.
The relentless howls of wolves and other animal sounds filled the night, stripping away any chance of sleep. Zhang Liu and Qin Ruoshuang lay awake, tense and alert.
After what felt like an eternity under the moonlight, a rustling sound came from behind Zhang Liu.
"What's wrong?" he asked, unable to see Qin Ruoshuang through the foam barrier. Sticking his head over wasn't an option, so he kept his voice gentle.
"It's nothing… I just miss home," Qin Ruoshuang replied, her voice thick with tears.
"I thought we were out here for an adventure. Missing home already?" Zhang Liu teased, though he understood her longing all too well. In their dire situation, he could only play dumb to keep her spirits up.
"It's not the same!" Qin Ruoshuang whispered. "We were supposed to be in Japan, eating hot pot and barbecue, watching all sorts of performances…"
"Hey, I'm right here with you, aren't I?" Zhang Liu cut in. "Once we're safe, I'll make you treat me to hot pot for a whole month at that fancy mansion of yours! Three meals a day—no, four, including late-night snacks!"
"Haha!" Qin Ruoshuang couldn't help but laugh, despite her unease. "You're not afraid of overeating?"
"What's a sore throat compared to hot pot? I'll just pop some medicine and keep eating!" Zhang Liu pressed on, seizing the moment. "And that fancy beef—what's it called? I want to stuff my face with it!"
"Fancy beef?" Qin Ruoshuang repeated, puzzled, then giggled. "You mean Kobe beef, right?"
"Eh, details, details," Zhang Liu said, feigning embarrassment. "Anyway, didn't Anya say her family owns some special cattle ranch?"
A sudden silence fell. Qin Ruoshuang's laughter faded, and Zhang Liu realized his mistake. Mentioning Anya had dragged her back to the harsh reality.
He couldn't take back his words, so they sat in awkward silence, lips sealed.
Finally, Qin Ruoshuang broke the quiet. "We're not really going to be stuck here forever, are we? Are people out there looking for us?"
She'd clung to hope during the day, imagining a rescue team arriving or Zhang Liu finding other survivors to band together with. But after a full day, it was just the two of them—her weak and him struggling to keep them going. His earlier joke had cracked her fragile optimism, letting despair creep in.
"Don't worry," Zhang Liu said quickly, sensing her desperation. "Besides me and Teacher Zhou, every one of the nine others on that plane was some kind of celebrity kid or business tycoon's heir. Their families are probably pulling every string they've got to find us. Rescue is coming soon."
"Tomorrow, I'll figure out how to make a fire," he continued. "Once we've got that, we can cook something good. We're by the sea, right? If we can't have Kobe beef hot pot, we'll have a seafood hot pot instead!"
"Pfft!" Qin Ruoshuang burst out laughing. "You think this is a supermarket where you can just pick whatever you want?"
"Hey, we've got to stay positive," Zhang Liu said with a grin. "As long as we're alive, there's always a way."
His words seemed to work. As he spoke, the distant wolf howls began to fade, and the island fell into an eerie silence. Exhausted, the two finally drifted off to sleep.
They were jolted awake by the morning sun.
"No rescue yet," Zhang Liu said, his voice heavy with frustration as he glanced at Qin Ruoshuang, who had poked her head out from the foam shelter. He turned to stare at the endless sea, disappointment sinking in. He'd hoped to wake up to the sight of a rescue team.
"Mmm…" Qin Ruoshuang responded faintly, still nestled in the foam. After a night of fear and pain, she was physically and mentally drained. The foam smelled awful, but she was too exhausted to care.
"You don't look good," Zhang Liu said, noticing her pale face. He hurried over, gently helping her sit up so the morning sun could warm her stiff, numb limbs.
The faint warmth of the sunlight gradually brought feeling back to her body. Qin Ruoshuang turned to the anxious boy beside her and managed a weak smile. "Thank you."
"Still being polite at a time like this?" Zhang Liu shook his head with a wry smile. As he opened his mouth to say more, his eyes caught a flash of bright red on the ground.
Following the trail upward, he saw Qin Ruoshuang's slender thighs, her black stockings now removed and draped over the foam board. Zhang Liu had never been so close to a girl's bare legs before, and for a moment, he felt his breath catch.
Qin Ruoshuang noticed his gaze. She tried to shift and cover herself, but a sharp pain in her lower abdomen made her gasp and convulse. Her legs, previously pressed tightly together, parted slightly from the spasm.
The skirt that had barely concealed her before now failed completely. The sparse "forest" and a pale, snow-like expanse were suddenly exposed to Zhang Liu's view.