Silver Bell slipped off her shoes and walked barefoot on the golden sand. Her delicate, jade-like feet sparked endless daydreams.

Come to think of it, she wore only Yue Feather’s old shoes. They were from his middle school days, far too small for him now.

He’d kept them because they were the last pair his birth mother ever bought him.

Size 38 shoes still hung loose on Silver Bell’s feet, three sizes too big. But she had no choice but to wear them.

“I need to earn money…” Yue Feather clenched his fist secretly. He longed to buy Silver Bell pretty clothes, but his pockets were empty. Even filling his stomach was tough, let alone buying outfits.

Even roadside stall clothes cost at least a hundred yuan. And their quality was usually awful. He didn’t mind wearing rags himself, but he couldn’t bear giving such things to Silver Bell.

With nothing else to wear, Silver Bell always wore Yue Feather’s school uniform. Even in this scorching summer heat, she kept the long-sleeved jacket on.

Wasn’t it sweltering?

Yue Feather glanced up at the blazing sun. He felt like peeling off his skin just to cool down.

But the seaside air was slightly cooler. The sand beneath his feet felt refreshingly chill, soothing his nerves.

“It’s been so long since I came here…” Silver Bell spread her arms wide, as if embracing the entire ocean. Bright sunlight bathed her face, making her fair skin glow like crystal.

To Yue Feather, this was the most beautiful sight in the world. If he’d had a camera, he’d have frozen this moment forever.

He sank slowly onto the sand, watching the lovely girl by the distant waves, murmuring to herself. A dreamy haze washed over him.

The world blurred into fuzzy light spots. Only she stayed sharp and clear.

Gradually, even Silver Bell began to fade.

She dissolved into golden sparkles, vanishing into thin air.

Yue Feather’s eyes snapped wide open. Everything sharpened around him—but Silver Bell was gone.

As if she’d never existed.

He sprinted wildly to where she’d stood. Her warmth seemed to linger there, but nothing remained.

Only a trail of footprints marked the sand, already cold.

“Silver Bell—Silver Bell—!” Yue Feather shouted. No reply came. The endless sea stretched empty, leaving him utterly alone.

Loneliness crashed over him like a wave.

He crumpled to the ground, boneless and weak.

“So that beauty was just a dream? My own illusion…” He bit his lip hard, but tears spilled anyway, soaking the sand. “Huh… why… even if it’s fake… don’t wake me up… why force me back… that would’ve been enough… why won’t you grant this tiny wish…”

Sobs choked his words. He cried alone, shoulders shaking.

Men weren’t meant to cry easily. But falling from heaven to earth shattered anyone—especially a boy like him.

A lavish villa stood nearby, jolting Yue Feather’s memory.

*“But there’s still a villa by the sea. The only building there.”*

“It wasn’t there earlier… because it was a dream…” he muttered with a bitter smile.

“Yue Feather? Wake up! Sun’s burning your butt!” Silver Bell’s voice cut through his ears. Someone shook his shoulder. Darkness swallowed him—then light flooded back as his eyes opened.

He turned. Barefoot Silver Bell sat beside him, her small hand resting on his arm. It felt icy, like fresh snow.

The real touch snapped him awake. He pinched his thigh discreetly.

It stung.

Right. That was the dream. This was reality.

Yue Feather exhaled in relief and grinned at her.

*She’s here. This is real. So good. So good.*

“What’s so funny?”

“Nothing. Just… this seaside is beautiful.”

“Of course it is.” Silver Bell smiled and flicked his forehead lightly. “Get up. You napped the moment we arrived. Didn’t sleep well?”

“Kind of…” Yue Feather rubbed his forehead, grinning awkwardly. It didn’t hurt—just felt like a soft kiss.

(Though that was just his overactive imagination.)

“How’s your hand?” She eyed his bandaged arm.

“Okay. Doesn’t ache much.”

“Good. The bandage comes off in a week.” She nodded. “Lunch time.”

“Lunch? We brought food?”

“With an ocean this big, you worried?” Silver Bell shot him a playful sidelong glance—though her eyes held real disdain.

“What’re we eating?”

“Oysters. Lighter, please.”

“Oh—right.”

Yue Feather yanked off his backpack, dug out a lighter, and handed it over. Silver Bell took it, then studied his face. “Why are your eyes red?”

“N-nothing…” He looked away, flustered.

Silver Bell gathered dry twigs from the forest edge. With a flick of the lighter, she sparked a fire effortlessly. Yue Feather stared, amazed. She knew so much more than him.

They were the same age, yet Silver Bell looked younger, still childlike.

*What was her past like?* he wondered. *A proper lady wouldn’t know chores or fire-making… Maybe just an ordinary girl?*

*Do her parents miss her?*

*If only she had no parents…*

He crushed the thought instantly. *Too cruel. How could I wish that?*

She tossed cleaned oysters into the flames, then skewered a sea fish on a rack above the fire.

*Fish?*

Yue Feather spotted a sharpened wooden spear beside her. *She caught it with that?*

Hours had passed. She’d spent half the day preparing this meal.

Warmth flooded his chest. *Why would someone so lovely do this for me?*

*She can’t like me. Just… too kind.*

(That word haunted his thoughts these days.)

“Ready.” Silver Bell pulled oysters from the fire, cooled them on the sand, and handed one to him.

No salt, no seasonings—just pure ocean freshness. And because Silver Bell made it, it tasted divine.

“So good…”

“You ate it plain?” Her eyes widened. “No sauce?”

“Huh? Needs sauce?”

“Obviously.” She sighed, making him fetch a plastic bowl and sauce bottles—soy, vinegar—from his pack.

She mixed the sauces, dipped oyster meat in, and popped it in her mouth. “Like this.”

“Oh—wow! Delicious!”

“Glad you like it.” She smiled warmly, then paused. “Oh. Happy birthday.”

“B-birthday…?” Yue Feather froze. Seconds later, he jolted upright. “Today *is* my birthday… How’d you know?”

“Saw it on your calendar.”

“Right…” He remembered marking important dates. He hadn’t celebrated a birthday in years.

“No cake. Hope this is okay.”

“No! Of course not…” He waved his hands. “I haven’t had one in ages.”

“Then I’ll celebrate all your birthdays from now on.”

“Th-thanks…” Emotion choked him. Tears pricked his eyes. He clenched his jaw hard to hold them back, twisting his face into a grimace.

“What’s wrong?”

“N-nothing…” He forced each word out, terrified his voice would break.

Silver Bell eyed him strangely but said nothing. She nibbled her oyster slowly, savoring every bite.

“Hey, Silver Bell—do you remember your birthday?”

"My birthday?" Silver Bell chuckled. "Mine falls on this day too."

"Same as mine?"

"Yeah."

"What a coincidence..."

Silver Bell wore a mysterious smile. She tore off a piece of fish and handed it to Yue Feather. "Here, it’s cooked. Eat up. You’re the birthday boy today."

"You are too..."

"Then let’s both be birthday kids."

Their eyes met. Both let out soft chuckles. The golden beach brimmed with a carefree, joyful warmth.

"Just being able to see her like this every day is enough..." Yue Feather thought to himself.