Under the blazing sun, after several days, Chen Xu's arms were now a deep, dark tan. But his upper body remained snow-white… this was the result of him sunbathing in a T-shirt. Back at the hotel, the three women unanimously declared that they absolutely could not let Chen Xu take off his shirt… not because it was indecent, but because that half-white, half-black tan was too frightening. They wondered why some women still particularly liked going to the beach in swimsuits and leaving bikini tan lines… was it attractive?
I really don't think so!
But speaking of swimsuits... Chen Xu really got a feast for the eyes.
Who comes to the beach without wearing a swimsuit?!
Of the three women, Guan Yi was undoubtedly the most dazzling in a swimsuit... well, she had the best figure. However, Guan Yi didn't dare wear a bikini in front of Chen Xu, but her long, slender legs and exposed, snow-white back were enough to make Chen Xu's nose bleed.
Adding to the mix are Zhan Jing and Gao Xiaojie. While they may not have the same curvaceous figures as Guan Yi, their pure and beautiful girlish charm is undeniable. Especially considering the traditional Chinese aesthetic that fair skin is considered a virtue, and these two are certainly not unattractive! Although their figures aren't as perfectly proportioned as Guan Yi's, they are still shapely and attractive, and their youthful innocence is particularly alluring.
Chen Xu has had nosebleeds several times already!
Yes, seeing beautiful women every day, especially those in swimsuits, is definitely a kind of happiness. But if you can see them but not have them, it's not happiness, it's suffering. Especially Guan Yi, this enchanting woman seems to enjoy toying with Chen Xu. Her clothes are deliberately sexy but not revealing. When it comes to clothing, this woman doesn't take it to heart like she does with computers or cooking; she knows how to highlight her most beautiful side. Especially those surging breasts… often when she deliberately bends down to speak, that expanse of white, and those deep, Mariana Trench-like breasts… well, it almost made Chen Xu vomit blood.
Looking at the three mermaids, Chen Xu couldn't help but wipe his nose. Sigh, he's so angry!
Standing on the beach, especially on this undeveloped, natural coastline, is truly a wonderful experience. Although the pebbles can be a bit rough on your feet, after being swept clean, at least one section of the sand is very comfortable to walk on… Don't be misled by television into thinking the beaches are all soft white sand… that's all specially transported! Truly undeveloped beaches are all sand and gravel!
Of course, besides the sand and gravel, there were also some aquatic animals, such as crabs and stranded fish. That night, because the beach was so large and they hadn't finished searching it, the group decided not to sleep. They asked the staff at the Burj Al Arab hotel to bring them a tent, and they set up a campfire in the open air to barbecue seafood. They simply started camping.
As night fell, the campfire slowly burned, the flames crackling as they burned the dry wood. The four of them sat around the fire, enjoying the cool sea breeze and gazing at the brilliant stars in the sky, a truly unique experience.
"I feel like it's been ages since I've seen such beautiful stars!"
Although the air by the sea is humid, the air quality is excellent, and the weather is perfect today. The sky is filled with stars, creating a unique charm for a summer night.
Hearing Chen Xu's exclamation, Guan Yi nodded and said, "Yes, I haven't seen such beautiful stars in a long time either."
Zhan Jing smiled slightly: "Now we're in steel cities every day, not to mention factories. But the exhaust fumes from cars really make the sky lose its luster. And there are so many tall buildings. The view is too narrow. It's nothing like the seaside. The air is fresh, the visibility is high, and the starry sky is so brilliant."
Indeed, pollution is extremely serious these days, but it's not so bad in Dubai. Because Dubai is a tourist city, not an industrial one, the air quality there is very good. Otherwise, being right by the sea, it would be difficult to see such a beautiful starry sky.
Then Zhan Jing sighed: "Back then, there were reports that US military spy satellites suddenly couldn't capture images of the skies over Lanzhou, so the Americans assumed China had developed some secret weapon. Ha! But later investigations revealed it was because Lanzhou's air pollution was just too severe. Sigh, although countries are starting to address environmental issues now, the root cause remains. How can we address it? And it's something we can't do without, just like smoking. Everyone knows smoking is harmful to health; even cigarette packs say so, but why do so many people still smoke? Why can't the government ban tobacco altogether?"
It's rare to hear Zhan Jing talk so much; it seems the night sky tonight really touched this usually quiet girl.
When the topic turned to the economy, Guan Yi laughed and said, "Jingjing, you're being a bit naive. You need to understand, it's not just China; many countries around the world, especially South America, generate a lot of tax revenue from tobacco every year. On a larger scale, tobacco can stimulate more consumption and boost the local economy. It's not something you can just ban overnight. Besides, smoking and drug use are two different things. While cigarettes are addictive, they're not fatal. Although they're harmful to the body, it's within acceptable limits..."
At this point, she looked at Chen Xu, who smiled wryly and put down his cigarette: "Okay, okay, I'll try to smoke less."
Seeing Chen Xu awkwardly put down his cigarette, Zhan Jing smiled gently and said, "I know that principle too, I was just using an analogy. The main cause of urban air pollution is no longer factories, but so many motor vehicles and their exhaust fumes. That's the key point. In fact, the root cause is still the problem of oil. Our society is too dependent on oil now, and burning bioenergy will inevitably lead to pollution, serious pollution. Unless we stop using oil."
"If not oil, what will we use?" Gao Xiaojie asked curiously, blinking her big eyes.
"Ah, there are many types of energy, especially pollution-free energy. For example, nuclear energy, although it's still a long way off before it's used for civilian purposes. Other common ones are solar energy, wind energy, and many rare energy sources."
"But these are not suitable for civilian use."
Upon hearing this, Guan Yi, Zhan Jing, and Chen Xu all laughed.
Is it unsuitable for civilian use?
That's just a lie.
The main problem is that mainstream energy research worldwide has remained, or at least artificially, focused on bioenergy, rather than other energy sources. If scientists were to concentrate their efforts on solar energy, they would likely develop highly efficient solar cells for civilian use very soon.
However, due to the limitations of solar energy... the simplest issue is how to obtain energy on cloudy days and at night. Therefore, it is difficult to use solar energy for the general public until this bottleneck is overcome.
At this moment, Chen Xu inevitably thought of Helium-3... and also, the X Organization.
The immense value of helium-3 resources is enough to allow humanity to consume them carefree for thousands of years, but is Organization X's stance right or wrong?
At this moment, Chen Xu couldn't help but ask the question: "Have you ever heard of helium-3 resources?"
All three girls nodded, indicating that they had all read quite a few books.
So Chen Xu continued, "So, if, I mean if, if my teacher, SMMH, has a method to use Helium-3 energy for civilian purposes—don't get excited, I'm saying if, I mean if... if he releases this thing, what would be the consequences?"
"Consequences?" Gao Xiaojie, the most naive of them all, exclaimed. What consequences could there be?
Guan Yi and Zhan Jing, on the other hand, fell into deep thought.
Zhan Jing said, "If helium-3 energy really comes into existence, it will be a blessing for the whole world, but also a shock."
"What are you impacting?"
"Are you stupid?" Zhan Jing laughed. "Think about it, helium-3 energy is cheap and efficient. If it were you, which would you choose?"
"Then it's Helium-3, of course."
"Okay, this is an obvious choice, but if everyone chooses helium-3, what will happen to all those machines that burn oil? Will they all be scrapped? Think about it, most of the world's machines now burn bioenergy. Once helium-3 resources become available, will all those machines be rendered obsolete?"
Guan Yi also said, "There's also the issue of war. Think about it, how much military force and how much military spending does the United States have in the Middle East? If something truly extraordinary were to appear, well... if it doesn't appear in the United States, when the world's entire energy system is impacted, it will inevitably trigger a new energy war!"
Gao Xiaojie covered her mouth in surprise: "War? It can't be that scary, can it?"
Guan Yi let out a long sigh. Having grown up in a large conglomerate, she was no stranger to these kinds of things. What's the most profitable thing in this world?
monopoly!
Only monopolies are the most profitable!
Guan Yi shook his head and said, "If the SMMH boss, well, even if he really believes he has this ability, he wouldn't easily reveal it. Because the interests of countless people would be harmed, and the resistance would be too great, far beyond your imagination, not only abroad but also domestically!"
Chapter 273 Underwater Cave
Gao Xiaojie was puzzled: "Domestic? What kind of pressure could there be domestically?"
Guan Yi sighed and said only one sentence: "Because of interests."
Gao Xiaojie looked confused, but Chen Xu understood what she meant. Interests—that was indeed a big issue.
The adoption of new energy sources will undoubtedly be beneficial from a future perspective, but it will pose a tremendous challenge to currently used bioenergy technologies. The consequences of this impact will be dire, as it will affect far more than just the interests of one or two individuals. China's officialdom is deeply entrenched, and the utilization of oil has always been controlled by the state. While this technology will be of great use to the country's future, it will temporarily harm the interests of many. At that point, the inventor's backing will be crucial… As for monopolizing the market, that right also rests with the state, something that ordinary people simply cannot obtain.
"A common man is innocent, but possessing a treasure is a crime." The X organization is right; if such a heaven-defying thing were to be released, it would indeed trigger a war.
Zhan Jing suddenly asked, "Has SMMH really mastered this technology now?"
Chen Xu shook his head and said, "I was just using an analogy. I don't know anything about my teacher's background." He wasn't lying. Chen Xu really didn't know what Xiao Min had. What Chen Xu was thinking was that Xiao Min's database even contained information about time machines, so maybe she had other things too?
The group changed the subject, and seeing that it was getting late, Chen Xu said, "Let's go to sleep, it's getting late, I have work to do tomorrow."
Zhan Jing said, "I can't sleep. You guys go to sleep first, I want to keep looking at the stars for a while."
“Then I’ll go with you,” Gao Xiaojie quickly said.
"Okay, okay." Chen Xu was really tired. Unlike the other three, he wasn't just here for a vacation. He had been searching every inch of the land, digging out anything he found with tools, and he was exhausted. He collapsed into the tent and soon started snoring.
Looking at Chen Xu, the three girls' faces softened. Of all the boys they had met, Chen Xu was probably the most sincere and unpretentious when interacting with them. Having seen many men who deliberately pretended to be gentlemen and knowledgeable to win their favor, Chen Xu, though not handsome, was a very kind person. The three girls couldn't help but feel a special connection to him.
But there are three people here after all.
They all knew the truth. All three harbored some vague feelings for Chen Xu, and Chen Xu's attitude remained uncertain. Whom did he like more? Whom would he choose?
This is a really awkward question!
Because Chen Xu always tries to treat everyone equally, even on this trip the four of them were together... To be honest, the four of them spent way too much time together!
When men and women who have feelings for each other are together, there are never so many people around.
If four people are together, they can't all be dating at the same time, right? They can't even share their private, shy, intimate thoughts... tsk tsk, no wonder Chen Xu hasn't taken things any further with any of them yet.
Seeing that Chen Xu was asleep, the atmosphere suddenly became awkward as the three girls sat there.
Well, Zhan Jing and Gao Xiaojie are roommates, so their relationship is naturally closer. Guan Yi's interactions with them are mostly due to Chen Xu. But in terms of their personal relationships, Guan Yi can only be considered a friend, at most a slightly closer friend.
It's still a long way from being the kind of close, intimate friend you can talk to about anything.
You can tell from how they're staying in the presidential suite. Chen Xu has one room. Guan Yi has one room. Gao Xiaojie and Zhan Jing share a room.
Just now, the three women looked at Chen Xu sleeping soundly, their faces all showing gentle smiles. Guan Yi and Zhan Jing both noticed the expressions on each other's faces, so at this moment, the two extremely intelligent women exchanged a glance, both feeling a little embarrassed. Guan Yi reacted quickly, laughing and saying, "Well, I can't sleep either. Not only can I not sleep, but I also have a lot of energy. Oh well, I'll go for a swim."
Zhan Jing smiled faintly: "Then be careful."
These two simple sentences reveal the unspoken understanding between these two intelligent women.
Gao Xiaojie found it strange that Guan Yi was still going swimming at this time.
Under the starlight, the sea was calm and filled with a hazy beauty. Guan Yi, dressed in a black swimsuit, tumbled and rolled in the water like a mermaid.
"So beautiful!" Even Gao Xiaojie couldn't help but exclaim, then looked down at her chest with a sense of unease.
In fact, Guan Yi was using swimming to escape the restlessness in her heart at this time.
Although it was just a simple expression, it was clear that these two girls, who were no less capable than herself, were not heartless towards Chen Xu.
In truth, it was more than just heartless. That day in the hospital room, when Guan Yi saw Chen Xu hugging Gao Xiaojie from behind, she already knew that their relationship was definitely not simple. As for Zhan Jing, Guan Yi knew she was very reserved, but the more reserved she was, the more determined she would be to pursue something relentlessly.
Sigh, where does he really stand in Chen Xu's heart? Guan Yi submerged his head underwater and closed his eyes in pain.
Four years have passed in the blink of an eye, and a quarter of them have already gone by. There are still three years left, which seems like a long time, but that quarter of free time before that also passed in the blink of an eye.
Three years later, will the four of them still be able to sit together so carefree, lighting a campfire and looking at the stars?
Guan Yi leaned out and took a deep breath; the seawater was icy cold at night. But only such cold water could calm her restlessness. She realized she couldn't go on like this any longer. A strong, impulsive emotion was welling up inside her, becoming increasingly difficult to suppress. If things continued like this, who knew that one day she might confess her feelings to Chen Xu without considering anything else?
Guan Yi didn't think it was shameful for a girl to pursue a boy. In her view, it was wrong to expect something you liked to be given to you by fate instead of working for it yourself. However, she was now starting to consider Chen Xu's situation... It was clear that Chen Xu already had enough troubles, and if she were to cause more... then those troubles would only increase, becoming even greater. Some of them were things he simply couldn't handle in his current state.
This is really a difficult situation!
Guan Yi suddenly found herself craving alcohol, a feeling she'd never had before. She used to think that alcohol numbed her senses, making her mind clouded, but now she felt that sometimes, being a little fuzzy was actually a good thing.
Just then, Guan Yi suddenly felt a sharp pain in his ankle, as if something was tightly gripping his right foot. Guan Yi quickly pulled his foot back, but felt as if something was hanging on his right foot.
Guan Yi panicked a little. She had been playing on the beaches of Hawaii since she was a child and was a very good swimmer, but the sudden attack on her foot was bound to make her panic. She couldn't help but swallow a couple of mouthfuls of water and struggled frantically in the water.
Actually, this was Guan Yi's oversight. You see, undeveloped beaches aren't as safe as man-made ones. While there are no sharks in this area, there are other creatures. What's currently stuck to Guan Yi's foot is actually a large scallop.
Zhan Jing, standing on the shore, saw Guan Yi suddenly struggle in the water and then sink. Being observant, she immediately sensed something was wrong. She quickly shoved Chen Xu, shouting, "Guan Yi seems to be in trouble! Go check on him!" Chen Xu, who had been half-asleep due to exhaustion, immediately opened his eyes and asked, "What happened?"
Zhan Jing didn't answer. She grabbed the still bewildered Gao Xiaojie and ran towards the shore.
While underwater, Guan Yi swallowed a couple of mouthfuls of water and immediately regained her senses, knowing that she absolutely couldn't struggle recklessly at this moment. She quickly lifted her head above the water and took a deep breath. She saw Zhan Jing and Chen Xu running towards her, asking what had happened as they ran. But Guan Yi barely managed to surface because the giant clam beneath her feet was incredibly heavy, so she didn't even have time to answer before sinking back down. Then she reached out to pry the clam apart.
But that clam was probably the size of a washbasin, and it was incredibly strong; it couldn't be easily broken open.
At this moment, Chen Xu had already run to the shore. He used to swim in the river when he was a child and was a very good swimmer. He told Zhan Jing and Gao Xiaojie to wait on the shore first, and then he plunged into the water and swam quickly towards Guan Yi.
Guan Yi was about twenty or thirty meters from the shore. The water there wasn't very deep, only about two meters, just enough to submerge a person. Guan Yi was incredibly frustrated. If she hadn't dived underwater, how could she have encountered this giant clam? Seeing that her lungs were running low on air, Guan Yi suddenly pushed off the ground, jumped out of the water, and took a breath.
The kick caused a sharp pain in his foot, as if he had stepped on a stone. Guan Yi suddenly remembered that to deal with this kind of giant clam, he needed to use fine sand to force it to open its mouth. So Guan Yi immediately dove down and grabbed a handful of mud and sand from the seabed, throwing it into the clam's mouth.
The giant clam was most afraid of this kind of fine sand, and it quickly released its grip. Guan Yi felt her feet loosen, and immediately swam up using both hands and feet. Although she was extremely angry, she knew that this was not the time for revenge. When she went back into the water later, she would definitely smash the giant clam to pieces.