"You really know how to have fun." Kang Sola commented while turning to look at Xue Guangxi, already sprawled on his recliner. She laughed a little. Her laughter was of the clear bell-like caliber.

"It's my expertise." Xue Guangxi laughed too. "Well, you know what they say, you don't know what the future brings. Life is short. Might as well live life to the fullest."

"There are experiences in the past that made me the way I am now." He sighed.

"You can share it with me if you want to." Kang Sola smiled brightly, encouragingly. She's a breath of fresh air herself. Combined with the cool summer breeze, and great ambiance, Xue Guangxi was inclined to share his thoughts.

"I have two older siblings. They are twins – one older sister and one older brother." He started. He looked at her first. "When I was just a kid, my brother died."

Upon hearing this, Kang Sola's smile slowly faded. "Oh, I'm sorry."

"That's fine. My story is only starting." He laughed a little. "Well, both of my older siblings were amazing. They were both achievers. Basically speaking, I look up to them so much. They are my heroes."

"When my brother died, all the responsibilities floated in the air for a while. I knew so well that I should be taking it onto my shoulders as the second son in line."

"But I got so scared of the responsibilities. I chickened out." He laughed. "In a way, the chicken dance from earlier really suited me. Hahaha!"

"Well, anyway, it's a good thing that my sister stepped up and saved me. She took it upon herself to take care of our family and the business as well."

"While me… When my brother died, I realized life is too short. I wanted to make the most out of it. You know the saying, 'You only live once'? I'm a believer of that. So, I made sure that I try out new things and have most of the fun in life."

"My older brother was of the serious type. He pa.s.sed away at eighteen. I thought, did he even enjoy his life? Was he contented with the life he led?"

"If I'm going to die tomorrow, will I be happy? Have I done everything I wanted to do? Those were my thoughts." He said, pausing for a while to take a small breather while looking up at the stars.

"I'm so different from them. But because I'm prioritizing these things, I became lacking in other things – the things that matter to my family – the things that make a fine and capable successor."

"I think you're doing well. Not that I know much, but it seems to me that you're doing well in life – both in your studies and in your work. You're only sixteen right? At your age, who else already became a Marketing director prior graduating from college?" Kang Sola consoled him.

He laughed. "Whatever."

"Hey, there's something that I'd like to just put out in the open." Kang Sola said. "Don't make a big fuss out of it."

"Alright, let's hear it." Guangxi agreed.

"Are you hitting on me?" Kang Sola asked, shamelessly.

Guangxi laughed louder. "HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! You're cute. You're really something."

Kang Sola's face crumpled and blushed in embarra.s.sment. Her face looked funny.

"No, I'm not hitting on you. I don't hit on girls. The girls. .h.i.t on me." He said, playing the victim jokingly.

"Oh my G.o.d! Your skin is too thick!" Kang Sola retorted, also laughing at their banter.

"Well, it's the truth anyway." He shrugged.

"Well, that's good to know, I guess." She said, returning to her concern.

"Why?" Xue Guangxi's curiosity was piqued. "Do you have a boyfriend now? Like someone who might react violently if they knew you're with me in this cruise?"

"No. I don't. I'm too young to think about those stuffs. But I think it's just good to set up a line between friends. I don't like anything vague and I don't like conflicts of that sort."

"Agree. You're too young. And you're an influencer. You shouldn't let one person tie you down. The world somewhat has a share on your life. How does it feel to be sharing your life to the world?"

She found the question funny. She also thought that if she's young, Guangxi was young too, beacause they were of the same age.

"I don't share my entire life to the world. I only share my thoughts and my opinions – my perspective on life in general. The world does not have a share in my life. My subscribers, they understand my decisions because they know me too well. That's why they subscribed to me in the first place. If I plan to get married in the future I'm sure they will be happy with me, for me. If I decide to be single forever, they will understand too. If I choose not to share everything to them, they will understand too, I guess."

"I appreciate their presence too much. I feel that I will never be alone in this world no matter what happens." She was also sharing her deepest sentiments to him.

"But you know, life is not always a bed of roses nor a bed of thorns, it's a bed of roses filled with thorns [1]. If there are subscibers, there are bashers too. I admit I get affected by their comments sometimes. But then again, I lead my life. I own my life. I am me."

"Well, as the saying goes, "You can be the ripest, juiciest peach in the world, and there's still going to be somebody who hates peaches [1]", Guangxi said while staring at the stars. "You cannot please everyone. You don't have to change for anyone. Just be yourself. You don't owe anyone anything. If you change just for the sake of complying a norm, then the people who originally liked and supported you might not like you for you anymore. You might lose your own authenticity. I think that's what's important – to be able to keep your own authenticity no matter what."

Kang Sola glanced at Xue Guangxi. "I realize that you are full of so much wisdom, Second Young Master."

Xue Guangxi glanced back at her. "Thanks. I'll take that as a compliment. But, nah, I have a long way to go. I'm lacking in knowledge, competence and experience."

"Well then, you can focus on the things you are lacking. You have all the time and resources in the world." Kang Sola retorted.

"You're full of wisdom yourself, Miss Kang Sola." Xue Guangxi told her, with a certain amus.e.m.e.nt in his eyes.

[1] famous quote