"So beautiful," Ye Ziyu exclaimed. She patted Di Mingjue's shoulder, signaling him to put her down.
Di Mingjue looked at the sea rippled by the wind. "Want to go down and feel it?"
"Together?"
"Mm."
The weather wasn't very cold, but the seaside at night was much colder than the city center.
Di Mingjue led Ye Ziyu down a side staircase. Stepping onto the sand, Ye Ziyu held onto Di Mingjue's body as she took off her shoes.
Their shoes were placed side by side, and two figures, elongated by the moonlight, were reflected on the sea's surface.
Her feet felt the friction of the sand, and upon touching the cold seawater, Ye Ziyu's stiffened body froze in place.
"Too cold?" Di Mingjue asked.
A man's body temperature was higher than a woman's, and he found the temperature just right.
Seeing him walk over, Ye Ziyu bent down and splashed seawater towards him.
As the seawater splashed on his face, Di Mingjue licked his lips. "Seriously?"
The response was a second splash of seawater.
"Alright!" Di Mingjue chuckled. He bent down and mimicked Ye Ziyu's earlier action.
Water splashed onto Ye Ziyu, the icy sensation instantly raising goosebumps on her skin.
Ye Ziyu glanced at Di Mingjue and, without hesitation, lifted her foot and stomped hard into the sea.
Water sprayed everywhere. Di Mingjue, unwilling to truly splash Ye Ziyu, focused only on defending, never intending to attack.
Time ticked by, and both were soaked.
Fearing Ye Ziyu would catch a chill, Di Mingjue raised his hands in surrender. "We should go back."
Ye Ziyu looked at her drenched clothes, which had become somewhat transparent. She shyly covered herself with her hands. "Go back like this?"
Moreover, their car was still far away. Walking back like this, they were likely to be treated as lunatics by passersby.
Ye Ziyu tugged at her clothes and pointed at the chairs nearby. "Let's dry them before we go back?"
"Silly, without the sun, if they dry by wind, you won't be able to go back tonight," Di Mingjue poked her head.
Pouting, Ye Ziyu retorted with dissatisfaction, "Then walking back like this will make people think we're fools?"
"Wait, your husband has a way." Di Mingjue knelt down, put on Ye Ziyu's shoes, then draped his jacket over her shoulders. "Sit here and rest for a bit."
Ye Ziyu didn't mind, plopping down on the steps and looking up at the stars. It had been a long time since she had relaxed like this, admiring the night sky.
Di Mingjue, on the side, took out his phone. After speaking a few words to the person on the other end, he ended the call and sat next to Ye Ziyu, watching the stars with her.
"Next time, let's bring the children," Ye Ziyu leaned her head on Di Mingjue's shoulder.
"Okay, once we find Si Bao, our whole family will travel the world. We'll put work and all the messy things aside," Di Mingjue embraced Ye Ziyu.
Where was Si Bao now, she wondered.
...
"Young Master Xingxing, practicing again?" the butler asked, passing by the backyard and seeing Xingxing wielding a spear.
He had been practicing martial arts since he could walk. Ye Shaoting would set aside time each week to teach him.
Xingxing was not engaged in his practice and didn't hear what the butler said.
The butler was used to it; even without these activities, he didn't talk much.
Behind the flowerbed, Xiao Ran was peeking from hiding.
"You scared me!" the butler jumped, almost dropping what he was holding. "Young Master Xiao Ran, why are you hiding here?"
Xiao Ran tugged on the butler's hand. "He's always like this?"
The butler looked back at Xingxing and nodded. "Yes, the eldest young master requires Xingxing to practice every week. No matter the weather, it cannot be paused."
"Why?"
"Perhaps to train his body."
After finishing, the butler quickly advised, "Young Master Xiao Ran, you should leave here quickly. Young Master Xingxing doesn't like to be disturbed."