A little loli pointed at a little duckling, saying in a sweet, childish voice, "Ducky."
Shen Nian's voice also unconsciously softened, "This is a ducky."
"Pretty ducky."
"Yes, sister also thinks the ducky is pretty," Shen Nian said.
"Sister pretty!" the little loli said again.
"Thank you, you're pretty too."
The wind blew the little girl's hair all over her face, and when she opened her mouth, the soft strands got stuck inside.
"Pfft." The little girl was about to touch her mouth with her sand-covered hands.
"Don't move." Shen Nian gently held her hand, helped her remove the hair from her mouth, then undid her messy bun and skillfully tied her hair into a new little knot.
With her hair neatly tied, there were fewer loose strands flying into her mouth.
The little girl reached out her small hands to touch her bun, and Shen Nian gently brushed the sand off her hands and asked softly, "Does it look nice?"
Without even looking, the little girl solemnly replied, "Nice!"
Shen Nian's smile deepened, "Do you like it?"
"Like!" The little voice melted Shen Nian's heart, "Sister pretty, Hanhan pretty, we're all beautiful ladies."
The little girl's mother burst into laughter, amused, and Shen Nian also chuckled.
Kneeling on one knee, with one hand around the little girl's waist, she tapped the loli's nose, "Yes, you're a beautiful lady."
Suddenly, she felt a scorching gaze fall upon her, and Shen Nian's heart skipped a beat as she looked up to see Lu Lingchuan not far away.
Lu Lingchuan was only wearing a white shirt, not as neatly buttoned as when he was at work. He wasn't wearing a tie, and the top two buttons were undone, revealing his collarbone.
The sea breeze blew, causing his shirt to flutter slightly, and his stray bangs waved gently.
He looked like he had just taken a shower and casually put on a shirt and pants before coming out.
Stripped of the cool and sharp demeanor he had at work, he now had a much more youthful appearance, like a college student.
On the beach, he stood there while she knelt on the ground, holding a child in her arms, their eyes meeting.
The sea breeze tousled their hair.
The scene seemed frozen in that instant.
"Big brother!" The little loli in her arms excitedly grabbed Shen Nian's finger upon seeing Lu Lingchuan, "Handsome big brother!"
Lu Lingchuan approached them and stopped in front of the two, then squatted down to eye level with the little loli.
He pinched her little face and a rare smile appeared on his usually stern expression, "You're so small, yet you already know what's handsome?"
"Mommy often looks at handsome guys on her phone," the little loli said matter-of-factly. Her mother added, "Mommy says that long legs, long arms, high nose, and big eyes are handsome guys. Big brother also has long legs, high nose, and big eyes."
The little one was about to point at Lu Lingchuan's nose, and he lowered his head to oblige her.
Nowadays, many young men have monolids, making their eyes appear small, but Lu Lingchuan's eyes were much more attractive than most men's. His features were just right - not too plain, but not excessively striking either, which could come across as uncouth.
Shen Nian loved his eyes the most. In the past, they always held a gentle warmth. Just one look from him, and she would melt within seconds, falling into the tenderness in his gaze.
Later on, however, his eyes seemed veiled by a hazy mist, concealing his true emotions. No matter how closely she looked, she could never see into his heart - it felt like an immeasurable distance separated them, despite their physical proximity. Though he was right in front of her, she could never see through him.
The little girl's mother had been watching them interact. Seeing how her precious daughter truly liked Shen Nian, and that Shen Nian was very patient with her, she didn't stop their interaction.
But who would have thought the little girl would betray her own mother the moment she saw a handsome guy?
Flushed with embarrassment, the mother pulled her daughter away and muttered, "You little brat! When did Mommy ever look at handsome guys on her phone?"
"Mommy also calls Daddy," the little loli continued obliviously, "Teacher Mei said Mommy's husband is Daddy, but Mommy calls many guys Daddy, I have many dads... Waaah!"
Her mother covered her mouth, her face red as she gave Shen Nian an awkward smile, "Kids just say nonsense."
Then she hurriedly left with her daughter in tow.
Shen Nian watched the mother and daughter's retreating figures, her smile unfading.
"Shen Nian."
Lu Lingchuan's voice came from beside her.
"Hmm?" Shen Nian didn't turn her gaze away.
"Do you think... those two kids would be sons or daughters?"
"..." Shen Nian's smile froze as she turned to look at the man.
Lu Lingchuan was also watching the little loli from before. The little girl was now standing under a tree, her mother likely scolding her.
With her hands behind her back, she twisted her body shyly, head lowered, looking incredibly cute.
This seemed to be the first time Lu Lingchuan had brought up the topic of having children while fully conscious.
Sons or daughters?
Shen Nian had never considered this question before.
Because she didn't dare think about it.
Now that it was brought up, Shen Nian pondered the idea for the first time.
But after much thought, she shook her head, "I don't know."
"I like both," Lu Lingchuan replied.
He liked the idea of having sons or daughters.
Two children, ideally one son and one daughter.
Having a son and a daughter would make life complete and perfect.
"..." Shen Nian didn't respond, only turning to gaze at the boundless ocean.
"This is my first time at the sea. I've only seen it in videos before. The ocean looks like this in reality," she said with a faint smile.
"I always wanted to go on a beach vacation before, but I couldn't stand the heat in summer or the cold in winter. Back when I was a student, I only had time during summer and winter breaks. My parents told me that if I studied hard and got into a good university, they would help me take a month off to go play at the beach."
Thinking back now, so many years had passed.
Unfortunately, her parents never fulfilled that promise. They didn't see her take the college entrance exam or get into university, as they passed away in a car accident when she was 17.
"You mentioned that before," Lu Lingchuan stood beside her, both gazing at the ocean. "I also said I would bring you here."
[I will take you to see the ocean, and if you like it, I can give you a beach wedding.]
Shen Nian naturally remembered the latter part, but she ignored it, only asking Lu Lingchuan, "So does this mean you've fulfilled your promise today?"
Her parents said they would take her to see the ocean, but never did. Lu Lingchuan said he would give her a beach wedding, which likely wouldn't happen either.
Shen Nian stared at the boundless ocean, unable to see the horizon. Waves rolled in, one after another, sunlight sparkling on the water's surface.
She wasn't really looking at the sea, but rather at her own shattered regrets.
[Good night]
