Yingqu Liuzi was pampered by her wealthy daddy.

The morning after they got their marriage certificate, Xize woke Shen Yu'an up from bed.

Shen Yu'an rolled over with his eyes closed and said he would sleep for another five minutes. Xize patted him on the back and said the plane was waiting.

"Where to?"

"Southern France".

The private plane took off from London and arrived in less than two hours.

They got into a dark-colored sedan and drove for over an hour along the country road. The road grew narrower and the trees on both sides became denser.

"How much longer?" Shen Yu'an leaned back in his seat, his hand resting on Xize's leg.

"Twenty minutes."

Have you been here before?

"I came here once when I bought it."

"You just happened to be passing by and bought a house?"

"The price is right."

Shen Yu'an glanced at him but didn't ask any more questions.

The car turned into a narrow road, at the end of which was an iron gate.

The door opened, and the car drove in and parked in front of a stone house. Vines climbed the light beige walls, and the window frames were dark green.

There was a large tree in front of the door, and an iron table and two chairs were placed on the grass under the tree. Shen Yu'an got off the train and stood at the door, looking around.

Shen Yu'an stared at him for several seconds, then walked towards the door. The house had sparse furniture, and most of it was old.

A dark carpet covered the area in front of the fireplace in the living room, with a stack of firewood piled up beside it. As Shen Yu'an walked through the living room, he reached out and touched the corner of the bookshelf.

The bedroom is on the second floor, and the window faces the olive tree in the backyard.

Shen Yu'an stood by the window for a while, then Xize came up from behind, wrapped his arm around Shen Yu'an's waist, and rested his chin on Shen Yu'an's shoulder.

"We're going to town tomorrow."

"And today?"

"I'll stay here today."

The next morning, Shen Yu'an woke up earlier than Xize.

He glanced at Xize's sleeping face for a moment, then tiptoed downstairs.

There was bread and fruit in the kitchen. He boiled water and made two cups of tea. When he carried them back to the bedroom, Xize was already awake.

"Baby, why are you up so early?"

Shen Yu'an handed him a cup of tea and climbed into bed, saying, "I'm hungry."

"Then let's go down and eat."

"I don't want to move."

Xize glanced at him, then threw back the covers and got out of bed. As he reached the door, Shen Yu'an called out "Daddy" from behind, and Xize turned around.

"The fried egg should be runny."

"understood."

Shen Yu'an lingered in bed for a while longer, then walked downstairs barefoot and leaned against the kitchen doorframe, watching Xize fry eggs. Xize turned his head and glanced at him.

"What are you looking at?"

"It's up to you."

"Haven't you seen this before?"

"I've watched it before. I want to watch it again today."

Xize turned back to continue frying eggs, his lips twitching slightly, but he didn't see it.

Shen Yu'an walked over and hugged his waist from behind, pressing her face against his back.

"I can't flip it over like this."

"You can rummage through yours, I'll hold mine."

Xize didn't break free and continued frying the eggs.

After turning off the stove, he turned around and, with Shen Yu'an's arms around his waist, leaned down and kissed the top of his head.

"Go sit down."

After breakfast, they drove to the nearest town. The town was small, with a main street running through it, and the houses on both sides had light-colored stone walls.

Several baskets of bread were displayed outside the bakery. Xize went in and bought a baguette, which was then handed to Shen Yu'an in a paper bag. Shen Yu'an tore off a small piece, put it in his mouth, and chewed it a couple of times.

"This tastes better than the ones in London."

"Because the water here is different."

How did you know?

"Just a guess."

Shen Yu'an chuckled and tore off another piece, putting it in his mouth.

The two walked slowly along the main street, and Shen Yu'an stopped when they passed a used bookstore.

He looked through the shop window and saw bookshelves stacked from floor to ceiling. He pushed open the door and went inside. Caesar followed him in.

Shen Yu'an squatted down in front of the bookshelf against the wall, tracing the spines of the books one by one, and pulled out an old travel sketchbook. He flipped through a few pages, then looked up and saw Xize standing in front of another bookshelf. Shen Yu'an stood up and walked over.

"What are you looking at?"

Xize turned the book over to show him; it was a collection of French poems, but Shen Yu'an couldn't understand the title.

"Do you want to buy it?"

"I won't buy it."

Shen Yu'an waved the picture book in his hand: "Then I'll buy this one."

"Buy it if you like it."

They spent the morning strolling around town.

The open-air market was lined with stalls selling vegetables and cheese. Shen Yu'an stopped in front of a stall selling olives, tasted one, and bought it.

When Caesar handed over the money, the stall owner grabbed a few extra pieces and put them in the paper bag, then smiled and said something in French.

"What did he say?"

"I'm saying you have good table manners."

"Is it worth sending olives if you have good table manners?"

"The best compliment here is when people think you enjoy their food."

Shen Yu'an picked up a piece and popped it into his mouth, chewing as he walked forward. Passing a ceramics stall, Xize picked out a small light blue bowl and handed it to him.

"Put the key in."

"It can be used to store art supplies in the studio as well as brushes."

"what ever."

They sat down for lunch at a small restaurant at the entrance of town. The restaurant had outdoor seating, with a sycamore tree providing shade overhead. Shen Yu'an ordered a grilled fish, while Xize ordered a steak.

While waiting for her food, Shen Yu'an leaned back in her chair.

"This place is better than Paris."

"You haven't been to Paris yet."

"I've never been there, but I guessed it. Paris is crowded, but this place is deserted."

"Then let's come to places like this more often in the future."

"You'll arrange it?"

"I'll arrange it."

After the dishes were served, Shen Yu'an lowered his head to eat the fish. After a few bites, he looked up and pushed the plate towards Xize.

"Try it."

Xize reached over with his fork, took a small piece, and put it in his mouth.

"tasty."

After dinner, they drove along a mountain road, with olive groves and grapevines on both sides of the road.

Shen Yu'an rolled down the car window, and the wind rushed in, messing up his hair.

As you round a bend, the view opens up, revealing a valley stretching out before you, with fields and scattered stone houses below.

"Daddy."

"Um?"

"Drive slower."

Xize slowed down the car a bit.

"Tired?"

"I'm not sleepy. I just want to watch a little longer."

Shen Yu'an reached out and touched Xize's hand resting on the gearshift, his fingers slipping between Xize's and locking them together. Xize closed his fingers, holding him in his palm.

They returned to the stone house at dusk. Shen Yu'an sat on the iron chair in the courtyard, her feet resting on the edge of the chair opposite her.

Xize brought out two cups of tea from inside the house, handed one to him, and sat down next to him.

"When you bought this house, did you consider whether anyone would ever live there?"

"I've thought about it."

"What are you thinking about?"

"Just in case I need to bring someone with me someday."

"You didn't know who you would bring back then."

"Know."

"You didn't know me back then."

"I don't know him, but I know there will be someone like him."

Shen Yu'an looked at him without saying anything. He stood up, walked to Xize, bent down, took the cup from Xize's hand, placed it on the table, and sat down on Xize's lap.

Xize wrapped his arms around Shen Yu'an's waist, and Shen Yu'an leaned against his chest.

"Baby."

"Um."

"Let's go to the beach tomorrow."

"Is it far?"

"One hour's drive."

"Then drive slower, I get sleepy in the car."

Xize gently patted his back: "Just sleep."

Shen Yu'an closed his eyes. He could hear Xize's heartbeat pounding steadily in his chest, and feel his hand still on his back, patting him rhythmically.

"Daddy."

"Um."

I'm very happy today.

"I know."

Shen Yu'an remained silent. The sky was darkening, and the olive tree in the courtyard rustled its leaves in the gentle breeze.

There were two cups of cooled tea on the iron table, no longer steaming. He leaned against him and slowly closed his eyes.

The next morning, when Xize woke Shen Yu'an, it was already daylight. Shen Yu'an turned over and buried his face in the pillow. Xize reached out and pinched the back of his neck.

"Baby went to the beach."

Shen Yu'an opened one eye and glanced at him, then sat up. Xize said that if he was sleepy, he could sleep on the way.

He did fall asleep. After getting on the bus, he leaned back in his seat, his hand resting on Xize's leg, and soon his eyelids closed.

Xize slowed down and kept the car quiet without turning on the stereo.

When Shen Yu'an was asleep, her breathing was very light, and her fingers were loosely resting on Xize's pants, occasionally moving slightly.

When they arrived at the beach, Xize parked the car and glanced at Shen Yu'an. He was still asleep, his face turned to the side against the back of the seat, his eyelashes drooping slightly.

Xize didn't call him, and sat and waited for a while.

About ten minutes later, Shen Yu'an woke up on her own, blinked, looked out the window, and then turned to ask Xize how long they had been there. Xize said they had just stopped.

Shen Yu'an unbuckled his seatbelt, opened the car door, and got out.

The sea breeze blew in his face, carrying the smell of salt. He stood beside the car, squinting as he glanced at the distant coastline.

The seawater was a brilliant blue, and the beach was a light color. It wasn't very wide, but it stretched along the entire length of the bay. There was hardly anyone else on the beach.

The two walked along the beach for a while. Shen Yu'an took off his shoes and carried them in his hand, stepping barefoot on the sand.

The sand was warm from the sun, and you could feel the fine particles sticking to the soles of your feet as you sank in.

He walked for a while, then stopped, bent down, and picked up a seashell. It was light white with smooth edges. He examined it in his hand for a moment, then put it back on the beach.

Xize walked beside him without saying a word.

He rolled up his shirt sleeves to his forearms, took off his shoes and carried them in his other hand, and also took the shoes from Shen Yu'an's hand.

He followed half a step behind Shen Yu'an.

"Is the water cold?" Shen Yu'an turned to look at him.

Xize walked to the water's edge, squatted down, and reached out to touch the water: "It's not cold."

Shen Yu'an also walked over, his toes twitched slightly when they touched the water, and then his whole foot went in.

The water reached above my ankles, carrying a slight coolness. The surface water, warmed by the sun, was lukewarm, while an even cooler layer of water flowed down my instep.

He stood motionless in the water, looking down at his feet, which were distorted into blurry shapes by the light beneath the surface.

Xize walked over to him and stood in the water as well. The two stood side by side, neither of them saying a word.

Shen Yu'an stood for a while, then squatted down and scooped up a handful of water, splashing it onto Xize's calves.

Xize glanced down at his wet trousers, then looked up at Shen Yu'an. Shen Yu'an scooped up another handful and splashed it over, this time reaching his knees.

Xize didn't dodge. He bent down, scooped up a handful of water, and slowly splashed it back to Shen Yu'an's feet. The splash was small, only touching his ankles.

The two squatted in the water and splashed each other several times. Shen Yu'an's pants were wet from the cuffs to his knees, and the hem of his shirt was also soaked and stuck to his waist.

He stood up, took two steps back, and sat down on the beach, stretching his legs out.

"Your pants are wet."

"The same to you."

"My pants are wet on the hem, but yours are wet up to your thighs."

Xize didn't answer, but walked over and sat down next to him.

Two people sat on the beach, facing the sea. The sound of the waves crashing against them echoed rhythmically.

On the distant horizon, there was a very small boat, almost indistinguishable in shape, just a light gray dot, slowly moving at the horizon.

Shen Yu'an glanced at Xize. His clothes were also a little wet, with sand stuck to the hem of his shirt, and a few strands of his hair were ruffled by the sea breeze and fell across his forehead.

Shen Yu'an reached out and brushed aside the few strands of hair, pausing briefly when his fingers touched his forehead before withdrawing them.

Your hair is messy.

"Um."

"Aren't you going to tidy it up?"

"Need not."

Shen Yu'an put her hands back on her knees and looked at the sea in front of her.

The wind blows from the sea, carrying the smell of salt and water, and feels sticky against the skin.

"Daddy."

"Um."

Have you ever been to the beach before?

"I've been here."

"With whom?"

"Own."

Shen Yu'an glanced at him sideways. Xize was looking at the sea ahead, his expression calm, as if he were talking about something very ordinary. Shen Yu'an didn't ask any further questions and turned her gaze back to the sea.

After a while, he spoke up: "Let's come more often in the future."

"good."

"It doesn't need to be far, nearby is fine too."

"good."

Shen Yu'an didn't say anything more. He leaned back and lay down on the beach, resting his head on his arm and looking at the sky above.

Blue, cloudless, and very clean.

Xize also lay down next to Shen Yu'an, their shoulders about a hand's width apart, arms touching.

Shen Yu'an glanced at him sideways, while Xize was also looking at the sky.

Have you ever lain on the beach alone when you came to the seaside before?

"No."

Why?

"I didn't think it was necessary at the time."

Shen Yu'an turned back to look at the sky, without replying. The two lay quietly for a while.

The sound of the waves came from the side, slow and even. The sun moved slowly overhead, and the shadows shrank.

Shen Yu'an rolled over and lay on her side, facing Xize, with her arm under her head.

Xize turned to face him, and the two lay face to face on the beach.

"Tired?" Xize asked.

"Not sleepy."

"What are you looking at?"

"Look at you."

Xize looked at him for a few seconds, then reached out and rubbed the side of Shen Yu'an's face with the back of his hand, pausing when he touched his cheekbone before pulling back.

Shen Yu'an neither dodged nor spoke. His lips twitched slightly.

They lay on the beach for a while longer, then got up and started walking back.

Shen Yu'an wiped the sand off her feet and put on her shoes. Xize also put on his shoes, and the two of them walked back to the parking lot along the way they came.

When Shen Yu'an got into the car, there were still a few grains of sand in his hair. He didn't shake them off before getting in. Xize reached out and patted the back of his head twice before starting the car.

Shen Yu'an fell asleep again on the way back.