The Sea

"So boring, Brother Lin Chen," Na'er said to Lin Chen, who was watching TV.

At her words, Lin Chen casually switched off the television and turned to look at the listless Na'er. "If you're bored, I've got a great idea."

Na'er lifted her little head. The cowlick atop it bobbed with the movement as she eagerly asked, "What is it?"

"Eastsea City." Lin Chen rubbed the top of Na'er's head and said softly, "Let's go see the sea and feel the breeze."

At the mention of the sea, Na'er's eyes lit up even more. She could barely contain her excitement. "Then what are we waiting for? Let's go, Brother Lin Chen!"

"Don't be in such a hurry." Lin Chen chuckled. "We can't just run off to Eastsea City without telling anyone. They'd worry."

As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Chen picked up his phone and called Yun Ming. The call connected a moment later. "What is it, Lin Chen?"

"Dad, I'm taking Na'er to Eastsea City for a few days." Lin Chen looked at Na'er, whose face was full of anticipation. "Don't worry. We'll be back in a few days."

There was a brief silence on the other end, then Yun Ming's voice came through again. "All right. Be careful, and look after Na'er."

Ya Li's voice came through the phone. "Don't get into trouble while you're out having fun. If you run short of money, tell your father and me. Come back soon."

"Got it. Thanks, Mom and Dad," Lin Chen replied. "Love you." He ended the call and turned to Na'er.

Na'er looked at him eagerly. "Brother Lin Chen, can we go now?"

Lin Chen smiled. "Sure. Let's pack a few things for the beach, then we can set off."

Na'er immediately skipped off to her room to pack her little backpack, stuffing in her favorite plush toy and a few clothes.

Lin Chen packed a few things too, bringing his communicator and Storage Soul Tool ring. Once he'd checked that they had everything, he took Na'er's little hand.

"Off we go—to Eastsea City!"

The two made their way to the Soul Guidance Train station in Shrek City. Lin Chen had booked their tickets in advance for a high-speed Soul Guidance Train to Eastsea City.

Eastsea City was the second-largest city on the Sun-Moon Federation's eastern coast and one of its most important development centers. It was considered a second-tier city even by the standards of the entire Sun-Moon Federation.

Na'er leaned against the train window, her little head turned toward the scenery rushing past. Every so often, she tugged on Lin Chen's sleeve.

"Brother Lin Chen, is the sea really as beautiful as it is in movies?"

Lin Chen turned to her and smiled gently. "You'll see when we get to Eastsea City."

Several hours later, the train slowly pulled into Eastsea City station.

As soon as they stepped outside, a cool, damp sea breeze washed over them, carrying a faint salty tang. In the distance, they could just make out the sound of waves crashing against the rocks.

Soft, warm sand swallowed their ankles. Sun-warmed waves rolled in again and again, gently washing over their shoes.

Na'er excitedly ran to the edge of the beach, cupped her hands around her mouth, and shouted at the vast, boundless sea. "Sea! Na'er and Brother Lin Chen came to see you!"

Her clear call rode the sea breeze toward the far-off horizon, where sea met sky, then was gently caught by the surging waves.

The salty breeze lifted her hair. Her bright eyes brimmed with the endless blue, and her little body bounced with excitement, rising onto her toes.

Lin Chen took two parasols and two folding lounge chairs out of his Storage Soul Tool, secured them in the sand, and arranged the chairs beneath the umbrellas.

Once he'd finished, he took out a pair of black sunglasses, put them on, and turned to Na'er.

"Na'er, come rest for a bit. Don't stay in the sun too long." He reached into his Storage Soul Tool again, took out a dainty little pair of sunglasses, and set them beside the lounge chair.

Don't ask why they were so dainty. Na'er's height hadn't changed at all lately.

He walked over to a little beachside drink shop nearby. A moment later, he returned with two cups of iced juice and handed one to Na'er.

The sweet, cool scent of fruit mingled with the sea breeze. Na'er took the juice and tipped her head back for a big sip, her eyes curving into crescents.

She picked up the children's sunglasses and clumsily put them on, then grinned. "Brother Lin Chen, why didn't you buy QQ Nei Nei Hao He Dao Mie Pu tea?"

Lin Chen's mouth twitched. How was this little girl still hung up on that? He called to her, "Lie down and rest for a while."

Na'er copied him, settling back comfortably in her lounge chair.

Lin Chen casually fished his Soul Guidance phone out of his pocket and tapped the screen to switch to the front-facing camera. He leaned slightly toward Na'er beside him.

Na'er noticed and immediately scooted closer, pressing her little head against his shoulder. She smiled sweetly at the camera, then pushed her sunglasses up on top of her head to reveal her clear, bright eyes.

The shutter clicked. Their photo was ready. Lin Chen quickly tapped out a few commands and sent it to Ya Li.

Back at Shrek Academy, Ya Li was sitting on a swing with Yun Ming. Hearing the sound, Yun Ming stopped channeling Soul Power.

Ya Li picked up her phone. The screen lit up, and a notification appeared with the photo of the two at the beach.

Lin Chen wore sunglasses and looked relaxed. Na'er nestled against his shoulder, her little sunglasses pushed up on her head as she smiled with her eyes curved into crescents. Behind them stretched the clear, endless blue sea and sky.

Seeing the picture, Yun Ming chuckled at his wife. "That boy sure knows how to enjoy himself."

Ya Li looked up at Yun Ming, her expression tender. "Brother Ming, it's nice for Lin Chen and Na'er to go out and have some fun during the break."

Ya Li tapped her screen and quickly sent Lin Chen a message: Be careful, and remember to keep an eye on Na'er. Don't let her wander off.

After sending it, she put her phone away and nestled back into Yun Ming's arms, swinging gently with him.

On the beach in Eastsea City, Lin Chen suddenly sneezed. He rubbed the tip of his nose and wondered to himself, What's going on? Could Mom and Dad be missing me?

He shook his head, putting the thought aside, and looked out at the boundless sea. Waves kissed the long shoreline again and again.

Leaning back in his lounge chair, Lin Chen gazed at the vast, beautiful view and exclaimed, "Oh, sea, you're so blue! This scenery is incredible!"

Na'er could no longer hold herself back. Barefoot on the warm sand, she kept reaching out to touch the seawater as it rolled in.

The midday sun shone over the whole beach. There were quite a few tourists, but luckily, there weren't many near Lin Chen and Na'er.

Tourists in all kinds of clothes dotted the sand. Some sat in groups of three or five, laughing and chatting. Some chased the waves with their children, while plenty of others held up Soul Guidance cameras to capture the blue sea and sky.

Lin Chen glanced at the increasingly fierce sunlight overhead, then at the bustling crowd around them. He called to Na'er, who was having the time of her life. "Na'er, your tummy's rumbling! Let's go get something to eat!"

At that, Na'er ran over and threw herself onto Lin Chen. Her pale little feet were covered with fine grains of sand. She looked up and nodded obediently. "Okay! My tummy just told me it's hungry."

Lin Chen took Na'er's hand and picked a clean little restaurant on the street, where they had a simple lunch.