The Great Sea

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

Lin Chen heard this, casually turned off the television in front of him, and tilted his head to look at the listless Na'er. "Since you're bored, I have a good idea."

Na'er lifted her small head, the cowlick on top of her hair bobbing with the movement, and hurriedly asked, "What good idea?"

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

Upon hearing the word ocean, Na'er's eyes grew even brighter, her face full of impatience. "Then what are we waiting for? Let's go, Brother Lin Chen!"

"Don't be so anxious," Lin Chen laughed. "If we're going to run off to Eastsea City, we have to report it first, otherwise they'll worry."

No sooner had he spoken than Lin Chen picked up the phone nearby and dialed Yun Ming's number. Before long, the call was connected. "What is it, Lin Chen?"

"Dad, I'm taking Na'er to Eastsea City for a bit of fun," Lin Chen said, looking at the expectant Na'er. "Don't worry, we'll be back in a few days."

There was a moment of silence on the other end, then Yun Ming's voice sounded again: "Alright, stay safe and take good care of Na'er."

Ya Li's voice then came through the phone: "Don't get into trouble by playing too hard. If you don't have enough money, tell your father or me. Come back early."

"I know, thanks Mom and Dad," Lin Chen replied. "Love you both." He ended the call and looked back at Na'er.

Na'er looked at him with eager eyes and asked, "Brother Lin Chen, can we go now?"

Lin Chen's eyes held a smile. "We can. Let's grab the things we need for the beach, and then we can head out."

Na'er immediately hopped and skipped to her room to pack her little backpack, stuffing her favorite doll and some clothes inside all at once.

Lin Chen also packed simply, bringing his communicator and storage ring. After confirming everything was in order, he took Na'er's small hand.

"Let's go, to Eastsea City."

The two arrived at the Shrek City Soul Tool train station, where Lin Chen had booked high-speed Soul Tool train tickets to Eastsea City well in advance.

Eastsea City was the second-largest coastal city in the Sun-Moon Federation's Eastsea region and a vital development hub, ranking as a second-tier city within the entire Sun-Moon Federation.

Na'er leaned against the train window, her small head curiously watching the scenery flying backward outside, pulling on Lin Chen's sleeve from time to time.

"Brother Lin Chen, is the ocean really as beautiful as it is in the videos?"

Lin Chen turned his head and smiled softly. "You'll know once we get to Eastsea City."

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

As soon as they stepped out of the station, a moist, crisp sea breeze rushed toward them, carrying a faint salty scent, and the sound of waves crashing against the reefs could be heard faintly in the distance.

Soft, warm, fine sand covered their ankles, and the waves, still holding the warmth of the sun, washed over them again and again, gently brushing against their shoes.

Na'er ran excitedly to the edge of the beach, cupped her hands around her mouth, and shouted toward the vast, boundless ocean: "Ocean! Brother Lin Chen and I have come to see you!"

Her crisp call accompanied the sea breeze, traveling far toward the place where the sea met the sky, only to be gently caught by the surging waves.

The salty, damp sea breeze lifted her hair, and the girl's sparkling eyes were filled with the entire expanse of blue, her small body even rising slightly onto her tiptoes in excitement.

Lin Chen took two beach umbrellas and two folding lounge chairs from his storage Soul Tool, secured them on the beach, and then set up the chairs properly under the shade.

After finishing this, he took out a pair of black sunglasses, put them on, and turned to look at Na'er.

"Na'er, come over and rest for a while, don't stay in the sun too long." Lin Chen raised his hand again, took a small, exquisite pair of sunglasses from his storage Soul Tool, and placed them beside the lounge chair.

Don't ask why they were small and exquisite; it was because Na'er's height hadn't changed at all during this time.

He walked to a nearby beach drink stand, returned a moment later carrying two cups of iced fruit juice, and handed one to Na'er.

The cold, sweet fragrance of fruit mixed with the sea breeze. Na'er took the juice, tilted her head back, and took a big sip, her eyes curving into crescents.

She picked up the children's sunglasses, clumsily put them on her face, and said with a giggle, "Brother Lin Chen, why didn't you buy that 'tastes-so-good-it-makes-me-cry' tea?"

Lin Chen's mouth twitched slightly, wondering why this little girl still remembered that. He beckoned, "Lie down and rest."

Na'er mimicked his posture and leaned comfortably on the lounge chair.

Lin Chen casually fished his Soul Tool phone from his pocket, tapped the screen to switch to the front-facing camera, and leaned slightly toward Na'er.

Noticing the movement, Na'er immediately leaned in excitedly, pressing her small head tightly against his shoulder, flashing a sweet smile at the lens, and even pushing her sunglasses up to her forehead to reveal her clear, bright eyes.

With a crisp shutter sound, the photo was taken. He then quickly operated the screen to send the photo to Ya Li.

Back at Shrek Academy, Ya Li and Yun Ming were sitting on a swing. Hearing the notification, Yun Ming stopped his soul power output.

Ya Li picked up her phone; the screen lit up, and the photo from the beach popped up.

Lin Chen wore sunglasses with a lazy expression, while Na'er leaned against his shoulder, her small sunglasses pushed up to her forehead, smiling with her eyes curved. Behind them was a clear, boundless expanse of blue sea and sky.

Seeing the photo, Yun Ming laughed and scolded his wife, "This kid really knows how to enjoy himself."

Ya Li looked up at Yun Ming with gentle eyes. "Ming-ge, it's quite nice for Lin Chen and Na'er to go out and have fun during their vacation."

Ya Li tapped the screen and quickly sent a message to Lin Chen: Stay safe, remember to keep an eye on Na'er, and don't let her run around.

After sending it, she put the phone away, leaned back into Yun Ming's arms, and continued to swing.

On the beach in Eastsea City, Lin Chen suddenly sneezed. He raised his hand to rub the tip of his nose, muttering to himself, "What's going on? Could it be that Mom and Dad are missing me?"

He shook his head, casting the thought aside, and looked out at the endless ocean, where the waves kissed the long coastline again and again.

Leaning back on the lounge chair, Lin Chen looked at the vast, beautiful scenery and couldn't help but praise, "Oh, ocean, you are so blue! Looking at this scenery is just top-notch."

Beside him, Na'er could no longer hold back, stepping barefoot onto the warm, fine sand, reaching out from time to time to touch the incoming seawater.

The midday sun shone down upon the entire beach; there were quite a few tourists about, but fortunately, the area where Lin Chen was staying remained relatively quiet.

Tourists dressed in all sorts of colorful clothing were scattered across the sand. Some sat in small groups laughing and chatting, others chased the waves with their children, and many more held up soul-guide cameras, snapping endless photos of the blue sea and sky.

Lin Chen glanced at the increasingly scorching sun overhead, then looked at the bustling crowds around him before calling out to Na'er, who was having the time of her life: "Na'er, my stomach is thundering—let's go get something to eat!"

Upon hearing this, Na'er trotted over and threw herself onto Lin Chen, her fair, delicate feet covered in fine grains of sand. She tilted her head and nodded obediently: "Alrighty, my tummy just told me it's hungry too."

Lin Chen took Na'er's hand and found a clean, simple little eatery by the roadside, where they "simply" finished their lunch.