Na'er's astonishing appetite conquered every diner in the restaurant. As soon as the food was brought to the table, the little girl picked up her spoon and eagerly dug in.
Her tiny body seemed to contain boundless energy. She polished off a bowl of seafood fried rice in no time, then lifted her head and called to the owner in a childish voice, "Another bowl, please!"
But no one had expected Na'er to polish off one bowl after another. The chef in the kitchen was soon working up a storm, constantly stir-frying and serving rice, as if he and the little girl had entered into a silent battle.
Everyone there was stunned by Na'er's incredible appetite. Lin Chen sat beside her, both amused and helpless, and could only keep apologizing to the owner.
The owner didn't mind. Jokingly, he said, "A healthy appetite is a blessing. It's been a long time since I've met an opponent evenly matched with me."
As time passed, bowl after bowl lined the table. Na'er patted her little belly, looking thoroughly satisfied. After paying, she walked out of the restaurant.
The afternoon sunlight gradually softened, no longer as scorching and dazzling as it had been at noon.
Na'er crouched by the shallows, carefully picking up shells—white, pink, and all sorts of exquisite colors—and tucked them gently into her pocket.
Only after she'd gathered a pocketful did she run over to Lin Chen. The shells jingled with a crisp, pleasant sound as she moved.
She poured them all onto the lounge chair, then looked at Lin Chen with her big purple eyes full of anticipation. "Big Brother Lin Chen, these shells are so pretty! I want to make a bracelet!"
After fiddling with them for ages, she still hadn't managed to make anything out of the scattered shells. Na'er, the little Oscar-winning actress, drooped her head and pouted miserably. "I can't do it."
How could Lin Chen not understand what Na'er wanted? He chuckled and shook his head, then said gently, "It's okay. Leave it to me. I promise I'll make you the prettiest shell bracelet."
As he spoke, he took a carefully prepared bottle of Guojiao from his soul tool storage ring, along with a glass. He dropped in a few ice cubes and filled the glass.
As the saying went, at room temperature it was like horse piss; chilled, it was Guojiao.
He gently patted Na'er on the head. "Rest here for a bit. I'll go to a nearby accessories shop and buy the tools we need to make the bracelet. I'll be right back. Don't wander off, okay?"
Na'er nodded obediently. "Got it, Big Brother Lin Chen." Holding the drink Lin Chen had made for her, she quietly gazed at the churning sea.
Lin Chen turned and headed toward the shops not far away, his steps light.
What Lin Chen didn't know was that shortly after he left, a glimmer passed through Na'er's amethyst eyes. The pure, innocent look in them had given way to complicated emotions far beyond her years.
By the time Lin Chen returned, she had gone back to her usual self.
Before long, Lin Chen hurried back, carrying a coil of soft silver-colored cord and a few delicate awls.
He sat down on the lounge chair and laid out the tools. Then he carefully sorted the shells Na'er had picked, selecting ones that were similar in size and especially pretty.
Na'er set down her empty glass and moved close to him, her round eyes fixed intently on what he was doing.
Lin Chen carefully drilled a hole of just the right size into each shell. Once they were all ready, he threaded them onto the silver cord one by one, occasionally adding little white pearls between them. He'd picked those up on the way back.
The sea breeze drifted softly past, stirring their hair. Before long, he had finished a one-of-a-kind bracelet adorned with shells in every color.
"Come on, Na'er. Let me put it on for you." Lin Chen gently fastened the bracelet around Na'er's fair, slender wrist. It fit perfectly.
Na'er lifted her hand in delight, turning it this way and that in the sunlight. The shells and pearls shimmered beautifully. Her eyes curved into a smile as she threw herself into Lin Chen's arms and cheered, "It's so pretty! Thank you, Big Brother Lin Chen!"
The sun slowly sank toward the horizon, and the rosy glow of the sky painted the entire beach a warm golden red. Fine grains of sand gleamed softly in the fading light.
Lin Chen took Na'er's hand, and they strolled slowly along the edge of the beach. Their two shadows, one tall and one short, stretched long behind them in the setting sun, reflected across the sand.
After walking for a while, Lin Chen noticed that Na'er looked a little off. He asked with concern, "Na'er, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"
Na'er looked up at him, a sweet, gentle smile on her face, and shook her head lightly. "I'm fine, Big Brother Lin Chen. I'm just a little tired. I had such a wonderful day."
Evening fell. Stars filled the dark sky like dazzling jewels, vying with the silver moon for brilliance.
Lin Chen and Na'er sat on the beach, gazing up at the stars.
The quiet night wrapped around the whole beach. The waves gently lapped at the shore, their soft, steady sound stretching into the distance.
After a long while, Na'er edged closer to Lin Chen and rested her head on his shoulder. She spoke softly, with a hint of anxiety that was almost impossible to detect. "If one day Na'er leaves, will Big Brother Lin Chen miss me?"
Lin Chen's body stiffened slightly. Then he turned toward the little girl beside him and looked at her carefully in the clear moonlight. A fleeting, complicated look appeared in his eyes.
"Silly girl. No matter where you go, no matter how far away you are, I'll do everything I can to find you."
Na'er froze for a moment, then looked up at him. A faint mist welled in her purple eyes beneath the starlight.
Lin Chen lowered his head and gazed at Na'er. They looked at each other in silence.
Na'er suddenly arched her brows, breaking the silence. A sly yet sweet smile spread across her lips as she spoke with a playful grin. "I tricked you, Big Brother Lin Chen! You're so silly. Na'er would never leave you."
The mist that had welled in her eyes was already gone, leaving only a lively glint. She playfully wiggled the wrist wearing her shell bracelet, looking utterly adorable and pleased with herself.
Lin Chen was taken aback, then chuckled helplessly and gently tapped the tip of her nose. "You little rascal, Na'er. How dare you play a trick on me?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Na'er stood up. Her silver hair traced a graceful arc through the night as she turned and ran toward the Seaview Hotel.
As she ran, she looked back at Lin Chen and stuck out her tongue. Her clear laughter drifted over on the sea breeze. "Bleh! Big Brother Lin Chen is so silly. You can't catch me!"
The waves washed lightly over her ankles, and fine grains of sand flew up with her steps. Her small figure bounced beneath the stars, lively and full of spirit.
Lin Chen watched the little figure bouncing ahead of him and laughed helplessly. Then he started after her at an easy pace.
Before long, they returned to the Seaview Hotel together. They booked two adjoining rooms, wished each other good night, and went back to their rooms to rest.
Inside Na'er's room, the air quivered faintly, and a ripple spread outward, sealing off every sound in the room.
A man slowly emerged from the void. He was tall and upright, about nine feet in height, but most striking of all were his golden, slit-pupil eyes.
The man dropped to one knee and said respectfully, "Di Tian pays his respects to the Lord."
Na'er stood quietly by the window. The childish innocence from earlier had completely vanished. Her purple eyes were deep and cold, and in its place stood the supreme majesty of the Silver Dragon King. A faint dragon's might flowed around her, and the air in the room seemed to freeze.
With her back to Di Tian, Na'er said, "In a little while."
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