Dinner came to an end.
Using digestion as an excuse, Beichen Heng invited Tsuyi for a walk along the beach.
Their footprints, one deep and one shallow, marked the tidal flats by the sea.
From time to time, Beichen Heng bent down to tease the little shrimp and crabs that had come ashore to lay eggs with the rising tide.
At first, Tsuyi thought he was very childish, but as she watched, she unconsciously crouched down as well.
She just did not dare reach out. She carefully tested the waters, but whenever she touched the cool shells of the shrimp and crabs, she nervously pulled her hand back.
Seeing this, Beichen Heng teased her.
"You're going to inherit the position of Raiden Clan Head someday. How can you be afraid of little fish and shrimp like these?"
"This... is different." She looked at the little shrimp and crabs with lingering fear, practically staring them down.
What Beichen Heng did not know was that Tsuyi was not afraid of the little shrimp and crabs themselves. She was simply sensitive to their smooth shells.
But Beichen Heng assumed she was scared. He picked up a branch from nearby and handed it to Tsuyi.
And so, there were two more people on the beach tormenting these unfortunate sea creatures.
One used both hands, forcefully prying apart their claws and leaving them utterly disoriented.
The other held a branch in one hand, guiding the little shrimp and crabs toward the tide.
There was not much conversation between them. Their gazes merely met from time to time.
This went on for quite a while.
It was not until the lower half of Tsuyi's skirt-pants had been soaked by seawater, the chill creeping up the smooth skin of her calves, that she gently set down the