Travel · Qiongzhou Arc (Twenty-Three): Beach Volleyball (Part Two)

In conclusion, the earth-shattering battle between the four extraordinary women came to a complete end when the volleyball, unable to withstand the strain, exploded.

Given the negative impact of this competition, referee Hajiling declared the results invalid and also gave the four female contestants a lecture.

So, after this little incident, everyone was able to happily play beach volleyball again.

Meanwhile, on another beach not far from Aemeath's group, another group was also happily playing beach volleyball. However, compared to a standard volleyball net, this net was obviously much lower, as if it had been adapted accordingly.

"Hey!" Encore easily sent the volleyball over the net.

"Got it!" Roccia reacted quickly, immediately returning the volleyball along the same path.

Suoming remained calm as he watched the volleyball about to cross the net, and at the very last moment, he intercepted it.

Now the pressure is on Miss Montelli II.

Carlotta watched the volleyball hurtling towards her, precisely catching its landing point, and gracefully lifting it up with both arms. Roccia seized the opportunity, taking advantage of the defensive gap between Suoming and Encore, and then slapped it down with her palm.

With a thud, the volleyball landed on the sand, and referee Pero immediately awarded Roccia's team a point.

"Good teamwork," Carlotta praised Roccia with a smile.

Roccia remained silent, only returning the smile of appreciation.

"I feel a little tired..." Encore pouted, looking very cute.

"Then let's rest for a bit, I'm a little tired too," Suoming casually agreed.

So, having reached a consensus, the four of them took the volleyball and went back to the rest area for a short break.

"Ah, welcome back." The Shorekeeper was waiting under the parasol, saw Suoming and her group come to rest and offered each of them a cup of cold drinks that he had prepared earlier. "Please enjoy."

"Thank you so much." Suoming thanked him sincerely before taking the cold drink and sipping it slowly.

"Thank you, Shorekeeper!" Encore and Roccia, the two little cuties, thanked the Shorekeeper with sweet smiles before taking the cold drinks and enjoying them.

"Thank you for your hard work." Carlotta nodded her thanks, then picked up the last glass of cold drink and took a sip.

The Shorekeeper smiled and nodded, then softly asked Encore, "Encore, did you have fun with Sister Carlotta and the others?"

"Of course it's super fun!" Encore exclaimed excitedly. "Everyone was amazing! It was a bit tiring, but we had so much fun!"

"That's good."

The Shorekeeper squatted down and gently rubbed Encore's little head twice, causing the latter to let out a comfortable hum.

"By the way, Sister Shorekeeper, do you have any milk?"

"Yes, of course. Encore, would you like some now?"

"Uh-huh!"

"Here, milk." Miss Chun arrived uninvited, carrying two cartons of milk to Encore and handing them to her. "Drink slowly, be careful not to choke."

Thank you, Chun-jie!

Encore took the two cartons of milk and immediately gave one to Roccia.

"Is this for me?" Roccia asked, blinking.

"Here you go!" Encore said happily to her new friend, "Big brother said that if you drink more milk, you can become a reliable adult like the Shorekeeper sister!"

Shorekeeper: Hmm? Me?

Roccia nodded twice, half-believing, and then drank milk with her new friend, biting on a straw.

"I feel that the charioteer's statement is somewhat biased?" Suoming muttered to himself as he watched Encore and his group from a short distance away.

"That's not entirely right, but it's not entirely wrong either. I think Cat's Eye just wanted to use this analogy to encourage Little Encore to get proper nutrition, since she's still growing," Carlotta explained from the side.

"Besides, I think Encore must also be hoping to grow up quickly so she can help Cat's Eye like us, right?"

"Growing up..." Suoming mused.

If we're talking about topics that are hard to avoid, then the things that happen after we grow up are definitely at the top of the list.

Which child hasn't dreamed of growing up to be a capable, independent young man or woman? Going to school alone, going out alone, doing what they want to do alone.

But growing up isn't as wonderful and glamorous as children imagine. Just like the little boy in the lyrics, his worries increase as he grows taller. As children grow up, they gain more abilities but also more responsibilities.

"Hmm... But speaking of which, does drinking milk really make you grow taller...?" Carlotta pondered.

"To truly understand something, one must put it into practice. Miss Carlotta, why don't you give it a try yourself?" Suoming said calmly, looking into Carlotta's beautiful eyes.

"I think Miss Suoming might need to grow taller even more than I do?" Carlotta retorted with a light laugh.

"... It's alright, I don't mind my height at all." Suoming shook her head coldly.

Height is an unavoidable topic for Suoming, not because she feels that being too short will cause any problems, but because she worries that her appearance will make people look down on the importance of the Truthseeker.

Therefore, if necessary, she wouldn't mind giving this clueless guy a little warning.

This 1.5-meter height and 2.8-meter aura is a common feature between Carlotta and Suoming, not to mention that the latter is not even 1.5 meters tall, so it's hard to say.

On the other side, the hands of the Shorekeeper who was taking care of the children suddenly began to clang.

"Um?"

She took a moment to unlock her phone and found that the message was from Xiao Ling.

Xiao Ling: What are you doing?

The Shorekeeper is resting.

Shorekeeper: A-Ling, what are you doing?

Xiao Ling: We're packing up to go back.

Xiao Ling: Everyone had a blast this afternoon, so we're probably going to have a Manchu Han Imperial Feast when we get home tonight!

Shorekeeper: It's alright, I'll help you.

Xiao Ling: Shorekeeper is so good to me.

Xiao Ling: Let me offer you some incense~

The Shorekeeper couldn't help but smile wryly at Xiao Ling's childish conversation.

"Hmm? What's making you so happy?" Camellya Flower walked over lightly, her tone full of teasing. "Is it a message from the Fated Seed?"

"Yes," the Shorekeeper nodded gently, "We should go back."

"Are we going back already?" Encore was still a little reluctant to leave. "I want to play a little longer..."

"It's getting late, A-Ling is already preparing dinner," the Shorekeeper patiently explained.

"Big brother's going to cook? Yay! Roccia, let's go!" Encore didn't waste any time and immediately pulled Roccia towards the villa. "Let me tell you, big brother's cooking is delicious!"

The Shorekeeper, Chun, and the arriving Suoming and Carlotta exchanged glances and couldn't help but smile helplessly.

There's no other way, after all, eating is the most important thing in the world.