Sandcastle

The beach is flat and fine after the tide recedes, and it feels soft and fluffy underfoot.

Looking at the smooth, fine sand beneath her feet, washed clean by the sea, Aemeath suddenly felt a surge of childlike wonder.

"A-Yan, let's build a sandcastle!" Her eyes lit up, and she immediately let go of Lu Yan's hand, squatted down on the wet beach, and began to dig into the sand with her hands.

Lu Yan looked at Aemeath was squatting on the ground playing in the sand like a little girl, and smiled as he agreed, "Okay."

He also squatted down beside her and began to act as her most capable construction worker.

"I want to build a really big castle! This is the city wall, and this is the moat!" Aemeath excitedly directed, her hands constantly piling up wet sand.

Because there are no molds, the newly piled sand towers always collapse due to moisture loss or an unstable base.

"Oh dear, it collapsed again." Aemeath pouted in annoyance as she watched her carefully constructed main tower crumble.

"Don't rush, the sand is too dry, you need to add some water and compact it."

Lu Yan comforted him gently. He scooped up some wet sand from the side and used his palm to compact the base again. Then he gradually piled it up, his technique surprisingly steady.

With his help, a sandcastle of considerable size quickly took shape.

Aemeath was overjoyed. Like a busy little bee, she ran around on the beach, collecting all sorts of beautiful seashells, conches, and small coral stones.

"This pink seashell will be on the city gate, and this conch shell will be on the spire as a flag!" She meticulously decorated their masterpiece.

Lu Yan turned his head to look at Aemeath's focused profile. A few strands of hair, wet from the seawater, clung to her cheeks, and sunlight danced on her eyelashes.

"A-Yan, look! Our castle is finished!" Aemeath clapped the sand off her hands, pointed to the sandcastle in front of her that, though somewhat simple, was full of their hard work, and proudly announced.

"Yes, very beautiful." Lu Yan nodded with a smile, reaching out to tidy up a strand of hair near her cheek.

Just then, Aemeath's stomach, quite uncooperatively, let out a loud "groove".

Her face flushed slightly, and she awkwardly covered her flat stomach. "Oh dear... I used up too much energy in the water, I feel hungry."

Lu Yan glanced at the waterproof watch on his wrist; it was already noon without him realizing it.

"Come on, let's wash our hands. It's time for lunch." He pulled Aemeath to her feet and walked towards the parasol.

While playing in the sand, Lu Yan had already called for lunch service through the resort's smart bracelet.

After they washed the sand off themselves and returned to the beach mat, several female servers had already laid out a sumptuous lunch on the specially made low beach tables.

Since we're at the beach, lunch naturally includes classic beach food.

On the table sat two enormous, chilled coconuts, each with a colorful straw inserted, and their shells still glistening with tempting droplets of water.

The main course was a large platter of seafood freshly grilled over charcoal, including garlic-roasted scallops bigger than the palm of your hand, sizzling black pepper-roasted prawns, and a whole grilled squid cut into sections and brushed with a secret sauce.

Besides seafood, there was also a refreshing and palate-cleansing Japanese cold noodle dish, and a large bowl of vegetable salad with vinaigrette dressing.

The rich aroma of barbecue mixed with the salty scent of the sea breeze wafted over, instantly whetting her appetite.

"Wow! This is so delicious!" Aemeath exclaimed, eagerly sitting cross-legged, picking up an ice-cold coconut, and taking a big gulp.

The sweet, cool coconut water flowed down my throat, instantly dispelling the midday heat.

"Ah~ Ah~ I'm alive again!" Aemeath sighed contentedly.

Lu Yan picked up a skewer of golden-brown, crispy squid tentacles and held it to her lips. "Try this, it looks very flavorful."

Aemeath took a bite without hesitation. The chewy texture of the squid and the rich sauce created a delightful sensation in her mouth. She nodded excitedly, "Delicious! A million times better than the sashimi from last night!"

Seeing her cheeks stuffed full like a little hamster, Lu Yan picked up a tissue and naturally wiped the sauce from the corner of her mouth.

"Eat slowly, no one's going to take it from you. If you like it, have them bake some more tonight."

Aemeath swallowed the food in her mouth, picked up a grilled prawn, peeled off the shell, and instead of eating it herself, she stuffed it directly into Lu Yan's mouth.

Lu Yan slowly swallowed the shrimp, his face full of smiles. "It's not hard work, after all, I'm a contractor with a seaside castle now."

When Aemeath heard him mention the sandcastle the two of them had just built together, she shook her head proudly and took a sip of coconut through her straw.

"That's right! And it's a luxurious villa with a moat. From now on, the interior design of this house will be entirely your responsibility."

Lu Yan her words, Lu Yan nodded seriously, grabbed a tissue to wipe his hands, and said in a very serious tone, "Yes, I already have a preliminary idea for the design."

"The castle needs a huge south-facing art studio, a double-door refrigerator stuffed with all sorts of snacks, and most importantly, a dedicated area for you to play games, right?"

"Yes, yes, yes! We also need to buy the softest carpet, so I can lie down anytime!" Aemeath echoed, her eyes bright. Then, she rested her chin on her hand, gazing at the small sandcastle on the beach not far away, her tone suddenly softening.

"Actually... even if it's just a small sandcastle, it doesn't matter."

Lu Yan raised an eyebrow, amused. "Hmm? The main tower collapsed just now, and you were pouting with worry."

Aemeath moved closer to him, her shoulder gently resting on his arm, her tone light yet incredibly earnest. "Because it's a fake house. If it were our real home, as long as A-Yan is by my side, even if it were a small sandcastle that could be washed away by the sea at any moment, I would feel it's the safest place in the world."

"Besides... even if it collapses, we can just rebuild it together!"

She turned her head, her nose almost touching his shoulder, her golden eyes sparkling. "A-Yan, aren't you right?"

Looking at her face so close to his, and listening to her speak such affectionate words in such a relaxed tone, Lu Yan felt as if a warm breeze was gently blowing through his heart.

He put down what he was holding, casually put his arm around her shoulder, pulled her closer to him, and whispered, "Mmm. But don't worry, whether it's the sandcastle or our home, I'll build it very solid, and it will never collapse."

Under this parasol, the scorching sun outside is kept at bay.

The two enjoyed a barbecue by the sea while sipping sweet coconut water.

The white noise of waves crashing on the beach fills my ears, the boundless blue sea stretches before me, and beside me are the people I'm willing to protect with my life.

Aemeath watched Lu Yan carefully picking out fish bones for her, an indescribable sense of satisfaction welled up inside her.

Isn't this the very scene she has been waiting for all these long years?

Sunshine, beaches, delicious food, and... A-Yan.

"A-Yan," Aemeath suddenly called out softly.

"Hmm?" Lu Yan looked up and placed a piece of deboned grilled fish into her bowl.

"I feel like the happiest person in the entire universe right now." Her eyes sparkled with golden starlight, and her tone was incredibly earnest.

Lu Yan was slightly taken aback, then a deep, affectionate smile appeared on his lips.

He didn't say any extra sweet words, he simply reached out and firmly grasped her slightly oily little hand.

"Me too."

The afternoon sun gradually grew intense, and even the sea breeze carried a sense of heat.

After a satisfying meal, the two lingered under a parasol on the beach for a while before holding hands and walking back to the well-air-conditioned Wave Room Suite, their feet sinking into the soft sand.

After washing away the fine sand and the salty smell of the sea, they changed into loose, soft cotton bathrobes and lay down in each other's arms on the tatami mats that had been laid out with bedding.

The sliding door to the room was half-closed, leaving only a crack, allowing the white noise of the waves crashing against the rocks outside to become the most natural lullaby.

Having expended a lot of energy playing in the sea that morning, Aemeath, as soon as her head touched the pillow, clung to Lu Yan like a kitten finding its safest nest, burying her face deep in the crook of his neck. Within minutes, she was breathing evenly.

As Lu Yan held the soft, fragrant body in his arms, his mind gradually relaxed.