Chapter 109: Shells (13/20)

“It looks like it’s going to rain.”

The dark, ink-colored clouds stretched straight across the sky, as if ready to pour down raindrops that might represent sorrow or anger.

It was Xu Nian who had just spoken those words, his rare frown appearing because of the looming clouds.

In his expectation, today should have been a good day, bright and clear enough for him to fully enjoy his time with Yang Shuli.

But these inexplicable clouds had suddenly appeared out of nowhere, heading straight toward Xu Nian as if intent on ruining this rare weather, this rare atmosphere, and this rare moment of happiness.

So, Xu Nian wasn’t exactly in the best mood.

“Huh?” Yang Shuli, crouching on the ground, blinked in surprise and suddenly looked up at the gathering clouds in the sky.

It really did seem like it was about to rain.

The tiny dorm leader glanced up at the clouds again, then looked down at the shells scattered at her feet, washed out occasionally by the crashing waves.

Finally, she looked over at Xu Nian.

His expression was still as gentle as usual, radiating the same warmth toward her as always.

Of course, she didn’t see the moment just before when Xu Nian had worn a face of annoyance at the sky, then instantly shifted to a breeze-like tenderness when looking at her.

Her small face showed a rare hint of inner conflict, and she said to Xu Nian, “Actually, I don’t think the rain will start so soon.”

She was merely guessing, speaking from a hopeful fantasy.

Xu Nian knew she just wanted to dig up a few more shells, maybe even some sea snails.

“Play as long as you want,” Xu Nian said with a light chuckle, bending down to ruffle the hair of Yang Shuli, who was busy searching for sea snails by the shore.

That plastic children’s shovel was bought from the only general store on the entire beach, costing Xu Nian twenty-five yuan.

After paying for it, Xu Nian had given it to Yang Shuli, who then decided to dig up some treasure from the sand to justify the exchange.

The moment she got the shovel, Yang Shuli wore an expression full of confidence and determination, giving Xu Nian a big thumbs up.

She said, “The ocean holds endless possibilities. Maybe I’ll even dig up some gold coins from the Carib pirate!”

Xu Nian told her this was an artificial beach, and there was no chance of finding such ancient treasures buried in the layers of sand.

Yang Shuli’s eyes sparkled with determination as she insisted that this beach could hide deliberately buried treasures, and whoever found them could become the Pirate King.

So she continued her excavation here, but unfortunately, until now she’d only managed to dig up a few shells and some colorful little stones that stood out compared to the others.

Xu Nian looked down at Yang Shuli, tirelessly digging in the sand, then glanced up at two large sand pits nearby.

If only Yang Shuli’s toy shovel were given to those two digging pit contestants, maybe they could really change the landscape of the beach.

He lifted the backpack from his back and placed it in front of him, unzipping it.

Inside were two loaves of bread, two packets of dried fish, and a sausage — all prepared for Yang Shuli, in case there were no food stalls nearby.

As the dark clouds drew closer, the tourists around them began leaving one by one.

Since it was autumn, there weren’t many visitors to the beach to begin with, so this made it feel even more deserted.

Those leaving were muttering repeatedly, “It’s going to rain, it’s going to rain.”

Yang Shuli only quickened her digging.

Just two more shells to go, just two more, but no matter how hard she looked, she couldn’t find them.

Her little face, still slightly childish, was now tinged with anxiety.

It’s going to rain soon.

“No need to rush, we still have plenty of time,” Xu Nian said, crouching down to gently pat Yang Shuli’s back, soothing the little one’s mood.

With his other hand, he held up something in front of her, a small display.

It was a folding umbrella, each fold perfectly arranged into a flawless shape. If it weren’t for having used it together earlier when they went out to eat, Yang Shuli might have thought it was brand new.

Her frantic movements calmed down slightly, and she resumed her treasure hunt on the beach like at the very start.

Xu Nian looked up slightly and glanced toward the other side.

He saw that one of the two people competing in the sand pits had already climbed out but didn’t seem in a hurry to dodge the rain. Instead, he was bullying the other contestant still stuck inside their pit.

Xu Nian didn’t understand and didn’t intend to watch, choosing instead to stay beside Yang Shuli, who was crouched and digging for treasures.

He stood to her left, closer to the sea.

He shielded her slightly from the sea breeze and the occasional waves that gently spilled over the shore.

The clouds continued to approach, and Yang Shuli still hadn’t found the last two missing shells.

But at least she wasn’t so anxious now; instead, she looked somewhat content, as if she were truly enjoying a leisurely trip.

Before the first raindrop hit Yang Shuli’s head, Xu Nian opened the umbrella, letting that drop only make a crisp sound as it bounced off, kept outside the shelter, then slid down the umbrella’s surface to the sand below.

Yang Shuli blinked, looked up at the umbrella shading her head, then glanced at Xu Nian’s gentle smile.

She then bent down and dug even harder with renewed energy.

Xu Nian took one last glance around and saw that the two digging competitors had apparently fled.

“Old Xu, why are you so close to me?” Yang Shuli asked Xu Nian as she dug.

She knew he was kind to her, and she knew that kindness was only for her.

But she was a little afraid of it — afraid because it seemed so unreal, almost fragile.

She feared that this kindness could disappear at any moment.

“Because this relationship is a two-way street. The good you think I have, I see the same in you,” Xu Nian replied.

He pointed at the other “loot” stacked by her feet — the shells and small stones piled up. “What are you going to do with your treasure?”

“Give it to you. I was digging it all for you anyway,” Yang Shuli said matter-of-factly, though she didn’t fully grasp what Xu Nian meant.

Xu Nian smiled slightly. “That’s exactly what I mean. Just like how I care about and cherish you, you try to give me all you can, even if it’s not equal, but it still is — because what we can give is everything.”

Just like he brought her food, and she brought him food in return.

They both remembered each other’s favorite foods and knew what the other disliked.

Yang Shuli was pure and sincere, giving her whole heart to Xu Nian. Whatever Xu Nian gave her, she would give back in equal measure.

He gave his all to her, and she would do the same.

For example, their meal routine was still that Xu Nian treated for one meal, and Yang Shuli would treat the next. If Xu Nian brought a fancy Western meal, Yang Shuli would bring a full Han banquet from a small Shaxian snack shop.

Yang Shuli didn’t quite understand Xu Nian’s words but suddenly felt her little shovel hit something hard.

It was a whole scallop, its two shells tightly connected — like the umbrella shielding the seaside, or like some indescribable bond linking them together.

Yang Shuli reached out, as if to force the two shells apart, because she needed two separate shells.

“No need. It’s perfect just like this,” Xu Nian stopped her, “I still like shells joined like this.”

Tightly connected, nothing could tear them apart.