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Watching Shen Tang walk into the guesthouse courtyard, Xiao Zhen reluctantly withdrew her gaze.
Bystanders couldn’t help but glance at Chen Nanjin. Some tourists recognized him and secretly took photos with their phones. It wasn’t uncommon to encounter Chen Nanjin in his hometown.
It was also rumored that Haitang Village would soon launch new tourist attractions, and Chen Nanjin was one of the investors.
Xiao Zhen and Chen Nanjin stood in silence.
Both wore sunglasses, so no one knew what the other was looking at or thinking.
Sunglasses were truly a good thing, thoroughly concealing all the selfishness and hypocrisy in their hearts.
Xiao Zhen leaned against the car door, her long hair tangled and blown by the sea breeze.
Of the few times she had met Chen Nanjin since their divorce, two were in Haitang Village. Standing in the place where their daughter grew up, all their past grievances seemed insignificant.
In the years since she married Chu Yueli, not a single day passed without trepidation. Chu Yueli was too good to her, so good that she wanted to erase that absurd period of her life with everything she had.
She even went so far as to hurt Tangtang.
Over the years, she had regretted countless times how she could have abandoned her child. But once she stepped onto that path of no return, there was no chance to turn back.
If her father hadn’t opposed breaking her and Chen Nanjin up then.
If Chen Nanjin hadn’t cheated during their marriage.
If Chen Nanjin hadn’t quickly married Fan Yu, pregnant with his child, after their divorce.
If Chen Nanjin hadn’t ostentatiously flaunted their happy family life after marriage in public.
If she hadn’t fallen out with her father.
If she had had the courage at that time to face her shattered, betrayed marriage.
If she could have composed herself and continued her studies.
If she could have adjusted her mood and not cared about people in her circle secretly laughing at her behind her back.
If she had taken Tangtang back when she was two or three and had no memories yet.
Then, would everything have been different?
Xiao Zhen looked at the guesthouse courtyard gate, imagining her daughter playing there when she was little.
“You used to flaunt your child with Fan Yu in front of the media every day. What were you really thinking in your heart? Did you ever consider Tangtang?”
She asked the question that had been suppressed in her heart for over twenty years.
“Or, did you have no feelings for Tangtang at all?”
Chen Nanjin looked at the misty sea. “How could I have thought so much? Just assume I was mad. I was only twenty-five or twenty-six at the time, valuing my self-esteem and vanity more than my life, just wanting your father to see that I wasn’t useless, that I also had the ability to give my wife and daughter a good life.”
Even if that happiness was just an illusion, he spared no effort to perform it.
At that time, Xiao Zhen had married Chu Yueli and had children; their relationship was inseparable. He became even more resentful; he was jealous of Chu Yueli.
Simply because Chu Yueli was born into the Chu family, he was recognized by Xiao Zhen’s father and could hold a grand, century-long wedding with Xiao Zhen—something he yearned for but couldn’t attain.
Those dragon-and-phoenix twins were held in Old Master Xiao’s palm from birth.
But what about Tangtang?
Old Master Xiao wouldn’t even glance at her.
So, he craved money and status even more.
Later, he ventured further and further down this misguided path. When he reached the pinnacle of fame and fortune, he realized he couldn’t go back at all.
He knew that Tangtang would never forgive him in this lifetime.
And all of this was his own doing.
Xiao Zhen remained silent for a long while.
She knew what kind of person her father was. He had trampled Chen Nanjin’s dignity as a man underfoot, then harshly ground it in. Everything had changed with time, yet it felt as fresh as ever.
Haitang Village was truly a magical place, capable of exposing the ugliest and most despicable parts of their inner selves.
Chen Nanjin watched the foamy waves crash ashore. “Whether Tangtang acknowledges me or forgives me, I will continue to make amends to her.”
Anyway, he would spend the rest of his life alone, with plenty of time.
He turned and glanced at her. “If your situation allows, from now on, come here this day every year. We’ll accompany Tangtang to visit my father.”
Xiao Zhen came back to her senses. At this moment, all past resentment dissipated.
“Nothing is forbidden.” She opened the car door and got in.
If in the next twenty-six years, she could warm her daughter’s heart just a little, she would do anything.
The sea breeze blew freely as Xiao Zhen’s car disappeared at the end of the road.
Chen Nanjin walked along the coastline with his hands in his pockets.
Thinking of his father.
Thinking of Tangtang’s childhood.
________________________________________
“What are you thinking about?” Jiang Chengyu broke the brief silence.
Shen Tang lay on the observation deck on the third floor of the guesthouse, gazing at the coastline.
“Thinking about myself.” Her gaze returned, landing on his face, and she smiled, asking him, “Do you believe I’m a kind child now?”
“Not entirely.”
Shen Tang smiled. “Really don’t believe me?”
“Your expression gives it away. I can’t just lie with my eyes wide open.” Jiang Chengyu twisted open the milk carton, handed it to her, then turned to go downstairs.
“Where are you going?” Shen Tang asked, drinking milk and watching his broad back.
“To get something from your room, I’ll be right back.” As he spoke, he had already turned onto the stairs to the second floor.
Without Jiang Chengyu there, the few square meters of the observation deck felt empty.
The sounds of laughter and joy from the beach were incessant. Shen Tang looked out again. The weather wasn’t very good today, but it didn’t affect the tourists’ mood at all.
A cloudy summer seemed more suitable for playing by the sea.
On the beach, there were young couples or families out for a trip. The carefree ones, shouting and laughing in surprise, were undoubtedly those out having wild fun with friends.
The beach also had its share of lonely figures.
From a distance, it was hard to distinguish who was who.
Footsteps sounded behind her. Shen Tang turned to see Jiang Chengyu carrying her yoga block.
“I’m not doing yoga now; I just had breakfast.”
“I’m not making you do it.”
Jiang Chengyu bent down to place the yoga block, then pulled her in front of him.
He leaned his back against the railing of the observation deck, letting her face the sea. “You stand on the yoga block, then I won’t block your view.”
Shen Tang took off her shoes and stepped onto the yoga block. The height difference between them instantly narrowed. She rested her chin on his shoulder, lazily leaning against him to look at the sea.
Jiang Chengyu gently encircled her waist, holding her close.
“I haven’t thanked you yet.” Jiang Chengyu gathered her long hair behind her neck.
Shen Tang: “For what?”
“The photo album.” The most precious gift he had ever received.
“I was just giving a borrowed gift. I’m glad you like it.” Shen Tang brought up the gift wrapping paper. “That wasn’t for you; I’m keeping it for myself.”
That was the wrapping paper Chu Xiaoyue chose, selecting the Ferris wheel series she liked. She had mentioned in a previous show that she loved Ferris wheels.
They embraced like that until Brother Shen called them downstairs for lunch.
In the afternoon, Jiang Chengyu showered and planned to take a nap. Shen Tang wasn’t sleepy; she had just received the first few tens of thousands of words of the scumbag script Wen Di sent her.
“You sleep. I’ll read the script.”
The room temperature was low. Jiang Chengyu was afraid she might fall asleep while reading, so he took an air-conditioned blanket and wrapped her in it, having her rest her head on a pillow.
“Don’t look at it for too long, your eyes will hurt.”
Shen Tang replied absently, “Okay.”
Her eyes were glued to the phone screen.
Jiang Chengyu took a new quilt from the walk-in closet and returned to bed.
Shen Tang read the short tens of thousands of words twice. It was a pity there weren’t enough words to read.
She replied to Wen Di: [If you film it then, I’ll invest.]
Putting down her phone, Shen Tang looked at the person on the bed. Jiang Chengyu was lying on his side, already fast asleep.
She rolled over and lay on the sofa, watching him.
They were so close, in body and soul.
Shen Tang threw off the quilt and tiptoed out.
In the guesthouse lobby, Brother Shen was watching his son do homework.
The boy hung his head, spiritless, like the wilted cucumber leaves scorched by the sun outside.
With the summer holidays nearing their end, the child’s summer homework hadn’t even been touched.
Shen Tang, who had once longed every day to have parents accompany her with homework like other children, couldn’t empathize with her little nephew’s resistance and dislike of Brother Shen watching him.
She borrowed a pencil, an eraser, and a blank piece of paper from her little nephew.
Back in the room, Shen Tang spread the blank paper on the coffee table, rubbed her chin with the pencil, and observed Jiang Chengyu, who was napping, for a moment.
Sketching the scene before her with an invisible pen in her mind was effortless. However, when it came to putting the drawing skills into practice with a pen, it was a different story entirely.
She drew and erased, erased and drew.
It didn’t look like Jiang Chengyu no matter how she looked at it.
A blank sheet of paper was almost crumpled from her erasing, and the coffee table was covered in eraser shavings.
Half an hour later, Shen Tang gave up on the difficult challenge.
After all that effort, she couldn’t leave with no results at all. She decided to draw using her preferred style. With a swift stroke, a few lines outlined a simple person.
In the bottom right corner, she wrote:
“Little Jiang Napping” — by Abstract Artist Shen Tang
At Haitang Village
1:35 PM
Shen Tang placed the drawing under Jiang Chengyu’s phone. She climbed onto the bed and lay next to Jiang Chengyu.
Afraid of waking him, she didn’t pull his blanket over her.
As if by intuition, Jiang Chengyu half-woke, reached out, pulled her closer, and tucked the blanket over her.
Shen Tang nestled in his embrace, listening to his breathing and inhaling his scent.
Unconsciously, she fell into a peaceful sleep.
________________________________________
After staying in Haitang Village for three days, Jiang Chengyu and Shen Tang set off for the island on Friday.
They first arrived in Manhattan, then transferred to Xie Yuncheng’s helicopter, and then to a cruise ship, reaching the island they had thought of day and night twenty-one hours later.
The island’s sound system was still playing Xie Yuncheng’s favorite song, “Beautiful Night.”
The sea breeze blew directionlessly, and the smell of barbecue permeated the air.
Having not been here for half a year, the island had changed.
Several wooden vacation villas had been added, the island’s vegetation was denser, and her cornfield was hidden behind the villas.
Xie Yuncheng and Uncle Zhang, who lived on the island, were grilling various seafood. Every time Shen Tang came to the island, Uncle Zhang took care of their daily meals, so they were already familiar with him.
“Uncle Zhang, long time no see!”
“Indeed, I’ve been waiting for you all to come and play every day.” Uncle Zhang said with a smile, “Your corn will be overripe if you don’t pick it soon.”
After greeting him, Shen Tang walked towards the cornfield behind.
Jiang Chengyu paused for half a minute longer at the barbecue grill, quietly asking Xie Yuncheng, “Where are they?”
Xie Yuncheng gestured with his chin towards the villa. “They’re playing cards upstairs.”
Jiang Chengyu nodded and strode off to find Shen Tang.
Upon reaching the cornfield, Shen Tang couldn’t help but chuckle.
She finally understood what Xie Yuncheng meant by ‘unbearable to look at.’
In a large cornfield, there were only sparse rows of about ten cornstalks, with pairs of them spaced three or four meters apart.
Yes, pairs, like twin trees.
Each pair of cornstalks clung closely together, their leaves intertwined, looking like embracing lovers from afar.
Shen Tang turned to look at Jiang Chengyu. “I planted the corn in rows. How did it end up like this?”
Jiang Chengyu: “That night, I got up and dug out the extra corn seeds, leaving three stalks in each row, and planted one more next to the ones you planted.” Before leaving, he asked Uncle Zhang to help fertilize, water, and look after them.
That’s how the cornfield became what it was now.
Shen Tang, having gotten a good deal, still acted mischievous. “Is President Jiang that bored?”
Before it got dark, just as the sunset was perfect, Jiang Chengyu took her hand and walked towards the beach. “I failed to reconcile that night, so I wanted to find another way to make you happy.”
They rounded to the beach.
Shen Tang looked at his suit trousers and shirt, and the leather shoes he was wearing. They were completely unsuitable for playing on the beach. “Go change your clothes.”
Jiang Chengyu: “No rush, let’s watch the sunset first. It’ll be gone when it gets dark.”
The sky was ablaze with the sunset, like an overturned palette.
All words faded in the presence of this natural, gigantic oil painting.
The two strolled along the beach. Shen Tang felt in a trance, sometimes feeling as if this was the beach in Haitang Village.
Jiang Chengyu took a step forward, facing her, and walked backward.
Shen Tang held his hands, barefoot, kicking sand at him.
Jiang Chengyu’s leather shoes were full of sand, but he let her do as she pleased.
Just then, the song “Beautiful Night” stopped playing and was replaced by a song she listened to almost every day, “Because of Love,” their duet version.
Shen Tang stopped, listening intently.
Jiang Chengyu took half a step back and knelt on one knee.
Shen Tang was stunned. The man who was always so proud was now kneeling on one knee, looking at her with devotion and warmth. He pulled out the diamond ring from somewhere.
He held her left hand. “Didn’t you ask me if I had any regrets?”
Shen Tang’s soul was still in a wandering state; she hummed a ‘mm.’
“I did. That night I broke up with you, I went to the courtyard not to see you off, but to carry you back.” In the end, he didn’t put aside his pride.
He looked at her. “Before this, I drafted thousands of words back and forth, thought of many sweet nothings. They were forced, and I didn’t even feel they were heartfelt. This life is still very long, and my sweet nothings will only be for you. I’ll tell you them slowly over time. Saying ‘I love you for a lifetime’ now doesn’t carry as much weight. I promise you, when we reach our fiftieth anniversary together, I will tell you, Shen Tang, I have loved you for a lifetime.”
Shen Tang tried desperately to stop herself from blinking, but it was no use. Something rolled from her eyes, flowing down her cheeks.
Jiang Chengyu let go of her fingertips. “Tangtang, marry me. Let’s build a small home together. I can see you when I come home, and I’ll wait for you if you come home late.”
Shen Tang wiped her tears. “Answer me first, is my drawing good?”
Jiang Chengyu: “As long as you draw me, I’ll say it’s good.”
Tears still stained Shen Tang’s face, but she smiled again, extending her hand to him.
Jiang Chengyu took her left hand and carefully placed the ring on her finger.
Just then, the music from the speakers stopped, and a burst of excited cheers erupted from the villa.
Jiang Chengyu had invited all his childhood friends and Shen Tang’s friends, including Wen Di, Yuanyuan, and Sister Li.
On the villa rooftop, a striking banner was unfurled, with large, eye-catching words: ‘Shen Little Sea King, marry me!’
Jiang Chengyu: “...”
He stood up, facing the villa: “Who put up that banner!”
Inside the villa, laughter echoed across the island.
Shen Tang also laughed. She hugged Jiang Chengyu. “I’m not mad.”
She stood on her tiptoes and kissed his lips.
Jiang Chengyu picked her up, and they embraced and kissed.
This summer, the wind finally blew away the past, bringing her a little happiness.
(End of main text)
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