Chapter 33: The Beach

As soon as they got off the plane, a wave of heat hit them. The temperature in Deer City was a full ten degrees higher than Zhu Jia’s city. She and Xiao Wen both took off their coats and wore just short sleeves.

Mo Yichen pushed Xiao Wen’s stroller ahead while Zhu Jia carried a small bag, and behind them was a driver pushing a suitcase.

After a long journey, the family of three finally arrived at their hotel around noon. It was a luxurious family-friendly resort with a detached villa with a swimming pool.

“Phew! So tired!” Zhu Jia collapsed onto the large bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. Mo Yichen was organizing the luggage, and Xiao Wen was placed in the hotel’s provided crib, playing by himself.

It was Xiao Wen’s first time flying, and he wasn’t very comfortable. Despite sucking on a pacifier to ease his ear discomfort, he still ended up crying.

Fortunately, the flight wasn’t long, and Zhu Jia and Mo Yichen took turns comforting him and playing with him at 30,000 feet.

Zhu Jia turned to look at the man who was heating water with a kettle. “How about we relax on the hotel beach this afternoon?” The schedule could be lighter.

“Sure,” Mo Yichen replied without looking up, still organizing Xiao Wen’s clothes.

Zhu Jia had noticed that Mo Yichen really liked to organize. His bedroom and study were impeccably neat, with no clutter in sight.

She, on the other hand, hated organizing. Her and Xiao Wen’s things were always piled up in the room, and whenever she needed something, it was impossible to find…

Zhu Jia smiled as she watched Mo Yichen busying himself. A man who could get things done was quite attractive.

Having already studied the portable baby food cooker before, Zhu Jia skillfully made some millet porridge for Xiao Wen. She took the food cooker, some fruit puree, and joined Mo Yichen and Xiao Wen at the hotel’s underwater restaurant.

The underwater restaurant was essentially an aquarium. You could enjoy the stunning underwater world while dining at your table.

“Wow, this place is really beautiful…” Zhu Jia kept complimenting.

Xiao Wen was leaning against the glass, fascinated by the colorful tropical fish swimming by. His eyes sparkled as he excitedly tapped the glass, greeting the little fish.

The pair of them were fully immersed in the underwater world, while Mo Yichen sat opposite them, ordering food.

He glanced out at the endless deep blue beyond the glass. Was it really that beautiful?

He remembered that when he was a child, he went to aquariums to learn about marine life. He never really cared about whether it looked good or not.

Soon, the dishes arrived, and the small table was filled with plates of seafood.

Here, they could eat some rare kinds of seafood prepared in a variety of ways, all of which were appetizing. Zhu Jia licked her lips, her morning fatigue disappearing, leaving only the satisfaction of being full.

After lunch, Zhu Jia took Xiao Wen to nap on the big bed.

She glanced at Mo Yichen, who had just taken out his tablet. Were all CEOs so competitive now? Even on vacation, they had to work?

“Want to sleep together?” Zhu Jia unconsciously asked, realizing her words might sound ambiguous.

Mo Yichen lifted his eyes and glanced at her.

“I mean, aren’t you going to take a break?” Zhu Jia quickly corrected, her eyes flickering as she dove under the covers, turning her back to him.

Mo Yichen looked at her small back lying on the bed and couldn’t help but smile.

After they woke up in the afternoon, it was already 4:30. The temperature was no longer as hot, and it was the perfect time to head to the beach.

Zhu Jia confidently changed into a swimsuit—a white backless one-piece that was simple yet flattering. It highlighted her curves while being practical enough for moving around, carrying Xiao Wen, and not having to worry about wardrobe malfunctions.

She turned around and saw Mo Yichen coming out of the bathroom, and her eyes couldn’t help but widen. How could he be this… unfair?

How was it possible that Mo Yichen looked tall and slim in clothes, but once they were off, he looked like this?

Mo Yichen, whether intentional or not, walked in front of her, giving Zhu Jia a full view of his physique.

Broad shoulders, a narrow waist, skin as pale and smooth as porcelain, and perfectly sculpted muscles.

The broad and full shoulders, the beautifully sculpted abs exuding strength, and the narrowing mermaid line, all evoke the imagination of what might lie further down—stirring images of passion…

This figure, both alluring and sensual, is contrasted by a cold, proud face that stirs emotions, making one want to soil his flawless skin or stain his noble face with a flush of color.

Even after reading hundreds of romance novels, Zhu Jia couldn’t find the right words to describe him. She could only sum it up as “top-tier male beauty.”

“Let’s go,” Mo Yichen’s voice interrupted Zhu Jia’s daze. She realized she had been staring at him for quite a while. She quickly lowered her head, feigning indifference, and continued packing her small bag.

Mo Yichen looked at her reddened ears with satisfaction, a smile unconsciously tugging at his lips.

The soft white sand beneath their feet, the rhythmic sound of the waves crashing against their ears.

Zhu Jia placed Little Wen, who was wearing a beach hat and sunglasses, on the sand. At first, Little Wen stood motionless, unsure about the unfamiliar texture of the sand. But soon, curiosity pushed him to explore.

“Little Wen, this is the beach, and over there is the sea. You can play with the sand,” Zhu Jia smiled, pouring some sand into his hands. Little Wen flinched as the sand tickled his palms.

He focused on the white sand beside him and mimicked Zhu Jia, grabbing a handful of sand. To his surprise, the sand slipped through his fingers.

In the way children naturally act, Little Wen couldn’t resist tasting the sand, eager to know what it would taste like.

Zhu Jia turned around just in time to see Little Wen’s mouth covered in fine sand.

Zhu Jia: …

“Little Wen, you can’t eat that. Anything you haven’t seen before needs to be approved by an adult before you put it in your mouth, understand?”

She quickly used a wet wipe to clean his mouth and lips, then took out some beach toys she had prepared earlier, showing him how to play with them. Slowly, Little Wen became interested, diligently digging in his little patch of sand.

Mo Yichen brought over two fresh coconuts. Zhu Jia took a large sip, feeling the heat dissipate as the cool, sweet liquid refreshed her. Her entire body felt relaxed.

This hotel certainly lived up to its reputation as a family-friendly resort, with various children’s services available. Parents could leave their children in safe hands if they wanted to explore on their own.

Children under care could enjoy activities like a large indoor playground, go-karting, and beach volleyball outside.

Zhu Jia noticed two teachers on the beach teaching a group of five- or six-year-olds how to play beach volleyball.

Unfortunately, there were no childcare services for children under one year old, or she might have let Little Wen join the group activities.

The afternoon was leisurely, and Zhu Jia had deliberately arranged a light schedule for their first day. After all, they were in a new environment, and Little Wen needed some time to adjust.

The sun at five in the afternoon was still strong, so Zhu Jia was reapplying sunscreen to her hands and feet.

She pursed her lips, realizing she had forgotten to bring the sunscreen spray from the luggage. She remembered she was wearing a backless swimsuit and couldn’t apply sunscreen to her back without the spray.

She glanced at Mo Yichen, who was sitting on a beach chair wearing sunglasses. “Mo Yichen, could you help me apply sunscreen? I can’t reach my back.”

Mo Yichen stood up and walked toward her.

“Turn around,” his voice emotionless.

Zhu Jia obediently turned over and lay down, presenting her flawless, delicate back to him.

So obedient? Mo Yichen’s gaze darkened slightly.

He placed his hand, covered with sunscreen, on her smooth back, rubbing it gently with his rough fingertips.

He didn’t control the pressure well, and her delicate skin reddened from the friction.

“Mo… Mo Yichen, be gentle, it’s a bit uncomfortable,” she couldn’t quite describe the sensation, but it definitely wasn’t what she expected from sunscreen application.

She turned her head slightly, giving him a questioning yet playful glance, but she couldn’t see his expression behind the sunglasses.

Luckily, the area on her back that needed sunscreen wasn’t too large, so he finished quickly, and Mo Yichen seemed to show her some mercy.

Zhu Jia let out a breath she didn’t realize she was holding. She wasn’t sure why she felt a little uneasy, like an instinctive reaction, avoiding potential danger.

She turned over and glanced at Mo Yichen, who was still sitting in the same position, seemingly indifferent. It felt as if everything that had just happened was just her imagination.

Little Wen, tired of the sand, began to get fussy, so Mo Yichen picked him up and walked toward the sea.

He bent down and supported Little Wen, letting him stand and dip his feet into the sea.

Little Wen’s little feet sank into the soft, wet sand, and the waves lightly touched his little bottom. He couldn’t help but giggle.

The rose-colored sunset painted half the sky red, with the turquoise sea and soft white sand creating a scene so beautiful it took one’s breath away. Zhu Jia couldn’t resist taking many photos.

She posted a collage on social media, featuring the father and son playing by the sea.

She remembered a new trend she had seen on a short video platform and captioned it: “Taking kids is truly the best beauty salon for men! The young master is personally taking charge, and his charm has definitely increased.”

Sure enough, within a minute, the post was flooded with likes and comments, all full of extravagant praise. After all, Mo Yichen was usually so low-key that people had no chance to shower him with compliments. Now, there was finally an opportunity for them to express their admiration for him.

Hah, it’s all so fake, it’s unbearable to watch! Zhu Jia snorted and turned off her phone.

As the evening sky turned deep blue, the family of three wrapped up their afternoon at the beach. They had a casual dinner at the hotel and then returned to their room to rest early.

Zhu Jia bathed Little Wen, and Mo Yichen wrapped him in a large towel to dry him off before putting him on the bed.

Zhu Jia’s clothes were damp, and she felt uncomfortable with the stickiness. “I’ll go shower first.”

Mo Yichen gave a soft “Mm” and continued to apply lotion to Little Wen and dress him.

After her shower, Zhu Jia put on a pink cotton nightgown with a unicorn print. Although it wasn’t the most comfortable, she still wore her underwear. There was no choice—she would have to share a bed with Mo Yichen for the next few days.

After drying her long hair, Zhu Jia fed Xiao Wen some milk. Perhaps because they had moved to a new environment, Xiao Wen refused to sleep in the crib by himself. Zhu Jia ended up holding him and sleeping with him in the big bed.

At this moment, Zhu Jia was extremely tired. She looked at Mo Yichen’s back as he worked at the desk, and before long, she fell deeply asleep.

The two of them, one big and one small, lay steadily on the bed. Mo Yichen could see their even breathing.

Zhu Jia’s sleeping posture was far from neat. The blanket slipped off, exposing one long, fair leg, bathed in the soft light of the night lamp, as if draped in a layer of silver.

Mo Yichen stood by the bed, shedding the disguise of the day, like a night creature watching its prey, greedily desiring what lay on the bed.

His hungry gaze seemed as though he would devour the “food” at any second.

He couldn’t help but recall the moment when he had helped her apply sunscreen earlier that day. The suppressed desire and unmasked excitement filled his eyes.

She was sometimes really obedient.

But he wanted to know, in certain moments, was she always so obedient?