Mo Tingyan accompanied her helplessly for another half hour.
Watching Wen Zhi's slim figure busily "working" in the muddy flats, he couldn't help but laugh.
Everyone else at the beach looked like they'd stepped straight out of a romance drama—
running toward the sunset, laughing, hugging, kissing, lifting each other into the air.
Yet somehow, when it came to them,
the scene turned into… two people covered in mud, working together like laborers.
And the worst part?
This woman was genuinely happy.
The bucket was completely full now, and for someone who rarely showed emotion, Wen Zhi's smile hadn't faded for even a second.
Satisfied, she stood up and looked at him brightly.
"Look! It's full. You didn't wait for nothing. Tonight, I'll stir-fry razor clams for you at home."
Mo Tingyan: "..."
If she knew these pants cost five figures, would she still think it was worth it?
But seeing how happy she was, he didn't ruin the mood. Tugging at his pants helplessly, he sighed.
"Alright, alright, worth it. Let's go. The mud on my pants is about to dry into the fabric."
Wen Zhi glanced again at the back of his pants.
It looked even more like… something questionable.
She suppressed a laugh and pointed toward a row of seaside guesthouses.
"There should be small shops over there. Let's check."
They carried the bucket and walked toward the road.
Mo Tingyan glanced back at the sunset sinking slowly into the horizon.
Just… leaving like that?
A thought crossed his mind.
He stepped forward, grabbed her wrist, and pulled her back in front of him. A roguish smile curved his lips.
"With a sunset this beautiful, how can my Zhangzhu be so utterly unromantic?"
Before Wen Zhi could respond, he cupped her face and leaned down, kissing her.
Wen Zhi: "..."
Kissing in a muddy tidal flat… was romantic?
Did he have some serious misunderstanding about romance?
Yet Mo Tingyan kissed her with unmistakable focus.
His long fingers slid into her soft hair, gently pressing against the back of her head.
Their lips shifted from casual pecks to a deep, consuming kiss—
teasing open her teeth, claiming her breath without restraint.
In just seconds, every coherent thought in Wen Zhi's mind scattered completely.
In the salty, fishy sea breeze, she surrendered to the kiss, tangled with him.
Only after nearly two full minutes—when she was struggling to breathe—did she finally tilt her head back and take several deep breaths.
Mo Tingyan chuckled softly and sucked lightly at her exposed neck.
Wen Zhi shivered, quickly lifting her head and glaring at him.
"So? You're not in a hurry to buy pants anymore?"
He brushed aside the loose strands near her ear.
"I just wanted to leave you with a different kind of romantic memory here."
Wen Zhi found it amusing.
"Who told you kissing at the beach equals romance? My definition is different. I think you staying here and digging clams with me—that's romantic."
After speaking, she slipped out of his arms and continued walking toward the road.
"Let's go."
Mo Tingyan quickly followed, glancing at her profile.
She truly was different from other women.
Otherwise, he wouldn't be this obsessed with her.
Thinking of how she'd defended him at the Mo house earlier, he suddenly said,
"Zhangzhu, don't say you're uncultured again."
She looked at him silently.
He continued seriously,
"Your father may not have been good, but you are. That means your mother once raised you very well. You were taught. You have manners. Don't belittle yourself just to protect me."
Wen Zhi looked away.
The warmth in her expression faded almost instantly.
Her voice was calm, distant.
"From now on, I won't bring up anything related to your mother. And you shouldn't mention my mother either."
Mo Tingyan frowned slightly.
"You seem very resistant to me talking about your family. Are you like me too—do you also have a secret you can't talk about?"
Wen Zhi paused briefly, then replied coolly,
"No secrets. They're just… gone. And I truly don't remember much about the people from my childhood."
Seeing that she still didn't want to open up, Mo Tingyan respected her choice.
"Alright. Then I won't ask again."
She nodded faintly and quickened her steps.
They walked through the guesthouse street and finally found a small shop.
At the entrance hung several sets of blue, coconut-tree-printed shirts and shorts—classic beachwear.
After confirming there were no other options, Wen Zhi could only buy this.
What surprised Mo Tingyan was—
the outfit priced at sixty yuan was bargained down to twenty.
Wen Zhi handed him the clothes and told him to change in the nearby public restroom.
He shook his head stubbornly.
"This is way too ugly. I'll just get in the car like this. Worst case, I'll wash the car."
"No way," Wen Zhi shot back instantly.
"Your ridiculously expensive car wash card costs 120 per wash. This outfit costs twenty. Which one makes sense?"
Mo Tingyan: Since when is money calculated like that?
"I really can't wear this out," he protested.
"This isn't even a tourist area. I'll look like a lunatic walking around the beach dressed like this."
Wen Zhi: "..."
Not only did this man not know how to live economically—
he had way too many opinions.
After thinking for a moment, she turned around, scanned another twenty yuan, and bought herself an orange beach outfit. Shooting him a glare, she said,
"Come on. I'll wear it with you. Is that acceptable now?"
Mo Tingyan raised an eyebrow.
To save a car wash fee, she really would do anything.
Alright then. He'd give in.
When the two of them emerged from the restroom together, they exchanged a look.
The clothes were ordinary—
but because both of them had excellent figures, they somehow made the outfits look like runway fashion.
Mo Tingyan slung an arm around her shoulders and laughed loudly.
"Zhangzhu, not gonna lie—us in matching outfits? Handsome man, beautiful woman. A match made in heaven."
Wen Zhi: "..."
And who was it earlier that refused to wear this with his life on the line?
Back home, Wen Zhi eagerly carried the day's harvest into the kitchen.
That night, while they were eating happily, Wen Zhi received a call from the chief stewardess.
There was an aviation training conference at the Jiangcheng Convention Center the day after tomorrow.
Since Wen Zhi was currently grounded, the chief recommended she attend the training and later share what she learned with the team.
Work arrangements were straightforward—Wen Zhi agreed immediately.
After hanging up, she mentioned it to Mo Tingyan.
Coincidentally, he was also selected as Jiang Airlines' captain representative for the same training.
They could go together.
It was supposed to be a simple learning trip.
Yet when Wen Zhi and Mo Tingyan arrived at the venue—
across the crowded hall—
She suddenly saw a man she despised to the very core of her memory.
Someone she never wanted to see again.