Chapter 72: Beachside Revelry and a Secret Plan

Having finished with the dishes, Zhong Tian observed several others descending to the beach via elevator, and decided to follow suit. He beckoned to Su Linxi, and on his way, gave a light pat to Li Jianren, who was still indulging in his ice cream.

“Come on, everyone else has gone down already.”

“Oh, wait,” Li Jianren mumbled, his mouth agape as he swallowed a full scoop of ice cream in one go. His cheeks still puffed out, he rose to his feet. “Mhm mhm mhm mhm— Let’s go, let’s go.”

The trio boarded the elevator, which carried them smoothly down to the sandy expanse of the beach.

Gazing at the vast sea stretching out before them, Zhong Tian turned to Li Jianren. “Jianren, can you swim?”

“I can, why do you ask?”

“Good to know.”

****

A soft click echoed.

At that very moment, the doors to the adjacent changing rooms swung open almost in unison.

Bai Ruijin, Lin Chu, and Zhong Jing emerged together, clad in their swimsuits, immediately capturing Zhong Tian’s attention.

Lin Chu and Zhong Jing sported identical swimsuits—a striking, deep V-neck, strappy one-piece design, one black and one white, which accentuated their figures beautifully. Lin Chu’s physique was particularly stunning, with graceful curves that were highlighted by the swimwear, amplifying her mature allure and making it nearly impossible to avert one’s gaze.

Zhong Jing’s figure, while still slender, was a touch less defined than Lin Chu’s. Perhaps the leisure of holidays spent indoors had subtly expanded her waistline beyond what it had been during her student years. Nevertheless, she remained undeniably trim, and her exquisite beauty imbued the same swimsuit with a unique elegance, setting her apart from Lin Chu.

Bai Ruijin’s swimsuit, personally selected by Zhong Tian, was a pink two-piece that perfectly aligned with Li Jianren’s aesthetic preferences. Adorned with delicate ruffles and complemented by a translucent chiffon cover-up, it made Bai Ruijin appear even more adorably petite.

Excellent. Li Jianren, that fellow, was utterly captivated.

Half the battle won!

Ya★ta★ze!

Bai Ruijin, evidently aware of Li Jianren’s focused gaze, felt her cheeks warm as she instinctively shrank back, seeking refuge behind Lin Chu.

“Don’t just stand there, go get changed,” Lin Chu urged, clapping her hands at the group before her. Her gaze then settled on Zhong Tian. “Xiao Zhong, will you be changing into a swimsuit?”

“I won’t be swimming…”

“Oh, but I’d really love to see Xiao Zhong in a swimsuit, especially since…”

As Lin Chu’s smile widened, a sudden dread seized Lin Yu’s heart.

“Sis, help me put on my swimsuit!”

Seizing this as an opportune excuse, she swiftly propelled Lin Chu into the changing room, slamming the door shut behind them with a decisive thud.

“Sis!” Lin Yu hissed, her voice barely a whisper. “There were three people out there just now who don’t know Zhong Tian is a boy! Don’t expose them!”

“I know,” Lin Chu replied calmly.

“You know?” Lin Yu questioned, her brow furrowed in confusion as she observed Lin Chu’s placid expression. “How could you possibly know?”

“Isn’t Xiao Zhong wearing a skirt and a breast prosthesis?” Lin Chu chuckled, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “Considering his personality, he must be wearing it precisely for others to see.”

“I was merely planning to tease him a little, rest assured.”

“That’s a relief, then…”

“So, do you still require my assistance with your swimsuit?”

“…No, you should really go outside.”

“Oh, so you won’t even let your sister have a peek?” Lin Chu teased, a playful laugh escaping her lips. “And here you were, so desperate for me to help you change just moments ago.”

“I’m not in the mood to wrestle with a hooligan like you. Out, out!”

“Alright, alright,” Lin Chu conceded, exiting the changing room and casually pulling the door shut behind her. She clapped her hands, addressing the girls who had already changed into their swimwear. “Let’s head down to the beach now!”

Taking Zhong Jing’s hand, she half-coaxed, half-pulled her onto the sand, then dashed into the ocean, tackling Zhong Jing into the frothy waves amidst peals of laughter.

It was quite unexpected to find that among this entire group, the most playful spirit belonged to Lin Chu, despite her being the oldest.

“In that case, we’ll head down as well.”

Neither Zhong Tian nor Su Linxi intended to swim, so they descended to the beach alongside Li Jianren, who had already changed into his swimsuit much earlier.

Li Jianren, turning his face to the sun, donned his oversized heart-shaped sunglasses. “Ah— Praise the sun!” he declared with gusto.

Leaving the sun-worshipping Li Jianren behind, Zhong Tian made a beeline for the shade of a parasol. There, he and Su Linxi each claimed a lounge chair, settling back in luxurious comfort.

Basking in the ideal warmth, caressed by the gentle sea breeze, all that was missing for absolute perfection was a refreshing cold drink!

A short distance away, Lin Chu and Zhong Jing were engaged in a lively water fight within the waves.

Zhong Jing, though maintaining a cool expression, was remarkably spirited, her movements as mischievous as a child’s as she splashed water onto Lin Chu’s face, seemingly in retaliation for being tackled into the sea earlier.

Lin Chu, laughing all the while, retaliated with equal vigor, both of them reveling in the playful skirmish.

As her younger brother, Zhong Tian could discern that Zhong Jing was, in fact, genuinely happy in that moment.

It had been an age since he had witnessed his sister so utterly joyful.

Behind Zhong Tian, Bai Ruijin quietly approached Li Jianren, who was still absorbed in his sun-worship. She yearned to strike up a conversation but, finding herself at a loss for words, retreated just as silently, making her way back to the parasol and coming to a halt beside Zhong Tian.

Upon seeing Bai Ruijin, Zhong Tian recalled the LJR strategy meeting he had intended to hold. He rose from his lounge chair. “Ruijin, can you swim?”

“I can,” she affirmed.

“Hmm… I suggest you pretend you can’t swim and ask Li Jianren to teach you,” Zhong Tian proposed. “What do you think of that idea?”

“Learn to swim in the sea…?” Bai Ruijin mused, a hint of hesitation in her voice. “I haven’t brought any goggles or anything like that…”

“The emphasis isn’t on mastering swimming; rather, it’s an invaluable chance for the two of you to interact.”

“Hmm… alright, I’ll go ask him then…”

“You’ve got this.”

Having offered his encouragement, Zhong Tian settled back into his lounge chair once more.

As Bai Ruijin gathered her courage to approach and invite Li Jianren, Zheng Qiao, Lin Yu, and Chu Lenghu had all finished changing into their swimsuits and made their way to a separate parasol.

Both Lin Yu and Chu Lenghu opted for relatively modest, one-piece skirted swimsuits. Lin Yu’s pink and white swimwear, adorned with intricate lace detailing, coupled with her naturally stunning figure and beauty, made her undeniably eye-catching.

Chu Lenghu’s blue swimsuit, in contrast, was considerably simpler than Lin Yu’s, far less flashy, and exuded a tranquil aura. Her long hair, typically flowing freely, was now gathered into a neat bun, instantly lending her a more playful and adorable appearance.

Zheng Qiao’s two-piece swimsuit was even more minimalist: a solid color, devoid of any embellishments, conveying a sense of clean-cut efficiency. Unlike the other girls, her entire presence radiated a robust strength, embodying the sculpted beauty of an athlete.

And… Zhong Tian narrowed his eyes thoughtfully.

He distinctly perceived abdominal muscles…

A six-pack, to be precise.

This was a feature neither Zhong Tian nor Li Jianren, both male, could claim to possess.

Could Zheng Qiao be the type who regularly frequented the gym…?

Deeming it impolite to stare any further, Zhong Tian consciously averted his gaze, opting instead to close his eyes and rest.

No sooner had his eyelids fluttered shut than a distinct clatter emanated from the table beside him.

Zhong Tian opened his eyes to see Auntie Wang.

Auntie Wang set down a crate brimming with chilled beverages; several cans of cola and bottles of mineral water were nestled amongst a generous bed of ice. The mere sight of it sent a wave of refreshing coolness through Zhong Tian.

“Thank you, Auntie Wang.”

“No need to thank me,” she replied.

Auntie Wang offered a warm smile, then lifted another crate and carried it over to the trio under the adjacent parasol.

Meanwhile, Bai Ruijin and Li Jianren, after completing their warm-up exercises, ventured into the sea.

Bai Ruijin had been somewhat surprised by Li Jianren’s prompt and straightforward agreement when she had approached him earlier.

“How do you intend to learn?” Li Jianren asked, guiding her to a spot where the seawater gently lapped at their waists. “I must warn you, I’ve never taught anyone to swim before, so I can’t guarantee success.”

“It’s alright, I’ll put in my best effort to learn!”

“Well then… let’s start with practicing holding your breath underwater,” Li Jianren suggested. “If you feel you can’t hold it any longer, resurface immediately. We wouldn’t want you to choke on the seawater; it’s quite bitter, you know.”

“Alright…”