The sky above Nexara's coast was clear, soft streaks of gold and pink stretching over the sea as the sun slowly dipped toward the horizon.
The waves were calm, rolling in and out in a steady rhythm.
Xu Qianghua didn't move much.
His legs were stretched out, one hand resting on the arm of his recliner, the other slowly swirling the last bit of tea in a glass by his side.
The sound of the sea, the salty breeze, and the distant cries of birds all blended together into something peaceful.
He almost forgot what stress felt like.
Almost.
Then the door slid open again, quietly this time.
He didn't look.
He already knew who it was.
Li Xinyue stepped outside barefoot, her dress fluttering softly around her legs, a folded blanket in her hands.
"I figured you'd be too lazy to move," she said, walking over.
"I'm not lazy," he said. "I'm recovering."
She snorted and dropped the blanket over his lap. "You've been 'recovering' for hours now."
"I'm on vacation."
