Chapter 36: On the Honeymoon

Chapter 36: On Their Honeymoon

The previously flirtatious atmosphere instantly vanished without a trace.

Liang Zeqian picked up a towel and draped it over her. "No more practice."

Shen Nanxi, however, wasn’t ready to quit. "Don’t stop now. I’ll just use the swim ring for a while and splash around a bit before practicing breath-holds. Doesn’t it usually take a bunch of lessons to learn how to swim properly?"

Liang Zeqian had long lost interest in teaching, his thoughts a tangled mess, drifting farther away in his mind. He simply sat by the poolside, watching her amuse herself with the swim ring.

Meanwhile, the person in the pool using the swim ring was happily enjoying herself as if nothing had happened—she was way too chill, almost inhuman!

The butler brought over some cold drinks, and only then did she stop splashing and swim to the edge. Water droplets mixed with sweat dripped from the ends of her hair. She chugged a glass of juice in one go, frowned, and said, "Why is it so sour? This is gross."

"It’s an Australian finger lime."

Shen Nanxi looked at him, raised an eyebrow, and asked, "And? Does that mean just because it’s expensive, I can’t say it tastes bad?"

"It’s high in vitamin C," Liang Zeqian explained briefly. "We won’t have it again in the future."

She took off the swim ring, smiled at him, then dunked under for five seconds before quickly resurfacing, looking triumphant. "So, what do you think? I’ve secretly learned it on my own. I don’t need you to teach me anymore."

Liang Zeqian gazed into her bright, excited eyes, temporarily pushing aside his distracted thoughts. "You’ve learned it?"

"Yeah, yeah!"

He leisurely took off his sunglasses, placed them casually by the pool, and suddenly jumped into the water. Water splashed everywhere. Before Shen Nanxi could react, he wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her toward the deep end.

"Liang Zeqian!" she screamed, instinctively wrapping herself around him. "What are you doing?"

"Testing what you’ve learned," he said, swimming effortlessly with one arm as he carried her to the center of the pool. "Since you’ve learned, show me."

Shen Nanxi panicked immediately, clutching him for dear life. "I—I was just kidding! Take me back, quick!"

"Too late," he laughed under his breath, suddenly letting go. "Show me how you hold your breath."

"Ah—" she screamed as she sank, only to be lifted back up by him just in time. After a few repetitions, Shen Nanxi completely gave up fighting.

Strangely, however, the stimulation made her actually get the hang of holding her breath.

"What were you thinking when you jumped in earlier?" he suddenly asked, his gaze unusually sharp.

Shen Nanxi knew her impulsive action must have really gotten to him, surely setting off all kinds of emotions in his mind. He was probably reading way too much into it, maybe even feeling touched to the point of tears internally.

Watching someone sink without reacting—what else could she do? Jumping in to save someone is just instinct, right? After all, she was born so kind and beautiful, I guess.

Putting her joking aside, she thought for a moment and said, "I was thinking about what I would do if you died. Your family is so powerful, with a legal team of like, dozens of people. Without a will, I might not see a dime. I had to save you."

Having been together for so long, Liang Zeqian knew well how she concealed her true thoughts. If she didn’t want to talk about it, he wouldn’t press.

Perhaps because of the heavy exercise in the afternoon, Shen Nanxi was really hungry during dinner.

The two had a few drinks at a beach shack bar.

Shen Nanxi had never drunk before she turned eighteen, and after eighteen, she fell ill and couldn’t drink. It was only after transmigrating into the book and marrying him that she had a few glasses.

In today’s relaxed atmosphere, she drank a bit more.

Her cheeks were flushed, making her look incredibly beautiful.

Liang Zeqian’s gaze remained fixed on her, sometimes leaning in to catch her scent, other times raising a hand to press to her forehead. It turned out that when someone feels real attraction, they really can’t help but touch and seek physical contact.

The beach was particularly crowded at night. Shen Nanxi, a little tipsy but mostly sober, strolled along with him.

She walked barefoot on the soft sand, the sea breeze gentle—life felt pretty perfect.

As they walked, she suddenly turned around, hugged her husband, and started crying quietly.

Men and women, countless couples, were happily in love, kissing, and embracing on the beach—only she was crying.

"Are you thinking about the past?" Liang Zeqian asked softly, rubbing her back.

She nodded against his chest.

He had already guessed. "When you were little, how did they treat you? Didn’t let you eat?"

Shen Nanxi shook her head.

"Ignored you?"

She nodded, burying her face deeper.

To Liang Zeqian, being neglected might not have been a big deal—it might even have been the private space he actively sought.

But from a girl’s perspective, lacking love, craving attention, wanting pretty dresses but not getting them, not hiring tutors and leaving her to her own devices, then sending her to a girls’ school to become a lady—every aspect was harsh and inhumane.

He stroked her hair gently, his voice soft. "When you’re with me, you can have whatever you want from now on."

As soon as he finished speaking, Shen Nanxi’s tears fell even harder. She clutched the front of his shirt, her tears soaking through the fabric.

"When I was little, I never even had a birthday cake..." she sobbed. "My classmates all said... said nobody wanted me..."

"Shen Hong... your father is a real piece of work."

Shen Nanxi heard him mutter "what a dick" under his breath before cursing Shen Hong and realized he had misunderstood. She quickly said, "No, I wasn’t talking about my dad. Don’t overthink it."

Forget it—she’d better stop crying. It would be hard to explain clearly in a short time.

Liang Zeqian knew she wouldn’t bring these things up. After all, that was her father. Blood ties could evoke complicated emotions. If word got back to the family, it might cause more trouble, and his wife would be the one to suffer.

He didn’t press further. "Alright, I won’t overthink it."

The sand was littered with pebbles and starfish. Shen Nanxi crouched down, picked up a few, and said with a smile, "This place is prettier than what I saw when I was little. I wonder if it’s because you’re here."

"..." Liang Zeqian said, "I didn’t put them here."

She giggled. "It’s a metaphor, you know? Don’t you get it?"

"Mm." He also looked up at the moon over the sea. "The moon is especially beautiful tonight."

Shen Nanxi didn’t get what he meant and only agreed, "Yeah, yeah. I was just thinking how bright the moon is tonight—it makes the lights seem dim. I just wonder what’s on the other side of the ocean."

"The Indian Ocean."

"Really? I thought it was the Pacific." She played with the starfish in her hand and sighed softly. "It must be nice to be rich. I’d never have gotten to come to such a beautiful place in my lifetime."

Liang Zeqian hadn’t intended to dig into the past, but he couldn’t help feeling heartache and curiosity. "They never took you on vacations every year?"

"Vacations? When I was little, I mostly played alone at home."

"Alone?" Liang Zeqian stared at her. "Nancy, didn't you have servants to take care of you?"

Shen Nanxi replied without blushing or showing embarrassment, "I did, but I was very mischievous and didn't like being followed."

He still looked skeptical.

She simply snuggled into his arms and said softly, "Nothing from the past matters anymore. Anyway, Mr. Liang treats me best."

With her soft body pressed against his chest, he had no time to dwell on serious thoughts or topics.

Liang Zeqian looked at her flushed face. They had been in enough sea breeze, and he worried she might get sick. Taking her hand, he said, "Let's go back."

She had indeed had some alcohol and was feeling dizzy. When she went to take a bath, Liang Zeqian wanted to go in and help, afraid she might faint.

Shen Nanxi firmly refused, pushed him out forcefully.

She talked tough, but in reality, she thought better of it. How embarrassing and awkward it would be if he saw her like that—it would be too mortifying.

After repeatedly promising to finish quickly and come out, and assuring him she wouldn’t zone out or talk to herself, he finally felt relieved enough to wait by the door.

She was good as her word and soon emerged with wet hair. Even though the hairdryer was right there, she insisted she "couldn’t spot it."

She repeatedly claimed she wasn’t drunk—she just hadn’t seen it and couldn’t find it.

Swaying, she slumped onto the bed, her hair hanging over the edge. Liang Zeqian quickly fetched the hairdryer and dried her hair quickly.

Soon, she was wrapped in the blankets, sound asleep.

When she woke early the next morning, he was gone. A note lay on the table.

Shen Nanxi opened it: "Press the bell on the table. There’s hangover tea."

So thoughtful. Even abroad, there was something like hangover tea.

She felt fine—no splitting headache as rumored—just a bit foggy-headed.

The weather was somewhat overcast. The umbrella was already open, and it seemed it had drizzled overnight, leaving the air exceptionally fresh.

Shen Nanxi pressed the bell, and just as she finished changing, someone knocked.

Hangover tea and an assortment of pastries on a fancy tray—it all looked delicious.

Sipping her tea, she sat on the hammock, leisurely gazing at the sea, the pool, and everything around her, feeling perfectly content.

The weather by the sea changed quickly. Before long, the clouds broke, and a few white clouds dotted the blue sky, looking gorgeous.

Shen Nanxi didn’t wait for Liang Zeqian at home. She wanted to go out and check out the island scenery alone.

Not far from the beach villa was a local market with all kinds of souvenirs.

She looked around casually but didn’t find anything she particularly liked. Just as she was feeling bored, she suddenly heard someone call her name.

Shen Nanxi turned around, looking everywhere.

Huang Rouer, wearing a sun hat and a bohemian maxi dress, with large earrings that made her skin appear snow-white, looked as innocent and captivating as described in novels.

Back when she had nothing better to do, she had read novels, and the author’s word-for-word descriptions of appearances actually existed in real life.

Huang Rouer, seeing her shocked expression, smiled kindly. "What’s wrong? Don’t you recognize me?"

Her tone held a hint of playfulness, without any hostility.

The two walked side by side and sat down at an open-air café.

Huang Rouer said softly, "What’s with that expression? I attended your wedding with Liang Zeqian. But I’m sorry—something happened at the time that crashed your wedding."

Shen Nanxi stared at her and quickly shook her head. "It’s fine, it’s fine."

She guessed Huang Rouer must have seen Liang Zefeng, or perhaps the two were about to reunite and get back together here.

Shen Nanxi was focused on enjoying the present and surviving reality. She had long since compromised and truly had no energy or strength to deal with unrelated people. Still, she couldn’t help but ask the person involved, "How are things with Second Brother?"

Huang Rouer smiled faintly. "There’s no 'how' about it."

"How could it not be? He’s been moping at home lately, and some time ago, he went to Europe to look for you."

Huang Rouer looked at her. "Nancy, you’ve changed a lot."

"Not really, I’ve always been like this," Shen Nanxi dodged.

Huang Rouer didn’t delve deeper into the topic. Perhaps they both understood the messy history among the three of them from before. Once everything was sorted out, they could speak openly about their feelings. "I know A Feng treats me well, but unfortunately, I was just a pawn for him to resist Chen Wenbi’s control."

She sounded devastated.

Shen Nanxi seemed to recall the original story: Chen Wenbi was extremely strict with Liang Zefeng, demanding that his wife must have status and identity, at the very least like the daughter of ex-Director Chen.

He had rebelled, met Huang Rouer by chance, and pursued her with ulterior motives from the start. Slowly, feelings developed, but a relationship born from deception was bound to fall apart once the truth was revealed.

But they were the male and female leads in the book. No matter how many hardships, they would eventually end up together.

What about Shen Nanxi?

Was it deception from the very beginning? Even if he forgave the original intention behind the marriage, the outcome couldn’t possibly be as beautiful as theirs.

Huang Rouer didn’t notice her distraction and continued, "I love him, and he loves me. I’ve always known he has the ability to resist his family, and I believe he wouldn’t like anyone else. But when a woman marries, she has to integrate into the family. I don’t like the Liang family. I don’t like the Liang family. Can he cut ties with them?"

"Huh?" Shen Nanxi asked curiously. "Why don’t you like the Liang family?"

"Too many rules, too many relatives, my mother-in-law has it out for me, and there’s the difficult eldest sister. Third Mistress is fighting for power for her son and will eventually scheme against A Feng. And—" Huang Rouer looked at Shen Nanxi and said bluntly, "Your husband is sharp and strategic—he’s not one to suffer losses."

Shen Nanxi: "..."

From her perspective, and from the perspective of the male and female leads, this wasn’t wrong. Even with foresight, Liang Zeqian was certainly no innocent fool.

Sigh, look at her insight. Liang Zeqian acted distant every day, as if he had nothing to do with anyone, but in reality, he had already been figured out.

But these weren’t Shen Nanxi’s concerns. She asked the key question: "Love can overcome anything. You like each other, and he’s here too. Have you met?"

Huang Rouer shook her head. "No. He saw my figure from behind yesterday and searched frantically for me... I didn’t run into him. Actually, I’ve missed him a lot these days."

Understood. He spotted Huang Rouer’s figure in the crowd, one chasing and the other hiding. In the end, Liang Zefeng couldn’t find her and was heartbroken.

Today, she showed up boldly without taking a flight home. They must both miss each other and want to reconcile.

Getting back together always requires resolving misunderstandings and having love to support it—both are indispensable.

For some reason, confirming the romantic direction of the male and female leads made Shen Nanxi weirdly relieved.

Some choices seemed to have already been quietly decided by others’ stories.

She didn’t want to waste her emotions and brain cells on vague, unlikely successful schemes. Hadn’t she decided from the start to reboot her life here?

Shen Nanxi’s spirits lifted, and she happily returned home.

Pushing the door open, she saw her husband and leaped into his arms like an excited kitten, pecking his cheek repeatedly. "Honey, will you still teach me how to swim?"