On the wooden table in the cabin, a sumptuous meal was prepared. Steam wafted through the screen, and Xiangbei, after rinsing her mouth and washing her face in a copper basin, saw the hot water with flower petals floating in the tub.
With a dilemma in her mind, she asked Mo, "I really want to play in the sea, but I'm afraid the bathing water will get cold. What should I do?"
Mo replied, "You, just reheat the water if it gets cold. It's a pleasant spring afternoon right now, and the water temperature is just right. But being hungry is unacceptable." Mo's affectionate attitude made Xiangbei increasingly treat herself like a young girl.
She quickly drank some soup and ran outside, shedding her jacket, shoes, and socks. She dashed into the sandy beach wearing only a light yellow chiffon dress and a bandeau, ready to embrace the sea.
Well, Mo waved his hand to dismiss the shadow guards. Anyway, both entrances were being watched, so let her enjoy herself for a while.
Seeing her casting away the usual contemplative demeanor and joyfully frolicking—sometimes running, sometimes leaping into the waves, and occasionally disappearing underwater only to resurface moments later—Mo thought about how she had been shouldering the responsibilities of the household since her mother was absent. It must have been quite challenging.
From now on, he would protect her, and if it brought her this much happiness, a bit of recklessness was not a big deal.
Xiangbei, submerged beneath the water's surface, was so ecstatic that she felt the urge to scream.
She wished to share this joy with someone, but all she could do was focus on bringing various marine creatures into her Jade spatial realm. However, a sense of desolation suddenly struck her.
No matter how much she collected, the beauty of this alien world would always be a lonely enjoyment. So, with waning interest, she walked back to Mo, took a few bites of the soup noodles, and then lifted her face to speak, "Let's go pick coconuts."
Mo asked, "Haven't you played enough? Aren't you happy?"
"I am happy, but I'm hungry and thirsty. I want to go pick coconuts with you. Can we?"
Her tone was a bit petulant, but Mo liked it. Was she trying to be with him?
"Of course, we can go together. Next time when we play in the water, I'll join you. But for now, let's go in, take a bath, and change into dry clothes, okay?"
After entering the house, Xiangbei stood by the table and began devouring the food.
Mo chuckled as he watched her finish the entire spread. If it weren't for the silent allure of the beautiful lagoon, Xiao Bei, who had been hungry for three days, would have wiped out this entire feast.
Mo, behind the screen, personally added charcoal to the fire, adjusting the water temperature. When he came out again, he grinned at the table that bore the traces of her voracious appetite. "You didn't even wait for me to reheat it. Be careful not to upset your stomach."
"It's much warmer here than in our Zebei. Just enjoyed some sunshine coming in; eating something cool now feels just right."
"Alright, you've eaten. Remember to reheat next time before eating. Now, go bathe. Didn't let Duo'er follow you; wear the clothes yourself. Hurry."Cheng Mo said affectionately.
Xiangbei really wanted to protest and argue. Wasn't she the distinguished Miss Tong, the Chairwoman Tong? Did she really need to dress herself?
Well, yes, she indeed lacked confidence in dressing in this ancient attire. With a drooping head, Xiangbei circled around to the back and took a quick bath.
Fortunately, the temperature here was relatively high, and the prepared clothing on the side was just a simple double-layered summer skirt.
Xiangbei wrapped her long hair in a large cloth and came out, not feeling anything inappropriate about having wet hair, bare feet stepping on the wooden floor, and appearing in front of a man.
Mo was stunned for a few seconds. His face turned visibly crimson at an astonishing speed.
He picked her up, placed her on the bed, fetched a dry cloth and the clothes scattered around the bathing bucket, knelt down, dried her feet, put on shoes and socks, then took off the cloth wrapping her hair, slowly wiping and combing through her long hair. He didn't utter a word, fearing that if he spoke, his pounding heart would jump out of his body and float into the air.
"I'll do it myself." Xiangbei snatched the large cloth, jumped off the bed, tied her long hair into a butterfly knot at her shoulder, pulled Mo up, and walked, "So slow! It won't take more than a few minutes in the sun outside, let's go, let's go, I want to pick coconuts."
They stopped at the intersection of the boardwalk where the mangroves and coconut groves met.
Mo said, "Someone is coming. I'll go take a look. You pick two and go back; don't stay in the sun."
When Xiangbei came, she saw fish swimming in the river. Now, squatting by the water, she could clearly see the schools of sea bass weighing over two or three pounds each.
Aren't you my favorite steamed fish with black bean sauce babies? Please go to the mangroves in my space and wait for me, okay?
After collecting some sea bass, she picked a few coconut palm leaves, weaved them into a net to block a section of the waterway. Xiangbei twisted two palm leaves with a fat fish and carried two or three golden coconuts, one hand with fish and the other with coconuts, walking back.