Chapter 94

Two days later, Yunkai took Yueming to Hua Hin. Yueming was thrilled to see the ocean for the first time. As soon as she arrived at the villa, she changed into her swimsuit and jumped into the water. Small fish swam back and forth with the waves, and she couldn't help but chase them, only to be grabbed by Yunkai.

The ocean wasn't like a river; a wave would sweep away anyone with poor swimming skills. As a landlubber, she was in even greater danger. It was okay to catch small fish, but she had to learn how to swim.

Holding her waist in the shallows, he taught her how to hold her breath and coordinate her hands and feet. Yueming studied diligently. When Yunkai asked her to straighten her waist, she did so with all her might. When Yunkai asked her to paddle, she used all her might, sending splashes hundreds of feet high. Su Shiyue and Luo Er had wanted to watch the fun, but Yueming's wall-like splashes kept them from getting any closer.

I put in the effort, but it had little effect. When I woke up, my back, arms, and legs felt like they weren't mine. My whole body ached, I couldn't stand or sit. Every time I moved, I cried out in pain.

During breakfast, Su Shiyue and Luo Er saw her hands holding the fork and spoon shaking like leaves in the wind, and they looked at Yun Kai with ambiguous eyes. Brother, a young girl in her prime shouldn't be tortured like this!

After dinner, Yunkai was about to continue teaching her how to swim, but Yueming tearfully begged for mercy. She said she wouldn't learn even if she was beaten to death. The little fish and shrimp should swim freely in the sea; she wouldn't disturb them. She could just use a small shovel to dig up shells and crabs on the beach.

Since she promised not to go into the sea, Yunkai and the other two stopped playing and sat on the corridor of the villa, enjoying the sea breeze and continuing to talk about the factory.

"As soon as the rubber factory building is completed, the cotton mill will also start construction. Otherwise, I will have to go back before the Diwali Festival, and you will complain that I ran away and made you work."

Su Shiyue put his hands in his trouser pockets and crossed his legs, saying leisurely, "You just need to keep an eye on the sales channels, and we can worry about the rest. Don't build a factory and produce products but can't sell them. That would be a big problem."

Yunkai was about to talk to them about the contract when Yueming came running over excitedly, holding a piece of kelp on a stick. Her legs were bent slightly outward because of her thigh pain, and she ran like a fleeing lizard.

"Ayun, is this kelp that can be eaten with other ingredients?"

Yun Kai nodded: "That's it."

Hearing that it was indeed edible kelp, Yueming was very excited: "There are kelp everywhere on the beach. I'll pick up some more and ask the chef to cook it for me tonight."

Looking at the kelp hanging on the tip of the stick and covered with red algae and rust, Yunkai's forehead was filled with black lines. Who would want to eat this thing?

Yueming excitedly continued playing the game of finding food, while Yunkai and Su Shiyue continued to discuss business. After just a few words, Yueming excitedly ran over again, using the awkward escape posture of a lizard. This time, the shattered hem of a jellyfish was stuck on the stick, and she exclaimed in surprise, "Ayun, Ayun, is this an edible jellyfish head?"

Yun Kai patiently explained, "There are many types of jellyfish. I'm not sure if this is the kind you can eat. I'll ask the servants guarding the villa for you later."

Su Shiyue became a little impatient after the connection was interrupted. He took off his sunglasses and suggested to Yun Kai, "She must be hungry. Why don't you take her to eat first? We can continue our conversation after dinner."

Yunkai readily agreed, waved to Yueming, threw away the stick in his hand, and went back to the house to take a shower. Seeing that she was lying on her back, Yunkai squatted in front of her and let her climb up. He carried her upstairs.

Yueming was so happy that she climbed onto Yunkai's back, hugged his neck and shouted "Go!", and Yunkai carried her away.

Su Shiyue and Luo Er, feeling sore from being shown off, felt their stomachs swell up. Su Shiyue said indignantly, "I broke my leg in England and he just stood there with his hands behind his back, watching, not even trying to help me. His wife can still walk and run, yet he carried her on his back. Aren't girls in China very well-behaved? How could they be so close to each other in public?"

"Yunnan is a more open-minded place." Luo Er sighed deeply. "I was also dating a girl from Kunming at the time, but she dumped me because she wanted to study in France. Xiao Ayue was worried that I was playing with her feelings and kept eyeing me covetously. Doesn't she know what kind of people these girls from Kunming are like? I was the one being played with."

Yunkai asked Yueming to take a shower first while he helped her get some clean clothes. Suddenly, he heard Yueming screaming from the bathroom. He was startled, thinking that a snake or insect had crawled into the bathroom and scared him. He quickly dropped the clothes in his hand and pushed the bathroom door open.

In the bathroom, Yueming was standing in front of the mirror wearing only a pair of panties. When she saw him come in, she quickly turned around and picked up the clothes she had taken off to cover her chest to hide her beauty.

He quickly glanced at the bathroom. It was quiet, not like any living creature had crawled in. He asked curiously, "Why are you shouting? I thought a snake had gotten into the room."

Yueming hesitated and said, "On me...on me..."

Yunkai looked carefully. Although she covered her chest with clothes, her shoulders were exposed. He could see the two swimsuit straps on her shoulders exposed to the sun.

The tan should have appeared yesterday, but she was so exhausted last night that she showered with her eyes closed. This morning, she changed her clothes before entering the bathroom to wash up, but she didn't notice any difference. He suppressed a laugh, his eyes scanning her from head to toe twice, until Yueming's toes curled up under his gaze. Then he asked seriously, "Did you buy a new swimsuit? Why this color?" He couldn't help but burst out laughing before he finished.

Yueming's face was filled with worry. "You're still smiling. What are we going to do? How can we go out and see people when we're this tanned?"

Yun Kai said indifferently: "What's wrong with going out and meeting people? Just cover yourself up tightly and you'll be fine!"

Yueming wailed, "It's so hot!"

Yun Kai comforted her, "It's okay not to cover it up. No one will laugh at you."

Yueming was about to burst into tears and said, "How long will this take to wear off? My eldest sister specifically told me to wear a siwalai for the party next week. It's so ugly to have such a piece of shoulder exposed!"

"Alright, alright, stop howling." Yun Kai pulled her into his arms, kissed her forehead, and said, "Don't show your shoulders these few days. Go home and rest for a few days and it will go away. If it doesn't get better, just make an excuse and say you have something to do. It's just a small thing that has you so worried. Hurry up and take a shower and change clothes. Lao Su and the others are waiting for us to go to town for dinner!"

Hua Hin, a favorite resort city of the Siamese royal family, lies across the sea from Pattaya. Many foreigners also admire its turquoise sea and white sand beaches. After Songkran Festival, the city becomes bustling with tourists.

Yunkai and his friends drove to a French restaurant in a winery. The waiter brought the menu. Yunkai ordered a sea bass with dry white wine for Yueming and a grilled lamb chop with red wine for himself.

The restaurant was quiet and serene, with a wide view. They chose a window seat, where they could see the water lilies in full bloom in the courtyard pond. A few birds with colorful feathers flew over the water lilies and perched on the traveler's palms by the pond.

Su Shiyue leaned back in his chair, his arm holding the cigarette resting on the armrest. He looked around the restaurant and frowned, "Why are there so many Frankies?"

Yueming was surprised and asked, "Are they all Portuguese? Why do I hear some of them speaking English?"

Su Shiyue laughed so hard that she choked on the cigarette. Luo Er suppressed his laughter and explained to her, "The Siamese people call all Europeans Franki, not just the Portuguese."

"Oh..." Yueming nodded indifferently, not caring about Su Shiyue's ridicule. This was a Siamese custom, and it wasn't like she was really uneducated and ignorant. If he wanted to laugh, then let him laugh.

After running around on the beach for an afternoon, Yueming had a surprisingly good appetite and finished a whole portion of sea bass.

Seeing that she enjoyed the meal, Yun Kai ordered her another portion of lobster. Worried that she would be embarrassed by eating so much, he also made an excuse for her: "French food looks grand, but the portions are actually not that big."

Luo Er shook his wine glass and said with a smile: "Siamese is better. I haven't seen you have such a good appetite even at Wu Ye's house."

Yueming disagreed with his statement: "Everyone who goes to a banquet acts like they haven't eaten in eight lifetimes. When the food is delicious, they eat several bowls of rice. Men are too busy drinking to eat, and women are too reserved to take more than three chopsticks from a dish. Everyone goes back to eat another meal."

Su Shiyue laughed in surprise while holding his wine glass: "Why do the ladies in China and Siam hold their wine in the same way?"

Yueming smiled at him politely: "This is called good manners."

A few people were talking and laughing when a figure came to the table and said to them with a mixture of anger and laughter: "You guys are really good. You didn't even invite me when you came out to play."

Everyone looked up and saw Lin Jiahao standing alone at the table. Yun Kai invited him to sit with him and asked, "Why are you here too? Alone?"

Lin Jiahao had come with his father to inspect the pearl farm, so he didn't have the time to eat and chat with them. He declined, saying, "My father has an appointment. You guys eat first. I'll come and play with you when I'm free." He was about to leave after saying hello when someone came over and asked, "Kevin, why did you come to say hello to Shi Yue and the others without asking me?"

Yueming noticed that Su Shiyue and Luo Er remained calm when this person appeared, but Yunkai's brows were clearly furrowed. He pretended not to see the person coming and squeezed a lemon on the lobster for her. "It's best to add some lemon to seafood, otherwise it's even greasy like pork belly."

The visitor, either out of politeness or lack of ability to read Yun Kai's expressions, seemed oblivious to Yun Kai's annoyance. He enthusiastically addressed Yun Kai, "Yun Er, it's been a few years since we last met, hasn't it? I heard from Kevin that you often come to Bangkok. Why haven't you contacted me?"

Yunkai seemed to have just seen him, and smiled faintly, "It's been a long time since we last met. How have you been recently?" He watched him glance at Yueming curiously, without introducing him.

Lin Jiahao knew that Yun Kai didn't like his cousin, so after they exchanged a few casual greetings, he hurriedly took him away.

Seeing Yunkai's normal expression, Yueming asked curiously, "Do you hate him?"

Yun Kai asked with a smile, "Was it that obvious?"

"Yeah." Yueming nodded. "You're just short of carving the words 'Don't get close to me' on your forehead."

Everyone at the table burst into laughter. Yunkai rubbed Yueming's head and lectured him, "Where did you learn such nonsense?"

Yueming didn't want to tell him that she learned this from the Sichuanese who sold soy milk at the corner of Zhuji Street. She put her arm around his and said coquettishly, "Why is that? Just tell me, I'm really curious."

But it was no use acting coquettishly tonight. Yun Kaiguang looked at her and smiled, but he didn't tell her the reason.

Su Shiyue put the empty wine glass on the table and said to Yueming: "Xiao Yue, pour me a glass of wine and I will tell you."

Yueming picked up the bottle and filled it up. Su Shiyue was so anxious that he kept shouting, "That's enough, that's enough! If you pour any more, it will overflow."

Yueming smiled while holding the bottle and said, "It's a custom in China to toast people with a full glass of wine."

Her pouring skills were truly remarkable; the wine would barely reach the rim of the glass, and the slightest movement would cause it to overflow. Su Shiyue naturally couldn't bring himself to take a sip, so he called for the waiter to refill the glass and ignored Yueming.

Yueming didn't bother to beg him, and picked up the bottle to pour Luo Er again. Luo Er hurriedly covered the rim of the cup with his palm: "No need to trouble you, I'll tell you, I'll tell you."

Yun Kai rubbed the rim of the cup with his fingers again and again, watching his fiancée do evil things with a smile, without stopping her at all.

"When we were studying in the UK, a white guy asked the teacher in class why we were sending troops to Asia. The teacher, with no regard for the Asian students in the classroom, said in a very contemptuous tone, 'If we don't send troops, how will those Asian monkeys govern their own countries?'"

Yueming opened his mouth in surprise, and then his face turned angry.

"We Asian students all looked unhappy, but because we were outnumbered and on someone else's turf, we didn't dare say anything. But Kevin's cousin was laughing like he'd heard some ridiculous joke, right along with the white guys. From then on, your Yun Er never paid any attention to him again."

Yueming tilted her head and smiled at Yunkai: "You just ignored him? That's not right for you!"

Yun Kai flicked her forehead with his finger and scolded her with a smile: "What kind of person am I? I am a very upright person."

Yueming put her arm around him and said flatteringly, "What I mean is, according to your upright character, shouldn't you give him a beating? He's embarrassed himself and has been thrown across the sea. How can you let him off so easily?"

Yun Kai smiled slightly coldly, muttering, "What's the point of beating him up? If they beat him up, will the British stop occupying Burma? Will the Dutch stop occupying Indonesia? Those foreigners are taking advantage of others. Under the banner of enlightening the people, they station troops on foreign lands, desperately trying to pocket money without caring about the lives of the locals. Look at what benefits the Dutch and French have brought to Indonesia and Vietnam? Apart from the booming business of brothels, I don't see that the Indonesians and Vietnamese have gained anything."

Yueming recalled the thrilling stories Liu Ma had told her about dodging air raids when they returned to Kunming. She sighed and said, "The situation back home is also very difficult. The Japanese have finally reached Yunnan. I bought a house by the lake because it's closer to the air-raid shelter. Fifth Master can still take care of Liu Ma and the others there for a while."

Su Shiyue recalled the recent news and said to Yun Kai, "I heard that Japan sent military to contact the royal family and the prime minister. Have you heard about it?"

Yun Kai said worriedly, "They've not only contacted Siam, but also Burma. I think they're planning to make a breakthrough in western Yunnan through Burma."

Several people were silent. If Burma and Japan joined forces, the southwest would be in danger. The Yunxiang Mansion would bear the brunt of the disaster.

Su Shiyue sighed: "Japan is a tiny country, but it has such great ambition and courage that it wants to compete with those foreigners for food."

Yun Kai's face was as gloomy as water. "These foreigners have been plundering Asia for a long time. They might have plundered some money, but Assam was conquered by King Mengmao at the cost of hundreds of thousands of troops, and now it's become part of the Commonwealth. The locals have long been fed up with being exploited by the foreigners. The Japanese are now trying to collude with them, but there's no guarantee that there won't be fools who will cooperate with them to drive these foreigners out." He then sneered, "They're trying to get the skin of a tiger. They'll only wake up when they're completely devoured by the Japanese."

This topic was too heavy, so Yueming changed the subject and said she was full and wanted to go home to sleep. After they drove back to the villa, Yueming said she was full and asked Yunkai to take her to the beach to enjoy the breeze and take a walk.

Su Shiyue and Luo Er stood in front of the corridor and couldn't help laughing at Yueming's sneaky way of walking like a seagull.

Su Shiyue couldn't help laughing and said, "It would be fun to marry such a thing home."

Luo Er glanced at Yun Kai, who was laughing heartily at Yue Ming on the beach, and chuckled, "Don't underestimate her childish appearance. She's very savvy. She bought a house worth tens of thousands of francs without blinking an eye. Was it just to make it easier for her servants to avoid air raids? She was watching the wind! Those dignitaries around the lake will definitely be the first to know about any disturbance. It's really a family tradition. They are all very capable people, especially her senior brother. He looks so amiable, but he's so slippery and cunning in his words and deeds. An Kejian seems to be doing a good job helping her family manage the Siamese business, but I guess he's just following orders and doesn't have any real power at all."

Su Shiyue glanced at him, took out a cigarette from his bag and lit it. Watching the white smoke drift away with the sea breeze, he shook his head and said, "Your thoughts are unacceptable. No matter how capable or smart she is, she is still our brother's wife. She may cheat you, she may cheat me, but she will never cheat her own man. We are already in the same boat, we can only stick together and not fight among ourselves."

After returning from Hua Hin, Yunkai resumed his early morning and late night routine. He also forbade Yueming from leaving home alone. Even to visit her elder sister at Prince Saya's residence required his approval. Yueming, in a fit of pique, moved back to her own room. If he returned a little earlier, they could still chat, but if he did, she would be asleep, and their meeting would be at the breakfast table the next day.

That day, because he had to attend a dinner held by the Chinese Chamber of Commerce in the evening, he returned to the mansion early. As soon as he entered the yard, he heard Yueming calling him from the second floor.

"Hey little brother, who are you looking for?"

He looked up and saw Yueming leaning against the railing of the study terrace, a round fan covering half of his face. He half-closed his eyes, smiled at the scorching sun and said to her, "Of course I'm looking for you, Miss!"

Yueming pouted as she fanned herself and said, "Looking for me? That's a problem! My husband is known as the 'Jealous King of East Asia'. He's afraid I'll hook up with a handsome guy like you. He won't let me out of the door, and you can't come in either. What should I do?"

Yun Kai pulled out a letter from his briefcase, held it up high, and said to Yue Ming with a smile, "Miss, you may have misunderstood. I just came here to deliver a letter. I have no other intentions."

Seeing that he indeed had a letter in his hand, Yueming no longer wanted to play the role of a rich lady hooking up with a man from outside her family. She waved at him and said, "Come up quickly." After that, she turned around and went back to the study, fanning herself gracefully.