Long years living by the sea
Morning light streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the seaside guesthouse, casting dappled patterns of light on the floor. When Song Mingye opened his eyes, Song Linchuan was still fast asleep beside him, his long eyelashes casting a small shadow beneath his eyelids. He gently sat up, moving very slowly, afraid of disturbing the sweet dreams of the person beside him.
Outside the window, the morning mist hadn't completely dissipated over the sea. Fishing boats in the distance floated on the water like silhouettes, occasionally punctuated by a long, drawn-out whistle that broke the morning's tranquility. Song Mingye walked to the terrace, pushed open the wooden door, and the fresh, salty sea breeze rushed in, instantly waking him. Several strings of seashell wind chimes hung from the terrace railing, strung together from seashells they had collected during their years at the beach. When the wind blew, they tinkled crisply, like a gentle morning melody.
He leaned against the railing, watching the sea gradually lighten with the first hint of dawn, his heart filled with peace. Over the years, they had come here as their second home, staying for more than half the year. Later, they simply discussed with the guesthouse owner and rented the three suites on the second floor long-term, redecorating them to their liking and adding even more warmth and coziness to the place.
When Song Linchuan woke up, the room was already filled with the faint aroma of coffee. He rubbed his eyes, sat up, and saw Song Mingye walking in with two cups of coffee, a gentle smile on his face: "Awake? Go wash up quickly, I've heated up some milk for you."
Song Linchuan stretched and leisurely walked into the bathroom. When he came out after washing up, a simple breakfast was already laid out on the table: golden-brown toast, perfectly fried eggs, a glass of warm milk, and a plate of fresh strawberries. "Brother, let's go beachcombing today?" Song Linchuan suggested while eating his toast, his eyes shining with anticipation.
“Great,” Song Mingye nodded with a smile, “The tide is going out right now, we should be able to find a lot of good stuff.”
Just as the two finished breakfast, Qi Zihao's voice came from the next room: "Mingye, Achuan! Are you up yet? We're going to go beachcombing!" Immediately afterward, Chu Xiaoche's helpless voice was heard: "Slow down, don't run so fast."
Song Mingye and Song Linchuan exchanged a smile, picked up the prepared buckets and shovels, and went out the door. In the corridor, Qi Zihao was skipping and hopping forward, with Chu Xiaoche following behind him, carrying two large buckets of water, and reminding him, "Be careful, the stairs are slippery."
Jiang Ziyu and Mu Nanjin also came out at the same time. Jiang Ziyu was holding a sketchbook, obviously planning to paint the morning seaside scenery while going beachcombing. "Brother Ziyu, Brother Mu," Song Linchuan greeted with a smile, "Let's go beachcombing together."
Mu Nan nodded and said softly, "Okay, I've already asked the owner. The tide will be out for a long time today, so we can walk to the rocky area over there."
The six of them chatted and laughed as they walked towards the beach. There weren't many people on the beach in the early morning. The sand was soft and slightly damp underfoot. Qi Zihao was the fastest runner. As soon as he reached the beach, he excitedly shouted, "Wow! So many little crabs!" He then squatted down and reached out to catch the little crabs crawling on the sand.
Chu Xiaoche shook his head helplessly and squatted down to help him catch clams. Song Mingye and Song Linchuan took shovels and dug for clams on the beach, soon filling a small bucket. Jiang Ziyu found a rock with a good view, set up his easel, and began to depict the scene before him: the morning mist in the distance, the nearby beach, and the people busy gathering seafood, all were carefully sketched on his paper. Mu Nanjin stood beside him, shielding him from the occasional splashes of seawater and handing him a clean cloth from time to time.
"Ah Chuan, look, there's a big one here!" Song Mingye suddenly shouted, holding up a clam the size of his palm, his eyes full of smiles. Song Linchuan quickly ran over and said excitedly, "Wow! It's so big! We can make clam soup tonight."
Qi Zihao wasn't to be outdone. Holding up his small bucket, he shouted, "Look, I caught so many little crabs! And this conch is even bigger than the last one!" Chu Xiaoche smiled and helped him pour some seawater out of the bucket, afraid that the little crabs would escape.
As the sun rose higher, the morning mist dissipated, and the sea shimmered. Everyone's buckets were full, brimming with clams, small crabs, conches, and colorful seashells. "That's about enough," Song Mingye said, checking the time. "Let's go back. We can show off our skills at noon."
"Yay!" Qi Zihao clapped his hands excitedly, "I want to eat the spicy stir-fried clams that Mingye-ge makes!"
Back at the guesthouse, everyone divided the tasks. Song Mingye and Chu Xiaoche were in charge of processing the seafood, spitting out the sand from the clams and cleaning the small crabs; Song Linchuan and Qi Zihao went to the yard to pick some fresh vegetables, which they had discussed with the owner beforehand and had cultivated in a small corner of the yard, where they planted some commonly used vegetables; Jiang Ziyu continued to sit on the terrace to paint, while Mu Nanjin helped him organize his art supplies and cleaned the seashells he had collected that morning, laying them out in the sun to dry.
The lunch table was laden with a sumptuous seafood feast: spicy stir-fried clams, steamed sea snails, deep-fried small crabs, and a bowl of delicious seafood soup. Everyone sat together, enjoying the meal immensely. "Brother Mingye, your cooking is getting better and better!" Qi Zihao mumbled between bites of clams.
Song Mingye smiled and nodded, "Eat more if you like." He picked up a steamed sea snail for Song Linchuan and said softly, "This is very fresh, you should try it."
Chu Xiaoche also picked up a piece of fried crab for Qi Zihao and instructed him, "Eat slowly, don't choke."
Jiang Ziyu quietly sipped his seafood soup, while Mu Nanjin occasionally placed a piece of food on his plate, her eyes gentle. "Nanjin, this soup is delicious, you should drink more too," Jiang Ziyu said, looking up and smiling at Mu Nanjin.
After dinner, everyone lay on deck chairs in the courtyard, basking in the sun. The courtyard was filled with flowers and plants, including roses, Chinese roses, and some unidentified wildflowers, all in full bloom and emitting a faint fragrance. Qi Zihao leaned against Chu Xiaoche, looking through the photos taken that morning while they were catching clams, occasionally exclaiming in surprise, "Look at this one, the way Achuan is catching clams, doesn't he look like a little glutton?"
Upon hearing this, Song Linchuan glared at him with a smile: "You're the little glutton, eating so many clams."
Chu Xiaoche shook his head helplessly and reached out to tidy up the stray hairs on Qi Zihao's forehead: "Stop fooling around, go sunbathe for a while and take a nap."
Jiang Ziyu leaned on Mu Nanjin's shoulder, holding a sketchbook in his hand, slowly flipping through it. The sketchbook was filled with drawings of places they had visited together over the years: sunrises at the beach, sunsets in the mountains, autumn orchards, winter hot springs—each one brimming with warmth. "Nanjin, look at this painting. We painted it the first time we came here," Jiang Ziyu said, pointing to a page in the sketchbook.
Mu Nan nodded gently, her eyes tender: "Yes, you drew for a whole afternoon back then, and your hand was sore when you got back."
Song Mingye and Song Linchuan strolled hand in hand in the yard. When they reached the vegetable garden and saw the thriving vegetables, Song Linchuan smiled and said, "Brother, we can plant some tomatoes next time, and we can eat them in the summer."
“Okay,” Song Mingye nodded, bent down to pick a ripe strawberry, and held it to Song Linchuan’s lips. “Try it, it’s very sweet.”
Song Linchuan opened his mouth and took a bite. The sweet juice of the strawberry spread in his mouth. He smiled and said, "It's so sweet! Much better than the ones you buy outside."
The afternoon sun was warm and gentle, and the breeze carried the scents of flowers, grass, and the sea, making one feel drowsy. Qi Zihao leaned against Chu Xiaoche's chest and quickly fell asleep, a sweet smile still on his lips. Chu Xiaoche gently patted his back, his eyes full of doting affection.
Jiang Ziyu leaned on Mu Nanjin's shoulder, closed his eyes, and enjoyed this moment of tranquility. Mu Nanjin held his hand, his fingertips gently caressing his palm, his heart filled with peace.
Song Mingye and Song Linchuan returned to their room. Song Linchuan leaned against Song Mingye, looked at the scenery outside the window, and said softly, "Brother, this is such a good life. There are no worries about work, and we can watch the sea, bask in the sun, and eat seafood with you and our friends every day."
Song Mingye hugged him tightly and kissed him on the forehead: "Yes, this is a good life. Let's live like this forever, by the sea, until we're too old to walk."
As evening fell, the setting sun painted the sky a brilliant orange-red. The group returned to the beach and strolled along the sand. The waves lapped at the shore, leaving long, trailing footprints stretched out by the setting sun.
Qi Zihao ran ahead excitedly, bending down every now and then to pick up a seashell. Chu Xiaoche followed behind him, holding his coat, afraid that he would catch a cold. Song Mingye held Song Linchuan's hand and walked slowly, chatting about some trivial matters, but he felt particularly at ease.
Jiang Ziyu and Mu Nanjin walked at the back. Jiang Ziyu looked up at the sky; the colors of the sunset were ever-changing, like a magnificent oil painting. "Nanjin, look, the sunset is so beautiful tonight," he said softly.
Mu Nanjing nodded and reached out to tidy up Jiang Ziyu's wind-blown hair: "Yes, it's beautiful." He took out his phone from his pocket and took a picture of the beautiful sunset, as well as a picture of Jiang Ziyu beside him.
As the sun gradually sank below the horizon, the sky slowly darkened, and stars began to appear one by one, like scattered diamonds on black velvet. "Let's go back, we're having seafood barbecue tonight," Song Mingye said with a smile.
Everyone nodded and turned to walk back to the guesthouse. On the beach, only a long string of footprints remained, which were quickly covered by the gentle waves.
Back at the guesthouse, Chu Xiaoche and Song Mingye began preparing for their evening barbecue. They set up a grill in the yard, lit the charcoal, and skewered the seafood and vegetables they had prepared that afternoon, placing them on the grill. Qi Zihao helped out, occasionally brushing on a layer of sauce, and the aroma quickly filled the entire yard.
Song Linchuan and Jiang Ziyu sat at a table in the courtyard, shelling peanuts they had picked that afternoon and chatting. "Brother Ziyu, do you have any new painting plans lately?" Song Linchuan asked.
Jiang Ziyu nodded and said softly, "I want to paint a series of paintings about life by the sea, to record the sunrises and sunsets, the ebb and flow of the tides, and our daily lives."
“That would be really interesting,” Song Linchuan said with a smile. “I’d like to be your model then.”
Mu Nanjin sat down next to Jiang Ziyu, peeling an orange for him, and said softly, "If you need any help, just let me know."
The aroma of barbecue grew stronger and stronger. Qi Zihao couldn't wait to pick up a skewer of grilled shrimp, blow on it, and stuff it into his mouth: "Wow! It's so delicious! Xiao Che, your cooking skills are getting better and better!"
Chu Xiaoche smiled and glared at him: "Eat slowly, no one's going to take it from you."
Song Mingye also picked up a skewer of grilled clams and handed it to Song Linchuan: "Try it, it's cooked."
Song Linchuan took it, took a bite, and the delicious juice spread in his mouth. He smiled and said, "It's so delicious! Brother, you should have some too."
The group sat around the grill, enjoying barbecue and chatting, occasionally sipping an ice-cold beer, living a comfortable and content life. In the night sky, the stars grew brighter, and the moon rose, casting its gentle light. A sea breeze blew softly, and the seashell wind chimes tinkled crisply, mingling with the laughter of the group to create a heartwarming scene.
As night deepened, the crowd gradually dispersed and returned to their rooms. Song Mingye and Song Linchuan lay in bed, listening to the sound of the waves outside the window, unable to fall asleep for a long time. "Brother, do you think that when we're old, we'll still be like this, watching the sea and basking in the sun together every day?" Song Linchuan asked softly.
Song Mingye hugged him tightly, her voice gentle yet firm: "Yes, we will. No matter how old we get, I will always be with you, taking you to see the sea and bask in the sun every day, and cooking your favorite seafood."
Song Linchuan nestled in his arms and closed his eyes peacefully. He knew that Song Mingye would keep his word, and that they would continue to be happy like this, spending warm years together on this beach.
In the next room, Qi Zihao was already asleep, mumbling something, probably talking in his sleep. Chu Xiaoche tucked him in, looking down at his sleeping face with eyes full of affection. He gently held Qi Zihao's hand, silently thinking: From now on, I will accompany him like this every day, letting him always be as happy as a child.
Jiang Ziyu and Mu Nanjin sat by the window, gazing at the moonlight outside. Jiang Ziyu leaned on Mu Nanjin's shoulder, holding a paintbrush and gently sketching something on the paper. "Nanjin, look, the sea under the moonlight is so beautiful," he whispered.
Mu Nan nodded and gently kissed the top of his head: "Yes, it's beautiful. With you by my side, every day is beautiful."
The sound of the waves outside the window remained constant, like an eternal lullaby, accompanying them into their dreams. On this warm and happy beach, their story continued, without dramatic upheavals, but with a gentle, enduring flow. Peaceful and serene.
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