A commotion arose in the distance. Chu Ge turned to look and saw high waves; people were surfing.
Chu Ge asked Qiu Wuji, "Want to try that?"
Qiu Wuji smiled and shook her head. She had no interest in such things.
Although it looked lively, with many people cheering her on, and seemed quite fun,
she wasn't interested. Such activities were too rudimentary for her.
Just like when she went to amusement parks and movies, she had no interest in actually playing. What should a girl in this world experience? Seeing and trying things was enough. She couldn't truly immerse herself in something and feel a strong urge to play.
Ten thousand years of cultivation had given her a calm and composed mind in many things.
Qiu Wuji herself didn't know why she always lost her temper and became irritable in front of him; it was truly inappropriate.
Chu Ge seemed to think it was normal that she didn't want to play: "You always miss out on a lot of experiences when you go out to play. No wonder, these things aren't challenging enough for you."
Qiu Wuji smiled but didn't answer. Chu Ge didn't continue either. The two of them stood there hand in hand, looking at the sea, as if they could stand there all day. Qiu Wuji felt a little embarrassed. Standing there watching the sea was actually a form of self-cultivation for her; she could stand there for a year, let alone a whole day. But it wasn't the same for Chu Ge… He'd finally gotten a day off from writing, come all this way, and just stood there doing nothing; it was a real waste for him.
She thought for a moment, then turned and walked away: "I want to try that, lie on the lounge chair and sunbathe." Chu Ge was unaware of her inner monologue; he just felt comfortable standing and watching the sea together. Seeing Qiu Wuji turn around, he naturally turned and followed.
But then he realized something was wrong: "Huh? Aren't you in a one-piece bikini? Why are you wearing beach trunks?" Qiu Wuji walked ahead, a subtle smile playing on her lips.
To be honest, the one-piece swimsuit was okay on top, but the bottom was unbearable. Seeing someone else with swim trunks in the changing room, of course she changed.
She hadn't expected that this lecherous scoundrel would be staring at her from head to toe from the beginning, especially her legs, but it turned out he hadn't been looking at all? "Just a few glances up there?"
"All talk and no action, what a coward."
"Ugh, your outfit looks weird, people will laugh at you." Chu Ge followed, looking pained. "I'll teach you how to dress normally when we get back."
"Teach you when we get back, huh? You don't really want me to show too much skin, do you?" Qiu Wuji suddenly wanted to laugh, but ignored him, lazily asking, "Which lounge chair did we rent? Don't tell me you didn't rent one."
Chu Ge took off the metal ring he was carrying, checked the number, and smiled, "This way, come with me."
A large parasol, a small rattan table with some drinks on it, and two lounge chairs next to the table.
The two comfortably lay down on either side, squinting at the distant waves.
"Are the drinks on the table extra?" Qiu Wuji asked.
Chu Ge glanced at it; there was a price tag, but it wasn't outrageously expensive. "Drink it," he said, "it's not expensive." Qiu Wuji poured himself a glass of orange juice, leaned back in his recliner, and sipped it through a straw.
Chu Ge couldn't help but tease, "You're really getting more and more bourgeois these days."
"What does 'bourgeois' mean?"
"Hmm...it's basically pursuing a refined lifestyle."
"I've spent my life cultivating diligently, wasn't it so I could enjoy the carefree life of an immortal? Or you work hard writing to earn money, isn't it so you can live a better, more comfortable life? Why is that called bourgeois?"
"Uh..." Chu Ge honestly replied, "Actually, I don't really understand the meaning of this word...you seem to fit the bill."
At this point, Qiu Wuji became a little curious about his pursuit: "Don't you pursue a refined lifestyle?"
Chu Ge thought for a moment and answered, "My pursuit is rather straightforward. Earning money is just about being able to buy a house, a car, and get married. I haven't thought about anything else. I've heard people say that quality of life isn't just about having money; it mainly depends on the kind of wife you marry."
Qiu Wuji: "..."
Chu Ge said, "Now I think they're right. My quality of life is pretty good now."
This was clearly flirting, but Qiu Wuji was too lazy to pay attention and continued drinking his orange juice.
It was as if she was responding to him with actions: Wake up, you don't have a wife, you have to pour your own orange juice.
Chu Ge, however, was completely unfazed by this implied response, cheerfully pouring himself a glass of orange juice. Pouring it himself was nothing; others had to pour it for their wives… At least my Qiuqiu would pour me tea.
He sipped his orange juice, his eyes darting over Qiu Wuji's odd one-piece swimsuit and swim trunks, cautiously probing, "The sun's so strong, a parasol won't provide enough protection, do you want some sunscreen?"
Qiu Wuji's gaze fell on another couple not far away.
The man was applying sunscreen to the woman, who lay there comfortably, her eyes half-closed, like a kitten being petted.
The man also comfortably squinted, like a fox that had succeeded in its hunt.
A win-win situation.
But Qiu Wuji didn't find it comfortable at all to have a man apply sunscreen to him; the thought alone made him feel disgusted.
She glanced at Chu Ge's expectant eyes and said lazily, "Yes." Chu Ge was overjoyed and immediately took out the sunscreen: "I..." Before he could finish speaking, the sunscreen automatically opened, instantly covering Qiu Wuji's exposed skin, leaving it shiny.
"..." Chu Ge's mouth hung open, the bottle almost falling from his hand.
Qiu Wuji said leisurely, "Want me to put some on you too?"
Chu Ge was indignant: "What am I doing?!"
"Dreaming," Qiu Wuji retorted, "Wake up, Father God. Stop fantasizing about love and sex, focus on the plot."
Chu Ge lay listlessly in the chair, silent.
Qiu Wuji smiled, too lazy to pay him any attention.
Actually, this sunscreen wasn't comfortable at all; it was sticky and slippery. This sage doesn't need this stuff at all, and isn't afraid of the sun... It seems that not everything experienced by mortal girls is suitable for this sage.
The two fell silent for a moment, the only sounds the crashing waves, the children's laughter, and the cheers of the surfers mingling together, making their boredom all the more apparent.
"Aren't you bored?" Qiu Wuji suddenly asked.
"Huh?" Chu Ge was also admiring the scenery, which he actually found beautiful… Hearing this, he snapped back to reality, somewhat surprised: "Why would I be bored?"
"Standing or lying here on the beach, doing nothing," Qiu Wuji said, "For me, this is a form of spiritual practice, but for you, it's just pure boredom."
Chu Ge smiled: "I'm not bored, because you're here."
Qiu Wuji really wanted to say less of this nauseating nonsense, but the words stuck in his throat.
It seemed so true; even his heartbeat didn't falter when he said it, it was completely natural.
Qiu Wuji thought for a moment, then deliberately said, "It's only been a short while, so of course you can say that. If I stayed here idly all day, you'd think this woman was crazy, wouldn't you?"
Chu Ge laughed, "Since we're at the seaside, this is a form of cultivation. It wouldn't be strange if you stayed here for a whole year. Who told me to write such a character? At worst, I'll rent a shack nearby to keep her company. As long as I have internet, I can survive."
"Oh, you wrote it," Qiu Wuji chuckled mockingly, "Now do you regret writing such a dull and tasteless woman? If it were a more alluring one, maybe she'd already be doing this or that, like applying that oil."
Chu Ge finally burst out laughing.
Qiu Wuji glared: "What are you laughing at?"
"Hmm... There are things I'll say that you'll find disgusting, but Qiu Wuji, you'd better remember this."
"Hmm?"
"Qiu Wuji is the most perfect woman in Chu Ge's imagination. There is no one better. Maybe others have their own merits, but what does that have to do with me?"
As he said this, Chu Ge didn't look at Qiu Wuji. He remained lying lazily, squinting at the distant sea and sky, as if he were just chatting casually.
But Qiu Wuji was looking at him.
That smiling face under the sunlight spoke words of unwavering resolve.
As long as you're here, I'm never bored.
For some reason, the sea breeze felt so comfortable today. Was it because of the oil?
Even the children's laughter sounded so pleasant.
Qiu Wuji lay quietly for a long, long time, watching the sun gradually set in the west, the sandcastles the children had built were now a mess after being washed by the waves... The setting sun cast a slanting glow, suddenly giving them a touch of melancholy.
Suddenly, Qiu Wuji said, "Shall we build a sandcastle?"
"Huh?" Chu Ge didn't mind; she could play whatever she wanted. She found it somewhat amusing, though: "Would a sandcastle you build yourself be considered a magic weapon?"
"You rascal! I've made so much food, how come it didn't turn you into an immortal?"
"But I'm on my way now, aren't I?"
The two bickered as they squatted there, enthusiastically building their sandcastle.
"Wait a minute, don't add so much sand!" Qiu Wuji slapped his hairy hand away. "You're building a snowman here, so fat. Go away!"
Chu Ge squatted down beside her, looking aggrieved.
Seeing she wasn't paying attention, Chu Ge took a small seashell and secretly drew their names in the sand: "Chu Ge Qiu Wuji."
A heart in the middle.
Not satisfied, she even carved words inside the seashell.
Actually, Qiu Wuji caught a glimpse of it out of the corner of her eye but said nothing.
"Father God, huh? So childish."
The Autumn Sect Master, engrossed in building his sandcastle, forgot that his current act of deliberately using magic to reinforce it against the waves while playing in the sand was just as childish.
The sun set.
The twilight glow painted the sea with a shimmering light, even giving the sandcastle a pale golden hue.
The crowds on the beach thinned out; the children, dragged home by their parents, lingered, sniffing the seashells scattered on the ground, still wanting to collect a few more.
As for their dilapidated sandcastle, no one cared anymore.
The waves relentlessly washed over it, but the reinforced sandcastle stood stubbornly like a mountain, a steadfast empire's last vestige of light amidst the surrounding ruins.
Two small seashells engraved with names were stuck into the sandcastle, like a family crest worn by a general guarding the castle.
The ten-thousand-year-old woman smiled like a child.