The Sickly Beauty Gives Up Struggling [Rebirth] Chapter 131

Cen Xiao handled the check-in process, while Li Rong wheeled their luggage into the room.

His room faced the sea, and as he slid open the glass doors, the balcony revealed a stunning view of the ocean.

The beach was fine and white, and the sea stretched out in a deep, mesmerizing blue.

But it wasn’t just blue; the golden-red glow of the setting sun spilled generously onto the water’s surface, rippling and surging with the waves, like a cascade of rose-tinted silk spreading endlessly.

Li Rong stood with his arms crossed, silently gazing at the ocean. The sea breeze tousled his hair, and the humid mist seemed to seep into every pore.

When was the last time he went on a beach vacation?

It had been so long that he had to think hard to remember.

It was likely during the summer after he graduated middle school. He had topped the entire city in his exams, and his score was so high that his name spread through every school and educational institution in A City.

To attract students, those institutions claimed to have obtained his study notes and methods, speaking as if it were true. Eventually, even A University began circulating his “study methods,” falsely attributing them to summaries made by Li Qingli and Gu Nong.

During that time, anyone who saw Li Qingli or Gu Nong would ask them about study techniques. Li Qingli almost felt as though he had abandoned biochemistry and gone into education.

But in truth, Li Rong’s exceptional performance was likely due to his intelligence. Li Qingli and Gu Nong were so busy with work that they barely supervised his studies, let alone pressured him to excel.

Embarrassed by the praise, Li Qingli felt guilty, while Gu Nong couldn’t come up with anything plausible to say. The more she stayed silent, the more people thought she was withholding secrets. Overwhelmed, the two decided to take leave and brought Li Rong on a beach vacation.

By that time, Li Rong was nearly in high school and not particularly enthusiastic about traveling with his parents.

Li Qingli and Gu Nong didn’t push him either. Aside from meals, they left him to his own devices, spending their time reminiscing and enjoying each other’s company.

Not wanting to intrude on his parents’ romance, Li Rong would usually wander far from them. He’d walk along the coastline, starting from the private beach at the hotel and heading toward the public swimming area, covering several kilometers to find a quiet spot to lounge on the sand and play on his phone.

Back then, he didn’t appreciate it, thinking vacations were boring.

It was only when the weather grew cooler that he’d walk back along the beach. By the time he returned to the hotel, his parents would often be on the balcony, sipping coconut water.

Li Qingli, holding a coconut in one hand, would watch the children running around on the sand below and sigh. “Over time, so many people lose sight of their original intentions. Before the research on the drug is even finished, they’re already focused on profits. After this project, I think it’s better if…”

“What are you thinking about?” Cen Xiao’s voice interrupted as he wrapped an arm around Li Rong’s waist from behind and handed him a fresh coconut.

Li Rong snapped out of his thoughts, lowered his head, and took a deep sip from the straw. He had been sweating a lot and was indeed thirsty.

The hotel’s coconuts were chilled, crisp, and sweet. Just that morning, Li Rong had been breathing in the chilly air of A City, and now he was standing by the seaside in a thin shirt, sipping coconut water.

“I was thinking about the last time I came to Tangshi for a vacation.”

He vaguely recalled his parents talking about something serious back then. Their expressions had been quite somber, but as soon as they heard his footsteps, they stopped discussing it. At the time, he hadn’t paid it any mind.

Now, even remembering a fragment of that moment felt rare.

Cen Xiao took a big sip from the same coconut Li Rong had been drinking from.

“Was it a good thing or a bad thing?”

Li Rong thought for a moment, furrowing his brows slightly. “I don’t know. I just feel like my parents had a lot of work-related matters they never told me about.”

Cen Xiao replied, “You weren’t particularly interested in biochemistry back then, were you?”

Li Rong nodded. “That’s true. Maybe they didn’t want to influence my future career choices.”

Cen Xiao glanced at the horizon. “The sun’s about to set, and the beach barbecue should be starting. Want to head out for dinner?”

Li Rong snapped out of his thoughts, turned around, and took another sip of coconut water. “Let me take a quick shower, and then we’ll go.”

Even though the sweat on his body had dried, it still felt sticky and uncomfortable.

Li Rong showered quickly, emerging five minutes later with damp hair. Water that hadn’t been fully wiped off clung to his thin T-shirt, soaking through and adhering tightly to his back, accentuating the graceful contours of his shoulder blades.

Cen Xiao’s Adam’s apple bobbed as his gaze darkened slightly. “I’m hungry.”

Li Rong, bent over as he towel-dried his medium-length hair, reached for the disposable slippers provided by the hotel. “I’ll be quick.”

Cen Xiao rested a hand lightly on Li Rong’s back, his fingers gently stroking his waist. “This kind of hungry.”

Li Rong raised an eyebrow, slipped on his slippers, and stood up straight. With a playful smile, he met Cen Xiao’s gaze and gave him a gentle push. “It’s been four days since I’ve rolled around in bed—make sure you eat your fill.”

Cen Xiao chuckled softly. “Was I acting too proper before? What kind of impression have I left on you?”

Before they had openly discussed their rebirth, Cen Xiao had indeed been cautious, worried about triggering bad memories for Li Rong. 

He remembered even stepping back a few times when Li Rong made the first move.

Li Rong knew exactly what Cen Xiao was referring to.

But he felt a little guilty when he thought about those early days of testing each other because, at first, his attempts to provoke Cen Xiao had been entirely deliberate.

“Ahem, I want grilled squid. Let’s go.”

Whenever Li Rong felt guilty, his instinct was to change the subject. He even averted his gaze, looking off to the side.

The coconut was left on the hotel balcony as they headed out. By the time they reached the beach, the sun had fully set into the sea, leaving the sky a deep navy blue. The coastline grew faint and indistinct, but the beach itself buzzed with life.

The self-serve BBQ had just started, and the crowd of hotel guests and visiting tourists was lively. Cen Xiao led Li Rong to their reserved seats, where a server promptly brought over two glasses of white wine.

Li Rong took a small sip, squinting slightly at the astringency. “Why haven’t your family tried to reach you?”

Cen Xiao replied casually, “I already talked to my dad. He knows he can’t control me now, so calling would be pointless.”

Li Rong nodded thoughtfully. “Your dad probably has an idea of why you left, doesn’t he?”

Cen Xiao snorted lightly. “Of course, he knows. He even wanted Xu Feng to spy on me, but I removed the little gadgets in the car. Does he think Ninth District’s equipment is just for show?”

Li Rong couldn’t help but admire Cen Xiao’s decision to join the Ninth District. He could use District Three’s resources to counter Han Jiang while leveraging Ghost Eye’s equipment to keep his father in check.

The only downside to self-serve BBQ was that the food was first come, first served. Thankfully, the hotel had enough staff to keep the grills running efficiently. Though it took a bit longer to eat, both Li Rong and Cen Xiao left completely satisfied.

However, they soon realized the beach wasn’t much quieter at night than it had been during the day.

Li Rong spread out a beach mat and lounged on it lazily, watching groups of teenagers laughing and playing in the distance, as well as couples taking photos along the shore. Turning to Cen Xiao, he remarked, “We’ve had the barbecue, but you might have to wait a while for the rest.”

Cen Xiao leaned back, wrapping an arm around Li Rong’s shoulder to pull him closer. “No rush.”

Li Rong rested his head on Cen Xiao’s lap, his soft hair cascading over his legs. Cen Xiao absentmindedly twirled a strand of Li Rong’s hair between his fingers.

“It’s a shame it’s so late. There’s no time left to enjoy the beach properly today.”

Li Rong tilted his head to look up at Cen Xiao, his hand gently brushing over Cen Xiao’s Adam’s apple as he said softly, “I’m not a strong swimmer. I’ve never tried those things.”

Taking advantage of the sparse crowd, Cen Xiao leaned in close, his voice filled with implication. “Really? Then that’s even better. Once we’re out at sea, you’ll have no choice but to rely on me.”

Li Rong, smiling, hooked his arms around Cen Xiao’s neck. With a flex of his waist, he sat up with ease.

“What are you thinking? If I push myself, I could probably learn it in half a day.”

He had always been confident in his ability to learn things quickly.

Cen Xiao, however, seized the moment and leaned in, capturing Li Rong’s lips. The kiss began softly, gently brushing against him, mingling with the cool sea breeze—a tenderness surpassing even the whisper of the waves. But soon, the kiss deepened, becoming more demanding, more intense. Naturally, Li Rong wasn’t one to back down. He parted his lips and ventured out with his tongue, lightly teasing along the line of Cen Xiao’s lips.

He could feel Cen Xiao’s muscles tighten, his breath quicken. Compared to the steady rhythm of the ocean waves, their urgency seemed almost out of place.

Li Rong placed his hands on Cen Xiao’s shoulders and, even in the dim light, his eyes remained clear and bright. “There are still other people around.”

Cen Xiao steadied his breathing, his hand lightly brushing over Li Rong’s fingertips in an ambiguous caress. “It’s dark. They can’t see us.”

Li Rong’s throat tensed. His knee pressed into the cool sand, leaving a shallow dent, where seawater seemed to seep in. Fine grains clung to his skin, and damp sea spray trickled down his calf.

“Team Leader Cen, I still have a reputation to maintain.”

Cen Xiao cast a glance around the area. A few children were still playing along the shoreline, ignoring their parents’ calls to come back.

“I’ll rent a tent.”

Li Rong bit his lip lightly, neither agreeing nor refusing.