Chapter 338 : I'm Here... Take It Slow
"Alright, Ling Ning, I’m coming in~"
Zhou Xiaoxiao stood over a chair where Ling Ning was lying on her stomach, half-naked, preparing to have sunscreen applied. The villa was close to the beach, so they had decided to apply sunscreen indoors to avoid any awkwardness outdoors. However, they all knew they’d probably need to reapply once they were out in the sun.
"Mmm, just... take it slow."
Ling Ning mumbled, her face flushed as she leaned against the chair. She had never applied sunscreen before; in her previous life, she would simply do some warm-ups and dive into the water. Though she had applied sunscreen for her girlfriend back then, this was a first for herself.
Zhou Xiaoxiao squeezed some sunscreen into her hands, rubbed them together, and then placed them on Ling Ning’s smooth back.
"Ah!" Ling Ning yelped at the cold sensation, then quickly recovered. "It’s fine; you can keep going."
Taking her cue, Zhou Xiaoxiao began spreading the sunscreen over Ling Ning’s back in smooth, deliberate motions. Feeling the softness of Ling Ning’s skin beneath her fingers, Zhou Xiaoxiao couldn’t help but revel in the moment. Still, she preferred the sensation from earlier when Ling Ning had applied sunscreen to her.
As Zhou Xiaoxiao’s hands wandered a little too far forward, Ling Ning quickly spoke up. "Wait! I’ll handle the front. Just focus on my back, alright?"
"Got it~" Zhou Xiaoxiao said sheepishly, pulling her hands back.
Soon, she finished applying the sunscreen to Ling Ning’s back. Reluctantly, she removed her hands and said, "All done~"
"Thanks. You and Ye Ye can go on ahead; I’ll finish up and join you shortly."
"Alright~"
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"Mom, are you ready yet?"
Ling Ye stood outside the villa, wearing her new swimsuit and holding an adorable float ring. She was practically bouncing with excitement, eager to get into the water.
Zhou Xiaoxiao chimed in from beside her, "Seriously, Ling Ning, you’re so slow! Need me to come back in and help?"
A few moments later, Ling Ning appeared at the door, arms laden with gear. She had changed into her swimsuit, though she’d layered a sun-protective jacket over it. No matter how practical it was, wearing just a swimsuit still made her feel like she was walking around in underwear.
"And whose fault is that?"
Ling Ning shot Zhou Xiaoxiao a glare. She had dragged them around half the town looking for the market, only for Ling Ye to be the one who spotted a sign and led them there. Ling Ning seriously questioned whether Zhou Xiaoxiao had inherited her sense of direction from Mrs. Chen.
Zhou Xiaoxiao caught the meaning behind Ling Ning’s glare and awkwardly looked away, laughing nervously without offering an excuse.
"Don’t just stand there. Can’t you see I’m carrying all this stuff? Hurry up and take some of it!"
Only then did Zhou Xiaoxiao and Ling Ye notice how overloaded Ling Ning was. She carried everything from a small beach umbrella to a cooler and even a set of foldable table and chairs.
Once the load was divided among them, Ling Ning sighed in relief. "Honestly, you two! The moment you heard we were going to the beach, all you did was change and apply sunscreen. What’s the point of buying all this stuff if you’re not going to help carry it?"
"I got too excited and forgot, alright? Let’s go, let’s go! I can’t wait any longer~" Zhou Xiaoxiao said, taking the lead down the path to the beach.
The villa was conveniently located just a few minutes’ walk from the beach.
"Hey, check out that beauty over there! Those legs—I could admire them for a lifetime!"
"Pfft, forget her! Didn’t you see that little girl with the float ring? She’s adorable! And the other one looks like a middle schooler—do you think she’s still underage?"
"Careful, man. You’re one comment away from a three-year sentence or worse."
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Ling Ning’s group instantly caught the attention of the beachgoers, particularly the men. Even with her sun jacket on, Ling Ning’s long, slender legs drew countless eyes. With her jacket zipped up, it almost gave the illusion she wasn’t wearing anything underneath, adding an unintentional allure.
Her stunning beauty and curvaceous figure ensured that most eyes on the beach were glued to her. Only those with more niche preferences were distracted by the younger members of her group.
Even Ling Ning, known for her thick skin, felt uncomfortable under the weight of all the stares. Seriously, that guy over there—can’t he see his wife’s about to explode with anger? And that one’s girlfriend just walked off, but he’s still staring. Watch your eyeballs, dude—they’re about to pop out!
Shaking her head, Ling Ning searched for a quieter, more secluded spot on the beach. Luckily, this beach wasn’t too crowded, and the environment was excellent.
Once she found a good spot, she began unpacking. Just as she was setting things down, Ling Ye tried to dash toward the water, but Ling Ning grabbed her.
Ling Ye looked up at her mom in confusion, her expression silently asking, Why are you stopping me?
"You can’t go into the water without warming up first. If you get a cramp, you’ll be in trouble. And you over there! Don’t even think about sneaking off. Get your stretches in before you go!"
"And both of you—since neither of you knows how to swim, keep your float rings on. Stick to playing in the sand or the shallows. Understood?"
"Okay," they chorused.
Satisfied, Ling Ning watched as the two reluctantly began their warm-ups. She then turned her attention to setting up their spot—laying out a blanket, setting up the umbrella, and organizing their supplies. Finally, she donned her sunglasses and sprawled out on the blanket, fully embracing the beach vibe.
She had briefly considered fetching the foldable chair but decided against it. The blanket was too comfortable, and she had no intention of moving.
"Summer is all about lounging by the beach," Ling Ning murmured lazily as she watched Zhou Xiaoxiao and Ling Ye splashing in the shallows.
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Author’s Note:
After watching the latest episode of Scum’s Wish, I’ve realized the teacher is absolutely adorable.