Chapter 104: Summer Beach

Chapter 104: Chapter 104: Summer Beach

At that moment, the sound of water in the bathroom stopped.

Vivian walked out wearing the white cotton pajamas Irene had found for her. Her wet hair draped over her shoulders, her complexion looking much better than before, and the confusion in her eyes had faded slightly. "Who were you just on the phone with?" she asked curiously, walking over to Irene’s side.

"With your mother," Irene said with a smile as she picked up the hairdryer and plugged it in. "I told her you’re safe here with me and not to worry. She said she wants to come see you tomorrow."

Vivian’s body stiffened for a moment, then she nodded gently without saying a word. She sat obediently in the chair, letting Irene dry her hair.

Warm air brushed through her hair, carrying the faint scent of shampoo. The bedroom was quiet, save for the hum of the hairdryer and the occasional purr from Lucky.

"If you don’t want to see her just yet, that’s fine. You just need to know that they never considered this an unspeakable scandal."

Vivian looked at herself in the mirror. She indeed didn’t want to face this matter so soon.

Noticing her hesitation, Irene comforted her. "It’s alright. Avoiding it might be a little cowardly, but it’s fine as long as it works."

When the morning light filtered through the gaps in the curtains into the bedroom, Vivian woke up first.

Lying on her side, she watched the sleeping Irene beside her, then glanced down at Lucky curled up at the corner of the bed. The anxiety about her origins from last night seemed to have been diluted by a good night’s sleep.

She rose quietly, walked to the window, and drew back the curtains. California sunshine instantly flooded in, warming the floor.

Irene was woken by the light. She rubbed her eyes and sat up. "You’re awake? Want to sleep a bit longer? We don’t have to do anything today."

Vivian turned around, her tone hesitant. "Irene, I... I’m still a bit afraid to see my mother today." She lowered her eyes, her voice soft. "I know I should talk to her, but I’m not ready yet. Just the thought of bringing it up makes my heart race."

Irene paused, then smiled understandingly. "It’s okay, don’t force yourself. It’s not too late to talk when you’re ready. I’ll send your mother a message now and tell her not to come for the time being."

She picked up her phone and sent a text to Jane Cavendish, briefly explaining that Vivian needed some time to adjust. Jane replied quickly: Okay, I understand. No rush. Let her relax, and let me know if you need anything.

Putting down her phone, Irene patted Vivian’s shoulder. "Come on, since we’re up, I’ll take you somewhere. I guarantee it’ll put you in a good mood."

After getting up, Irene had Ophelia prepare things while the two of them enjoyed breakfast in the dining room.

Half an hour later, the two changed into light casual clothes. Considering they might go into the water, Irene also brought two swimsuits.

Irene wore a bright yellow camisole with denim shorts, while Vivian chose a light blue floral dress and flip-flops.

Irene drove the Mini that BMW had given her toward the California beach.

As the car left the city, palm trees swayed in the wind along the road, and sunlight streamed through the windows. Watching the scenery recede, Vivian’s tense mood gradually relaxed.

Occasionally, she would point at ice cream stands by the road and shout, "I want to eat that on the way back!" The upbeat melody of Britney’s new album, Oops!... I Did It Again, played in the car, dispelling the last bit of gloom.

When they arrived at the beach, it was exactly ten in the morning. The golden sun shone on the deep blue sea, creating shimmering ripples.

People were surfing in the distance, white foam rising and falling with the surfboards. Colorful umbrellas were scattered across the beach, and children chased each other with sand shovels. Their laughter carried on the sea breeze, and even the air was filled with a salty, pleasant ease.

"Wow, it’s so beautiful here!" Vivian couldn’t help but exclaim, her eyes lighting up instantly. She bent down to take off her flip-flops and stepped onto the beach barefoot.

The warm sand flowed through her toes, making her laugh from the tickling sensation. The earlier clouds of worry seemed to be blown away by the sea breeze.

Irene smiled and took two surfboards out of the trunk. One was the blue wave-pattern board she had brought back from Hawaii, with a few slight scratches on the edges, while the other was a brand-new pink one, specially prepared for Vivian.

Seeing that familiar blue, Irene suddenly thought of Henry. They hadn’t seen each other since parting in Hawaii, and she wondered how he was doing.

"Irene, you know how to surf?" Vivian asked curiously, her eyes wide.

"I learned it in Hawaii last year. How about I teach you today?"

Vivian crouched by the surfboard, her fingers gently touching the smooth surface, looking a bit hesitant. "Can you really do it? I’ve never tried. Will it hurt if I fall? What if I fall into the sea and choke on water? Can you save me?"

"Don’t worry, I’m here," Irene said, patting her chest confidently and pulling her toward the sea.

"I’ll help you get used to it in the shallow area first. Look, the water here is only up to your knees. It’s fine even if you fall." She bent down, scooped up a handful of seawater, and splashed it on Vivian’s arm. "Feel it? The water is warm, not cold at all."

Vivian shrugged her shoulders at the splash, but her interest was piqued.

The two first practiced balancing in the shallow water. Irene had Vivian hold the edge of the surfboard with her feet shoulder-width apart.

"Lean forward slightly, look ahead, don’t stare down at your feet. Keep your center of gravity stable. Yes, just like that."

Vivian learned very seriously. At first, she would wobble from time to time, and although she took a few hard falls, she knew how to swim and quickly stood back up in the water.

Perhaps because she was interested in the sport, after practicing for half an hour, Vivian could already stand steadily on the board.

But she would still fall easily if the waves got a bit bigger.

Seeing her discouraged face, Irene quickly comforted her. "Take it slow, don’t rush. You’re learning very fast. It took me more than half a day last year to even look decent."

"Now let’s try paddling while lying on the board." Irene demonstrated by lying on the surfboard and alternating her arms to paddle.

"Look, keep your fingers together and use force like this to make the board go faster." Vivian followed her example, lying on the pink surfboard. Initially, her movements were clumsy, and her arms felt sore after just a few paddles.

Irene guided her patiently from the side. "Don’t use your wrists. Use the strength of your arms and shoulders. Yes, that’s much easier."

Just as the two were practicing enthusiastically, a voice came from nearby: "Irene? What a coincidence. You’re here surfing too?"

Irene looked up and saw a young man wearing a grey quick-dry shirt and black-rimmed glasses standing not far away. He was also holding a surfboard and had a very friendly smile.

"It’s you!" Irene recognized him as the tech expert she had met while walking the dog—who loved programming and developing software.

"Do you come here often too?"

"Yeah, when I’ve been at home too long, I come here to practice. My mind is clearer after surfing, and I have better ideas for writing code when I go back. Is this your friend?" The young man walked over and looked at Vivian kindly.

"Yes, her name is Vivian. It’s her first time surfing, so I’m teaching her," Irene introduced, then said to Vivian, "This is my friend Mark. We’ve walked our dogs together."