Chapter 311

Fine sand glimmered with golden light under the sun.

Vivian Bennett took off her shoes.

She walked barefoot on the beach.

Warm ocean waves gently lapped at her feet.

Liam Sullivan stopped beside her.

He bent down to remove his leather dress shoes.

He handed them to her.

Vivian blinked. "Why should I carry them?"

She shoved her own shoes into his hands. "You carry mine."

Liam didn't argue.

He held both pairs of shoes calmly.

His expression was serene, as if holding priceless treasures instead of ordinary footwear.

Vivian was drawn to the lively activity on the beach.

Many people were bending over, collecting something.

She crouched down and picked up a transparent stone.

"Look, doesn't this resemble amber?"

Liam gave it a brief glance. "Amber comes from trees."

"Maybe it fell from a tree into the ocean," Vivian said playfully. "This might have been a forest once."

Liam frowned slightly. "There's no historical record of that in Seattle."

Vivian couldn't help laughing. "I was joking."

Liam's expression remained neutral. "It wasn't a particularly funny joke."

Joyful laughter sounded nearby.

A young couple was playing and teasing each other.

The young man carried the girl on his back while running along the shore.

Her laughter scattered in the wind.

Liam's frown deepened.

He seemed unable to comprehend such simple happiness.

The couple stopped nearby.

The girl's clear voice carried over. "Four people were playing mahjong. Why did the police take away five people?"

The young man pretended to think. "Because the police arrested themselves?"

"Wrong! Because the person they were beating was named Mahjong!"

The young man laughed in realization.

He carried the girl back the way they came.

As they passed, the girl's bell-like laughter sounded particularly delightful.

Amusement sparkled in Vivian's eyes.

She turned to Liam. "Let's play a game too."

"What are the rules?"

"I ask a question. If you answer wrong, you carry me. If you answer right, I carry you."

Vivian tilted her head in thought.

"A medium-rare steak meets a well-done steak. Why don't they greet each other?"

Liam answered without expression. "Because they aren't acquainted."

Vivian froze momentarily.

She stamped her foot in frustration. "How did you guess correctly?"

"Was that not the right answer?"

"It is correct, but I can't possibly carry you!"

She felt genuinely annoyed.

Why couldn't he pretend to be wrong occasionally like other men? Just to make her happy.

The thought made her heart skip a beat.

Where did that idea come from?

Liam suddenly crouched down before her.

"Get on."

"But you didn't answer wrong."

"Then we'll try another question."