Long Time No See!

After sitting on the plane for several hours, it was already evening when Li Ming returned to California. The headache he had been experiencing had subsided. It was then that Li Ming noticed how lively California was, even the airport was bustling with activity, decorated with colorful lights everywhere.

"Oh, right, it's Christmas Eve, and it's almost New Year here too." Looking at the festive atmosphere, Li Ming finally noticed the changes in California. He glanced at the sky.

The sky had completely darkened, but it wasn't snowing heavily like in the movies or novels.

He checked the time in the airport lobby. "18:06, still got time."

However, upon arrival, Li Ming realized something: he had no money on him except for a few loose cents.

Fortunately, there was a bank where he could withdraw money.

"Whoa, it's a bit cold! It wasn't this cold when I was in Jackson," Li Ming shivered after exiting the airport. Mobile phones at this time didn't have weather forecast functions. "Should I buy an Apple or something?"

He hailed a taxi and leaned back in the seat. The driver wasn't much of a talker. Gazing out the window, Li Ming's eyes drifted, thinking that with the New Year approaching in Schicksal as well, perhaps he should go back and see his grandfather.

As he thought, the dull ache in his head, which had lingered even after taking a sedative, began to fade.

Meanwhile, Himeko, back in the apartment, was growing impatient. She had just knocked on Li Ming's door, only to find he wasn't there. They had planned to go out, and now he was nowhere to be found.

"That darn Li Ming, who knows where he's wandered off to now. Oh well, I'll just cook for myself."

Himeko looked at the darkening sky and decided to prepare dinner herself. Looking at the curry ingredients in front of her, she realized that in the past three months of cooking with Li Ming, her dishes were always too spicy. She used to cook with her mother during home economics classes, but after her mother passed away, she hadn't cooked much.

"Here goes, one more try. Let's see if my cooking has improved today."

Himeko brought out her freshly made curry rice and took a bite. Her expression changed.

o((⊙﹏⊙))o.

"No, why is it still so spicy!"

Looking at the curry rice in her hand, Himeko was bewildered. She had clearly made sweet pepper curry, so why was it so different?

She frowned, her beautiful brows furrowing, when suddenly there was a knock on the door.

"Coming!"

As soon as she opened the door, she saw Li Ming, who had just returned, looking disheveled. His dark red hair was blown into a middle part, and his chest heaved, clearly from a recent sprint.

"Uh, it took a while to pick out a gift. Here, dinner for today!"

Li Ming held a bag in his left hand, his right hand hidden behind his back. Himeko took the bag from him and curiously glanced behind him, but Li Ming kept it tightly concealed, giving her no chance to peek.

"Aren't you going to show me? Come in quickly. I made curry rice, you can wait here for a bit."

Exhausted, Li Ming sat in the dining room, watching Himeko's back as she, in her home clothes and apron, took out the gift he had bought. It wasn't an apple, but a Peace Buckle.

"Here, try it. How's the taste?"

Himeko placed a plate of curry rice in front of Li Ming. Her orange-yellow pupils involuntarily glanced at the gift box on the table. Li Ming ate the curry rice with gusto, exclaiming, "It's delicious, so fragrant!" after finishing.

"Delicious?" Himeko was puzzled. She had tasted it just a moment ago and remembered it being quite spicy. Thinking of this, Himeko picked up a spoon and tasted it herself, quickly sticking out her tongue. "Ack, so spicy! You're lying! Water, give me water!"

Seeing Himeko's face flushed red from the spice, Li Ming chuckled and handed her a glass of milk.

"Hahaha, you didn't taste it before?"

Li Ming's lips curved slightly. He found Himeko's reaction particularly cute, but his gaze shifted to the curry rice, his eyes flickering.

After drinking the milk, Himeko pounced on him, flailing her arms. "Li Ming, you're done for!"

Li Ming struck first, pressing a hand on Himeko's head. However, Himeko only indulged in this brief tantrum before tidying her hair and looking at the gift box in front of her, her eyes shining. "What is this?"

Seeing Himeko notice the Peace Buckle, he directly opened the box. "Schicksal doesn't have Christmas Eve, but for blessings of peace, we have this."

Li Ming dangled the pair of Peace Buckles, each no more than two inches in size, along with a cord for tying them to the wrist. Perhaps due to the need to adapt marketing strategies after arriving in the Americas, the Peace Buckles here had become a pair.

Well, that's appropriate. I dare not say anything, dare not ask anything.

"And the copper coins on them are engraved with your name and mine, just like an Omamori." He handed Himeko one of the Peace Buckles engraved with her name. Looking at the five small characters on it, Himeko's hand continuously caressed it. "This, this is my name?"

"Mm, your Schicksal name." Looking at the Peace Buckle in Li Ming's hand that belonged to him, Himeko finally swapped the two Peace Buckles.

"Things like this should naturally have each other's names written on them to protect each other, right?"

Himeko jiggled the Peace Buckle in her hand and then carefully tied it to her right wrist. After Li Ming finished the rest of the curry rice, Himeko glanced at him. "Um, are we still going out?"

"Of course! But we won't bring Raiden this time. I heard Raiden is looking for a girlfriend lately!"

Meanwhile, curled up in his blanket and miserably helping his advisor revise a paper, Raiden couldn't help but sneeze. He wiped his nose and looked at the laptop screen, thinking, I wonder how Ming and Miss Himeko are doing today, and where they're going. I'm so envious!

As he thought, Raiden couldn't help but grumble, "Damn it!"

However, when the two of them left, Li Ming handed Himeko a Colt Guardian he had obtained from Alahato. After all, going out at a time like this wasn't exactly safe.

Fortunately, the electric trains were still running at night. Li Ming and Himeko wandered all over California, went to the cinema, saw the Golden Gate Bridge and the San Francisco night view, and finally played at an amusement park until midnight.

"Himeko, I'll be returning to Schicksal in a couple of days. Will you come back with me?"

On the Ferris wheel, Li Ming looked at Himeko opposite him and couldn't help but ask.

Asked this, Himeko suddenly became like a startled fawn, hugging herself and moving far away from Li Ming. "You, isn't this too fast? I, I'm only fifteen!"

Hearing Himeko say this, Li Ming knew she had misunderstood. However, he also felt like playing along and chuckled sinisterly, "Hehehe, you can't escape now. Just come into my bowl obediently!"

However, they were just joking around. After a bit of playful roughhousing, Himeko refused Li Ming. "No, I plan to visit my mother's grave during this winter break."

Mentioning her mother, Himeko's tone instantly became dejected. Li Ming noticed this and didn't press the matter further, instead offering some comfort. However, after getting off the Ferris wheel, Himeko forced a cheerful smile. "Besides, if I go back with you, aren't you afraid my dad will come looking for you?"

As he said this, images of Ryusuke Murata sternly grabbing his face and slapping him repeatedly flashed through Li Ming's mind. Ryusuke had even said, "So it's you, huh? You dare to bring my daughter home? You've got some nerve, you brat..."

(￣ε(#￣)☆╰╮o(￣皿￣///)

Li Ming quickly shook these images out of his head.

He could only say regretfully, "Alright then, I'll take you to Schicksal to play when I get the chance!"

"Okay, next time for sure!"

Himeko, walking ahead, winked at him. The moonlight spilled down from the clouds, bathing them both. In the night, the pale moonlight was like a piece of white jade, truly enviable.

After seeing Himeko back to her apartment, Li Ming quietly opened his diary. Besides the diary he had agreed to keep with Susanna, Li Ming had another one for writing down more private matters.

After finishing his diary entry, Li Ming put away the book and began packing his belongings, preparing to go home.

"But I can still spend another day with Himeko tomorrow."

Thinking this, Li Ming, like Himeko, tied the Peace Buckle onto his right wrist. He unconsciously touched the faint red patterns on his wrist a couple of times, his heart completely calm, as if it weren't his own arm.

Two days later, Li Ming boarded the plane back to Qinghe City.

Stepping out of the familiar airport, Li Ming oriented himself and picked up his suitcase. As soon as he exited the airport doors, he saw the very road where he had almost been run over by Truck-kun and sent to transmigrate again when he first arrived.

However, when Li Ming emerged from the airport, Steward Zhao was already waiting.

"Young Master Li, the Master and Miss have arranged a dinner banquet to welcome you."

Li Ming had already contacted Su Qizhe before his return, so he wasn't surprised to see Steward Zhao. However, Li Ming had expected Su Qizhe to book a banquet at a hotel.

Instead, Steward Zhao led Li Ming back to the villa.

There were only three people at the dinner table. Su Qizhe looked at Li Ming and personally poured him a glass of wine. "Xiao Ming, here, Uncle will have a drink with you today to welcome you back."

"No need, Uncle Su." Honestly, Li Ming was a little intimidated by Su Qizhe's enthusiasm, but he still obediently took a sip. He didn't eat much, though, as he was mainly trying to adjust to the time difference.

After dinner, Li Ming returned to his room. At this moment, the petite Susanna waddled over, smiling as she handed Li Ming a lollipop. "Long time no see, Brother Li Ming!"

Only then did Li Ming feel a sense of relief. He let out a breath and patted Susanna's head. "Long time no see, Susanna!"