Warm Memories

The morning sunlight was not as scorching as the noon sun. It carried a gentle warmth as it slanted through the spotless glass window into the room, casting bright patches of light across the floor. Tiny specks of dust floated in the air, dancing gracefully within the shafts of light.

Tang Wulin's past experience cultivating the Purple Demon Eyes made him awaken at a fixed hour. The first thing he felt as consciousness returned was the reassuring weight and warmth in his arms. Lowering his head, he saw that Gu Yuena was still asleep against him. Her silver hair lay slightly disheveled across the crook of his arm and the pillow, with a few mischievous strands clinging to her smooth forehead and cheeks. Her sleeping face was serene and beautiful. Her long eyelashes, like two small fans, cast faint shadows beneath her lids. Those cool violet eyes of hers were tightly shut, leaving her with less distance and more unguarded softness. Her breathing was even and deep, her warm breath brushing lightly against his neck and bringing a faint tickle.

An indescribable sense of contentment and peace filled his chest. He watched her quietly, as though he could never look enough. Even his breathing unconsciously softened, afraid of disturbing this hard-won tranquility. This was his beloved.

Only after a long while did he carefully try to ease out the arm she had been using as a pillow. His movements were as gentle as though he were handling an incomparable treasure.

Yet just as his arm was about to slip free, the sleeping Gu Yuena seemed to sense the departure of her source of warmth. She frowned in displeasure and let out a blurry, sleepy little protest. The slender hand that had rested at his side reached forward almost instinctively, accurately catching the hem of his clothes and clutching it tightly, like a drowning person grasping driftwood.

"Mm... don't go... Why are you getting up so early..." Her voice was unclear, husky from sleep and carrying an unconscious note of coquettishness. She was completely unlike the cold and imposing Silver Dragon King she usually was.

Tang Wulin's heart instantly melted. He stopped moving and let her hold onto his clothes. With his other free hand, he gently pinched her smooth, delicate cheek. It felt faintly cool, like the finest silk.

"You little sleepyhead, the sun's already shining on you. Time to get up." His voice was low and gentle, filled with a doting affection even he had not noticed.

Gu Yuena's sweet dream was disturbed by his movements and words. Somewhat annoyed, she shook her head, trying to escape his mischievous fingers. Then she did something that made Tang Wulin want to laugh—she abruptly yanked up the blanket and, with a rustle, covered herself completely, head and all. From under the covers came a muffled, protesting voice. "No, no... Let me sleep a little longer..."

The little bundle beneath the blanket even deliberately curled farther inward, as if she wanted to cut herself off completely from the outside world.

Tang Wulin finally could not help laughing softly, a delighted tremor rising from his chest. This childish, sleep-loving, coquettish Gu Yuena was simply too rare—and far too adorable. He reached out and gently patted the bulging bundle through the blanket, his tone full of indulgence. "All right, sleep a little longer. I'll go buy breakfast."

A muffled hum of agreement came from under the blanket.

Tang Wulin waited a while longer, only freeing himself after making sure the hand clutching his clothes had loosened a little. He rose quietly, tucked the blanket around her, and looked at that small bundle. The smile on his lips lingered for a long time.

After washing up, Tang Wulin left the house. Morning had already awakened Aalai City, and the streets were filled with the enticing aromas from various breakfast stalls. Guided by an inexplicable familiarity, he moved through familiar alleyways. Without even thinking, he knew whose seafood porridge was the richest and most fragrant, whose pan-fried buns had the crispiest bottoms, and whose fried dough sticks were the fluffiest and most golden.

He bought nearly every snack he remembered that she might enjoy. Only when his hands were laden with food did he head back, thoroughly satisfied.

When he pushed open the door, the sight before him made him smile again.

Gu Yuena was already up, sitting on the edge of the bed with her knees hugged to her chest, looking thoroughly sulky. Clearly, after he left, the warm bed had lost its appeal, forcing her awake after all. But her irritation at being roused had not yet faded. Her beautiful silver hair had become somewhat messy after a night of tossing and turning and her earlier blanket-covered antics. Several strands stubbornly stuck up, and paired with her violet eyes, made all the brighter by her displeasure, she looked exactly like a silver cat that had just woken up, was throwing a tantrum, and had slightly puffed-up fur.

When she saw Tang Wulin return, she raised her eyes and shot him a resentful glare, as if blaming him for waking her and then leaving her alone.

Tang Wulin walked over with a smile, set the fragrant breakfast on the table, then naturally reached out and rubbed her fluffy little head. The gesture was gentle and soothing.

"All right, don't be angry. Come see—I bought lots of delicious things." His voice was so soft it seemed as though it could drip with tenderness. "Come eat, Gu Yue."

He called her "Gu Yue" with complete naturalness, as if he had already called that name countless times in his heart.

The aroma of food finally dispelled the last traces of Gu Yuena's grumpiness. Her gaze was drawn to the dazzling array of snacks on the table, and her eyes brightened slightly. The two sat around the old wooden table that carried countless memories and began enjoying this "home-style" breakfast from ten thousand years later.

There was no restraint, no politeness—just like the most ordinary family. Tang Wulin pushed the soft, fragrant seafood porridge toward her, peeled open the scalding pan-fried buns for her, and reminded her to be careful of the soup inside. Gu Yuena, meanwhile, was especially fond of the crisp fried dough sticks. She ate until the corners of her mouth were stained with a little glistening oil and a few tiny crumbs.

As Tang Wulin spoke, his gaze swept over the corner of her lips. Almost instinctively, he stopped mid-sentence, naturally produced a clean handkerchief, leaned closer, and gently wiped away the distracting traces for her.

His movements were so natural, as if he had done this countless times before. Through the thin handkerchief, his fingertips could feel the soft contour of her lips.

Gu Yuena froze slightly and raised her violet eyes to look at him. Seeing his focused, tender gaze and his careful gesture as he wiped her mouth, surprise first flashed in her eyes before turning into a sly yet warm smile. That smile spread from the depths of her eyes, like a spring breeze rippling a pool of clear water. It held understanding, sweetness, and a small hint of the smugness that only Na'er from ten thousand years ago possessed. She said nothing, merely letting him continue as she enjoyed this long-lost, meticulous care.

Breakfast ended in a warm atmosphere. The two of them swept through the food like a whirlwind, leaving nothing behind.

After eating, Tang Wulin stood up, intending to take a closer look around the house and see whether he could find more things that stirred his memories. His gaze paused on an old wooden chest in a corner of the room. As if possessed, he walked over and opened it.

Inside were several sets of small clothes, folded neatly. They were boys' clothing, simple in style, the fabric somewhat fragile from age but washed very clean. They were the clothes he had worn as a child. His belongings had all been carefully preserved here, as though they had been waiting for the day he would return.

His fingertips brushed over the soft old fabric, carrying the scent of dust, and a powerful wave of sorrow surged through him once more. Everything remained, yet the people were gone. Before he could repay the kindness of those who had raised him, ten thousand years had already separated them. The regret and longing were so heavy that he could barely breathe.

He drew a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the turmoil within him before gently closing the wooden chest.

A thought stirred in his mind, and he remembered something. His spiritual power sank into the storage ring on his finger, the one that had awakened alongside him. The ring's space was enormous, yet it held few things—mostly items he had instinctively felt were important and stored away.

His consciousness searched within it and soon settled on one item.

With a flash of light, a neatly folded set of clothing appeared in his hands.

It was a black formal suit. The cut was exceptionally fitted, the material exquisite, and the design simple yet elegant, with details that revealed extraordinary taste. Though ten thousand years had passed, it still looked brand-new, as if it had been made only yesterday.

It was the suit Gu Yue had made for him for the party aboard the yacht ten thousand years ago.

A clear fragment of memory crashed into his mind without warning—

A luxurious, brightly lit banquet hall aboard a cruise ship, elegant guests, music flowing through the air. He wore this formal suit, handsome and upright. And she, Gu Yue, with black hair and black eyes, wore a breathtakingly beautiful fitted gown, like Yue Shen descending into the world. She had her arm around his, yet her violet eyes held a trace of barely perceptible dominance and warning. Looking up at him, she spoke in a voice only the two of them could hear, half-joking and half-serious:

"Tonight, you're only allowed to look at me. Whoever dances with you, I'll break her legs."

That sweetly naive yet fiercely possessive look strangely overlapped with the way she had sulked under the covers and puffed up earlier. He could not help smiling.

This time, the returning memory was not accompanied by splitting headaches. The force that had once hindered his memories seemed to have quietly weakened through the resonance of the Lake of Life, the warmth of this old home, and the bond of Golden Speech's return. He simply savored this past filled with sweetness and sorrow, carefully tasting the feeling of being so dominantly cherished by her.

He looked deeply at Gu Yuena, who was curiously watching the street outside the window, his eyes filled with countless emotions. In the end, he said nothing. He merely carefully returned the formal suit carrying those special memories to the deepest part of his storage ring, as if storing away a priceless treasure.

After doing all this, the sorrow and reminiscence on his face gradually faded, replaced by an even more resolute tenderness. He walked over to Gu Yuena by the window and once again reached out to habitually rub her smooth silver hair.

"We should go out for a walk," he said softly.

Sunlight fell over the two of them, stretching their shadows long and intertwining them together.