At last, silence returned to the room.
A voice broke the quiet. "There's a fireworks festival tomorrow."
Dian gently toyed with her golden hair, a smile touching his lips. "Really? I'm not too fond of crowds."
Her emerald eyes blinked softly before her long lashes closed with studied nonchalance. "Really? Then I'll find someone else to go with."
"...Then I'll find someone else, too." No sooner had Dian spoken than he winced. That would probably leave another bruise.
With a cold little huff, Yue Jifei gently stroked the spot she had just pinched. "Idiot..."
Dian gazed into eyes as clear as the purest pool in the world. "I'm kidding. Wherever you want to go, Kisaki, I'll go with you."
Yue Jifei's face was expressionless at first. Then her narrow eyes curved, and a bewitching smile rose to her lips. With a soft breath, she murmured, "Then...what about a world with only the two of us?"
"Would you be willing to do that, too, Dian?"
Dian's gaze wavered. Here it comes—the minefield!
He was just about to deftly sidestep the question when the girl before him covered her mouth and burst into laughter, her golden hair spilling over her fair skin in a dazzling cascade.
After laughing for a while, Yue Jifei slowly opened her eyes. Her emerald gaze studied Dian as he was about to speak. "Idiot..." She sighed, then smiled again. "That was a lie... Women are born liars, you know."
Then Yue Jifei slowly leaned closer, her expression serious. "Now, this moment...this is enough."
Dian wrapped his arms around her slightly chilly shoulders. The voice beside his ear seemed to sink straight into his heart, happiness carrying a heavy weight. "Dian...men don't have to lie, so...this moment is enough."
He bit his tongue lightly and tilted his head