My parents actually live pretty close to here

As dawn broke through the gaps in the curtains, dappled light and shadow fell upon the bed, its surface stained crimson by the waves.

Luo Li woke up first. The warm, soft touch on his arm and the cool, sensual scent unique to Castorice that lingered around his nose made him feel dazed for a moment. Then, fragments of the hot and crazy Remembrance from last night flooded back into his mind like a tide, causing the corners of his mouth to involuntarily turn up.

He looked down at the girl, who was still fast asleep, curled up in his arms.

Her long, silvery-purple hair was spread out on the pillow like silk, with a few strands clinging to her slightly sweaty forehead and cheeks.

She was sleeping soundly, her long, thick eyelashes drooping quietly like butterfly wings, casting soft shadows on her fair skin.

The usual aloofness and detachment seemed to have completely melted away, leaving only complete dependence and tranquility.

Luo Li's heart was incredibly tender.

He carefully, as if afraid of waking her, gently brushed aside the few stray strands of hair with his fingers, revealing her smooth forehead.

As he moved, he caught a glimpse of her delicate collarbone and neck, where several intimate marks he had left were more pronounced than the night before, standing out starkly against her fair skin.

A mixture of pity, satisfaction, and intense possessiveness surged in his chest.

Just then, Castorice's thick eyelashes trembled a few times, and she slowly opened her eyes.

Her newly awakened purple eyes were misty and watery, like an amethyst lake shrouded in morning fog.

When she focused her gaze and saw Luo Li's face so close to hers, the Remembrance of last night instantly flooded back, and her fair cheeks flushed crimson at a visible speed, spreading all the way to her ears.

She instinctively tried to shrink deeper into the blankets, but Luo Li's smiling arms encircled her even tighter.

Good morning, my dear wife.

Luo Li's voice was hoarse from the early morning and filled with obvious joy; the way he called her "my dear wife" came out so naturally and smoothly.

"... morning."

Castorice's voice was barely audible, her gaze darting around, avoiding eye contact with him, her body slightly flushed from his address and the warmth of his close proximity.

Seeing her shy and adorable appearance, Luo Li chuckled softly and couldn't help but lower his head to place a gentle kiss on her smooth forehead.

"Are you... alright?"

He asked in a low voice, with deep tenderness and a hint of barely perceptible satisfaction.

Castorice's face flushed even more. She buried her burning cheeks in the crook of his neck and complained softly, a hint of grievance in her voice. "... Sour... It's all your fault..."

Luo Li readily admitted her mistake, but tightened her grip on his arm even more. "My mistake, my mistake... I'll be more careful next time."

"There will be a next time?" Castorice raised her watery eyes and glared at him, embarrassed and annoyed.

"Of course!" Luo Li said matter-of-factly, leaning close to her ear and whispering, his breath hot. "This is nothing! I've been holding back for three whole months! I haven't even finished collecting the interest yet..."

Castorice was so ashamed by his explicit words that she wanted to disappear. She reached out to cover his mouth, but he took the opportunity to grab her wrist and gently kissed her fingertips.

The two laughed and joked in the morning light for a while. Although their bodies were still tired and sore, their mood, like the gradually brightening sky outside the window, was filled with peace and sweetness.

Get up and wash up.

Seeing Castorice's slightly unnatural gait, Luo Li felt both heartache and pride. She forcibly pressed Xia Die into a chair, then ran to the kitchen, rummaged through drawers and cupboards to find some dried noodles that hadn't expired yet and some dehydrated vegetables that she had stockpiled. She clumsily cooked two bowls of barely edible clear soup noodles.

Although the taste was far inferior to Castorice's cooking, watching his back as he busied himself in the kitchen wearing an apron, a faint, genuine warmth welled up in Castorice's purple eyes.

"Let's eat this for now, I'll go out shopping later and fill the fridge."

Luo Li placed the noodles in front of her, her tone slightly ingratiating.

"Mmm." Castorice picked up her chopsticks and ate in small bites. Although the taste was ordinary, she felt a sweet warmth in her heart.

After dinner, the two of them cleaned up the dust that had accumulated over the three months they had been away from home.

In fact, given Luo Li's current control over the Path [Spacetime], she could completely restore the room to its cleanliness instantly through partial time reversal.

But he didn't do that.

He preferred to be with Castorice, like an ordinary couple, taking care of their home together.

Watching her clumsily but earnestly wipe the corner of the table with a rag, sunlight shining on her focused profile, Luo Li felt that this was the most beautiful scene in the world.

"Oh, right, Castorice," Luo Li said casually, as if suddenly remembering something, while vacuuming the floor, "My parents' house is actually quite close to here."

Castorice paused slightly as she wiped herself, then looked up, a barely perceptible hint of tension flashing in her purple eyes.

Luo Li walked to her side, took the rag from her hand, and gently held her slightly cool hand. Looking at her somewhat tense face, she smiled and said, "Don't be nervous, I just wanted to let you know. They're just ordinary middle school teachers, very nice people, especially my mom, she really likes girls."

Castorice gave a soft "hmm," lowered her head, and unconsciously twisted the hem of her clothes with her fingers.

Seeing that she was still somewhat uneasy, Luo Li leaned closer to her, grinning mischievously as she lowered her voice. "And look, we've already cooked this 'raw rice' into 'cooked rice,' and it's been cooked several times over..."

"You... what nonsense are you talking about!" Castorice's face instantly turned bright red, and she was so embarrassed that she raised her hand to hit him.

Luo Li smiled, took her hand, pulled her into his arms, rested his chin on the top of her head, and said in a gentle but earnest voice, "Really, Castorice. In a couple of days, after you've rested and adjusted, I'll take you to meet them. They'll definitely like you."

Feeling the warmth and firm heartbeat from his chest, Castorice's nervousness was gradually replaced by a warm feeling.

She gently hugged him back, pressed her cheek against his chest, and whispered, "... Okay."

After a while, Luo Li seemed to remember something, and leaned down to whisper in her ear with a mischievous smile, "When we go back to see our parents this time..."

He paused deliberately, feeling the body in his arms stiffen instantly, before slowly and wistfully saying:

"Shall we try to... bring one more person back?"

Castorice was stunned for a moment, then suddenly realized the deeper meaning in his words. Her whole face and neck turned red, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. She was both ashamed and angry, and she weakly punched his chest with her small fists.

"Luo Li! You... you bastard! Who... who wants to bring another person with you!"

Seeing her adorable appearance, a mixture of shame and indignation, with even the tips of her ears turning bright red, Luo Li laughed heartily, his mood reaching its peak. He let her weak "attacks" fall on him, feeling that his heart and eyes were filled with this little woman in his arms whom he loved so much.

How can his Castorice be so cute!

Tired from playing around, Castorice leaned against him, panting, her cheeks still flushed, her purple eyes glistening, glaring at him reproachfully.

Luo Li affectionately kissed the top of her head, stopped teasing her, and said instead, "Alright, stop fooling around—seriously, when my parents see you, they'll be overjoyed. My mom will definitely keep asking you all sorts of questions, so don't complain about her nagging."

Castorice imagined the scene, feeling both apprehensive and a faint sense of anticipation.

Will she finally have... family in this world?

"I won't," she said softly, her tone serious.

Seeing her serious expression, Luo Li's heart softened, and she hugged her even tighter.

Sunlight streamed through the clean glass windows, filling the entire room. Dust motes danced in the beams of light, seemingly carrying a joyful atmosphere.

The small rented room was filled with the warmth and vitality of home because of the return of the two people and their presence.

The bloodshed and fighting on the front lines seem like a distant memory now.

At this moment, they possess an easily attainable, ordinary happiness, and an upcoming meeting with the parents, filled with a mix of nervousness and anticipation.

Looking out the window at the familiar street scenes of Jiangcheng, Luo Li had a satisfied smile on her lips.