Awakening from the Dream

The Snowy Fluff Leopard seemed to sense the impending separation; they reluctantly rubbed their round heads against Little Aemeath's legs, letting out a few soft whimpers.

At the horizon, the gray clouds began to gather again.

"The wind is getting stronger again; we should head back." The Rover brushed the snow off his sleeves, his eyes sweeping over the two people, one big and one small, standing to the side.

"Say goodbye to the leopards." Lu Yan took Little Aemeath's hand.

Aemeath nodded obediently and waved to the Snowy Fluff Leopard: "I'll come visit you often from now on!"

But Aemeath was still a little reluctant to leave, turning back every few steps to look at the Snowy Fluff Leopard.

On the short stretch of snowy road leading back, Lu Yan keenly noticed something unusual about his body.

The energy I had been brimming with from playing with Little Aemeath was slowly draining away.

His steps grew heavier and heavier, his eyelids felt like they were filled with lead, and an irresistible drowsiness swept over the depths of his consciousness like a tide.

He knew this wasn't exhaustion; this incredible lucid dream was about to come to an end.

As the high-tech door opened, the door to the Glimmering Lakeside Lodge was opened.

Back inside, the warm interior was illuminated by the flickering orange flames of the fireplace.

But this warmth could not dispel the sense of falling deep within Lu Yan's consciousness.

His figure began to flicker extremely subtly, like a holographic projection with a poor signal.

The Rover noticed his unusual behavior immediately. She turned her head and stared at Lu Yan's increasingly translucent fingertips with a furrowed brow.

Lu Yan smiled slightly, forcing himself to maintain his last shred of clarity as he turned his gaze to the Rover.

"Rover, it seems my time has come. After I leave... can you take good care of Little Aemeath?" Lu Yan's voice had become somewhat ethereal, as if it came from a very distant place.

The Rover looked at him, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes, but ultimately nodded solemnly, his tone very firm. "Yes. As long as I'm here, nothing on this icy plain can harm her."

"Thanks."

Lu Yan took a deep breath, took a half step forward, and approached the Rover. He whispered in her ear in a very low voice, only the two of them could hear:

"Rover, this child tends to keep everything bottled up inside. Aemeath is very perceptive, so in the future... don't talk to her about too many stressful things, don't let her carry such a heavy burden on her little shoulders."

After uttering this heartfelt and distressing instruction, Lu Yan took a step back.

The Rover stood frozen in place, a deep sense of doubt appearing in his clear, golden eyes.

She looked at Lu Yan, secretly wondering: Too many stressful things? What does that mean?

But Lu Yan had no way to explain it.

He turned around, squatted down, and looked straight at Little Aemeath, who was still clutching his clothes tightly and whose eyes were now filled with tears.

A woman's intuition is always the most accurate.

She watched Lu Yan's body grow increasingly transparent, her small hands tightly gripping the disappearing hand, her lips trembling slightly as she desperately tried to hold back her tears.

"Looks like I'm going to disappear again."

Lu Yan reached out his other hand, which was already somewhat transparent, and gently wiped away the tears from the corner of her eyes, a bright and reassuring smile spreading across his face.

"But our Little Aemeath will definitely be strong, won't she?"

Little Aemeath bit her lower lip hard, suppressing the tearing reluctance in her heart, and nodded vigorously, her voice thick with emotion, solemnly replying, "Yes!"

"It's alright." Lu Yan raised his hand and gently ruffled her long pink hair, then turned his head slightly to look at the Rover standing beside him. "Rover will definitely take good care of you."

He met Little Aemeath's tear-filled, starry eyes once more and made a promise that transcended dimensions, "We'll meet again."

Little Aemeath sniffed, pressed the blue-pink gradient silver amulet tightly to her chest, and said in a childish but firm voice, "Okay, see you later!"

Lu Yan smiled.

In the last second before his consciousness was about to completely sink into darkness, he tried to activate the Frequency that belonged to him within his body.

It was a very warm and dazzling light.

It detached from Lu Yan's heart, transformed into a stream of light, and disappeared into the amulet that Little Aemeath was tightly clutching in her hand.

The amulet instantly emitted a soft glow, and the unique aura belonging to Lu Yan was forever sealed within it.

After doing all this, Lu Yan's body transformed into countless golden specks of light, melting away like snowflakes beside the warm hearth of the Glimmering Lakeside Lodge, gradually disappearing from sight.

The Rover watched silently as Lu Yan disappeared, his gaze then falling on the amulet on Little Aemeath's chest, which was still faintly glowing, and his brows furrowed slightly.

Too many stressful things... what does that even mean?

It was as if we had just experienced a long ascent in the dark depths of the sea.

As the suffocating feeling of lack of oxygen subsides, fresh air floods back into the lungs.

Lu Yan gasped sharply and opened his eyes abruptly!

As far as the eye could see, the fire in the Glimmering Lakeside Lodge was gone, as were the howling snowstorms of the Royan Frostlands.

The bright early summer sunlight streamed through the half-drawn curtains of the master bedroom on the first floor, casting dappled shadows on the floor.

The air was filled with the fresh scent of their shower gel and the dry, sun-dried smell of the clean, nude pink sheets.

Are you back? Or was it all just a dream?

After a brief moment of unfocusing, Lu Yan's eyes quickly regained their clarity.

Immediately afterward, his gaze was fixed on the scene before him.

Aemeath was lying on her side beside him, her chin resting on one hand, her long, smooth pink hair cascading down the pillow like a waterfall, with a few strands even playfully brushing against his nose.

She was wearing a pink silk slip dress, the neckline slightly open, revealing that familiar heart -Tacit Mark.

At that moment, she was staring intently at him, her eyes filled with worry.

"What's wrong?" Lu Yan asked, only to find his voice was a little hoarse.

"I was worried something had happened to you since you hadn't woken up for so long."

Aemeath's face showed barely concealed lingering fear.

She stretched out her slender, fair finger and gently poked Lu Yan's cheek, pouting slightly, "It's already ten o'clock."

Hearing her seemingly complaining but actually caring words, Lu Yan felt light and warm all over his body.

He looked at the gentle, warm face before him.

Were those events real or just a dream? If they were real, why did Aemeath never mention them?

"A-Yan?" Seeing Lu Yan staring at her in a daze, Aemeath wrinkled her pert nose in displeasure.

She suddenly flipped herself up like a nimble cat, placing her hands on either side of Lu Yan's chest.

Pink strands of hair fell across his cheeks, bringing a tingling, itchy sensation.

What are you spacing out for?

Aemeath gazed at him tenderly, her pink lips slightly pouting. "I want a good morning kiss."

There was no politeness, no coyness, only the most direct demands.

Looking at her charming and adorable appearance, Lu Yan felt a surge of intense emotions welling up in his eyes.

He let out a pleasant chuckle.

"Yes, my queen."

Without the slightest hesitation, Lu Yan stretched out his arms and firmly held Aemeath's soft, slender waist.

With a swift movement, he rolled over neatly on the soft bed, taking the initiative and pinning her beneath him.

Before Aemeath could let out a short, charming gasp, Lu Yan lowered his head and sealed her alluring lips with a precise and passionate kiss.

Lu Yan's tongue gently yet forcefully pried open her teeth, greedily savoring every bit of her sweetness.