A Close Embrace

Lu Yan suddenly stood up, and because he moved so fast, he even accidentally bumped his knee, but he didn't care about the pain at all and strode to the coffee table.

He held his breath and opened one of the smaller ring boxes.

Bathed in the light of the crystal chandelier in the VIP room, a ring lay quietly on a black velvet cushion.

The ring band, crafted from Pt950 platinum, gleams with a pure and understated luster.

On the front of the ring, a band of 18K rose gold outlines a forget-me-not vine, which seems to come alive as it meanders and twines around the platinum background.

The carving is so exquisite that even the slight curl of the petals' edges perfectly replicates the spirit of Lu Yan's manuscript.

Lu Yan carefully took the woman's ring in his hand and held it up to his eyes.

Through the slanting rays of the setting sun streaming in through the window, he could clearly see the openwork rose gold heart on the inside of the ring.

In that place symbolizing the heart, in extremely small yet clear characters, the bond they shared throughout their lives is deeply engraved:

Lu Yan & Aemeath

No words can describe Lu Yan's feelings at this moment.

His eyes felt slightly warm.

"Absolutely perfect." Lu Yan's voice was slightly hoarse. "Even more beautiful than I imagined."

"It's our honor to witness your unique love story." The sales assistant smiled and helped him close the ring box again, placing it into an elegant handbag.

Lu Yan took the handbag and quickly walked out of the jewelry store.

Pushing open the door, the heat outside had subsided considerably.

Above the city, vast expanses of fiery clouds painted the sky as brilliantly as the eyes of Aemeath.

The evening breeze ruffled his hair, carrying the gentle warmth unique to a midsummer evening.

Lu Yan pressed the handbag containing the ring tightly against his chest, as if he could feel the heartbeat resonating within it. He strode to the side of the street and hailed a taxi.

"Driver, to the old town."

Lu Yan watched the street scene rushing past the window, his heart pounding in his chest.

I'm back, Aemeath. With shackles that belong only to you, unique and irreplaceable.

The ride-hailing car slowly moved forward in the evening rush hour traffic in the city center, the air conditioner inside the car emitting a low, rumbling noise.

Lu Yan sat alone in the back seat; the outside temperature was still somewhat muggy.

His gaze fell on the seat beside him, where the dark blue velvet handbag lay quietly.

He took a deep breath, and as if still worried, reached into the bag again and took out the small ring box.

With a soft "click," the box containing the women's ring was opened.

Bathed in the afterglow of the setting sun, the platinum ring gleamed with a cool, luminous sheen.

The forget-me-not vines, outlined in rose gold, meander and twine across the ring face, each petal's undulation perfectly capturing the spirit of his manuscript.

The hollowed-out heart on the inner wall, along with his and Aemeath's names, is carved with exquisite detail.

It is indeed an impeccable work of art. The goldsmith, with thirty years of experience, has used the finest craftsmanship to sculpt each forget-me-not petal with lifelike detail.

However, Lu Yan frowned slightly as he looked at it.

Not enough.

It's still not special enough.

His mind was filled with the Aemeath's brilliant golden eyes.

For ordinary couples, a custom-made wedding ring like this, imbued with countless efforts and love, is more than enough to represent a lifelong commitment.

Aemeath is different.

Aemeath was once a savior, but now that she's by his side, she's become a 'girl' who cuddles in his arms and cries while watching cartoons.

What he holds in his hand now is nothing more than a piece of metal that money can buy in this world.

Even though he drew the design himself and chose platinum as the material, the ring is still essentially just an inanimate object.

How could an inanimate object possibly do justice to the profound love she held for him?

Lu Yan gently stroked the cold platinum ring with his fingertips, his gaze gradually deepening.

Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck him.

He recalled the method he used in his dream to return to Aemeath's childhood and infuse her amulet with Frequency.

That was the beginning of their intertwined cause and effect.

In those chaotic times and spaces, he infused his own Frequency into the amulet worn by Aemeath.

That Frequency eventually became the anchor point for her to find him, guiding her here.

If the amulet can carry his Frequency, then why can't this ring, which will soon accompany her,?

He is no longer the weak and helpless painter he once was.

Lu Yan glanced up at the driver ahead who was complaining about the traffic jam, then shrank further into the shadows of the seat.

He lowered his head again, focusing all his attention on his fingertips.

Lu Yan closed his eyes and carefully regulated the Frequency within his body in his mind.

He recalled the heart-pounding excitement he felt every time he held Aemeath in his arms, and the rhythm of her breathing as she softly called "A-Yan" in his ear.

A faint, resonant sound, seemingly audible only to himself, rang out.

Gradually, a faint glimmer, imperceptible to the naked eye, quietly gathered at his fingertips.

The next second, a fine golden Frequency traveled along Lu Yan's fingertip and slowly touched the platinum ring.

The moment they made contact, that golden Frequency silently merged into the ring.

He guided this Frequency, letting it spread little by little along the rose gold forget-me-not vines on the ring face.

He could clearly feel that the originally cold metal began to undergo a strange qualitative change during the Frequency injection process.

What were originally just lifeless carved vines seem to be infused with real vitality under the flow of golden Frequency, and one can even feel a slight rhythm similar to plant breathing at a microscopic level.

Finally, Lu Yan precisely directed the most intense Frequency to the hollowed-out heart on the inner wall of the ring, locking his name and Aemeath's name together forever.

A faint golden light flickered almost imperceptibly on the words "Lu Yan & Aemeath," before disappearing completely and returning to its original restrained metallic luster.

As the last ray of golden light completely disappeared into the platinum, Lu Yan slowly opened his eyes.

He let out a long sigh of relief, a fine layer of sweat already forming on his forehead.

Although outwardly the ring appeared no different from the previous one, still featuring a blend of silver and pink gold, Lu Yan knew it was different.

This ring is now more than just an ornament; it has acquired its own Frequency.

The moment Aemeath put it on, even across thousands of miles, as long as the ring was still on her finger, she could truly feel his warmth, his heartbeat, and the unique ring that was always on her ring finger.

This is what truly deserves her.

He ran his fingertip over the ring again, and this time he no longer felt the cold, hard metal, but rather a warm, comforting sensation, carrying the warmth of human body heat.

A satisfied smile appeared on Lu Yan's face.

He carefully placed the ring back into the velvet box, and with a crisp "click," he carefully tucked the box into the inside pocket of his shirt, close to his heart, and pressed it firmly through the fabric, as if to confirm its presence.

The traffic jam outside is worse than I expected.

The red taillights of countless cars formed a blinding red sea on the road.

Lu Yan leaned against the car window, watching the sunset on the horizon gradually fade from its brilliant orange-red hue to a deep purple-blue, eventually being completely replaced by the city's neon lights.

In the past, he didn't actually dislike traffic jams.

Before meeting Aemeath, it made no difference to him whether he returned to that empty rented room sooner or later.

But now, every second of stagnation is an unbearable torment for him.

He couldn't wait to rush back, to see Aemeath, and to personally place this surprise on her hands.

"Master, is there a shortcut? Could you please hurry up a bit?" Lu Yan couldn't help but urge him softly.

"Hey young man, I want to go fast too, but the road is so congested it's like I'm constipated. My car doesn't have wings, it can't fly over!" The driver patted the steering wheel helplessly.

Lu Yan sighed helplessly and could only turn his gaze back to the window.

He sat in the back seat, frequently glancing at the time on his phone, feeling like a million ants were crawling inside him.

He couldn't wait to push open the car door and race back home using his enhanced physical abilities.

In the end, he managed to restrain himself, only tapping his knees lightly with his fingertips.

I wonder if Aemeath is getting impatient waiting at home...

Has she already crumpled the cushions into a misshapen shape and is now whimpering pitifully on the little sofa?

Finally, as night fell completely and the streetlights came on, the ride-hailing car slowly drove into the familiar tree-lined street in the old town and stopped at the entrance of the alley.

Lu Yan paid the fare and opened the car door.

The lingering heat of a midsummer evening is palpable, and the air is filled with the unique, lively atmosphere of the old town.

The aroma of scallions wafting from someone's stir-fry, the scent of cumin from a roadside barbecue stall, and the faint sound of square dancing music drifting from afar.

Lu Yan strode through the alley paved with bluestone slabs, his hands always in his shirt pockets, tightly clutching the square velvet box.

After rounding a bend, the familiar two-story detached house finally came into view.

In the darkness of night, the persimmon tree in the center of the courtyard cast a dappled shadow.

A gentle breeze rustled the leaves.

As Lu Yan stepped onto the wooden steps, the automatic sensor-activated ground light in the corner instantly turned on, casting a warm yellow halo that illuminated the path beneath his feet and also the forget-me-nots that they had planted themselves and were now diligently taking root in the soil.

He raised his head, his gaze passing over the iron fence of the yard and looking at the floor-to-ceiling windows of the living room on the first floor.

The curtains weren't fully drawn, letting in bright, warm light.

Faintly, you can still hear the background music from the game and the dialogue of anime characters coming from the LCD TV.

Lu Yan stopped at the door, not in a hurry to take out his keys.

He stared silently at the window letting in the light, listening to the lively sounds inside, his heart pounding in his chest.

A bittersweet feeling welled up inside me at the same time.

Finally, there is a light left on in this world just for him.

Finally, there is someone who will stay in that place called home after sunset every day, waiting with joy for him to push open that door.

He was no longer someone who could only find solace in drawing paper.

Lu Yan took a deep breath to calm his somewhat excited emotions, took out the key from his pocket, inserted it into the lock, and gently turned it.

With a "click," the heavy security door was pushed open.

"Drop--"

The smart sensor light in the entryway turned on, and the cool air, carrying the enticing aroma of food, instantly enveloped him.

As Lu Yan changed his shoes in the entryway, he looked up into the living room.

At this moment, on that narrow double sofa, which was jokingly called Yan Catcher, Aemeath was lying there in a lazy and defenseless posture.

She was still wearing the same pink silk slip dress she wore that afternoon, her long legs casually crossed.

Upon hearing the door open, the single strand of hair on her head that had been limp and lifeless stood up abruptly.

But instead of sitting up from the sofa, she leaned back slightly like a cat hearing its owner's footsteps, peeking out her head over the back of the sofa and looking towards the entrance.

The warm orange light from the living room shone on her long hair and reflected in her bright golden eyes.

When her gaze met Lu Yan's in mid-air, her golden eyes instantly shone brightly.

A pure, unadulterated smile blossomed on her flawlessly beautiful face.

"A-Yan ~" Aemeath called softly, her voice sweet and cloying.

Welcome home.

Those four simple words, coupled with her unreserved smile and overflowing happiness, struck Lu Yan's heart hard.

Lu Yan stood in the entryway, his gaze fixed intently on the girl on the sofa.

His Adam's apple bobbed, and his eyes inexplicably felt hot.

He suppressed the urge to rush over and hug her immediately, a gentle smile curving his lips as he nodded slightly and softly replied:

"Yes, I'm back."

Aemeath then got up from the sofa.

She didn't even bother to put on slippers, only wearing those alluring long black stockings, and ran towards him on the hardwood floor, her footsteps making a "pat-pat" sound.

Unlike usual, she didn't let her curious eyes dart around him.

She didn't use her clever little brain to question him about where he had gone that afternoon or what "tiny things" he had bought.

Aemeath didn't ask anything; she simply ran up to Lu Yan, opened her arms, and gave him a tight hug.

Lu Yan instinctively reached out and firmly wrapped his arms around her waist.

The hug was tight and very close.