The Past Felt Like Yesterday

As Lu Yan watched Aemeath reenact his past behavior, a slight blush crept onto his ears. Helplessly, he reached out and pulled Aemeath was walking backwards, back to his side, protecting her on the inside of the road.

Lu Yan squeezed her hand and whispered in defense, "I didn't want you to be stared at by others, and besides... it's my first time shopping with a girl, so it's understandable to be nervous."

Aemeath continued relentlessly, her mischievous grin widening. "So who was it that warned me in the memo, saying, 'I can feel you breathing in my ear, it tickles,' and told me to be quiet?"

She suddenly tiptoed and, taking advantage of the passersby's inattention, quickly blew a puff of hot air onto Lu Yan's ear, then swiftly retreated, smiling like a triumphant little fox, "Now? Now I'll blow it again, are you going to warn me again?"

The warm breath, carrying a faint sweet fragrance, sent a tingling sensation down Lu Yan's spine.

He stopped and turned to face Aemeath.

Just when Aemeath thought Lu Yan was about to blush again, he suddenly reached out his right hand, grabbed her waist, and pulled her into his arms.

The distance between the two instantly closed, their noses almost touching.

"Now..." Lu Yan looked into those golden eyes so close to his own, his voice laced with intense aggression, "Now I don't need the memo anymore."

"If you dare to flirt with me like that on the street again, I'll just kiss you. Anyway, you're my rightful fiancée now."

"After all, the point of showing affection is to make others envious."

Now it was Aemeath's turn to be dumbfounded.

She originally just wanted to tease the Lu Yan was as innocent as a blank sheet of paper in the past, but she never expected that the current Lu Yan had evolved into a shameless old driver who could do whatever he wanted in broad daylight.

Aemeath felt the warm, strong hand around her waist and saw the emotions surging in Lu Yan's deep eyes, her face flushed red to the roots of her ears.

"You... you fouled!" Aemeath stammered, quickly pulling away from his embrace and turning her face away to hide her embarrassment. "Let's go! If the mall gets crowded soon, we won't be able to find any nice clothes!"

Lu Yan watched her fleeing figure and chuckled softly.

He quickly caught up with her and took her hand again. This time, Aemeath didn't cause any trouble; she simply let him hold her hand obediently, a smile sweeter than honey on her face.

When Aemeath saw Lu Yan fall towards her, she rested her head on his shoulder, her voice suddenly becoming soft and sweet, "But... at that time, I could only stay by your side in a way that no one could see me. Although I could tease you without restraint, I was actually quite envious of those couples holding hands on the street."

Aemeath stopped and turned around, looking intently into Lu Yan's eyes. "Back then, I thought, how wonderful it would be if one day I could be like any other girl, wearing beautiful clothes, openly holding A-Yan's hand and walking in the sunlight, letting everyone see us together."

Lu Yan paused, his heart feeling as if it were filled with a soft cotton ball, a mixture of bitterness and sweetness.

He didn't answer with words, but instead gripped her hand even tighter, raised their clasped hands to his lips, and placed a gentle yet incredibly solemn kiss on the back of Aemeath's hand.

The smile on Lu Yan's face gradually faded as he said, "That wasn't a lame excuse; I was genuinely afraid."

"I'm afraid you're too dazzling, afraid others will look at you differently, and even more afraid... that I won't be able to hold onto you."

"Yes! I know all of that~" Aemeath nodded, smiling gently.

She looked into Lu Yan's deep eyes, where the loneliness and inferiority she once felt had been replaced by overflowing love.

"But things are different now." Lu Yan gently stroked her soft cheek with his thumb, his voice deep and strong. "Now, you're truly standing in the sunlight, standing right in front of me. I don't have to type in my phone's memo anymore, I don't have to hide you away anymore."

He lowered his hand, intertwined his fingers with hers again, and raised their clasped hands in the air, exposing the two rings to the sunlight.

"I can hold your hand openly and honestly, and tell the whole world that you belong to me, Lu Yan."

"A-Yan..." Aemeath's heart skipped a beat, and an indescribable sweetness welled up in her heart.

"You've really gotten better and better at sweet talk lately."

She wrapped one arm around his waist, buried her face in the crook of his neck, and greedily inhaled his clean and refreshing scent.

The two walked slowly and steadily toward their destination, accompanied by the chirping of cicadas in the summer sun.

Throughout the journey, Aemeath was like a little bird just released from its cage, chirping incessantly.

"A-Yan, look! That colorful pillar that spins around is still there! I asked you what it was last time, but you ignored me!"

"Of course I ignored you! I clearly typed on my phone that it was the barbershop's logo."

"Hmph, typing doesn't count! Oh right, where's that roasted sweet potato stall? I wanted some after I changed my clothes last time! But you didn't buy any~"

"It's July now, who would sell roasted sweet potatoes in the middle of summer? When you're in winter, I'll peel them and feed them to you myself."

"It's a deal! No backing out!"

As the two continued their endless, sweet bickering, the familiar shopping mall came into view.

The two walked into the mall side by side.

The mall's massive glass sensor doors detected the two people approaching and slowly slid open to the sides.

A cool breeze carrying a faint fragrance swept over me, instantly shutting out the heat from outside.

Inside, customers were still bustling about, moving between the different floors.

The lively voices, soft background music, and the aromas wafting from various shops blended together.

"Wow--it's still so lively!" Aemeath took a deep breath.

The two walked side by side on the gleaming marble floor of the mall.

Aemeath's striking pink hair and outstanding looks, combined with Lu Yan's handsome and tall figure, attracted the attention of many passersby.

Aemeath straightened her back and gripped Lu Yan's hand even tighter, like a proud swan surveying its territory.

Lu Yan noticed her little scheme and found it both amusing and adorable, so he let her lead him through the hall.

As they passed the cosmetics counter area on the first floor, the dazzling crystal chandeliers overhead made the exquisite glass bottles sparkle.

Aemeath's pace suddenly slowed.

She turned her head, her gaze sweeping across the rows of counters, finally settling on one particular brand.

"A-Yan," Aemeath suddenly lowered her voice, leaning close to his ear, a hint of teasing in her tone, "Don't you think this place looks a little familiar?"