The Crowded Years Ahead
The two embraced quietly for a long time under the dim light.
Only when he heard the chirping of several unknown birds outside the window did Lu Yan gently pat Aemeath's back before reluctantly letting go.
He lowered his eyes, looking at the girl in his arms whose eyes were still slightly red, and a gentle smile curved his lips.
"Okay, I've been on the road for so long today, and then spent half the afternoon out and about. I'm all sweaty."
Lu Yan reached out and gently brushed the stray pink hairs from behind her ear, his fingertips lingering on her smooth, delicate cheek. "Go take a shower first, and get some rest. I already went downstairs and adjusted the water temperature."
"Mmm." Aemeath nodded obediently.
She turned around and pulled a soft pink nightgown from the open suitcase.
Aemeath, carrying her clothes and wearing slippers, walked out of the bedroom.
Soon, the sound of running water came from the bathroom downstairs.
Lu Yan remained in the bedroom on the second floor, listening to the faint sound of flowing water, and an uncontrollable tingling and itchy feeling welled up in his heart.
He took a deep breath, forced himself to look away, and turned to tidy up the 1.2-meter-wide single bed. He smoothed out the brand-new light blue four-piece bedding, and the two pillows were pressed tightly together, leaving almost no gaps.
About twenty minutes later, light footsteps could be heard again on the stairs.
The bedroom door was pushed open, and the scent of shower gel mingled with Aemeath's unique sweet fruity fragrance, creating an extremely alluring aroma.
Aemeath walked in wearing her light pink pajamas, her signature long pink hair now wet and draped over her shoulders, water droplets dripping onto the floor.
"A-Yan, I'm done washing up," Aemeath said, casually drying her hair with a towel.
"Come here." Lu Yan pulled over the somewhat old solid wood desk and chair, then stood behind the chair, already holding a hairdryer.
Aemeath walked over and obediently sat down in the chair.
The hairdryer emitted a low hum, and warm air gently caressed her hair.
He gently stroked her hair backwards with his fingertips, the pressure very light, only occasionally brushing against her scalp and earlobes, bringing waves of tingling sensation.
Aemeath closed her eyes, comfortably enjoying this service that was exclusively hers.
The main lights in the room were off; only a warm yellow desk lamp on the desk was lit.
The warm light cast their overlapping silhouettes onto the mottled wall, creating a scene of serene beauty, like a painting.
"A-Yan's hair-drying skills are getting better and better." Aemeath made a satisfied sound, like a cat being petted.
Lu Yan turned off the hairdryer and smoothed out the last few strands of her hair.
He leaned down and placed a tender kiss on her fragrant pink hair.
"The skills I honed are only for you." His voice held a hint of amusement.
Lu Yan unplugged the hairdryer and turned off the desk lamp, leaving only a very dim nightlight on the bedside table.
"Go to bed."
When the two of them stood together in front of the single wooden bed, a subtle silence suddenly fell over the air.
A width of 1.2 meters is a huge challenge for two tall, long-legged adults with excellent proportions.
This bed is just the right size for Lu Yan, but if you add Aemeath, who is the same height, it would be too cramped.
"You sleep on the inside," Lu Yan pulled Aemeath towards the wall. "There's no guardrail on this bed; I'm afraid you'll fall off while you're asleep."
Aemeath chuckled and rolled onto the inside of the bed, her back pressed against the slightly cool wall.
Lu Yan also turned to the side, curling himself up as much as possible to make room for Aemeath.
Aemeath simply turned over to face Lu Yan, wrapped her arm around his waist, and wrapped one leg tightly around his leg.
Their breaths mingled at the same level.
"That way we won't fall." Aemeath's golden eyes gleamed playfully in the dim nightlight.
Lu Yan was thoroughly aroused by her actions.
He smiled helplessly, then stretched out his long arm and pulled her tightly into his broad embrace.
A thin, light blue quilt wrapped them tightly. On this bed where even turning over was difficult, their body temperatures quickly mingled, and their heartbeats rose and fell in the quiet night, gradually resonating at the same Frequency.
"A-Yan..." In the darkness, Aemeath's soft, sweet voice rang out, still lucid from sleep.
Her hands restlessly caressed Lu Yan's chest.
"Hmm? Can't sleep?" Lu Yan grabbed the mischievous little hand and gently kissed it.
"Not really..." Aemeath raised her head, her gaze tracing Lu Yan's jawline in the dim light.
"Whenever I close my eyes, I always think of how you looked as a child in the photo album."
"That child sitting on the steps, looking blank and all alone."
She paused, her voice softening, "A-Yan, could you tell me something about your childhood?"
Upon hearing this question, Lu Yan's arm around her waist stiffened slightly.
His gaze was somewhat unfocused in the darkness, his thoughts drifting back to those lonely years.
"Things from when I was a child..."
Lu Yan sighed softly, his voice revealing no sadness, but rather a sense of relief. "Actually, there's not much to say."
"Just like the photos you see, they're just some ordinary, mundane daily moments."
"Back then, I was a boring kid," Lu Yan recounted calmly. "While other kids were chasing each other outside, playing, and climbing trees to steal birds' nests, I just preferred to stay indoors."
"It's not because I'm arrogant, but because I don't know how to play with them or how to talk to others."
"Why don't you know how to speak?" Aemeath asked softly.
"Perhaps I'm just not naturally good with words," Lu Yan chuckled self-deprecatingly.
"I have low emotional intelligence and I'm afraid of saying the wrong thing and causing trouble for my family."
"The more I say, the more mistakes I make, so over time I simply stopped speaking up. Back in my hometown, the adults all thought I was just a good boy who didn't talk or make a fuss."
His voice sounded particularly ethereal in the quiet night, as if he were telling someone else's story.
"I spent my childhood and junior high school years in this quiet and reserved manner. It wasn't until I went to high school and lived in the dormitory that I met Old Xu and a few other easygoing guys who didn't mind my stern face at all."
"They pulled me into their circle, and that's how I gradually started making a few friends."
"Aside from these, the first half of my life was as bland and unremarkable as plain water."
Lu Yan stopped. He had thought his past was too dull and boring, and he was afraid that Aemeath would find it tedious to hear.
Aemeath, nestled in his arms, remained silent for a long time.
Just as Lu Yan was about to look down to see if Aemeath was asleep, he felt her hand, which he was holding, break free.
The next second, Aemeath's soft hand gently covered his cheek.
Aemeath didn't speak, but smiled and gently stroked his face with a sweet and tender gesture.
Her fingertips gently traced his brow bone, down the bridge of his nose, and finally rested on his lips.
Her movements were very gentle, as if she were handling something very precious.
"A-Yan is not boring, not at all," Aemeath's voice echoed in the darkness.
"A-Yan, who depicts the world with his paintbrush, is the gentlest person in the world."
She found his lips precisely in the darkness and planted a kiss on them.
Her golden eyes shone brightly in the night. "It's okay. From now on, whether we're talking or silent, whether we're drawing or playing games, I'll always be there for you."
"I can only see your past through photographs, but your future belongs entirely to me."
"Okay." Lu Yan's voice was gentle. He closed his eyes, buried his face in the fragrant crook of her neck, and fell peacefully asleep.