An Early Summer Date
More than ten days have passed since the paper airplane landed.
Time passed quietly, and the date on the calendar slipped to May 20th.
The early summer breeze gradually shed the coolness of spring and brought a touch of heat. The sunlight began to shine brightly, filtering through the gaps in the branches and leaves of the courtyard and casting dappled golden spots on the bluestone slabs.
In the soil they had personally turned over, forget-me-not seeds had sprouted tender green seedlings, growing vigorously in the warm breeze of early summer.
For the past ten days or so, life in the courtyard has been like living in a honey pot, so sweet it's almost unbearable.
What warmed Lu Yan's heart the most was Aemeath's recent obsession with playing games with her "girls".
It was a Sunday a few days ago when Lu Shuyao asked her sister-in-law to play games with her.
Upon seeing the message on her phone Aemeath jumped up from Lu Yan and skillfully took out her laptop.
So, over the next few hours, Yaoyao experienced what it meant to have a top-tier player as her companion.
Hearing the clear calls of "sister-in-law," Aemeath's lips practically curled into a smile.
Aemeath was completely charmed by the constant calls of "sister-in-law."
She proudly raised her neck like a swan, operating the machine while replying in a domineering voice, "Stay close to your sister-in-law, and I'll take you to tear this aerospace industry apart!"
Lu Yan stood to the side with a plate of sliced fruit, and looking at Aemeath, smug expression, he couldn't resist kissing her cheek.
He could imagine his sister on the other end of the screen with a sly expression.
This wonderful and harmonious interaction between lover and family filled Lu Yan's heart to the brim.
However, even the sweetest home life, for a former savior who was once used to leaping across the vast land, finally reached the breaking point after staying at home for more than ten days.
That afternoon, the sun shone brightly, and the air conditioner in the living room was blowing out a cool breeze.
Lu Yan was sitting in front of the easel, finishing the last touches of color, while Aemeath, as usual, was sprawled out on the fabric sofa without any regard for appearances.
Her slender, fair legs were casually draped over the sofa armrest, while she listlessly scrolled through her phone.
"Ah--!"
Aemeath put away her phone and sprang up from the sofa like a fish.
Lu Yan was startled by the sudden noise and quickly put down the pressure-sensitive pen in his hand, turning his head to look at her with concern.
He asked, "What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell somewhere?"
"A-Yan, I'm going to get moldy!"
Aemeath ran barefoot on the carpet to Lu Yan's chair, wrapped her arms around his neck from behind, and rested her chin heavily on his shoulder, her voice full of grievance.
"Even though you're with me every day, I'm really getting bored!"
Aemeath extended a finger and restlessly drew circles on Lu Yan's collarbone, her voice drawn out with a hint of coquetry:
"Shall we go out? I want to go to the movie theater! I also want to go to the aquarium! And the amusement park!"
Aemeath finished speaking, she seemed to suddenly remember something and couldn't help but chuckle.
She turned her head, her warm breath brushing against Lu Yan's ear, a sly smile on her face:
"It's kind of funny, really. I bought this little courtyard intending to make it our 'nest.' But now it seems..."
Aemeath punished Lu Yan by nibbling on his earlobe and mumbling indistinctly:
"On the contrary, I, the nest-builder, am less tolerant of stress. You, on the other hand, seem to be quite happy in this nest."
Lu Yan was amused by her adorable complaint.
He took Aemeath's small hand, which was playfully touching his collarbone, in his other hand and gently kissed it.
"Okay, it's all my fault. I was so focused on enjoying the pleasure of keeping you all to myself at home that I forgot our little pink cat also needs to go out for a walk and get some sunshine."
Lu Yan stood up, pulled her into his arms, and smoothed her hair. "Wherever you want to go, we'll go. Cinemas, aquariums, even if you want to book the whole amusement park, I'll go with you."
"That's more like it!" Aemeath smiled with satisfaction, her eyes sparkling.
She grabbed Lu Yan and ran downstairs. "Hurry up and change your clothes! Don't dress too casually, you need to look your best today!"
Lu Yan watched her energetic back and shook his head with a helpless smile.
Since it was already late May, the temperature had already risen to a level where people could wear summer clothes.
Lu Yan chose a well-tailored pure black short-sleeved shirt for himself, paired with a pair of slim-fitting light gray casual trousers.
This seemingly simple outfit perfectly accentuates her muscular physique and smooth figure.
Coupled with his innate aloofness and golden eyes, he exudes an indescribable, fatal attraction.
As Lu Yan changed his clothes in the bathroom and left, Aemeath also came out of the master bedroom.
When Lu Yan looked up and saw Aemeath's outfit, his breath hitched slightly, and he stopped in his tracks.
To prepare for this early summer date, Aemeath changed into a fresh and elegant light pink floral dress.
The chiffon fabric is light and drapes smoothly, swaying with movement, and the hem of the skirt above the knee gently sways.
The slightly puffed sleeves are unique without being bulky, making the arms appear slender, fair, and smooth like jade.
The square neckline accentuated her beautiful collarbones and slender swan neck, making him want to plant a few strawberries on it.
Her signature long pink hair wasn't styled in a classic high ponytail today; instead, she braided it into a side braid with a pearl-embellished hairband, draped over her left shoulder, adding a touch of thrifty and domestic wifely charm.
"Ta-da! How is it? Pretty, isn't it?"
Aemeath her skirt, wearing a pair of white sandals.
She twirled gracefully in front of Lu Yan, her skirt tracing a beautiful arc in the air.
"Beautiful." Lu Yan didn't hold back his praise, his gaze fixed intently on his stunningly beautiful girlfriend.
"You're so beautiful. So beautiful that I suddenly don't want to take you out anymore, and I want to keep you at home."
Aemeath blushed slightly at his unexpected words of love.
She gave him a playful glare. "Don't give me that. You just promised..."
Before Aemeath could finish speaking, she suddenly noticed that Lu Yan's gaze was fixed on her. His eyes were not on her face, but were staring intently at her smooth chest.
Lu Yan frowned slightly, took a step forward, and closed the distance between the two.
He slowly reached out and touched the skin that should have bore the Tacit Mark.
"Where's your Tacit Mark?" Lu Yan's voice carried a hint of barely perceptible tension.
From the very first day they met, the Tacit Mark that represented her identity Tunneler and Resonator, shimmering with a deep blue-pink light, had been quietly imprinted below her collarbone.
But now, that skin is smooth and flawless, so white and without a single blemish; that familiar Tacit Mark seems as if it had never existed.
Seeing Lu Yan's nervous expression, Aemeath smiled gently.
She leaned forward slightly. "Don't be nervous, it hasn't disappeared, I've just hidden it."
Aemeath extended her right hand and gently tapped her collarbone.
Accompanied by a Frequency fluctuation that only Lu Yan could detect, the Tacit Mark seemed to emerge from the bottom of the water, flashing briefly before disappearing again.
Lu Yan a sigh of relief, "That's good. I thought something had happened to you."
"Hehe, I'm sorry to have worried A-Yan. I'll let him know later." Aemeath's eyes softened even more.
Aemeath grasped Lu Yan's hand, which was resting on her chest, and pressed it tightly against her heart, feeling the vibrant and powerful heartbeat beneath its softness.
"A-Yan, I am no longer some savior who needs to be ready to fight at any moment."
Aemeath looked tenderly into Lu Yan's eyes. "I'm just Lu Yan's girlfriend. I wear pretty dresses, hold the hand of the person I love, queue up to buy popcorn at the movie theater, and go to the aquarium to see jellyfish."
"If I went out with that glowing Tacit Mark on my head, I'd definitely get a lot of stares, or people might mistake me for a cosplayer," Aemeath said playfully, sticking out her tongue.
"I don't want us to be stared at with strange looks during our romantic date."
Lu Yan listened quietly to her explanation, feeling the warmth from her palm and the rhythm of her heartbeat.
"Okay." Lu Yan grasped Aemeath's hand in return.
Lu Yan bent slightly, making a gentlemanly gesture of invitation, his eyes brimming with affection. "So now, would you like to go on a date with me?"
"Of course I would!"
Aemeath smiled radiantly, took Lu Yan's arm, and eagerly pulled him toward the door.