Chapter 64: Evening Plans and Past Reflections

The magical girls returned to the arena, resuming their practice bout.

Meanwhile, Lu Chen and Bai Ruo sat in the observation room, chatting idly and watching the girls engage in fierce combat.

Time flew by quickly, and the sun began to dip towards the west.

Lily of the Valley’s magic was depleted, signaling the end of their training session.

The girls took quick showers, changed back into their civilian clothes, and met the two spectators outside the training grounds.

It was already past quitting time.

Employees, still wearing their ID badges, streamed out of the corridor.

Bai Ruo picked up her bag and looked at Lu Chen.

“Thank you for today,” she said. “I wish you and Xia a long and happy future together.”

The young man smiled and nodded.

Xia Shi, meanwhile, brought her feet together and adopted the demeanor of a host, offering Bai Ruo a shallow bow.

“You are welcome to visit again anytime,” she said.

“Alright! Next time, I’ll definitely bring my husband along,” Bai Ruo replied.

“Gu Si, try not to lose all day again, okay?”

Lily of the Valley nodded earnestly, her gaze firm as she made a cat paw gesture towards her mother.

“Understood! I’ll definitely work hard, meow, and I won’t let you down, meow!”

Lu Chen couldn’t help but cover his forehead.

Bai Ruo, on the other hand, widened her eyes in surprise, pulling out her phone to take five rapid-fire photos of her daughter.

“It’s a pity your dad couldn’t make it today.”

“It’s alright. I’ll act even better next time, meow!”

“Haha, exactly… Anyway, you two are still going out for dinner, aren’t you?”

“You should head out soon, don’t let yourselves get hungry.”

Bai Ruo offered a brief farewell, put away her phone, and turned to leave.

Lily of the Valley watched her mother’s retreating back, her lips parting slightly, but she uttered no words.

As if noticing her partner’s expression, Xia Shi glanced thoughtfully at the time.

She then called out to the middle-aged woman.

“Auntie, it’s almost six o’clock,” Xia Shi said.

“You’ll be home even later if you leave now. Why don’t you just join us for dinner?”

Bai Ruo turned around, looking surprised.

“Thank you for the invitation, but I’ll have to decline,” she replied.

“I’ve already promised my husband I’d be home for dinner; I can’t just leave him alone.”

Xia Shi persisted:

“The reservation is for three people,” she explained.

“If Mr. Gu is available, how about he joins us as well?”

“But won’t that be too many for the table?” Bai Ruo asked.

“Gu Si booked a table for four.”

Xia Shi and Lu Chen exchanged a glance, a slight smile playing on her lips.

“It’s fine. Lu Chen and I were actually thinking of checking out other places afterward,” Xia Shi said.

“A table for four will be more than enough. Right?”

Lu Chen seamlessly picked up the conversation.

“Yes, that’s right. It mainly depends on what you and Lily of the Valley would prefer.”

Bai Ruo glanced at her daughter, then gave a helpless smile.

“…In that case, I graciously accept your kind offer,” she conceded.

“Next time I’m free, I’ll book a large table and treat you two to a feast.”

“I look forward to it. Lily of the Valley, see you tomorrow?”

Gu Si looked at Xia Shi, offering her a grateful smile.

“Thank you! See you tomorrow!”

Xia Shi nodded, then linked her arm through Lu Chen’s.

The two bid farewell to Lily of the Valley and her mother, walking together towards the elevator.

****

Only upon exiting the branch office building did they realize night had fully fallen.

The sky was clear and bright tonight, with the moon casting a pristine glow.

The shops lining the long street shimmered with lights, and the laughter and chatter of pedestrians filled the air.

Spring nights in Linzhou always carried a damp chill, especially near the branch office building.

The cold seemed to seep into one’s very bones.

Every evening, when leaving the building to head home after work, Lu Chen would invariably see couples huddled together on the street.

Their fingers were tightly intertwined, their shoulders pressed close, as if a slight separation would send shivers down their spines.

In the past, whenever he witnessed such a sight, Lu Chen would deliberately loosen his collar and stride against the wind, his chest bared.

It was a clear display of disdain for those who sought warmth in companionship.

Now, however, he had become one of them, and quite contentedly so.

Xia Shi held his hand tightly, her beautiful eyes flitting between the illuminated storefronts.

“What should we eat? How about beef noodles?”

“Beef noodles sound great.”

“…But the beef at that place seems really thin,” she mused.

“It looks like it covers half the bowl, but it practically melts in your mouth. Oh, what about braised chicken with rice?”

“Braised chicken sounds great too.”

“But that restaurant’s chicken has too many bones, and the sauce is a bit too rich,” she complained softly.

“Hmm… how about vermicelli soup?”

“Vermicelli soup sounds absolutely wonderful.”

The young woman chuckled softly, lifting her head, a hint of playful reproach in her eyes.

“Why do you say everything sounds good?” she teased.

“You’ll regret it when the dish is served, and then it’ll be too late.”

“I never have strong opinions about what to eat,” Lu Chen replied.

“What matters is who I’m eating with.”

A blush crept onto the young woman’s face, and her soft palm grew a degree warmer in his.

She fell silent for a moment before speaking.

“…In that case, do we have any ingredients left from our last hotpot meal?”

Lu Chen immediately understood Xia Shi’s implication.

“Not much, I’m afraid. The meat rolls were all eaten that day,” he explained.

“However, I still have some ham I bought earlier. If we get a few eggs, I could easily whip up some fried rice.”

“Fried rice sounds absolutely perfect!”

“You haven’t even tasted my fried rice, have you?” Lu Chen chuckled.

“It’ll be too late to regret it once the plate is served, you know.”

The young woman playfully bumped the man’s shoulder, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

“What matters is who I’m eating with, right?”

“Haha, exactly. Let’s go.”

The two took the subway, walked through the streets, and arrived back at Lu Chen’s apartment building.

They paused briefly at the convenience store downstairs, intending to buy eggs, radishes, and white pepper for the fried rice.

Lu Chen quickly gathered all the ingredients and seasonings, preparing to head to the cashier.

However, he then saw the young woman approaching, carrying a row of fruit wines.

“Xia Xia, you might not have noticed, but these are the same ones that got us both drunk last time.”

“I know,” she replied with a grin. “That’s precisely why I want to challenge them again.”

“…Only a small sip or two, then,” he conceded with a sigh.

Lu Chen sighed softly, took the fruit wines, and dropped them into the basket.

After paying, he carried the plastic bag filled with groceries, walking alongside the young woman out of the store and into the night, all the way back to his apartment.

Outside, the night was profound.

Inside, the young woman switched on the bright lights, beginning to wipe down the table and chairs in the living room.

Lu Chen tied on his apron, lit the stove, and placed the wok on the burner.

The spatula clinked as he stirred, and soon, a fragrant aroma filled the air.

Two steaming bowls of fried rice were then served onto plates.

The young man turned off the heat and carried the plates.

When he returned to the living room, Xia Shi had already tidied the table immaculately, placing two bottles of fruit wine on the clear soft-glass placemat.

What caught Lu Chen’s attention even more was that she had unearthed a thick photo album.

She sat demurely by the table, her eyes eagerly fixed on its cover.

Seeing the young man approach, the young woman immediately patted the chair beside her.

“You worked hard,” she said warmly. “What’s in this album? Are there photos of you from when you were little? Can I see it?”

Lu Chen placed the fried rice on the table, then sat down beside Xia Shi.

“There’s actually nothing new or surprising in here,” he explained.

“They’re all photos you’ve already seen—the ones we took together back then. I was bored for a while, so I had them developed and pasted them into this album.”

“Go ahead and look if you want.”

“Wow…”

The young woman let out an exclamation that was hard to decipher.

She carefully lifted the cover, opening to the first page.

A photograph of a corridor immediately appeared before them.

The corridor was in utter disarray, its floor piled high with scattered, old debris.

The paint on the walls was peeling and rough, clearly indicating years of neglect.

A young woman stood by a shattered window.

She gazed into the distance at the fireworks blossoming over the city, their vibrant lights illuminating her fair face with striking vividness.

A nostalgic blush immediately bloomed on Xia Shi’s cheeks.