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Join the Server“Breakfast is about the same as yesterday: maple syrup pancakes, oatmeal with milk, and fried meat. Ash, this time you did well, no burning.”
“Um… thank you, Chris.”
Ash said, sitting down at the chair.
After the fever, Ash seemed to have changed a bit, her speech and mannerisms seemed a little younger.
Chris thought that, watching Ash at the table lift the knife and fork, cut the pancake in half, stab a piece with the fork, and bring it to her mouth to take a bite, still that rough style.
The golden hair falling to her ears swung slightly back and forth with the up-and-down chewing.
Ash was still Ash.
With that thought, Chris lowered his head and ate his own breakfast.
Morning sunlight like a gentle visitor, softly through the window, silently slipped into the room.
Golden light spread across the dining table, as if laying a thin layer of golden gauze.
“Chris… pour me some more milk, I feel like after the cold, my appetite has grown a lot.”
Ash said, pushing her bowl toward the center of the table.
“Mm.”
Chris nodded and poured milk for Ash.
Ash’s clear eyes watched the oatmeal being submerged by the white milk, she smiled happily like a child.
‘Why do I want to protect Ash?’
That thought suddenly surfaced in Christopher’s heart, and the knife cutting the sausage paused.
Because of this smile, right.
Ash might never realize how infectious her smile is, not just now, but in those past days too.
Ash’s smile made Chris leave that unbearable past behind, forget the unpleasant memories.
To guard this smile, he must protect Ash…
Or…
It’s not that complicated.
Just because we’re good buddies.
That simple.
No other reason needed.
Chris’s hand moved again, cutting the sausage into four pieces, forked one piece, dipped it in some mashed potatoes, and put it into his mouth.
“Good morning, friends in Pennsylvania! Your old friend, Jack Harrison, is here with today’s morning broadcast!”
The peaceful, warm breakfast ended with the radio sound.
“Today is September 10, 2261. Like yesterday, it’s a bright and sunny morning! After the heavy rain yesterday evening, the whole city of Philadelphia has fresh air…”
Ash carried the dishes, clearing the table just like yesterday.
“Are we going to Aunt Mei’s today?”
Ash asked, she had changed into outdoor clothes.
A cream-colored dress, with a light blue jacket.
The outfit didn’t look very coordinated, but there weren’t many suitable clothes at home, and Ash’s appearance could pass with such an improvised combination.
“…Um, Chris, why are you staring at me… Did my hair mess up again?”
Ash asked, raising her right hand, and not very confidently smoothing her sideburns.
“Mm, but it’s better than yesterday, at least it’s clean.”
As Chris said that, he reached out his hand, spread his fingers like a claw, and patted Ash’s head.
“Comb it with a comb, and it’ll be even better.”
Saying that, Chris’s gaze moved to the begonia flower hair clip.
That pink-white hair clip was like a flower blooming in the golden field, but time had made it somewhat mottled.
“You really like this one, right?”
“…Not really…”
Ash lowered her head and muttered.
“It’s been a while. How about I make you a new one next time? Same color and style?”
“…”
Ash remained silent.
“Alright, Ash, we’re going to Aunt Mei’s today. Go get the stuff.”
Finished, Chris withdrew his hand and turned to leave.
Just as that figure was about to disappear from view, Ash reached out and grabbed the hem of Chris’s shirt.
“Um… Chris, keep this color… If you don’t mind.”
“Oh right, Chris, wait for me. I’ll go grab something.”
Ash suddenly said, then turned and ran quickly back to the room, coming out after a while.
“What did you forget?”
“Secret.”
Ash said with a mischievous smile.
Chris’s car was fixed long ago. At first, Ash worried if it might have issues after being fixed so quickly.
But it turned out she was overthinking.
The car still ran very smoothly.
Of course, Chris’s driving skill also had a lot to do with it.
Traffic was good today, no cars, no protesting crowds.
Thinking about yesterday afternoon’s rain, those people should have dispersed.
Better to get rained on than being spat on.
That’s what Ash thought.
That night, she would rather be drenched by the cold rain than receive those 100-degree saliva.
The whole of Philadelphia seemed to not welcome her return.
…However, Chris’s gentle smile pierced through the dusk and night, a light in the crowd.
Ash remembered that, her gaze involuntarily drifted, quietly watching Chris driving.
Pennsylvania’s morning sunlight gently touched his face.
His profile was earnest, cute, and handsome… well, handsome, no problem. The elite agent of the federal IRS, like those agents in movie tapes.
It’s not surprising to be attracted… but no, not surprising. It’s just envy of a good buddy’s good life, nothing else.
Yes, that’s it.
With these thoughts in mind, Ash threw all those messy thoughts behind her, relaxed, and enjoyed Chris’s stable driving.
Looking at Chris, then out the window at the scenery.
Feeling a bit stuffy, Ash opened the car window a little more, letting a breeze bring in fresh air.
The morning sunlight softly laid like a veil over the road, and the air carried the early autumn chill, yet it was tempered by the warm sunlight just right.
After crossing the Delaware River, the scenery on both sides of the road gradually changed from buildings to continuous fields.
Golden wheat fields sparkled under the sun, as if coated with a gold edge.
The wheat waves surging with the wind were the golden memories of countless country children.
“Chris, do you remember? I told you before, I mistook wheat seedlings for leeks and cut them.”
Ash said, leaning one hand on the car door, looking at the boundless golden field.
“…But that memory… feels like a dream. In the dream, I wasn’t from Pennsylvania, I was from Texas.”
“Mm, when you were little, you often said that you were Texans, you should wear a cowboy hat, ride a horse and throw lassos.”
“But I’ve never actually ridden a horse…”
Ash muttered, then smiled, sighing that the younger her wasn’t as quiet and depressed as she was now.
“Ash, if you want, I can take you next time.”
“Oh… it’s fine. I’ve never had an affinity with animals… Remember that donkey?”
“Mm, it flicked its tail and sprayed you with dung… Haha.”
Chris said, unable to help laughing himself.
It wasn’t ridiculing anything; Ash also laughed out loud.
The sunlight just then landed on her profile, softly outlining her features, gentle and bright.
Ash should laugh more like this.
“It’s not just the donkey, the sheep on that farm hated me too… Did you know? Once on a mission, I was accidentally thrown into an alligator nest, those alligators… alligators… death roll…”
As Ash spoke, her expression gradually faded, and she became gloomy again.
“Ash?” Chris asked.
“…Whoo… whoo… I’m fine, Chris.”
“Fine?”
“Mm, fine… The weather is really nice today.”
“…Yes, it is. As if specially prepared for us.”
Chris said, following along with Ash’s words.
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Read : How To Survive Without Dying at The Hands of The Emperor
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