Chapter 45: The Twin Sovereigns of the Under-Reality

The fire in the hearth flickered softly, casting two overlapping shadows that stretched across the wall, swaying gently with the dancing flames.

The white-haired girl held her from behind, both of them wrapped together beneath a single blanket. Leaning against one another, they sat in silence, content to simply share each other's warmth.

"Shouldn't we head back?" Lu Nian’an asked after a long while, turning her head slightly to glance back at the girl behind her.

"...Just a little longer."

A quiet murmur answered her.

Lu Nian’an couldn't help smiling.

"We should go home and sleep."

She shifted slightly in Xia Jiuwei's embrace, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Let's go home, okay?"

Xia Jiuwei fell silent.

Lu Nian’an eased herself out of Xia Jiuwei's embrace. Leaning down, she gently brushed the loose strands of white hair away from behind Xia Jiuwei's ear, letting her fingertips linger there for a moment.

"Please?"

Xia Jiuwei simply stared at her.

"...Home? Our home?"

"Mhm."

Lu Nian’an nodded softly.

"Our home."

A brief silence passed before the corners of Xia Jiuwei's lips curved into a faint smile.

"Okay."

She reached out and took Lu Nian’an's hand.

"Let's go home."

Lu Nian’an smiled, resting her forehead lightly against Xia Jiuwei's shoulder.

The warm glow of the fireplace quietly faded away, and in the next instant, the two of them found themselves back inside their apartment in the real world.

At four-thirty in the morning, the apartment—which had stood empty for so long—finally felt alive again.

They stood quietly in the living room, taking in the familiar surroundings.

"...How long was I gone?"

Xia Jiuwei turned toward Lu Nian’an, her voice hesitant, carrying an unmistakable trace of embarrassment.

"Oh, not that long..."

With a wave of her hand, a small black notebook materialized above Lu Nian’an's palm—the record book that had accompanied her for years.

"About eight thousand one hundred and thirty-six days."

She glanced down at the notebook before adding teasingly,

"Compared to the hundred and sixty-something days we actually lived here together, it's only... what? A tiny eight thousand extra days."

"..."

Before Xia Jiuwei could sink too deeply into silence, Lu Nian’an closed the notebook and looked back at her.

"You really don't have to blame yourself so much."

Her tone was gentle, yet carried an unmistakable firmness.

"Just don't leave my side again."

"...Okay."

Xia Jiuwei answered quietly.

"There we go."

Lu Nian’an reached over and gave her a light pat.

"Stop making that face."

A pink bath towel appeared in her hand.

"Here."

She tucked it into Xia Jiuwei's arms together with a fresh set of pajamas.

"Go take a shower."

Then, after a beat, she added,

"Hurry."

Xia Jiuwei accepted the towel but remained rooted to the spot.

Lu Nian’an looked at her before reaching out to poke her cheek.

"What? Standing there like that..."

A playful smile appeared on her face.

"Are you hoping we'll shower together?"

Xia Jiuwei froze for a moment before hurriedly shaking her head. Hugging the towel and pajamas against her chest, she quickly headed toward the bathroom.

Just before the door closed, a tiny voice drifted out.

"...Maybe next time."

Lu Nian’an stood there for a long time.

After her shower, Xia Jiuwei lay down on the bed.

The mattress sank softly beneath her weight as the tension she'd carried for so long gradually melted away.

She rolled over once... then slowly rolled toward the outer edge of the bed before stopping, her gaze settling quietly on the bedroom door.

A few minutes later, the sound of running water ceased.

The door opened.

Fresh from the shower, Lu Nian’an entered while drying her hair with a towel.

Xia Jiuwei glanced at her before silently rolling back to the side where she normally slept.

The mattress dipped again.

Familiar warmth gathered behind her.

A pair of arms wrapped gently around her waist, pulling her into a familiar embrace.

"...Mia."

A quiet voice brushed against her ear.

"Hm?"

She answered instinctively.

Lu Nian’an leaned closer.

"I'm... really glad I found you."

Her voice was barely audible.

Xia Jiuwei suddenly found herself unable to answer.

She became acutely aware of every heartbeat inside her chest.

Her fingers curled slightly as silence settled over the room, broken only by the sound of their breathing.

Lu Nian’an's eyes drifted toward Xia Jiuwei's reddening ears.

She hesitated for only a moment before leaning in again.

A cool, delicate touch suddenly brushed against the side of Xia Jiuwei's ear.

Her body stiffened instantly as a faint shiver traveled down the back of her neck.

"Ah—"

She instinctively shrank her shoulders.

Lu Nian’an only leaned closer, her warm breath brushing lightly against Xia Jiuwei's neck.

"Nia... you..."

...

【Bond Compatibility: 100/100%】

Eleven o'clock the following morning.

Xia Jiuwei rubbed sleepily against Lu Nian’an's chest as sunlight filtered through a gap in the curtains.

As her mind slowly woke, she shifted, intending to get out of bed.

Unfortunately, Lu Nian’an's embrace was far too tight.

Xia Jiuwei gently nudged her.

"Let me out..."

Lu Nian’an opened her eyes halfway.

Instead of releasing her, she tightened her arms.

Burying her face against Xia Jiuwei's chest, she mumbled sleepily,

"Hehe..."

"I like you..."

Her voice was soft and drowsy, still carrying the nasal tone of someone only half awake.

Looking down at her, Xia Jiuwei sighed.

Yet despite herself...

A smile slowly spread across her face.

"I need to make brunch."

She gently ruffled Lu Nian’an's hair.

"Let me go first."

"I'm not going to run away."

After a brief silence, Lu Nian’an slowly loosened her grip.

The moment Xia Jiuwei stepped out of bed, however, someone caught her wrist.

She turned around.

A ribbon of black shadow flowed from Lu Nian’an's fingertips, wrapping delicately around the ring finger of her left hand before settling into a slender black band.

It resembled a simple black ring.

"This way..."

Lu Nian’an looked up at her.

"...I won't lose you again."

Her hair was still a little messy from sleep, yet the smile on her face was breathtaking.

Xia Jiuwei lowered her gaze to the ring before looking back at her.

"I won't leave you ever again."

Taking the elevator downstairs, Xia Jiuwei immediately felt those familiar eyes on her once more.

Only this time...

She didn't frown.

She entered the supermarket and began selecting ingredients with practiced ease.

The unpleasant memories still surfaced from time to time.

But perhaps because Lu Nian’an was back beside her...

They no longer weighed quite as heavily.

Still...

One day, she would make them pay for everything.

When Lu Nian’an opened her eyes again, sunlight was the only thing filling the bedroom.

It had been the most peaceful sleep she'd had in years.

She slowly got dressed in comfortable clothes before walking outside.

The kitchen was alive with quiet sounds—the soft sizzle of food cooking in a pan.

Walking up behind Xia Jiuwei, she asked,

"Need any help?"

Xia Jiuwei shook her head.

"Almost done."

She glanced over her shoulder.

"Just wait a little."

Not long afterward, breakfast was ready.

"This one's yours."

"And this one's mine."

She placed the freshly made danbing, a Taiwanese egg pancake, on the table and slid the dark blue plate toward Lu Nian’an.

Lu Nian’an ate quietly in small bites.

Across the table, Xia Jiuwei found herself watching her without realizing it.

The weight she'd been carrying in her heart seemed to ease just a little more.

"Stop staring at me."

Lu Nian’an looked up with a smile.

"You should eat."

The next moment, she held up a small piece of danbing toward Xia Jiuwei.

"Ah—"

Without thinking, Xia Jiuwei opened her mouth and accepted the bite, giving a muffled response while chewing.

After swallowing, she instinctively opened her mouth again.

But instead of another bite...

Something soft brushed against her lips.

It carried a faint sweetness.

By the time Xia Jiuwei realized what had happened, Lu Nian’an had already returned to her seat, wearing a satisfied little smile.

The lingering taste of chocolate milk remained on Xia Jiuwei's lips.

"You..."

Her ears turned slightly pink as she stared across the table.

Lu Nian’an blinked innocently.

"Want some chocolate milk?"

She walked into the kitchen, mixed another cup, and placed it in front of Xia Jiuwei.

Xia Jiuwei accepted it without a word before quietly speeding through the rest of her breakfast.

Resting her chin in one hand, Lu Nian’an watched her with amusement.

"Feeling a little better?"

Xia Jiuwei paused.

"Y-You're making things up."

"Am I?"

Lu Nian’an suddenly smiled.

"Oh, right."

"I discovered something interesting this morning."

She raised her left hand.

An identical black mark appeared across the back of it, matching the one on Xia Jiuwei's hand before slowly fading away.

"I think..."

"I've become the second Sovereign of the Under-Reality.”

A small booklet appeared in her hand.

Xia Jiuwei's expression changed.

She instinctively reached forward to stop her, but Lu Nian’an gently pushed her hand away first.

The pages flipped one by one until Lu Nian’an's eyes settled on a particular line.

"Hmm..."

She deliberately drew out the sound.

"Spouse: Lu Nian’an."

Looking up with unmistakable amusement, she asked,

"And what exactly is this supposed to mean?"

Xia Jiuwei quietly looked away.

"And there's this too."

Lu Nian’an waved the booklet lightly.

"Bond Compatibility: One hundred percent."

She stood and walked around the table before leaning toward Xia Jiuwei.

"Try paying attention."

"Can you feel what I'm thinking now?"

Xia Jiuwei paused.

Another set of emotions surfaced in her mind—playful, delighted, impossible to hide.

The tips of her ears gradually turned red.

Without another word—

She lunged.

Lu Nian’an sidestepped with practiced ease, then retreated another step.

After several rounds of playful pursuit, Xia Jiuwei finally managed to pin her onto the sofa.

Only then did she realize...

The smile on Lu Nian’an's face was as gentle as ever.

As though...

She had been waiting for this exact moment all along.