“Because right now, I'm about to go on a date with my Chen Mian,” Flora said with a slight tilt of her head and a smile.
Seeing this, Chen Mian leaned down and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek.
“...Chen Mian, there are people around...” Flora whispered, her ears turning red as she quickly scanned their surroundings.
“Mhm, but they can't do anything about it. It’s perfectly normal to kiss your girlfriend’s cheek,” Chen Mian said with a laugh, tightening his grip on Flora’s hand.
“G-Girlfriend?” Flora looked up slightly, her eyes shining bright with unmistakable joy.
“Yeah, Flora is my girlfriend,” Chen Mian said, ruffling her hair. “Come on, let’s go on our date.”
“Okay! A date~” Flora leaned her face slightly against him, then pulled Chen Mian forward, carefully weaving through the crowd. “Chen Mian, where are we going?”
“We’ll go anywhere you want to go, Flora.”
“Then I want to buy some spices, and then browse the decoration shops. I want to renovate our apartment,” she said, turning back with excitement.
“Renovate?”
“Mhm! You didn’t do any decorating when you lived alone, did you? Aside from the essentials, there isn’t a single decoration!”
“Watch where you’re going, or you’ll bump into someone,” Chen Mian said with a light laugh, watching the happy Flora.
“No~ if I’m about to bump into someone, my boyfriend will pull me back!” Flora said, her chin tilted up slightly, her voice filled with certainty.
“You trust me that much?” Chen Mian asked softly, momentarily stunned.
Flora looked ahead again, her fingers tightening around his slightly as she spoke in a soft voice. “Mhm! Because you always walk half a step behind me. That way, you’ll see no matter what happens.”
Chen Mian looked at her back, the corners of his mouth curling upward. “Then keep walking. I’ve got you.”
“No~” Flora replied decisively, though she slowed her pace and leaned closer to him. “I want to walk side-by-side with you. I’m a Red Jade Rank now, too. There aren’t many people in the entire Hella Kingdom who could actually hurt me.”
“Chen Mian, I’ve changed my mind. Let’s go buy clothes first! For you!” With that, Flora let go of his hand and switched to gently hooking her arm through his.
Chen Mian felt Flora’s movement and the soft touch against his arm. He turned his head slightly to look at her. “For me?”
“Mhm! I’m buying for you. I sold several kinds of my homemade spices back in the Royal Capital, so I have money now.”
Chen Mian looked at her upturned face; her lively eyes held a light of earnest anticipation.
He thought about it and nodded with a smile. “Alright, I’ll let you arrange everything today. I’ll wear whatever you buy.”
“Really?” Her eyes widened with obvious surprise.
“Really.”
Flora’s eyes crinkled as she tightened her hold on his arm just a little more. “Then let’s go. I saw a jacket in a shop window when we passed by earlier. The color would suit you perfectly.”
“When did you see that?”
“Just now, when we passed that stall selling scones,” she said, already leading him in a different direction, heading back the way they came. “I spotted it at a single glance.”
Chen Mian allowed her to lead him back. “You have quite the sharp eyes.”
“Of course,” she said, turning her head with a hint of playful sass. “I have to start paying my rent!”
“What rent? You’ve already won over the landlord,” Chen Mian said, somewhat amused.
Flora froze for a split second, then her lips slowly curved into a smile. Her steps became even lighter, and she whispered with blushing ears, “Then I won’t pay it anymore. I’ll just eat your food and live in your place.”
“It’s not like I can’t afford to support you.”
She let out a soft laugh, her grip on his arm tightening once more.
They walked back along the street for a while until they saw a clothing store with a dark sign at a corner.
Flora let go of his arm, pushed open the door, and pulled him inside.
Seeing them, the shop owner walked over quickly. “Are you two looking for clothes?”
“Yes.” Flora nodded slightly, then pointed to a black jacket. “Boss, we’d like to try that one on.”
Seeing this, the owner went over, took down the black jacket, and handed it to her.
Flora took the jacket and felt the fabric. She unfolded it, stepped closer, and draped it over his shoulders.
“Lift your arms.”
Chen Mian cooperatively raised his arms. Flora took the opportunity to pull the jacket closer around him, then moved to his front to straighten the collar and tug at the cuffs. Her movements were very natural.
Standing nearby, the owner watched this scene and spoke with a smile, “You have excellent taste, miss. The cut of this jacket really suits your husband’s build.”
Flora’s fingers paused slightly on Chen Mian’s collar. A faint blush crept onto her ears again, but she didn’t deny it.
After finishing, she took half a step back, looked over the jacket on Chen Mian, and nodded with satisfaction. “It looks good! We’ll take this one.”
She pulled a few silver coins from her pocket, placed them on the counter, then took the paper bag and said with a smile, “Let’s keep browsing!”
Seeing her satisfied expression, Chen Mian’s lips curved upward. “My Flora is quite good at picking clothes.”
“Of course.” Flora hooked her arm through his again and tilted her chin up. “Let’s go!”
Behind the counter, the owner smilingly watched the two of them walk out the door.
Flora walked briskly down the afternoon street, her arm linked with Chen Mian’s.
The afternoon sun shone on the streets of Linyu Port, stretching their shadows long.
“Chen Mian, once I’ve decorated the apartment, I’ll definitely give you a big surprise!” Flora said softly as she walked, clutching his arm.
“We haven’t even reached the decoration shop yet, and you already know how you want to do it?”
“Mhm! I’ve thought about it many times. I even have sketches in my room.”
“You drew them already?”
“Mhm.” Flora nodded, her voice filled with clear anticipation. “I started drawing them after we came back from Wigtan.”
“Why after Wigtan?” Chen Mian asked with a light laugh.
“Because at the seaside during the Ice and Fire Festival, Chen Mian said he would protect me forever and ever.” Flora turned her head, her eyes sparkling. “I want to stay in the apartment forever and ever, too.”
“In that case, we shouldn't call it an apartment anymore, Flora.”
“Then I want to stay in our home forever and ever!” Flora looked at his face and said seriously, “So, Mr. Landlord, may I decorate our home?”
“Of course. You can decorate it however you like.”
“What if the decorations turn out ugly?”
“How could anything Flora decorates be ugly?”
“Just what if~”
“If Flora decorated it, then I’ll love it.”
Rate on N.U.
