Kyoto Night Kiss

The warm, humid tropical morning light streamed into the room.

When Lu Junhe woke up, there was no one beside him.

He hadn't had such a comfortable sleep in a long time.

After sitting up, he casually glanced around the room.

The son, barefoot, was intently observing the surrounding greenery. He was in high spirits and would occasionally hop lightly, as if he were talking to the plants.

She mumbled soft, childlike words.

Qu Yun sat quietly in front of the dressing table, wearing a light apricot-colored silk nightgown that accentuated her slender waist. Her long, glossy black hair was loosely tied into a low bun, revealing a section of her smooth and delicate back.

She calmly applied makeup in front of the mirror, occasionally glancing at her son before turning back to look at him.

"You're awake!" Qu Yun smiled as soon as she saw Lu Junhe open his eyes. She walked to the bedside and handed the man the sunscreen in her hand.

"Quickly help me apply some lotion to my back; I'm going to wear a pretty little sundress today!"

Lu Junhe obediently picked up the sunscreen, squeezed out a sufficient amount of warm cream from his palm, and gently placed his hand on Qu Yun's back, his movements delicate and serious, slowly spreading it in circles.

Qu Yun seemed to feel particularly comfortable, and she gently exhaled.

The man's action of applying the ointment to his back suddenly stopped.

Lu Junhe leaned down slightly, his chin resting gently on her shoulder. His voice, still slightly hoarse and tender from just waking up, said, "Wife, how about we book our tickets back to China right now?"

Qu Yun was slightly taken aback upon hearing this. She turned around, touched Lu Junhe's forehead, and asked with some concern, "Why are you in such a hurry to go back all of a sudden?"

Are you feeling unwell?

Lu Junhe chuckled, and just then grabbed Qu Yun's hand, which she hadn't yet pulled back, and kissed it.

His eyes were full of smiles: "I'm fine."

"I just really want to get our marriage certificate as soon as possible."

Qu Yun pinched the man's cheek. "Why are you in such a hurry?"

"The Civil Affairs Bureau isn't going anywhere, and neither am I."

Lu Junhe tightened his arms around her, pulling her into his embrace, and gave a muffled reply.

Life is indeed long.

He is so happy.

Lu Jinxing wanted to go snorkeling today; he was truly addicted to water and especially loved the feeling of being gently enveloped by it.

Just like... when you're in your mother's womb!

Qu Yun bent down and ruffled her son's black hair: "But our trip today is planned to be a hiking trip with your mom and dad. We're going to see a waterfall that we've heard is very beautiful."

Upon hearing about the waterfall, Lu Jinxing's eyes lit up. "Great! I want to see the waterfall too!"

If it's snorkeling, he hopes his parents can take him again tomorrow. He wants to be friends with the sea turtle in the ocean and introduce Chongchong to it in the future!

Before setting off, Lu Jinxing remembered something "important".

He ran to his desk, grabbed a pen, and wrote a string of English words on the notepad.

Hello, could you please fold a large sea turtle out of a towel for me? Thank you!

After finishing writing, Lu Jinxing added some heart and smiley face patterns to the blank spaces.

Qu Yun and Lu Junhe exchanged a smile as they watched their son's joyful expression.

The man reached out and put his arm around her shoulder, his fingertips gently caressing her shoulder.

Qu Yun leaned her head against Lu Junhe's chest and whispered, "Let's take him out more often whenever we have time. Seeing him so happy makes me happy too."

Lu Junhe lowered his head, kissed the top of her head, and whispered, "Okay, I'll listen to you."

"We've traveled all over the world."

Before leaving, Qu Yun left a generous tip on the note.

The family of three walked out of the hotel, unaware that a figure was hiding in a secluded corner.

After the two adults and one child got into the car, Tang Bingqing took off her sunglasses and walked to the front desk, where she tapped her fingertips heavily on the counter twice.

The staff member, who was busy organizing the check-in forms, immediately looked up and politely asked, "Hello, ma'am, how can I help you?"

"I'd like to ask for the room number of that family of three who just left. They were a Chinese couple with a little boy." Tang Bingqing softened her tone, but couldn't hide the urgency in her voice.

The staff member shook his head and replied, "I'm sorry, ma'am, the hotel has strict privacy policies and cannot disclose guests' room information casually. I hope you can understand."

Tang Bingqing's facial features stiffened upon being directly rejected.

She pleaded again, "Please, could you make an exception? I know them. We are all Chinese and live in the same area."

But no matter what she said, that damned woman at the front desk would only apologize and repeat that she couldn't disclose it.

Tang Bingqing's hands, hanging by her sides, clenched quietly, then relaxed a moment later.

She slowly took out her phone, opened the photo album and flipped through it for a long time. She found a photo of herself and Lu Jinxing, and Yan Suling was also in it.

Tang Bingqing enlarged the photo and showed it to the receptionist.

She said, "To be honest, this child's birthday is in a few days, and I specially prepared a birthday gift for him, which I wanted to secretly deliver to his room as a surprise."

"I'll leave right away after I drop off my things. I won't cause any trouble, okay?"

The staff stared at the group photo on the phone screen for a long time, then looked up at Tang Bingqing's earnest expression. After hesitating for a while, they finally softened.

She looked up the room number on the computer and said it aloud.

After thanking her, Tang Bingqing turned around. In that instant, all the feigned gentleness and meekness on her face vanished, and a hint of ruthlessness flashed across her eyes.

Why did her life fall to rock bottom, while that family of three seemed so happy?

She wanted to make things difficult for Lu Junhe.

We must make sure the music is not pleasant.

So... she has a very easy target to take her down with.

The waterfall is hidden deep in the rainforest.

Although the entire hike is not long, most of the route requires walking down stone steps carved into the mountainside.

The mountain air is perpetually shrouded in mist, and the stone steps are covered with a layer of slippery, bluish-green moss, making each step down a strenuous effort.

Qu Yun still dislikes walking on these mountain paths, but for her son's sake, she has to persevere!

Lu Jinxing's round eyes scanned the novel scenery of the rainforest without stopping.

He hadn't walked far when he suddenly stopped, pointing with his little finger at a thick, hollow tree trunk. His little brows furrowed in confusion: "Mom and Dad, look!"

"This tree is hollow in the middle, like a huge hollow tube. How did it become like this?"

Lu Junhe glanced at it, held his son's small shoulders, and patiently explained to him, "This is what happened after being strangled and parasitized by a strangler fig."

"What is a strangler fig? Does it bully other big trees?" Lu Jinxing's eyes were filled with pure curiosity.

He'd never seen these things in books before!

"Strangler figs are a type of banyan tree unique to tropical rainforests. After birds eat their fruit, the seeds will fall onto the branches of other large trees along with their droppings and take root and sprout," Lu Junhe explained. "The seedlings will grow fine aerial roots that twine downwards along the trunk of the host tree and eventually penetrate into the soil."

"The underground root system steals the tree's water and nutrients, the above-ground roots bind the trunk, preventing the branches from continuing to grow, and the canopy steals all the sunlight. Over the years, the original tree's nutrients are completely drained, and it slowly withers and rots, eventually turning into this."

The strangler fig, however, grew into a large, independent tree.

After hearing the whole story, Lu Jinxing pursed her lips slightly, revealing a look of heartache. "How cruel! The big tree was growing here peacefully, and it was just like that, having its nutrients drained and dying by the strangler fig."

Lu Junhe bent down to look his son in the eye.

He said, "This process is indeed cruel on its own, but everything in nature has its counterpart, and it has also brought many benefits to the rainforest."

"For example, the hollowed-out tree trunk is a natural nest for ants, beetles and other insects. In case of heavy rain or scorching sun, lizards and frogs can also hide inside to avoid danger."

"The gaps in the forest created after the big trees die allow sunlight to shine into the rainforest floor, which encourages the growth of more flower and grass seedlings, making the whole forest more lush and providing habitat for more and more small animals."

Lu Junhe gazed at the endless tropical rainforest, his tone becoming more profound and gentle, "Son, just as we can stand here peacefully right now, looking at the mountains and rivers, the fact that this land beneath our feet can nurture such a vibrant landscape is also due to the countless plants that withered and flourished, and the silent dedication of countless lives in the past."

"Every kind of extinction, every sacrifice, holds its own unique meaning."

Lu Jinxing stood quietly in place, staring at the hollow tree trunk in front of him for a long time, and then slowly nodded as if he understood.

The little boy carefully processed every word his father said.

Qu Yun couldn't resist taking a few photos of the earnest father and son.

Suddenly, the little guy in her lens raised his head, his eyes clear and bright.

He asked, "Am I like a strangler fig to my parents? Am I constantly draining your energy, making you very, very tired?"

Qu Yun's heart softened, and she quickly hugged her son.

She replied, "Of course not, honey, why would you think that?"

"Strangler figs only know how to endlessly plunder and take, but you are completely different. You are the most perfect and precious gift your parents have ever given you."

"It is because you are by my side that my life is complete. We love you very, very much."

Lu Jinxing finally showed his teeth and said with a smile, "I love my mom and dad very much too!"

Rounding a bend in the mountain path, obscured by dense ferns, the roar of rushing water came rushing towards us.

The cascading waterfall crashes into the clear, emerald-green pool, and the mist drifts in the wind, coolly brushing against your cheeks.

Qu Yun looked at the magnificent and clear waterscape before her, and all the fatigue from the journey disappeared.

They stopped rushing to catch their breath, enjoyed splashing in the water and admiring the scenery for a long time, and only started their return journey when the sun was about to set.

Lu Jinxing is still young, and even if he likes this place, his energy is limited.

His steps gradually became slow and heavy, and he stopped even lifting his head.

Qu Yun asked Lu Junhe to hold his son.

She lagged slightly behind, walking slowly with her cane.

Wild grass and trees grew wildly on both sides of the mountain road. Qu Yun slightly turned to avoid the branches, and when her gaze inadvertently swept over a clump of green grass, she was shocked to see a snake flicking its long, thin tongue.

She was startled, and the steps slipped, causing her to lose her balance and twist her right ankle. A sharp, piercing pain immediately spread throughout her body from her ankle.

Hearing a sudden noise behind him, Lu Junhe immediately turned around, his tone tense: "What's wrong?"

Qu Yun endured the pain in her ankle and quietly shifted her weight onto her unaffected left foot. She replied, "It's nothing, I just slipped. Let's go back to the hotel quickly."

She knew her son was also very afraid of snakes.

Qu Yun forced herself to finish the entire hiking trail.

After returning to the hotel by car, she sat down on a rattan bench in the lobby and quietly rolled up her socks.

Her once slender ankle was now swollen high, and even the slightest touch with her fingertips made her gasp in pain.

Lu Junhe caught a glimpse of the glaring red swelling, and his brows furrowed tightly.

He knelt down in front of Qu Yun, carefully lifting her right foot, not daring to use even a little force. "When did you sprain it? Why didn't you tell me?"

The hotel did not have any relevant medications available for treatment.

Qu Yun felt there was no need to go to the hospital; she could just apply some ice to cool it down.

Lu Junhe disagreed. Even if he had to compromise and not go to the hospital, he would still go to the clinic to buy topical medicine to reduce swelling and promote blood circulation.

We need to go now.

Otherwise, Qu Yun probably wouldn't even be able to get out of bed and walk tonight.

Qu Yun leaned back in her chair and sighed softly, then could only nod in agreement.

She's too tired now and wants to sit in the lobby for a while longer.

Her personal butler also came over to check on her injured ankle, and Qu Yun told him, "It's okay, don't worry about me. I'll be able to get up and go upstairs after resting for a while."

Lu Jinxing stared at his mother's swollen right ankle the whole time, his little face full of worry. He also noticed that his mother's dress was a little wet.

He's got it! He'll go upstairs to his mother's room and get her a clean coat to wear!

Lu Jinxing was very efficient. He didn't interrupt his mother and the housekeeper's conversation. Anyway, he knew exactly how to get to the room. If he ran there, he would get there quickly!

The melody turns back.

Strange, how come my son disappeared in the blink of an eye?