Conquer the other worlds with abandon, they've fallen in love with me!

Three days passed quickly.

Lin Yu shuttled back and forth between the two women every day, and his life was more fulfilling and more tiring than he had imagined.

...

...

During the day, he would refine medicine on Bell's farm, with the crucibles burning from morning till night.

One batch after another of the energizing potions were poured out of the pot, bottled, sealed, and stacked into boxes.

Bell initially came over to look out of curiosity, but got tired of it after a couple of days.

He would go about feeding the chickens and milking them, occasionally bringing in a cup of water, placing it on the table without saying a word, and then leaving.

Arya's side was quiet. She knew Lin Yu was busy, so she didn't bother him much. She just cooked a few extra dishes for dinner every night and waited for him to come back so they could eat together.

Sometimes when Lin Yu came home late, she would sit at the table and wait for him. While waiting, she would fall asleep on the table, with the food on the table covered with plates to keep it from getting cold.

Lin Yu pushed open the door and saw her lying there. His heart softened, and he carried her back to the room.

Arya opened her eyes groggily, glanced at him, then closed them again, a smile playing on her lips, and wrapped her arms around his neck.

"You're back?"

"Um."

"Have you got a meal yet?"

"have eaten."

"You're lying." Her voice was muffled. "There's still soup in the pot, I'll heat it up..."

"Need not."

Lin Yu watched Arya struggle to get up, still dazed, and whispered in her ear, "I only want to eat you."

Arya's eyelashes trembled, but she didn't open her eyes; instead, a blush slowly crept onto her cheeks.

Her hand slid down from Lin Yu's neck to his chest, her fingertips gripping his collar and gently pulling him towards her.

"...Then don't say anything." Arya said gently, then raised her head and pressed her lips to Lin Yu's.

Lin Yu immediately tightened his arms around her, pulling her into his embrace.

She carried the scent of dinner cooking, mixed with a hint of soap, clean and soft.

Arya was being held so tightly she could hardly breathe, but she didn't push Lin Yu away. Instead, she snuggled even closer into his arms.

She wrapped her arms around his waist, her fingertips pressing against his back, and slid down inch by inch.

Lin Yu's breathing became heavier.

He laid her down on the bed, bracing himself on his arms on either side of her, and looked down at her.

The candlelight flickered, casting shadows on her face. Her lips were slightly parted, and the color of her lips, which had just been kissed, was a little darker than usual.

His mouth heaved, and his collar loosened slightly.

His gaze fell down.

Arya didn't dodge, she just turned her head away, her earlobes turning bright red.

Lin Yu lowered his head, his lips landing on her ear, slowly sliding down her chin and neck.

The moonlight shone in through the window, illuminating the intertwined figures of the two people.

One hour later—

Arya nestled in Lin Yu's arms, her legs wrapped around his, her face pressed against his chest, her breath coming in light, even gasps.

Lin Yu placed his hand on her waist, his thumb unconsciously drawing circles on her skin, making her very itchy, but she didn't flinch, she just snuggled closer to him.

After a long while, Arya's muffled voice rang out: "You said you were going on a long trip, so are you going to town the day after tomorrow morning?"

Lin Yu's fingers paused for a moment.

"Um."

"And then she didn't come back that night." Arya's voice was flat, but her cheek pressed against his chest was warm.

"You won't be back until you've finished those things?"

Lin Yu looked down at her.

Arya didn't look up; her eyelashes drooped, obscuring the emotions in her eyes.

But her fingers gripped his shirt tightly.

"Mm," Lin Yu said.

Arya, who was already somewhat insecure and anxious, fell into a long silence at this moment.

A few minutes later, her lips moved as if she wanted to ask, "Are those things important?", but she swallowed the words back.

She knew she shouldn't ask.

What good would asking do? Should I tell him not to go? Should I tell him to stay and keep her company?

She's not that immature.

But her lips still parted, and a voice squeezed out from her throat, very soft, with a slight tremor:

"Are those things... dangerous?"

Lin Yu rested his chin on her head and remained silent for two seconds.

"rest assured."

Arya's fingers loosened slightly, then clenched again.

She didn't say anything more.

She pressed her face back against Lin Yu's chest, and as she pressed, she pressed her whole body against him.

She wrapped her arms around his waist and her legs around his, clinging to him like a koala, wishing she could embed herself into his body.

"Be careful." Her voice was muffled, coming from his chest, vibrating with her body heat.

Lin Yu placed his palm on the back of her head, ran his fingers through her hair, and gently rubbed it.

"Um."

Arya closed her eyes, her eyelashes brushing against the skin of his chest, tickling him.

Her heart was pounding, pressed against his chest; their heartbeats overlapped, making it impossible to tell whose was whose.

"Lin Yu," she called again.

"Um."

"Please...please come back soon, okay? Promise me you'll come back soon, okay? I miss you..."

Lin Yu didn't say anything, but simply hugged Arya even tighter.

The moon outside the window was obscured by clouds, and the room darkened.

Arya's hand slid from his waist to his face, her fingertips touching his cheek.

"Lin Yu," her voice was very soft, almost inaudible, "I love you."

Lin Yu pressed his lips to her forehead and kissed her: "I know."

Arya's lips curved into a smile, and tears slid down her cheeks, running down her nose and onto the pillow, leaving a small, dark stain.

But she didn't say anything, she just buried her face even deeper.

Lin Yu's hand slid from her hair to her ear, his thumb brushing across her cheek, wiping away a tear.

"Wait for me to come back."

Arya nodded without looking up, her voice muffled: "Mm."

……

……