The closeness of their posture might make an onlooker think they had not seen each other for a long time. Julian buried his head in her shoulder, inhaling the fragrance behind her ear, a scent that was unique-not the common perfume found everywhere. It was fresh and natural, making him feel pure and lazy. He wished he could hold her forever, that her scent could dispel the fatigue of his day.
“Busy today?” he murmured.
“Mhm, it’ll get better after this busy period,” Aurora replied lazily as she leaned into his embrace.
“If you can’t hold up, just tell me. You’re not alone anymore. Even if you fall flat, I’ll always be here to help you rise again.”
Julian loved her deeply. He saw all of Aurora’s struggles and efforts, and he often wished she could be softer. She didn’t have to be so hard on herself, she could be coquettish in his arms and just be a woman, yet she chose to soar high instead.
While he felt sorry for her, he couldn’t bear to clip her wings, even knowing how dazzling she was. He knew how many people would be lost in her light; he wanted to shield her brilliance from others, yet he feared that dimming her would make her unhappy. Loving someone was hard, and choosing between options was even harder.
“Julian, I know you care for me, but I really want to achieve everything on my own,” Aurora murmured as she nuzzled his chest like a kitten.
That was enough for him. Seeing this tender side of her was enough. No matter how tough she was outside, she could retract her spikes and reveal her true self in his embrace, and that was all that mattered.
“Of course, just keep working hard and come to me if you face any trouble,” Julian said as he gently kissed her soft hair.
“I know, Julian. I need to go home tonight; we’ll have to part ways again,” Aurora mentioned, eager to gather more evidence.
“The important things first, I’ll follow your lead,” Julian replied, not holding her back.
Having a smart and considerate boyfriend was perhaps the best thing in the world. So many things didn’t need to be spelled out; he could guess them already. This reduced many potential misunderstandings or the need for explanations. “You’re the best,” Aurora said happily, kissing him on the cheek.
“Is one kiss enough?” Julian teased, pointing to his other cheek.
Obediently, Aurora kissed him again. “Is that enough now?” she asked, batting her large eyes at Julian.
Julian, unable to resist, quipped, “Little Bunny, I’m so hungry.”
“If you’re hungry, go eat something. What do you want to eat later…” Aurora casually responded, only to realize a second later just how naive she had been! After their passionate encounter, by the time they both got dressed and emerged, it had already grown dark outside. Aurora was utterly exhausted from his antics.
“Little Bunny, I’m hungry…” Julian murmured.
“Again? I can’t handle anymore.” Aurora truly resembled a rabbit, instantly leaping far away from Julian’s embrace, fearing he might once again overpower her with his desires.
“You’re overthinking it; I meant my stomach is hungry,” Julian said with a smile, watching her reaction.
“How am I supposed to know what you mean? You always say it the same way.”
“Now it’s about my stomach. Why are you standing so far away? I’m not going to eat you,” Julian said as he reached out his long arms and pulled her back into his embrace.
“Who says you won’t eat me? Didn’t you just do that?” Aurora muttered, looking down.
“That was because you kissed me, and I couldn’t help myself…” Julian responded with a look of feigned distress.
“Look how wronged you appear. Fine, I won’t kiss you anymore, so you won’t feel wronged,” Aurora said, pretending to be angry.
“Don’t be like that. I was just joking. I do like it when you kiss me… I like everything about you, truly,” Julian declared earnestly, causing Aurora to break into laughter.
“You laughed. Does that mean you’re not angry anymore?”
“Scoundrel,” Aurora pushed him away and started walking ahead.
“Little Bunny, why are you walking so fast? Wait for me, are you still mad? How about I make it up to you by cutting you a steak?” Julian quickly followed after her.
“One time won’t correct your attitude. If you’re going to cut, cut for a lifetime,” Aurora said, placing her hands behind her back and walking with a lightness reminiscent of her school days, occasionally kicking a pebble on the road.
“Alright, a lifetime…” Julian walked beside her, their shadows elongating under the streetlights.
When they returned to Julian’s villa, they were greeted by the delicious aroma of dinner as soon as they opened the door. “You’re back. Wash your hands and dinner will be ready,” the old butler warmly welcomed them.
In that moment, Aurora felt a sense of home, something she hadn’t felt in a long time, not since before her mother passed away.
“I’ll go upstairs to shower and change first,” Aurora said, drenched in sweat as she hurried upstairs.
Julian watched her ascend, feeling genuinely happy for the first time, thinking how married they seemed.
The meal was joyous, and after dining, Aurora planned to return to the Montgomery family. As she was about to leave, Julian presented her with a knitted cardigan.
“It’s getting cooler recently, and the nights are chilly. Wear more and take care not to catch a cold.”
It was just a simple piece of advice, but it warmed her heart in the chilly night air.