Julian filled the bathtub with hot water, and despite being soaking wet himself, he first undressed Aurora. He added some essential oils to the bath, filling the air with a light scent of lavender, which had a calming effect.
“Little Bunny, stop thinking about anything, close your eyes…”
Julian gently massaged her temples, trying to ease her tension.
Aurora lay in the fragrant bathwater and closed her eyes. Julian let go, allowing her to soak quietly in the warm bath. Meanwhile, he took the opportunity to wash himself thoroughly, it seemed he would have to stay overnight at the Montgomery family home given Aurora’s still unstable condition. He needed to stay close to her tonight.
When he returned to the bathroom, Aurora had fallen asleep in the bathtub. He gently washed her body, then wrapped her in a large bath towel and carried her to the bed. Aurora briefly woke up, hazily opening her eyes and murmuring, “Julian.”
“I’m here, go back to sleep,” Julian whispered soothingly, and she closed her eyes again, drifting off.
Julian dimmed the bedside lamp to its lowest setting, leaving only a faint light in the room. He knelt by the bed, tenderly wiping the water droplets from Aurora’s body with a towel. The dim yellow light softened his usually cold features, casting a gentle look in his deep, affectionate eyes, as if one could drown in them with just an extra glance.
The woman he treated so gently was sound asleep, her naked form alluring. In the past, Julian might have acted on his desires, but now he was devoid of such thoughts, wiping her body with a reverence, then covering her with a thin blanket and lying down beside her. He instinctively pulled her into his arms, kissed her forehead, and whispered, “Little Bunny, sleep peacefully, there will be no sadness in your dreams.”
The faint scent of lavender from her skin lulled Julian into a deep, sweet sleep. Perhaps it was the effect of the lavender oil, but that night Aurora did not have any strange dreams and woke up to daylight feeling well-rested. However, Julian, having dealt with her troubles for two consecutive days, was still exhausted and had not yet awakened.
Aurora, warmed and moved by the sight of the man sleeping beside her, thought how her life had been tough before, but she was fortunate to have Julian in her life now-like a compensation from heaven, clearing all the dark clouds and becoming the warm sunshine in her heart.
She reached out to touch his handsome face but hesitated, not wanting to wake him. Quietly, she pulled back her hand, lifted the corner of the blanket, and silently got out of bed. Standing barefoot by the window, she reached out into the warm sunlight of the early morning, her mind unusually clear.
Reflecting on her actions towards Genevieve the previous day, Aurora felt afraid. Where had that strange strength come from? Though she had been training for three years and was stronger than most women, it was not to such an extent. She had never felt such emotions before; in that moment, she felt like she had become someone else, someone she did not recognize.
Awakened by the sunlight, Julian opened his eyes to find a graceful silhouette. Having cleaned her after her bath the previous night, he knew well her beautiful figure. But now, bathed in sunlight, all he saw was purity, with no other thoughts disturbing him.
He stood up and moved behind her, wrapping his arms around her.
“Did you sleep well last night?”
he asked.
Feeling the warmth of his embrace, Aurora turned and kissed his face, like a pair of intertwined mandarin ducks.
“Julian, thank you.”
“What are you thanking me for?”
Julian looked at her tenderly, pecking gently on her lips, his eyes brimming with deep affection.
“Thank you for not giving up on me, for staying by my side, for loving me so much,” Aurora thought about everything that had happened since her return. Without Julian, she knew things wouldn’t have gone nearly as smoothly.
How many setbacks would have crushed her if he hadn’t been there to protect her? How could she still be standing here, unscathed?
This man truly kept his promise; he would love her well, love her with his life.
“Silly bunny, I love you. You never need to thank me. But if you really want to thank me, then…”
Julian suddenly flipped her over onto the bed.
He had been holding back for too long, tortured daily by the tantalizing sight of her, almost to the point of death.
Aurora was speechless, her face shifting from touched to bemused in a second, though she understood; it had been days since they last made love.
She wrapped her arms around Julian’s neck, gently biting his earlobe, “How about I repay you with my body?”
“That’s my Little Bunny,” Julian’s kisses crashed against her fiercely.
A long-missed sensation surged through Aurora, her body responding before she suddenly remembered, “Wait.”
She pushed the man atop her aside.
“What’s wrong?”
Aurora glanced at the time; it was already eight o’clock.
“My mom’s flight is at ten. I can’t keep her here, but I want to see her off.”
Now, with a clear mind, Aurora understood that everyone has their duties in life, not just for themselves.
Her behavior last night had been immature, largely because she hadn’t been fully aware. Now, the best thing she could do was not to cling but to bid Tina farewell one last time.
She didn’t know when they would next meet, and if Tina had to leave, it was certainly for a significant reason.
She needed to identify the obstacle that lay between them before she could think about keeping Tina.
“Little Bunny, how can you be so cruel?”
Julian looked at her with a sorrowful expression, his prize slipping away.
Seeing his pitiful look, Aurora also felt helpless, “Then… hurry up.”
Before she could finish, he silenced her with a kiss, “Alright, I’ll be quick.”
But a man’s quick is never quick; Aurora, shaken to her core, drew this conclusion.
Half an hour later, she finally pushed him away, breathless, “You said you’d be quick, and you…”
“Don’t worry, I promise you’ll see your mother,” Julian quickly threw her clothes at her, and Aurora began to dress in a fluster.
Julian looked up just in time to see a strange totem on Aurora’s bare back, like the faint traces on the edge of an ink painting.
“Wait.”
He thought he was seeing things and walked over to Aurora.
“What’s wrong, Julian? We’re running out of time.”
Although puzzled, Aurora obediently stopped moving.
Julian noticed the vague totem on her skin, though the pattern was indistinct, and he couldn’t yet make it out clearly.
“Never mind, hurry up.”
He didn’t tell Aurora about it, a deep meaning flashing across his eyes.
“Okay.”
Aurora quickly dressed.
Fortunately, the airport was nearby and the road wasn’t congested. Julian sped all the way to the airport. As soon as the car stopped, Aurora dashed out and straight to the departure gate.
In the crowd, she immediately spotted Tina, who stood out like a celebrity, her aura distinct from those around her.