"Don't move. Let me put it on you."
Sonia put the platinum four-leaf clover Heart of the Ocean earring on Yaxiu. It was magnetic, clamping tightly onto his earlobe. They were in a chic accessories shop surrounded by bustling crowds, where the laughter, chatter, and footsteps of young men and women flowed around them like gentle, rippling music.
Sonia wore a peaked cap, canvas shoes, and shorts. Her long, slender legs, held flush together without a gap, made for a stunning sight wherever she stood, while the smooth, supple softness revealed by her snug tank top drew roving glances. Yaxiu's casual attire fitted his build perfectly. Naturally, he lacked such sharp fashion sense; this was how Igola had styled him half a year ago when Yaxiu was preparing for his first date.
They blended effortlessly into their surroundings, looking not like the Observer of the End and the Sword Princess, nor like Sonia who had defected from the Stars and Yaxiu who had challenged the supreme, but rather like an ordinary campus couple who might not have even graduated yet.
"Hmm..."
"Does it look good?" Yaxiu glanced at a nearby mirror. He had never worn accessories like earrings before, unless they boosted stats.
"A bit unexpected."
"Does that mean it looks bad?"
"It looks good, but you're not allowed to wear it normally." Sonia flicked his earring with a finger. "You can only dress up when you're on a date with me. You're not allowed to wear it around to flirt with other girls."
"I don't even like dressing up, much less flirting with other girls."
"Oh, really?" Feigning anger, Sonia pinched his cheeks with both hands. Yaxiu put an arm around her waist, making the red-haired girl shiver, yet she still puffed her cheeks and said, "Have you ever thought about why I feel so insecure?"
Yaxiu caught her hands, sliding his fingers between hers until their fingers were firmly intertwined, clutching her slender, soft palms tight. "Do you still feel insecure now?"
Sonia bit her lower lip lightly. Beneath the brim of her cap, her pretty face flushed a faint, melting strawberry red, and her eyes rippled with endless emotion. She clearly wanted to stay mad at Yaxiu, yet the look in her eyes held only heart-melting charm. Such was her temperament: when Yaxiu was passive, she would confidently take charge, but the moment he took the initiative, she would be completely at a loss, and all her complaints would vanish like smoke.
And so, wearing the earring, Yaxiu was led out of the boutique by the hand. Before him stretched a long commercial street lined with designer shops on both sides. Yaxiu knew what was coming next, and while he had no real interest in shopping, he didn't want to skip a single moment. Often, as long as you were with the right person, even spacing out aimlessly was wonderful fun.
In another shop, Yaxiu personally put a two-tone silver-and-gold anklet on Sonia. In a perfumery, Sonia taught him how to test scents by dabbing perfume on the back of his hand, explained the difference between top notes, middle notes, and base notes, and showed him how perfume should be applied to pulse points or where the body radiates heat, like behind the ears. But when Yaxiu leaned in to smell her, she pushed him away by the tip of his nose, grinning mischievously to thwart him.
She told Yaxiu what colors she liked, what styles she preferred, and which designer brands she favored. Nor did she ask Yaxiu, "Does this look good?" because his answer was invariably an unvarying "It looks good." Yet simply from his subtle expressions and movements, Sonia could discern preferences that Yaxiu himself barely understood.
Before long, Yaxiu found himself carrying bags of all shapes and sizes. Sonia offered zero help in sharing the load, occasionally glancing at him sideways to see if he dared look reluctant.
"It's raining."
The downpour arrived fast and fierce. Rain fell from the sky and splashed from the ground, drowning out the street's fading bustle. Yaxiu looked around for an umbrella, but Sonia took his hand and pointed at a brightly lit neon sign ahead. "Let's eat at that family restaurant up ahead. It's one of my favorites."
"All right!"
With an assortment of shopping bags in one hand and the red-haired girl holding the other, Yaxiu ran down the street with her. Rain streamed along the grooves of the stone pavement. Every step kicked up shallow splashes of water, murky droplets splattering freely against their calves.
The ambient light suddenly dimmed, and the road stretched long before them, yet the two of them were as happy as a pair of stray kittens on an adventure. The silver-and-gold anklet chimed softly, the four-leaf clover earring danced in the wind, and the storm and lightning were left far behind. It was an ill-timed squall, but holding each other's hands, even the raindrops turned tender.
By the time they ran into the family restaurant, both were soaked through. Wet strands of hair clung to their cheeks, and seeing each other looking like drowned rats, neither could help bursting into laughter.
Sitting down, the server brought over utensils and two glasses of water. Yaxiu glanced at the menu and asked, "Are you really okay with eating here?"
"Hmm?"
"I thought you'd want to go to a fancy high-end restaurant." Yaxiu blinked. "Though I have no idea what a high-end restaurant in the Stars is like."
"I've been to one, and it didn't feel right for me." Sonia sprawled lazily across the table. "So many forks and knives, split into appetizers, mains, and desserts, and a meal takes two whole hours. I really don't know how those nobles endure it... I still prefer a table packed full of dishes where I can eat whatever I want."
Yaxiu chuckled and tucked a damp strand of hair behind her ear. "Village girl."
"What's wrong with being a village girl!" Sonia snapped in mock outrage, pointing at him. "Did a village girl steal your rice or something?"
"Nothing, I just happen to really like village girls."
Yaxiu blinked at her with wide eyes. Sonia was the first to falter, lowering her head to look at the menu. Once she finished ordering, she saw Yaxiu's fingers creeping across the tabletop, inching cautiously toward her hand.
Sonia pursed her lips and reached out a finger to flick his away. Undeterred by the rebuff, Yaxiu engaged her in a legendary clash of swords and shadows across the table with their fingers. In the end, Yaxiu spotted an opening, slid his fingers between hers, successfully conquered her base camp, and held tight to her boneless, tender hand.
Yaxiu raised his hand smugly, flaunting his victory. Sonia gave a little pout, ignoring the silly fool.
"Where to next?" Yaxiu asked. "Keep shopping?"
"No. Shopping is so village-girl. Let's go to an art exhibition, a museum, or watch a musical instead," Sonia huffed.
"Those highbrow arts are pretty far removed from me, though." Yaxiu tilted his head. "Aren't there any activities suited for a death row convict and the bad woman who likes a death row convict?"
Sonia tilted her head back at him. "There's no bad woman who likes a death row convict here."
"Then what's here?"
"Here is a girl who likes..." The young woman pressed her lips together, tender love dancing in her eyes. "Likes..."
"...a good girl who likes dancing!"
Sonia burst into laughter. She knew what Yaxiu wanted to hear, but she deliberately wouldn't say it.
"Dancing?" Yaxiu was slightly surprised.
Sonia nodded. "Even though I don't like attending banquets, I've always admired girls who dance in a ballroom... Everyone's eyes follow their steps, watching them glide across the floor, the center of attention, outshining everyone else."
"Haven't you already experienced being the center of attention in tournaments and concerts?"
"It's not the same." Sonia rested her chin in her right hand, gazing at Yaxiu with a dreamy look. "When dancing, a girl isn't just showing off her beauty—she's also showing off the charm of her partner. I've never been anyone's dance partner, because the point isn't the dancing itself, but who you're dancing with."
Yaxiu had a sudden realization and shrugged helplessly. "I don't know how to dance."
Sonia looked a little disappointed, but quickly smiled. "I expected as much, so I never planned on taking you to a banquet—"
"Can't you dance, though?" Yaxiu took her hand and pulled her up. "I can just follow your lead. After all, we're sword sorcerers with a telepathic bond."
"Huh?" Sonia was taken aback. "B-but I don't even know which banquet we could go to, and our clothes—"
"Right here."
Yaxiu led Sonia out into the torrential storm. He snapped his fingers once, and the whole world froze in place: raindrops hung suspended in midair, and traffic ground to a halt before the crosswalks.
With a second snap, every light across the city blazed to life. Skyscraper after skyscraper rose like towering lanterns against the night sky, while headlights pointed toward the open crossroads at full power, transforming the busy intersection into a grand ballroom.
With a third snap, Yaxiu was dressed in a tailored, form-fitting black suit, while Sonia was draped in an evening gown and elegant high heels, with ribboned gloves on her hands and radiant makeup adorning her face.
In the depths of Sonia's soul, she could only act according to her own desires and could not do anything beyond them. But having gained some experience, Yaxiu was now able to slightly alter Sonia's realm of consciousness.
Yaxiu led Sonia through the rain to the center of the intersection. One hand held her delicate fingers, the other supported her back, while Sonia rested her hand on his shoulder.
Sonia blinked, finally realizing. "So... I'm dreaming."
Did you really only realize just now? Amused, Yaxiu asked, "How can you be so cute?"
"Because I just am that cute." Having realized it was a dream, Sonia immediately took control, letting out a proud humph. As she took the first step with Yaxiu, dance music struck up in the air for them, neon lights pulsed for them, and the storm of the entire city swirled around them.
Unexpectedly, Yaxiu's outfit change had not removed the earring or the anklet.
As their delicate steps swept across the rain-slicked pavement, the silver-and-gold anklet chimed in rhythm. They drifted like soft clouds and whirled like sudden gusts, resembling a blooming rose.
They constantly switched positions, their tempo unhurried yet steady, their spins intricate yet poised. Accompanied by the melody, their movements shifted between mutual checks and balances, probing, testing, holding back, and lingering intimacy, their eyes never leaving each other. Yet whether through wild squalls or gentle drizzles, neither ever tripped the other, always keeping hold of their rhythm.
When the dance came to an end, Sonia leaned back, entrusting her center of gravity to her partner, while Yaxiu leaned forward, supporting her back. The brightly lit city unfurled before Sonia's eyes like an open scroll, her gaze illuminated by millions of neon lights.
"Actually," she blinked, "this was my first time dancing, too."
"I'll give all my firsts to you," Yaxiu murmured, leaning down to kiss her red lips. "And you'll give all your firsts to me."
When the kiss ended, Sonia was already dressed in a pure, flawless wedding gown.
Chapter 1012