20demayo Page 165
Page 165
I sat down by the window in the shop and watched Erii carefully savor the cream and strawberries on the cake, spoonful by spoonful, her face beaming with pure happiness.
Sweet, soft...delicious!
"Even better than strawberry milk?" Lu Mingfei teased her.
Erii tilted her head and thought for a moment, then nodded vigorously:
"Mmm! They're all delicious!"
She scooped up a spoonful of cake smeared with strawberry jam and carefully held it to Lu Mingfei's lips: "Lu Mingfei... have some too!"
Seeing Erii's expectant eyes, Lu Mingfei did not hesitate at all and ate it.
The sweet taste melted in her mouth, as if her feelings had also seeped into her heart.
He smiled and patted her head: "Yes, Erii shared it, it's especially delicious."
Erii smiled happily, as if she had received a great compliment, and continued to enjoy her cake in small bites.
Lu Mingfei watched her quietly, the wind and snow outside the window and the noise of the city seemed to become a blurred background.
As we walked out of the cake shop, an unexpected incident occurred.
A stylish young man, carrying a drawing board and looking like a street artist, was probably attracted by Erii's stunning looks and unique charm, and couldn't help but go up and strike up a conversation.
He flashed what he thought was a cool smile and said in slightly accented English:
"Hello! Beautiful lady, your charm is so unique! Like a red elf in the snow! May I draw a sketch of you? It's free!"
Erii's relaxed and happy expression vanished instantly!
Almost instinctively, like a startled animal, she took a step back and hid behind Lu Mingfei, her small hands tightly gripping his lower back and her body slightly tense.
This is because Xia Mi's teaching has been successful in the past two days.
If it were in the past, Erii would probably have foolishly agreed.
Lu Mingfei stepped to the side, completely shielding Erii behind him, his tall figure forming a solid barrier.
Although the invisible pressure was not deliberately released, the cold gaze and the sudden change in aura were enough to make ordinary people feel as if they had fallen into an ice cave.
"No need!" Lu Mingfei's voice was not loud, but it carried a kind of authority and clearly reached the other party's ears.
The street artist's smile froze, and a cold sweat instantly broke out on his back.
He felt as if he were being watched by some invisible beast. The intense sense of crisis made him afraid to say a word. He hurriedly bowed and apologized, "Sorry! I'm sorry to bother you! I'm so sorry!" Then he practically scrambled away.
Erii's tense body only slowly relaxed after the person disappeared around the street corner.
She still clung tightly to Lu Mingfei's clothes, pressing her face against his back, her thoughts conveying unease.
Strangers...I'm scared...
“Don’t be afraid, Erii.” Lu Mingfei turned around, put his hands on her shoulders, and looked directly into her frightened eyes. “You did very well. Remember, you don’t need to be afraid of anyone. Whenever you don’t want to talk to strangers or feel uncomfortable, just hide behind me like you did just now. I will protect you. No one can hurt you.”
He paused, then softened his voice even more: "Besides, look, you scared someone away with just one look. You're very capable."
Upon hearing this, the fear in Erii's eyes gradually faded, replaced by a hint of cautious smugness.
She nodded slightly: "Yes... Lu Mingfei is here... Don't be afraid. I'm very capable!"
"Yes, you're very capable." Lu Mingfei smiled and affirmed, taking her hand again. "Come on, I'll take you somewhere."
Lu Mingfei, with Erii by his side, skillfully navigated through several alleys and arrived at a relatively open area near the riverbank.
Far from the hustle and bustle of Ginza, this place offers a unique kind of liveliness.
Countless stalls were set up in the snow, their warm yellow lights forming a dazzling galaxy that dispelled the chill of the winter night.
The air was filled with various enticing aromas:
The aroma of grilled squid, the fresh scent of takoyaki, the rich savory flavor of fried noodles, the sweet taste of candied apples and marshmallows... the place was bustling with activity and full of lively atmosphere.
"Wow!" Erii's eyes lit up instantly, her mind filled with pure amazement and excitement.
This scene is more vivid, realistic, and colorful than any of the "night market" maps in her games!
Lu Mingfei protected her as they blended into the bustling crowd.
“This is a night market,” Lu Mingfei explained in her mind. “Many people come here at night to eat good food, buy things, or just stroll around and look around.”
They stopped in front of a stall selling candied apples.
The bright red apples, coated in a glistening sugar shell, shimmered under the light.
"It's red... shiny... can I eat it?" Erii pointed at the candied apple, her eyes full of longing.
"Of course, it's sweet." Lu Mingfei bought one and handed it to her.
Erii carefully took it, curiously examining the red fruit encased in "glass," and then tentatively stuck out her pink little tongue and gently licked it.
"!" Her eyes widened instantly, as if she had discovered a new continent.
"So sweet! So crunchy!" She couldn't resist licking it again, her eyes squinting happily like a little bear that had found delicious honey.
Lu Mingfei couldn't help but chuckle at her childish behavior.
They also tried takoyaki. It was adorable to watch Erii blow on the piping hot takoyaki, then hiss slightly from the heat, but still keep eating.
"It's so hot... but it tastes delicious!" Her thoughts were tinged with a little "complaint" and satisfaction.
At a stall selling trinkets, Erii was drawn to a handmade hair tie inlaid with small blue glass beads.
She picked it up and looked at the light reflecting off the beads under the lamp, admiring them.
Lu Mingfei bought it without hesitation.
He took the hair tie and gestured for Erii to turn around.
Erii obediently turned around.
Lu Mingfei gathered her long, smooth, deep red hair and clumsily but carefully tied it into a simple ponytail.
A blue hair tie, wrapped around her hair, shimmered under the light, complementing her ruby-like hair.
"Is it pretty?" Erii turned around, looked up at Lu Mingfei expectantly.
Lu Mingfei looked into her clear eyes, which reflected the light and his own shadow.
A corner of his heart was incredibly tender.
"Yes, it's very beautiful," he said earnestly, his voice carrying a gentleness he himself was unaware of. "It's even more beautiful than the stars in the sky."
Erii smiled contentedly, tiptoed, and quickly kissed Lu Mingfei on the cheek. Then she lowered her head shyly, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her clothes.
The soft, slightly cool touch was fleeting, yet it was like a pebble thrown into a still lake, creating ripples all around.
Lu Mingfei was stunned for a moment, then a big smile appeared on his lips, his heart filled with warmth.
He reached out and took her slightly cool hand in his again: "Let's go, let's go see something else."
"Yes!" Erii nodded vigorously, gripping his hand tightly, her face filled with unwavering trust and joy.
As night deepened, the snow continued to fall heavily.
Under the warm lights, they walked side by side in the bustling night market, like two snowflakes nestled together, searching for a quiet and warm corner that belonged only to them in the noisy world.
Erii looked at the steaming food by the roadside, the colorful toys, and the smiling faces around her. Her spirit flowed like a happy stream.
"This...smells delicious!"
"That one... is round and shiny!"
"Lu Mingfei...everyone is laughing..."
"Yes, that's right." Lu Mingfei responded softly, feeling the warmth from his palm and looking at the lights of thousands of homes reflected in the eyes of the girl beside him.
Chapter 157 The Road and Zero
The hustle and bustle of the top floor of Genji Heavy Industries receded like the tide, returning the tranquility of the night to this vast space.
Outside the window, Tokyo's neon lights, bathed in a hazy glow under the thin snow-covered night sky, contrasted sharply with the warm yellow wall lamps inside.
Liu Miaomiao and Su Xiaoqiang had returned to their respective rooms, carrying mixed feelings of disappointment and relief.
Xia Mi pulled Erii along to experience the new game console, her excited thoughts leaping like bubbles in their mental connection.
Su Enxi and Jiu De Mai were discussing something in hushed tones in front of their computers in the corner, the screen's glow illuminating their focused faces.
Yuan Zhisheng and Chu Zihang had already left to handle their own affairs.
Lu Mingfei leaned against the large French window, holding a glass of warm water in his hand, his gaze fixed on the boundless snowy night outside.
After the hustle and bustle subsided, a quiet sense of weariness slowly crept in.
It wasn't physical exhaustion, but rather the mental strain of dealing with those subtle emotions and various forces that was far more tiring than a thrilling battle.
Just then, he noticed that familiar gaze.
Without turning around, an invisible sense spread like ripples on water, clearly "seeing" Zero sitting quietly on the sofa a little further away.
She didn't join either side, nor did she look out the window; her icy blue eyes were fixed on him without blinking.
Like a clear, icy lake under the moonlight, it quietly reflects the only solitary figure on the shore.
She wore a simple white cotton loungewear set, her platinum blonde hair tied back with a plain black headband, making her look like an exquisite doll, silently blending into the tranquil background.
Lu Mingfei turned around and met her gaze.
Zero showed no embarrassment at being discovered, and calmly looked back at him, her eyes devoid of questions or demands, only displaying an almost frozen focus.
It was as if Lu Mingfei's current state of being was the only information she needed to confirm and understand.
"What's wrong, Zero?" Lu Mingfei's voice sounded particularly gentle in the silence.
He knew that Zero rarely expressed her needs proactively; her presence was often a form of silent companionship.
Ling tilted her head slightly, the movement so subtle it was almost imperceptible, as if she were contemplating how to organize her thoughts.
A moment later, her clear, cold voice rang out, like a drop of icy spring water falling onto ice:
"You...are tired."
It's not a question, it's a statement.
She accurately caught the subtle weariness between Lu Mingfei's brows.