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At 5:30 PM, Lily emerged from the subway station and sighed softly as she watched the clouds in the sky begin to blush with color.
It had been quite some time since she'd returned. She'd thought that after graduation and landing a job, she and Arthur would finally be able to spend long stretches of time together.
But the reality was that despite working for months, she hadn't even caught a glimpse of Arthur.
Though they exchanged occasional texts, a profound loneliness lingered.
'I understand, I understand!'
Having a superhero as a boyfriend, Lily could comprehend everything. But understanding was one thing; the true torment she endured was something only she could truly grasp.
Even so, Lily had never considered complaining to Arthur or venturing into the dazzling nightlife.
No matter the time, as soon as she finished work, she would rush straight home.
Preparing a lavish meal, whether he's home or not, whether he can eat it or not, even if it's just to tempt that infuriating man with these delicacies in a text message, might make up for something, right?
Lily walked home, lost in thought.
A smile occasionally flickered across her lips, only to dissolve into a sigh.
"I probably endured too much loneliness at an age I shouldn't have," she muttered, then shook her arm and continued walking with renewed energy.
Because she was almost home.
Because even if he wasn't there, his presence lingered. The house held his scent.
"Hmm, if he knew I thought like this, he'd probably feel sorry for me," Lily suddenly chuckled. "Though more likely, he'd just tease me. His body odor isn't that strong... Hmm, he doesn't understand romance at all, so he'd probably say something like that. But what really matters isn't his scent, it's the traces of his life here... As long as those traces remain, I can pretend we're always together."
As Lily thought this, she realized she was losing her sense of self.
"Love can't put food on the table, Lily," she chided herself. "You need your own dreams too." She tried to rally, but within minutes, she sighed mournfully. "My dream is to grow old with him."
An inexplicable sadness washed over her. Dejected, she trudged to her doorstep, not far from the subway station entrance.
She pulled out her key and opened the door, only to be hit by a distinctly unpleasant smell.
"Burnt food? Fire?"
Lily gasped, her face turning pale in an instant. If her home had caught fire, wouldn't all traces of her life vanish?
Not even the one thing that comforted her loneliness could be left to her?
Tears welled in Lily's eyes. She raced up the stairs, but instead of the inferno she'd imagined, only a thin wisp of black smoke drifted from the kitchen.
Lily stopped in her tracks, staring at the black smoke billowing from the kitchen and listening to the gurgling water inside. Her expression gradually hardened. Then, step by step, she approached the kitchen door and peeked inside...
Arthur was covered in soot, coughing as he scrubbed pots by the sink.
He looked utterly disheveled, clearly choked by the smoke. Yet, inexplicably, he had sealed the windows shut. Through the thick haze, it was hard to make out his true expression, but... he must be utterly dejected, right?
When did he even get back?
Was he cooking for himself in the kitchen?
That idiot... letting him into the kitchen was clearly a disaster!
But... why was she so excited?
Why did she desperately want to taste the food he had made himself, no matter how ugly it looked or how it tasted?
She didn't care about anything else. She wouldn't care if eating it killed her instantly. She'd probably burst into tears of joy anyway.
"What a useless woman, Lily!"
Lily bit her lip, determined not to complain or blame. But was there no anger in her heart? No regret? Had she ever considered treating him coldly and indifferently, just to let him know how much her heart ached and burned?
She had, hadn't she?
But why, when she saw Arthur clumsily bustling about in the kitchen, did she feel only joy and tenderness?
After all the emotions churned within her, the final, most potent feeling that crystallized was an overwhelming urge to rush into his arms and never let go.
"You idiot..."
Biting her lip, Lily could only utter those two words.
Arthur, who was washing dishes, clearly heard her. He turned around abruptly and saw Lily standing at the doorway.
He instinctively hid the pot behind his back, about to say something, but then started coughing violently. "Uh, don't come in yet. Trust me, I can handle this!"
"You idiot..." Lily tossed off her high heels and rushed into Arthur's arms in three strides, catching him completely off guard. She sealed his lips with her own, a kiss!
It was a long kiss. If Lily hadn't been forced to break it off by a coughing fit from the smoke, Arthur felt they might have been kissing until the next century.
Secretly stowing the wok behind him into his Disassemble space, Arthur chuckled. "When did you get back?"
"What were you doing while you were washing the wok?" Lily asked, her gaze fixed on the trash can after her coughing subsided.
The contents were completely unrecognizable, reduced to a mass of suspicious black matter.
Turning her questioning gaze back to Arthur, he suddenly snapped to attention and quickly opened the window. "Don't choke on the smoke."
Lily burst out laughing. "Why didn't you think to open the window when you were alone?"
"...Uh, I forgot," Arthur admitted, scratching his head.
"So why did you remember now?"
"Well... I was worried about you choking," Arthur said with a dry laugh.
"You idiot..." Lily had already called him that several times. Her gaze softened again, but then she suddenly realized something. "Where's my pot?"
"Uh... it probably disappeared?" Arthur replied. "Anyway, everything that just happened was just a test. I've gained enough experience now. So, beautiful lady, would you like to go out with me to buy another pot and wait for me to serve you the most perfect braised pork?"
(End Of This Chapter)