Bai Li bent and kissed her again, once on the lips, once on her cheek, then one more quick kiss near the corner of her mouth just because she could not help herself. "And you love me anyway."
Yan Cijin touched her face with a tenderness that made Bai Li go quiet. "Yes. I do."
There was no drama in the answer. Just truth.
That night they stayed on the rooftop far later than they should have. They watched the city lights shimmer. They talked about the memory record. They talked about Lili's habits. They talked about the failed vine trial and how Yan Cijin would rebuild it, because she always did, because failure never truly stopped her. Bai Li listened with one arm around her, occasionally making gentle jokes that pulled laughter out of her wife at the strangest times.
At one point Yan Cijin sighed and said, "You know, you really are unbearable."
Bai Li looked pleased. "Yes."
"I mean it."
"So do I."
"You are also too affectionate."
"That one I take as praise."
