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墨書 Inktalez
Junxi vanished in a flash.
"Don't run around," he reminded her from a distance.
She responded with a wave, calling out, "Come on, come on!" as if she had just discovered some exciting new adventure.
Zhou Xuanyu followed her, wondering where she got all that endless energy. He loved watching her run and jump with youthful exuberance; it felt as if his heart could grow younger alongside her.
On the north side of the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, there were 463 steps leading up to the dome. Just hearing that number scared off quite a few people. But they said that once you reached the top, you could overlook all of Florence. How beautiful must that be? It was an unimaginable moment.
"Shall we go up?" she asked him, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.
He raised an eyebrow and glanced at her abdomen. "Are you sure you can handle it?"
Junxi thought he was worried about her period and immediately shook her head. "It's fine; my relatives won't be a problem."
"Your relatives?" He frowned seriously. "I was talking about our child."
Child...
Junxi's smile froze at the corner of her mouth. How did he know again?
"I-I-I..." She blushed and stammered for a while, struggling to find the right words to explain herself.
"What do you mean?"
Zhou Xuanyu looked at her with a half-smile, realizing that her usual sharp tongue was of no use this time.
"I just wanted to say, our child won't be a problem."
Zhou Xuanyu was taken aback; he thought she was reflecting on something, but it turned out she was devising a strategy to deal with him.
"Wen Junxi!" He raised his voice, deliberately putting on a serious expression.
"Really, it's fine!" She hugged his arm and gently shook it a few times. Then she took his large hand and placed it on her flat stomach, saying earnestly, "The doctor said that climbing stairs helps with natural delivery."
"Considering natural delivery with a belly like yours seems a bit premature, doesn't it?"
Her stomach was so flat that it made him worry. How could such a slender waist accommodate another child in the future? Sigh, he wasn't the only one thinking too far ahead.
"It's not too early! Didn't you always teach me to win at the starting line?"
Zhou Xuanyu suppressed a laugh, knowing he couldn't win this verbal sparring match with her. He never intended to.
"Alright. Let's go up then." He agreed, adding, "If you can't keep going, just tell me. Don't push yourself."
He had already compromised, but she still wasn't backing down. "Don't worry, I won't push myself for the sake of the baby!"
"…"
The church was completely enclosed, and walking up 463 steps in such a stifling environment was a challenge for anyone.
Before Junxi had even reached halfway, her legs began to feel unresponsive.
Zhou Xuanyu beside her showed no reaction. He occasionally glanced back at her, his expression relaxed and carefree. She thought that if it weren't for her dragging him down, he could certainly move faster.
"Let's take a break."
Halfway up, Junxi reached out and grabbed Zhou Xuanyu, who was walking ahead.
He turned around and looked at her.
She placed her hands on her waist, panting, her forehead damp with sweat, causing her hair to stick together. He stopped, stepped back down a step, and supported her.
"Sit down." He pulled her to the side, making space for her to rest.
"This climbing is much more exhausting than I imagined."
Junxi shook her legs and wiped the sweat from her forehead.
"Do we still need to go up?"
"Of course. We've come this far; what would it be to give up halfway?" She answered without hesitation.
Zhou Xuanyu smiled; he could always guess her responses accurately. For Wen Junxi, there were only things that had not yet begun, never things abandoned midway. In this regard, they were very much alike.
"Aren't you going to sit for a while?"
She looked up at him.
"No need."
Zhou Xuanyu stood beside her, using his body to shield her from the crowd surging forward. As Junxi rubbed her waist and shoulders, he suddenly reached out and gently pressed on her shoulder, turning her slightly toward him.
From this angle, she could just lean against his leg.
Zhou Xuanyu's thoughtfulness made it especially easy for one to become immersed in it.
Junxi lowered her head, a subtle smile creeping onto her face.
Suddenly, she wished that the dome of the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore had no end, so she could walk with him like this, stopping and going, stopping and going, not for three days, but for eternity.
After a brief rest, Junxi's abundant energy seemed to return.
She obediently followed behind him, occasionally playfully darting ahead to flash him a "Yay" gesture with a laugh.
After repeating this several times, Zhou Xuanyu simply stopped.
Yet she continued to laugh and play, standing a few steps away and reaching out her hand, insisting that Zhou Xuanyu take hers.
He reached out to her, but she dodged. When he withdrew his hand after missing her grasp, she flashed a cunning smile and quickly grabbed his large hand, intertwining her fingers with his.
Their fingers were tightly interlocked; this was one of the most intimate gestures between couples aside from hugs and kisses.
Zhou Xuanyu looked at the slender fingers that clung to his hand like sticky rice cakes and felt a moment of daze. He had never held hands like this with any woman before, not even with Lin Jingming, who had almost become his wife…
"Let's go!"
Junxi shook their joined hands and ran ahead, pulling him along.
It was already exhausting for one person to walk, so walking with two was double the effort. Yet, until they reached the summit of Baohua, neither of them let go of each other's hand.
The view from the top was indeed magnificent. The buildings of Florence sprawled out like a chessboard, each piece standing proudly in their line of sight, each one enchanting in its own way.
"Let's take a picture," she said, reaching for her phone.
Zhou Xuanyu remained silent, merely watching as she quickly unlocked her screen, opened the camera, and switched to the front-facing lens.
A selfie?
In his thirty-five years of life, Zhou Xuanyu had never done anything so trendy.
"Junxi..." He had complied all day, but at that moment, he finally showed a hint of resistance.
"Just one! Just one!" she insisted, leaning against his chest as she spoke. Before he could respond, she called out, "Cheese!"
He couldn't help but smile. At the moment she pressed the shutter button, his lips curled up involuntarily, as if enchanted by her charm or perhaps because the smile came from deep within.
The image froze in time. He glanced at it briefly but hadn’t even taken a good look when Junxi turned away to check it herself.
"My hair is all messed up! I shouldn’t have stood in front; it makes my face look big..." She fretted to herself. Zhou Xuanyu wanted to lean in for a better look, but she selfishly locked her screen and turned back to him with a bright smile. "Don't worry, you look handsome—much better than me!"
"..."
Junxi put her phone away in her bag. The reason she wanted to take pictures was simply to create a memento of their "love," just like any couple in love would do.
Even if this "love" had an expiration date of only three days.
She should be satisfied, having climbed 463 steps, taken in the beautiful scenery before her, and being with the people around her... In just one day, she had tasted sweetness that many would never experience in their entire lives.
As evening fell, the church closed its doors. Just as they stepped outside, a heavy rain forced them to stay put.
"It's raining!" Junxi exclaimed excitedly.
Today, she was particularly easy to excite; even the smallest things could bring a bright smile to her face, and those small things didn’t necessarily have to be good.
Zhou Xuanyu knew that compared to the ever-tolerant Wen Junxi of Qingcheng, the girl standing in Florence at that moment was the one he was familiar with.
The rain poured down heavily, and without an umbrella, they could only stand under the eaves to avoid getting wet.
A group of blonde girls bravely dashed through the rain. In no time, they were running off, leaving behind a trail of laughter like clear bells.
"Should we go too?" Junxi suggested, pointing at the girls' retreating figures as she turned back to Zhou Xuanyu.
"No way," he firmly refused. "You can't get wet."
"Why not? It's so romantic!" she pouted.
He shot her a stern look. "You tell me why!"
Didn’t she know her own body? What kind of woman would jump into the rain during her period? That was just asking for trouble!
Seeing Zhou Xuanyu's serious expression, Junxi suddenly understood. Her heart felt warm, but she still teased him, "Alright, I’ll listen to you, kid's dad."
"..."
Under the curtain of rain, Florence exuded a unique charm, the entire city enveloped in a nostalgic hue, though the rain mixed with wind felt somewhat chilly.
Zhou Xuanyu draped his coat over her shoulders as they stood quietly side by side beneath the church's eaves, waiting for the rain to cease.
"I suddenly remembered a song," Junxi said.
"What is it?" Zhou Xuanyu replied.
Junxi paused for a moment before beginning to sing softly.
"Cold coffee left the coaster
The emotions I've held back linger far behind
The past I desperately want to reclaim
Still clearly visible on my face
The most beautiful isn't a rainy day
But the eaves where we once sheltered from the rain..."
Her light voice was washed clean by the sound of the rain, and even in mere acapella, it struck deep into the hearts of those listening.
People seeking refuge from the rain gradually became captivated by her singing, turning their gazes toward Junxi. Although some couldn't grasp the meaning of the lyrics, their eyes still sparkled with joy and admiration. Music knows no borders.
Junxi had always been that eye-catching girl since she was little.
She was graceful and charming, able to sing and dance with ease. While she couldn't claim to be a master of the arts, she certainly excelled in every one of them. The Wen Family had always nurtured her according to the standards of refined young ladies and elegant women. Though she was rebellious and hard to train, in the end, she learned everything exceptionally well. Unfortunately, just when she was ready to embody the title of a socialite, her prestigious family faced a sudden downfall.
"Perhaps fate only allowed us to meet,
Only let us fall in love this autumn season.
After it has fallen, we realize these fragments of happiness,
How am I supposed to pick them up..."
Junxi's lips held a slight smile, yet there was an indescribable sorrow in her furrowed brow.
Zhou Xuanyu's eyes were filled with warmth, blooming solely for her.
As the song concluded, everyone generously applauded her, and she shyly smiled in response. That perfectly appropriate and enchanting smile left him somewhat entranced.
"Thank you! Thank you!"
She clasped her hands together and spun around, expressing her gratitude to those around her in a mix of Italian and Chinese.
"Did you enjoy it?" She finally turned to Zhou Xuanyu.
"It was wonderful." He gave her a thumbs-up.
"Is this your first time hearing this song?"
Zhou Xuanyu nodded; indeed, it was his first time hearing it.
"Are the lyrics of popular songs really this beautiful and profound nowadays?"
"This is a song by Jay Chou! You haven't heard a song by Jay Chou?" Junxi rolled her eyes and deliberately stepped back a bit from him. "Xuan Yu Uncle, we really have a generation gap!"
The rain never stopped in the end. Zhou Xuanyu ran out halfway to buy an umbrella, and when he returned to hold it for her, he was completely soaked.
Junxi got into the taxi protected by him, and when they returned to the hotel, not a single drop of water had splashed on her. Worried that she might be hungry, he arranged dinner for her before heading back to his room to take a shower.
After the Wen Family's defeat, she had fallen from Yaochi into the mortal world and hadn't enjoyed the pampered treatment of a princess for a long time. But on this day, Zhou Xuanyu made up for all of that.
After Junxi finished her shower, she sat alone on the edge of the bed, pulling out the photo she took with Zhou Xuanyu today and examining it closely.
Most men aren't used to taking selfies. Although Zhou Xuanyu looked great in the picture with a beautiful smile, only Junxi knew that when she pressed the shutter button, Zhou Xuanyu was so awkward that he didn't know where to put his hands... She had put him in a difficult position today.
She leaned back onto the big bed and gently placed a kiss on her phone screen.
"Good night, Zhou Xuanyu," she murmured.
As if they were connected by some unseen bond, a text message suddenly popped up on her phone.
"Good night."
Just those simple two words and a punctuation mark, signed by Zhou Xuanyu.
She smiled and hugged her phone tightly, rolling around in bed like she had found treasure...
Tonight, it seemed she would have trouble sleeping.
Junxi had indeed spent a restless night, with a voice in her dreams reminding her that the sweet three days she had were limited and would soon come to an end.
The rain had fallen all night without stopping. When she got up and opened the curtains, she saw a Water Spirit named Florence, and for some reason, her mood sank.
Zhou Xuanyu did not come to find her with a pile of delicious food like he had the day before.
After getting ready and waiting in her room for quite a while, she still did not hear him knock on the door.
A bad thought flashed through her mind. Yesterday, he had been so damp; could he have caught a cold? She hurriedly ran to his room and knocked on the door.
After a long time, Zhou Xuanyu finally came out to open it.
"Why are you up so early?" he asked, his voice hoarse and unlike his usual tone.
Early? If it weren't for the rain, it would have been well past noon by now; how could it be early?
"Why is your voice so hoarse? Are you sick?"
Junxi hadn't even stepped inside yet; she stood on her tiptoes at the doorway and placed the back of her hand against his forehead.
Heaven, it was indeed burning hot.
"You have a fever!" Junxi exclaimed.
Zhou Xuanyu pressed his own forehead with his hand and confirmed that it was indeed warm.
"It's nothing."
He spoke lightly, his footsteps equally light.
Junxi quickly supported him; he felt as if he could be cooked on the spot.
“It’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have let you get caught in the rain yesterday.”
Junxi was nearly overwhelmed by feelings of guilt and heartache. In this deep autumn, even the strongest person couldn’t withstand such a downpour. It was her negligence; she always thought Zhou Xuanyu was as tough as iron, forgetting that he was just a flesh-and-blood mortal.
“Foolish girl, I’m really fine.”
In the darkness, he grasped her wrist, his muddled mind still remembering to comfort her.
Junxi’s tears swirled in her eyes; even at this moment, he still insisted on being stubborn. Usually, it was him who said she was putting on a brave front, but in reality, they were just two sides of the same coin, equally stubborn.
Junxi walked over and pulled back the curtains, letting light flood into the room.
Zhou Xuanyu instinctively flopped back onto the bed, his high fever making his face look haggard.
“Should we go to the hospital?”
“No need.” He firmly refused. “It’s just a little cold; why go to the hospital?”
“Look at you; you can’t even sit up. How can you say we don’t need to go?”
As soon as Junxi finished speaking, Zhou Xuanyu pushed himself up from the bed with both hands. Seeing her tearful expression made him smile, and he deliberately changed the subject, asking her, “Where do you want to go today? Giotto's Bell Tower? Or…”
“I’m not going anywhere.” She interrupted him. “If you’re not going to the hospital, then I’m not going anywhere either.”
“Junxi…” He wanted to say something more.
Junxi ignored him. She found his suitcase in his room and prepared a set of clean clothes, handing them to him.
"Change into these."
"Junxi..."
"I can help you change if you want," she said, reaching out to pull off his pajamas.
Zhou Xuanyu lacked the strength to stop her, and before he knew it, the hem of his T-shirt was lifted from below... His perfect V-line was suddenly exposed to her gaze.
She felt a heat rising within her; surely, the cold virus couldn't spread this quickly.
"Ahem." Junxi cleared her throat and asked, "Do you want me to keep going?"
Zhou Xuanyu caught her hand and gently released it.
A helpless sigh escaped his lips. "I'll do it myself."
Junxi turned away with a sense of relief and walked toward his bathroom.
"Hurry up and get dressed. I'll prepare some water for you to wash your face."
After they went to the hospital, she busied herself with registration and waiting in line.
Zhou Xuanyu's temperature soared close to thirty-nine degrees, but the doctors abroad advised against IV fluids. She argued for a long time but ultimately only managed to get a handful of medications.
She went to get the medicine, and he followed closely behind her. Seeing her serious expression, he felt a sense of unease. He had never encountered a fever this severe before.
He asked her what the doctor said.
"The doctor said if you had come any later, you could have damaged your brain."
Her tone was harsh, but it was the truth. If it weren't for his strong constitution, he would have been in serious trouble by now.
"Don't try to scare me with that nonsense," he replied.
"You know you're not a child anymore, yet you still fussed about not wanting to come to the hospital." She became angry as she spoke. "If something really happened to you..."
Just as she blinked, her eyes turned red.
Zhou Xuanyu reached out and gently rubbed her head.
"See? I'm fine. Why are you so anxious?"
Junxi glanced at him, unsure if it was due to the fever, but he was actually able to joke around like this. Her heart softened, and she directly wrapped her arms around him.
"This is a hospital; everyone is watching," Zhou Xuanyu reminded her.
"I don't care. It's only the second day; you said three days haven't even passed yet. You're sick, and that concerns me too. I can do whatever I want!"
"Alright, do whatever you want," Zhou Xuanyu said as he embraced her in return.
After returning to the hotel, she watched him take his medicine and then lie down.
"I can't go anywhere today," he said with a hint of regret.
"I'm fine, I'll just stay here and watch you."
She leaned over the edge of his bed, her black hair cascading onto the snow-white sheets, framing her gentle face. Yet, there was still a deep layer of worry in her eyes.
"Watching me sleep must be so boring."
She shook her head.
No matter how long she watched him, even for a lifetime, she would gladly do so; how could she ever find it boring?
"You should get some sleep too. Once my fever breaks, I'll come find you."
"I'm not tired," she replied, but then let out an involuntary yawn.
Zhou Xuanyu smiled.
"Really not tired?"
"Don't mind me, just go to sleep," Junxi urged him as she got up to tuck the blankets around him.
Suddenly, Zhou Xuanyu reached out and grabbed her arm. With a slight pull, Junxi found herself falling onto his bed.
"Sleep here with me."
He patted the spot next to him on the pillow.
"Have you lost your mind?" Junxi blushed as she pulled away from his embrace.
"Since you refuse to go back, you can only sleep here," he said confidently.
"I'm just..."
"Come here."
He pulled her into his arms, rolling over to press her down beside him.
"You..."
"I'm sick and can't do anything."
"But..."
"Even if I could do something, it wouldn't matter. Have you forgotten? I am your amore."
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