The afternoon was bright and clear, the sky spotless and blue, with the sun casting a gentle warmth over the earth. Golden rays slipped through the large windows of the functional room, bathing the space in a calm and cozy ambiance. Serena sat leisurely on the sofa by the window, enjoying the view of the sky while letting her thoughts drift aimlessly.
Not long after, Ren returned from walking Riri to the gate. He opened the door and stepped in with a warm smile, then sat right beside Serena.
"When's your book coming out?"
he asked casually, breaking the silence between them.
Serena turned to him and offered a faint smile.
"Riri said, in about three days,"
she replied. "Why do you ask?"
"Well, of course, because I want to buy it," Ren answered with a wide grin.
Serena let out a soft chuckle.
"You should've just told me. I could've asked Riri for a copy for you."
"No need! I want to buy it myself. But you have to sign it, okay?"
Ren said playfully.
"Alright," Serena laughed gently.
Without warning, Ren suddenly lifted Serena and placed her on his lap. Though startled at first, Serena leaned back comfortably against Ren's chest. He wrapped his arms around her tightly, as if he never wanted to let her go.
"When did you start writing?"
Ren asked, resting his chin atop Serena's head.
Serena thought for a moment.
"Hm... about two years ago. I started casually writing on an online forum. At the time, I just wanted to pour out my thoughts, but surprisingly, my stories caught attention. Eventually, the company where Riri works reached out and offered me a publishing contract."
Ren nodded, clearly interested.
"Do you enjoy writing?"
Serena gave a faint smile.
"Not at first. I wrote just to escape from reality. When I wrote, my mind focused on the story, and for a moment… I could forget everything."
Ren fell silent.
There was a subtle sadness behind Serena's words.
Then he asked, hesitantly,
"Have you been happy... these past ten years?"
Serena didn't answer right away.
Her eyes turned toward the sky, now shifting into a soft orange hue.
"I don't know…" she replied softly.
Ren looked at her, her face glowing in the twilight. Her expression was calm, but there were scars beneath it.
"My definition of happiness might be different from yours, or anyone else's. My life hasn't always been full of flowers. But… there were moments of warmth I received," Serena whispered.
Then, memories of Adrian's attitude yesterday passed through her mind. A faint smile appeared on her lips, but her eyes dimmed.
"That warmth," she thought, "seems to have turned cold."
Seeing the change in her expression, Ren placed a gentle kiss on her head. He understood too well—Serena was cloaked in sadness she never fully shared.
"From now on, I'll do my best to make you happy,"
Ren said seriously.
And in his heart, he made that a promise.
Serena smiled warmly. Though his words might've just been a form of comfort, they still brought her peace. At the very least, Ren was trying.
What Serena didn't know was—in the future, those words would come true.
Ren truly filled her days with love and smiles.
They remained in silence for a while, holding each other close. Quiet, yet full of comfort.
"What do you want for dinner?"
Ren asked suddenly, breaking the silence with a lighter tone.
Serena turned to him with a small smile.
"I think I'll just have dinner at home,"
she said, watching his reaction closely.
As expected, Ren immediately frowned.
"Huh? Why not just eat here?"
There was a hint of protest in his voice he couldn't hide.
"If I eat here, I'll probably head home pretty late. I don't want you driving back and forth at night—it's dangerous,"
Serena explained gently.
Ren let out a short sigh.
"Then… just stay the night here,"
he blurted out instinctively.
Serena raised her eyebrows, eyeing him with suspicion.
"That's your real goal, isn't it? So I'll sleep over," she said, half teasing.
Though it was a question, her tone sounded more like a confident statement.
Ren didn't answer. He just gave an innocent smile.
"Typical you,"
Serena said, pretending to hit his arm, which was still wrapped around her.
Ren chuckled and buried his face into Serena's neck.
"I just want to be with you a little longer…"
he murmured honestly.
Serena fell silent.
She could feel the sincerity in his voice. And truthfully, she felt the same. But staying at Ren's house indefinitely wasn't an option. They weren't married, and they were no longer young. People would talk—friends, neighbors, everyone.
"Just one more night…"
Serena whispered, barely audible.
Ren instantly turned her to face him. His face lit up like a child receiving a new toy.
"Really?" he asked, eyes gleaming.
Serena nodded.
"Yes. But only one night, okay? After that, I'm going home."
Ren laughed joyfully, then kissed her briefly on the lips before pulling her into a tight embrace. Serena hugged him back, smiling at how happy he was.
"So… what do you want for dinner? I'll cook anything!"
Ren exclaimed excitedly, as if he could whip up anything Serena requested.
Serena thought for a moment, then looked at him with a mischievous grin.
She mentioned a dish—one Ren had always struggled to make.
And just as expected, Ren immediately grimaced and protested,
"W-What?! That's so hard! Can't you pick something else?"
Serena couldn't help laughing. She laughed heartily, satisfied with Ren's flustered reaction.
That evening, the functional room wasn't just lit by sunlight—
but by love. Warm, sincere, and glowing.
---
Meanwhile…
Frau had been feeling uneasy lately.
He sensed that his wife, Iril, was hiding something from him.
Though Iril behaved normally—calm, attentive, and without anything obviously suspicious—Frau, who had lived with her for years, could catch the smallest shifts unnoticed by others.
Just a fleeting moment—her gaze or tone subtly different—was enough for his instincts to flare.
"Babe,"
Frau called softly, watching his wife who was busy packing clothes into their suitcase.
They were heading back to City A the next morning after several days out of town for work.
"Yes?"
Iril replied shortly without turning around, her hands still neatly folding and organizing the clothes.
Frau watched her for a moment before asking,
"Is something going on?"
That question made Iril pause.
She turned slowly to him, looking slightly surprised—as if she hadn't expected the question.
"No. Why do you ask?"
she replied, trying to sound casual.
"I just feel like… you're acting a little differently,"
Frau said honestly, his eyes fixed on hers.
Iril chuckled lightly, trying to dissolve the tension.
"Different how? I'm just the same. Nothing's wrong, okay?"
But from the way she spoke, Frau knew she wasn't being entirely truthful.
He looked at her for a long moment, then pulled her into his embrace.
Iril didn't resist. She simply stayed quiet, allowing herself to be wrapped in his warmth.
No words were exchanged. Only silence and the quiet comfort of being close.
---