Over the course of that grueling week, Akira had pushed herself to the absolute limit, reading and meticulously editing all the way up to Chapter 40. Those chapters had been beautifully crafted by An Mei, but there were still ten more of her chapters left to review before the narrative would officially transition over to Wei Jian's written work. It was an exhausting, monumental task, but as the weekend morning rolled in, Akira looked at her closed laptop and made a definitive choice.
Today, she was taking a complete break. She was going to dedicate every single second of her day to Naea and Naria."Akira was knowingly keeping a distance from Naea so that she could learn to live without her when Naea wasn't with her. The distant, suffocating silence of the past week had weighed too heavily on her chest, and she couldn't bear the unspoken gap between them for another day.
Meanwhile, outside the kitchen, the domestic rhythm of the house had subtly changed.
Naea had recently requested Aunt Zhi to step back from the daily cooking duties. It wasn't out of dissatisfaction; rather, Naea wanted to take on more personal responsibility within the household. However, deeply respecting Aunt Zhi's dedication and hard work, she couldn't dream of letting her go. Instead, she rearranged the routine, letting Aunt Zhi handle the rest of the household chores while she proudly took over the kitchen herself.
As the rich, comforting aroma of freshly brewed coffee began to fill the morning air, Naea stood by the counter, carefully assembling breakfast for Akira.
Suddenly, a pair of slender arms wrapped gently around her waist from behind. Naea slightly stiffened in surprise as Akira leaned in, resting her chin softly against Naea's shoulder in a warm, lingering back hug.
"Miss... what is being made for breakfast today?" Akira murmured softly, her voice carrying a deep, relaxed warmth that Naea hadn't heard in days.
Naea kept her eyes focused on the counter, trying to maintain her composure despite the sudden flutter in her chest. "Sandwiches with coffee," she replied, her tone quiet but steady.
A soft, genuine smile broke across Akira's face. Tilting her head up slightly, she pressed a tender, affectionate kiss directly onto Naea's cheek. "Love you..." she whispered.
Naea paused for a brief second, the warmth of the kiss melting away the cold exterior she had maintained all week. She let out a small, quiet breath, turning slightly to look at her. "What happened today? Aren't you going to the cafe? Usually, you don't even have a single second of free time."
Akira's smile widened, her embrace tightening just a fraction as she looked securely into Naea's eyes. "I've taken the entire day off today."
Hearing Akira's words, Naea looked up with a softer expression, a small smile finally gracing her lips. "That's good then. Actually, Aunt Zhi has invited us tonight."
Akira blinked, a thoroughly confused look taking over her face. She adjusted her embrace around Naea's waist. "An invitation? For what?"
Naea, who was organizing the dining area stepped forward with a warm smile. "Today is Zheng's birthday, Akira. She only has one last examination left, which is the day after tomorrow. So, she specially said me to me ."
Hearing Zheng's name, Akira's expression shifted slightly. The internal turmoil and her hidden reasons for maintaining a knowing distance from Naea flashed through her mind, but she quickly suppressed it. She didn't say much, simply offering a quiet nod. "I see..."
With the house entirely quiet, the two of them sat down together at the dining table. Because it was just the two of them now, the atmosphere felt incredibly intimate. For the first time in an entire agonizing week, they were finally having a proper, peaceful breakfast side by side.
The lingering coldness of the past days completely evaporated. Akira gently picked up a piece of the sandwich and fed it to Naea, her eyes filled with unspoken affection. Naea accepted it quietly, a deep warmth flooding her chest, and she softly returned the gesture, feeding Akira in return. Right next to them, little Naria was resting in her basket, cooing softly—the absolute center of their universe, their shared heartbeat.
After sharing that beautiful breakfast, they decided to make the absolute most of their quality time together. They spent the afternoon laughing and playing ping pong and billiards in the recreation room. It was as if Naria knew her parents desperately needed this time to heal their bond; she quietly took her long afternoon nap, giving Akira and Naea the perfect space to reconnect.
Once the games were over, the entire family stepped out for a grand shopping trip, which was entirely Naea's plan. She wanted to pick out the perfect birthday present for Zheng. They walked through various stores, carrying multiple shopping bags, before finally entering a beautifully curated gift store. Standing in front of the shelves, Naea scanned the items, completely lost and confused about what she should actually gift Zheng.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the city, Wei Jian had completely shifted into her university campus.
The silence of the house and the unresolved pain from the incident with Zheng had been suffocating her. Seeking an escape from her aching heart and desperately wanting to force herself to move on, Wei Jian had made a drastic decision. When a boy from her campus stepped up and proposed to her, she didn't refuse. She accepted his proposal, using him as a shield to blunt the memory of Zheng.
Coincidentally, Wei Jian and her new boyfriend were walking hand-in-hand through the exact same massive shopping complex—completely unaware that just a few floors away, Naea, Akira, and baby Naria were standing in a gift store, their paths destined to collide.
Standing amidst the rows of beautifully wrapped packages, Naea turned to Akira, her eyes filled with uncertainty. "Akira, what do you think I should get for her? I'm completely lost."
Akira, who was patiently balancing a couple of heavy shopping bags in one hand while securely guiding Naria's stroller with the other, offered a soft, tired smile. She replied directly, "Honestly, I don't know either. Just buy whatever catches your eye and feels right to you."
As she stared at the shelves, a sudden memory sparked in Naea's mind. She remembered how passionate Zheng was about boxing and martial arts. "A boxing kit," she murmured, her eyes lighting up. Without wasting any more time, she selected a boxing kit and handed it to the store clerk to be elegantly gift-wrapped. Akira watched her with quiet affection; she had absolutely no issues with whatever Naea chose. As long as Naea was happy, she was happy. After paying for the item, they arranged for the heavy boxing kit to be delivered directly to their house so they wouldn't have to carry it around.
However, the moment they stepped out of the glass doors of the gift shop, reality collided with them.
Right there in the corridor stood Wei Jian, hand-in-hand with her new boyfriend. Seeing them, Wei Jian's eyes widened, and she immediately walked over to introduce the boy to Akira and Naea. Keeping their internal shock hidden, both Akira and Naea greeted him politely and exchanged pleasantries.
Excited by the chance encounter, Wei Jian instantly insisted, "You guys have to come with us for a cup of coffee! Let's go to the cafe upstairs."
Naea opened her mouth, fully intending to decline the offer because she wanted to preserve their family time, but before she could speak, Wei Jian playfully grabbed her hand. "Come on, Naea! Don't say no to me today."
Caught off guard, Naea found herself unable to press the refusal. She glanced at Akira, feeling slightly cornered.
Seeing her partner's hesitation, Akira stepped in smoothly, her protective instincts instantly taking over. She looked directly at Wei Jian and spoke with a calm, definitive authority. "Actually, we just had coffee together with our breakfast this morning—and honestly, it was ten times better than any coffee you can find out here in the mall."
She paused for a brief second, her dark eyes locking with Naea's before looking back at Wei Jian. "Plus, we have somewhere very important we need to be today, so we won't be able to join you."
Understanding exactly what her partner was doing, Naea didn't utter a single objection. Without waiting for Wei Jian to bargain any further, Akira gently but firmly took hold of Naea's hand, locking their fingers together. Steering Naria's stroller with her free hand, she smoothly guided her small family away from the crowd, leaving Wei Jian and her boyfriend behind in the corridor.
As they walked away, the warmth of Akira's hand enveloping hers sent a rush of comfort through Naea's entire body. Looking at Akira's focused profile, a beautiful, radiant smile broke across Naea's face—completely captivated by the silent, fierce possessiveness of the woman beside her.
The quiet hum of the underground parking area was a welcome escape from the bustling energy of the shopping complex. Walking up to their car, Akira pressed the button to pop the trunk open. With practiced, smooth movements, she neatly arranged the shopping bags inside and expertly folded Naria's stroller, lifting it into the remaining space.
As the trunk closed with a firm, satisfying thud, Akira wiped a stray strand of hair from her forehead. Turning around to face Naea, her dark eyes scanned their surroundings before resting gently on her partner.
"Naea, did we forget anything?" Akira asked, tilting her head with a thoughtful expression. "Well, as far as I can remember, this was everything we planned to get. I guess we are all set, right?"
Naea was standing close by, cradling a quietly cooing Naria securely against her chest. Hearing the question, a beautiful, playful smile danced across her lips. Her eyes held a warmth that completely eclipsed the coldness of the past week.
"Yes, we forgot one thing," Naea replied softly.
Akira blinked, genuinely pausing. "What did we—"
Before she could finish her sentence, Naea took a step forward, closing the remaining distance between them. Leaning in with absolute confidence, she pressed her soft lips firmly against Akira's cheek, leaving a faint, perfect rosy lip mark right on her skin.
Akira froze for a second, the sudden warmth of the touch sending a sweet shiver down her spine. A radiant, incredibly cute smile broke across her face as she reached up, gently brushing her fingers near the spot Naea had just claimed.
"Well..." Akira chuckled, her voice melting with deep affection. "It's a good thing I forgot it then."
Naea's smile widened, her heart completely at peace. With the shadows of evening officially lengthening over the city and the sky turning into shades of deep purple and gold, the small family opened the car doors. They settled into their seats, securing Naria safely for the ride. With a light heart and the soft music playing on the radio, Akira started the engine, and they finally drove out of the parking lot, heading back home into the cozy embrace of the evening.
Upon arriving home, the atmosphere shifted into a flurry of warm, excited energy as they began preparing for Zheng's evening birthday party. Standing in front of the bedroom mirror, Akira carefully wiped away the faint rosy lip mark from her cheek. Looking through the glass at Naea, who was delicately finalizing her look, a soft smile took over Akira's face.
Stepping up from behind, Akira wrapped her arms gently around Naea's waist, anchoring her close. "You know... you are infinitely sweeter than any lip mark could ever be," Akira murmured softly against her ear. "The best part is, since you are completely mine, I can take a kiss from you whenever I want."
Naea, who looked absolutely breathtaking in a flowing, light green dress that perfectly complemented her elegance, paused her movements. Hearing the smooth confidence in Akira's voice, a playful glint flashed in her eyes. She turned her head slightly, a teasing pout forming on her lips. "Uhhuh... of course you can. After all, you've taken out a lifetime premium membership for that, haven't you?"
Akira let out a genuine, low chuckle, her embrace tightening with deep affection. "And I intend to keep this membership active for the rest of my life."
The shared laughter echoed warmly in the quiet room. Nearby, little Naria was already fully dressed in a tiny, incredibly cute custom frock. Looking like an absolute angel, she kicked her small feet, thoroughly enjoying her parents' happy mood. Akira, sticking to her signature style, had changed into a classic, sharp formal outfit—perfectly tailored, elegant, but sophisticatedly low-key, avoiding any unnecessary show-off.
Just as they finished getting ready, a doorbell announced the arrival of the boxing kit they had purchased earlier. Akira handled the delivery smoothly, lifting the securely wrapped package and carefully placing it into the car's trunk.
With everything perfectly in place, the beautiful family of three settled into the car. Akira started the engine and drove out into the night, navigating toward the specific party location Aunt Zhi had shared, ready to celebrate Zheng's special night.
As the car glided smoothly through the lit streets of the city, Akira kept her hands steady on the steering wheel. To her side, Naea was completely leaning over Naria's car seat, talking to the baby in a soft, animated voice, her face illuminated by a beautiful, radiant smile. Naria cooed back in response, the tiny giggles filling the warm interior of the vehicle.
Akira glanced sideways, capturing the breathtaking view of her family. But as she looked at them, a sudden, heavy memory broke through her defenses, dragging her back into the dark shadows of the past week.
She remembered the agonizing choices she had made over those seven days. She had knowingly, systematically maintained a cold distance from Naea and distanced herself from Naria. It was a brutal, self-inflicted discipline—a desperate attempt to teach herself, and perhaps prepare Naea, to live independently for the times when they wouldn't be side-by-side.
But the reality of that distance had been a living hell for Akira.
Every single night of that week, after she would crawl back from the editing cafe entirely drained, she would slip into the bedroom. She would wait until Naea and Naria fell into a deep, peaceful sleep. And then, sitting silently on the edge of the mattress in the dead of the night, Akira would do nothing but stare at the two of them for hours on end. In that suffocating quietness, looking at the faces of the only two people who held her entire soul, tears would silently stream down her cheeks, soaking her face. She hadn't wanted to inflict this pain on herself or keep secrets, but a terrifying reality kept pounding in her chest—her precious, stolen family time was slipping through her fingers, drawing closer to an end.
A sudden, soft laugh from Naea instantly snapped Akira out of the haunting flashback, pulling her firmly back into the present moment.
She blinked away the phantom weight in her eyes, looking at the warm dashboard lights. The past week was gone, and she wasn't going to let the looming future ruin the beautiful now. Forcing the heavy thoughts into the deepest corners of her mind, Akira anchored herself entirely to the present. She reached over, briefly letting her fingers brush against Naea's knee with a tender warmth, making a silent vow to cherish every remaining second of this family moment to the absolute fullest.