He glanced back at the unconscious Sakuragi Hitomi, Tong Yingying, Yuanlina, and Alvira, his gaze slightly lowered.

...

...

The moonlight over Linmen tonight is chilly, but the few who are asleep do not feel it.

Perhaps it’s because when Yan Huan and Bai Yi left, he didn’t forget to help them onto the bed and cover them with blankets.

Meanwhile, the previously abandoned villa area in the North Sea District remains unchanged.

Among them, there’s also the one Bai Yi once chose to rent.

On the second floor, the unconscious girl, sleeping soundly, had just been placed down by Yan Huan.

Compared to reality, this place is much older and the ground is full of dust, so after setting Bai Yi down, Yan Huan originally intended to tidy up a bit...

"Mmm..."

But who would have thought, as soon as Bai Yi, who had been carried all the way here, was placed on the bed, she whimpered as if experiencing separation anxiety.

Clearly still asleep, her beautiful face was tinged with sadness, her small face wrinkled as she pouted, and with eyes closed, she fumbled on the bed for the hand of Yan Huan, who was retreating,

"No... don’t go... mmm..."

Seeing this, Yan Huan felt a softness in his heart, and he gave up leaving, reaching out again to hold her soft hand.

Interestingly, when her hand tightly held his, her uneasy sleeping face instantly faded, replaced by an inexplicable sense of peace.

"..."

Holding her cold little hand, Yan Huan also felt a rush of peace within himself.

However, this warm scene didn’t last long, as the peace on Bai Yi’s face gradually transformed into grievance and sadness, and she couldn’t help but call out,

"Yan Huan... Yan Huan..."

"..."

Yan Huan worried about the risk of her waking up, given that the current timeline had been disrupted by their actions, like a sudden clap of thunder. If past Bai Yi became aware she was from the future, it might cause even greater disasters.

But at this moment...

Seeing her unease and helplessness, Yan Huan ultimately couldn’t bear it.

So, he lowered his head and responded to Bai Yi,

"I’m here, Bai Yi."

In Yan Huan’s golden eyes, the world line remained unchanged, maintaining a fragile stability...

Just like the fragile yet unawakened nightmare of the girl in front of him.

"Mmm... mmm..."

Upon hearing Yan Huan’s voice, she immediately whimpered in grievance within the dream.

She, like a clingy person reunited after a long absence, burrowed into Yan Huan’s embrace.

Yan Huan was slightly taken aback but then leaned back and lay on the bed, allowing her to hug him, pressing her face against his chest.

As his heartbeat gradually accelerated, Yan Huan heard Bai Yi’s muffled sleep talk,

"Mmm... Yan Huan... you’ve finally come back... you... don’t know how much I have done to save you... mmm... mmm..."

"I know."

Upon hearing this, Yan Huan couldn’t help but raise his hand, letting his palm stroke her hair as it moved up her back.

Only she knew he had been by her side all this time, watching all that she had just done.

"But no matter how hard I tried... I couldn’t do it... just like that day..."

"..."

She continued to mumble unclearly in his arms, crying, while Yan Huan silently brushed her long hair, listening intently,

"Even though you haven’t confessed to me, you haven’t been with me... how could this happen..."

But isn’t it the same the other way around?

Even though he hadn’t verbally expressed his gratitude for her midnight run to save him, even though he hadn’t verbally apologized for his continued deceit...

Even though he hadn’t verbally expressed his feelings for her...

Why did she just disappear like that?

Why do all the current developments point to her inevitable disappearance?

"..."

Thinking of this, Yan Huan couldn’t help but breathe heavily.

At this moment, the girl asleep in his arms seemed to feel the same emotion.

But unlike Yan Huan’s silence, she remained optimistic...

Even if every time ended as a "clown," next time, she would still comfort herself, crying,

"It’s okay... there must be a way... there must be a way to save you, my Yan Huan...

"It will surely return to normal, I’m sure that when it’s all over... I’ll hear your confession...

"And be with me...

"Together..."

She murmured like this, as a teardrop fell.

At this moment, in Yan Huan’s warm embrace, Bai Yi’s eyelashes trembled slightly, her lips slightly parted, urging her breath to calm...

She irresponsibly threw such emotional words at Yan Huan, while hiding in the land of dreams herself.

However, Yan Huan, after all, is also an irresponsible guy, otherwise, he wouldn’t have deceived her so many times.

So, Yan Huan didn’t mind.

On the contrary...

This time, he didn’t want to be the irresponsible villain.

"Yes, there will definitely be a way..."

Looking at the sleeping girl, Yan Huan gently held her shoulders, inch by inch, pulling her tightly into his embrace.

He lowered his gaze, gently lifting Bai Yi’s bangs...

Then, unable to resist, he leaned down and kissed the tear-streaked corner of her eye...

Then her pale cheek, the flushed tip of her nose.

Finally, her slightly parted lips.

"Mmm..."

After that gentle kiss, Yan Huan rested his forehead against hers.

The warmth exchanged through their foreheads, the touching noses sketching the outline of a lover...

Here, for the first time, Yan Huan sincerely confessed to Bai Yi,

"I like you, my girl."

...

...

"Buzz..."

"Mmm..."

Bai Yi, in a daze, just felt weary, her consciousness heavy, but...

There was always a very comfortable, pleasant feeling.

Like enjoying a summer’s evening with nothing to do, lying alone on a deserted beach, savoring the lingering warmth of the sand that wasn’t scorching.