No Substitutes for the Bigshots' Dream Girl Anymore!-Chapter 1764: Arnold Simmons Extra (130)

Only a small patch of cool tree shade remained.

Beneath the building in the distance, someone was airing out a comforter, hitting it with a hanger. Nearby, under a tree, an elderly man sat on a stone bench playing chess, the sound of solid wooden chess pieces clinking together mixing occasionally with hearty shouting and laughter.

The midday heat was oppressive, and yet unexpectedly serene and beautiful.

It felt as though everything had paused within the sunlight, as clouds gathered and dispersed at the horizon.

The wind from outside blew in through the window, carrying the fragrance of flowers, making the moment especially comforting.

Arnold Simmons stepped out from the kitchen and saw Hannah looking drowsy.

"Feeling sleepy?" He walked over.

Hannah leaned against the armrest of the sofa, a bit uncomfortable. With a soft grunt, she moved entirely into his arms, wrapping her arms around his waist.

Arnold reached out and held her close, gently stroking her loose, soft black hair. He coaxed her in a low voice, "Want to sleep in the bed?"

Hannah shook her head, nudging her face against his waist like a playful gesture.

Feeling the softness nestled in his arms, Arnold’s breath halted for a moment. Something flickered in his downcast gaze, which eventually melted into a quiet sigh.

"Not going to the bed then? Are you just planning to sleep in my arms like this?"

He chuckled softly, his hand lightly ruffling her hair.

"Mm." She responded again, lifting her head. Her bright, dark lashes framed eyes that held a glimmer of sleepiness, misty yet clear. "Are we resting here today?"

Arnold gazed down at her, his palm pressed against her warm, delicate cheek. "Do you want to stay here and rest, or go to the hotel?" 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

Hannah thought for a moment. "Here, I guess."

During the day, the sunlight kept things warm, but once the sun set, the temperature dropped. Accompanied by the last rays of sunset, the evening chill set in.

Before it got completely dark, Arnold decided to go to the newly opened supermarket nearby to pick up some things.

Although the room had been tidied, it was still missing a lot of basic essentials.

When Hannah woke up from the bed, Arnold was already at the door putting on his shoes.

She yawned, covering her mouth, her head still feeling a little fuzzy. "Where are you going?"

"Out to buy some stuff." He walked over, picking her up from the bed and cradling her in his arms. Looking down at her dazed expression, he couldn’t resist kissing the corner of her lips.

He gave her instructions, "Lock the door while I’m gone. Let me know if there’s anything you want to eat, and I’ll bring it back for you."

Outside the window, the sky stretched in deep blue, its vivid night merging with the last streak of sunset orange, forming a distinct boundary. The wind had mostly calmed down by now.

Hannah didn’t feel like staying home alone. "I want to go with you."

She tugged at the hem of his shirt, the sleepiness in her eyes halving.

"Alright, let’s go together."

Arnold fetched her shoes for her.

Outside, the sky had fully darkened. Bright streetlights lit up the roads, no longer reminiscent of the pitch-black alleys from back in the day. There were even people out for evening strolls now.

The area had grown a lot livelier compared to before.

At the intersection stood the newly built supermarket, two stories tall. The first floor focused on groceries, while the second was a general store.

Arnold took Hannah to grab a bite first before heading upstairs to shop.

Once they brought the purchases home, the room suddenly carried more of a lived-in feeling.

While Hannah went to take a shower, Arnold started tidying up the place again.

The old TV could still be turned on, but its screen and sound quality were noticeably poor. Available channels had dwindled to just a few, most airing news programs during this hour.

Only one channel was broadcasting cartoons.

Watching the blurry images on the screen, Arnold’s thoughts drifted to their senior year in high school. Back then, it was in this very room as well.