Fu Lin quickly reached out his arms and caught Kiana☆ firmly. The soft and bouncy sensation from her waist made it hard for him to let go.
But he quickly realized his lapse, averted his eyes, released her, and cleared his throat awkwardly before saying,
"I'll give it to you after you freshen up and get dressed."
"Got it~"
Kiana☆ didn't seem to notice Fu Lin's awkwardness. She just nodded obediently and walked toward the bathroom with light steps.
-----------------------------------
"Fu Lin~ I'm done with my bath. How does this outfit look? Is it pretty?"
Hearing Kiana☆'s voice from behind, Fu Lin slowly put down the steaming teacup in his hand, turned his head, and his expression immediately became complicated.
He saw Kiana☆, who had just come out of the bathroom, barefoot, with her fair little face flushed red, like the vibrant glow of a sunrise.
It happened to complement the white dress she wore, making her look especially fresh and ethereal.
But when his gaze fell on her wet, dripping white hair, Fu Lin couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
Fu Lin spoke seriously,
"You're not even wearing shoes, and you didn't bother to dry your hair. You'll catch a cold and feel awful. I've told you this so many times, why can't you ever remember?"
However, Kiana☆ acted as if she hadn't heard a thing, wearing an innocent expression.
Then she briskly walked over to Fu Lin, skillfully dragged a stool over, sat with her back to him, her bright eyes sparkling with expectation, and said with a cheerful smile,
"Hehe, that's why I have you, Fu Lin~ You'll take care of me, so there's nothing to worry about~"
Fu Lin was momentarily stunned by Kiana's sudden words. After a long silence, he finally spoke slowly,
"What if one day I leave? Wouldn't you be unable to take care of yourself at all?"
Kiana☆, however, seemed completely at ease and calmly replied,
"Fu Lin, you can't go back on your word. You promised you'd stay with me forever~"
Fu Lin opened his mouth but didn't know what to say. In the end, he could only shake his head helplessly, went to the side, got a dry towel, lifted Kiana☆'s long hair, and began to gently dry it.
Kiana☆ felt the motion behind her, turned her head, and when she saw Fu Lin's serious expression, a warm feeling rose in her heart. "Fu Lin, you're so good~"
Fu Lin patted her head and smiled, "Don't be silly, hurry and dry your hair. If you really catch a cold, it won't be pleasant."
Kiana☆ nodded obediently and let Fu Lin continue drying her hair. The atmosphere between the two was warm and harmonious, as if time had stood still.
Once there were no more droplets falling from her hair, Fu Lin activated the power of Garuda within him, then controlled the Herrscher of Wind's authority to the lowest output.
In an instant, a warm and fiery breeze gently flowed from his palm, like a magical living hairdryer, beginning to dry Kiana☆'s damp hair.
Once her hair was fully dried, Fu Lin reached out and asked, "Alright, your hair's dry. Where's your hair tie? I'll help you tie it up."
Kiana☆ playfully blinked, raised the corner of her lips, and gently extended her right hand, revealing a blue hair tie in her palm. "Here you go~"
She looked at Fu Lin quietly, her gaze full of certainty, as if she had already known he'd ask for it.
Then she slowly handed the hair tie over.
Relaxing her entire body, her face beamed with joy as she leisurely began to hum a cheerful tune—she looked completely content.
Fu Lin took the hair tie and began styling her hair. Then he looked at the Roman curls he'd unknowingly created on Kiana☆ with a baffled expression.
"..." Did I just make some kind of outrageous hairstyle?
Fu Lin stared silently, countless thoughts flashing through his mind, feeling as though he had triggered some kind of forbidden phenomenon.
Noticing his odd reaction, Kiana☆ asked curiously, "Is it done, Fu Lin?"
Fu Lin quickly came back to his senses, forced a smile, and said, "Not yet. Just wait a little longer, Kiana☆."
Then he immediately reached out to undo the Roman curls he'd just created and carefully redid it into a neat bun.
Fu Lin quietly looked at the fresh new hairstyle, a trace of satisfaction and pride flashing in his eyes, and finally nodded in approval.
"All done. Go look in the mirror and see if you like it. If not, we can change it again."
Kiana☆ eagerly ran to the mirror, looking left and right at her reflection, eyes sparkling, and couldn't help but praise herself, "As expected of me—so adorable!"
Fu Lin also smiled and agreed, "Mm, you really are very cute."
Kiana☆ threw herself into Fu Lin's arms, her soft voice sweet enough to melt anyone's heart, calling out affectionately, "Fu Lin~"
Fu Lin gently patted her head, his eyes full of tenderness, then pulled out a baseball bat tied with a ribbon from behind him and said with a smile,
"Alright, here's your birthday present. With this, you won't have to fight Honkai beasts barehanded anymore."
Kiana☆ widened her eyes, a look of surprise flashing in them. She eagerly took the bat, swung it a few times in the air, and said excitedly, "Thank you, Fu Lin, I love it!"
Then, Kiana☆ hugged Fu Lin tightly, as if she wanted to forever etch this moment into her memory.
Looking at the innocent and pure Kiana☆ before him, Fu Lin's eyes were filled with gentle affection.
He nodded contentedly and said,
"As long as you like it. Now, go change your clothes right this minute. We're going out to eat and celebrate."
"Okay~"
Kiana☆'s excitement didn't fade. She nodded vigorously, then let go of Fu Lin and skipped off toward the room.
...
After dinner, Fu Lin and Kiana☆ returned to the cabin. As soon as they opened the door, the warmth of the house enveloped them, and Kiana☆'s crisp voice rang out,
"Fu Lin, are you from Shenzhou?"
Fu Lin turned around in surprise and nodded, "Yeah. Why are you suddenly asking that?"
Kiana☆ lowered her head slightly, then nodded again after a moment. A hint of hesitation flashed in her eyes, but she quickly firmed up and softly said, "Fu Lin, I want to go see Shenzhou."
Fu Lin looked at her serious expression and smiled, trying to ease the tension as he asked, "Oh? Why? Isn't it nice here?"
Kiana☆ lifted her head, her eyes shining as she looked at Fu Lin, hands on her hips, standing up straight, and said,
"I heard there are a lot of fun, beautiful, and delicious things there! Unlike here where it snows all year round and everything's so cold."
"And it's where you lived, Fu Lin…" I want to know more about you.
Kiana☆ paused, lowered her head a bit, biting her lip as if too shy to continue.
Fu Lin quietly stared at the determined look on her face, then slowly revealed a warm smile and softly said, "Alright. Wherever you want to go, I'll go with you."
With that, Fu Lin reached out and held Kiana☆'s small hand. Their eyes met, and that simple sentence instantly calmed Kiana☆'s nervous heart.
Under Fu Lin's warm and gentle smile, he asked softly, "When do you want to leave?"
Kiana☆ replied eagerly, "Tomorrow! Let's go tomorrow!"
Fu Lin gently patted her head, the smile on his face growing even softer, and said,
"Okay, we'll go with your plan. Now, go pack your important things in your room. We'll set off tomorrow."