Morning sunlight slowly slipped through the curtains of Lin Yue's apartment.
The quiet room was warm and peaceful, a soft contrast to the tense nights they had been experiencing recently.
On the sofa in the living room, Mo Chen sat upright with his eyes half closed. Even though he had remained there the entire night, he looked completely awake, as if sleep was something unnecessary for him.
The bedroom door slowly opened.
Lin Yue stepped out, her hair messy from sleep and wearing comfortable home clothes. She stretched her arms lazily and yawned.
"Morning…"
Then she noticed him sitting there.
"You didn't sleep?"
Mo Chen opened his eyes calmly.
"I rested."
Lin Yue crossed her arms and leaned against the wall.
"You sat there all night?"
"Yes."
She stared at him for a moment, then shook her head.
"You're strange."
Mo Chen replied quietly, "Humans require sleep. I require awareness."
Lin Yue rolled her eyes.
"Try explaining that to my professor if I fall asleep in class."
She walked toward the kitchen and opened the refrigerator.
After a few seconds she sighed loudly.
"…We have nothing."
Mo Chen looked at her.
"You ate everything yesterday."
"Excuse me?"
"You ordered six different street foods."
Lin Yue pointed at him.
"And who ate half of them?"
Mo Chen didn't answer.
Lin Yue grabbed a glass of water and drank it quickly.
Then she suddenly remembered something.
"My foot."
She lifted it slightly and looked at the bandage.
The pain was much lighter now.
She glanced toward him.
"…Thanks again."
Mo Chen simply nodded.
Lin Yue stretched again.
"Okay."
She clapped her hands.
"Today we go out."
Mo Chen looked at her.
"For what purpose?"
"Breakfast."
She grabbed her jacket from the chair.
"You still haven't experienced a proper morning in the human world."
Mo Chen stood up.
"Very well."
The morning streets were lively.
Small food stalls lined the sidewalks, and the smell of steamed buns and noodles drifted through the air.
Lin Yue walked ahead confidently.
"Over here!"
She stopped at a small breakfast shop.
Two bowls of noodles and fresh dumplings soon appeared on the table.
Mo Chen watched the steam rise from the bowl.
"You enjoy food very much."
Lin Yue picked up her chopsticks.
"Food makes life better."
She took a bite and smiled happily.
Mo Chen slowly tasted the noodles.
He paused.
Lin Yue noticed.
"Well?"
"…Acceptable."
She laughed.
"That's high praise from the Night Sovereign."
They finished breakfast and stepped back into the street.
The sunlight felt warm, and the air carried the energy of the busy city.
Lin Yue walked beside him, swinging her arms casually.
"Since we don't have classes today…"
Mo Chen looked at her.
"…Yes?"
She grinned.
"Let's walk around."
"Walk?"
"Yes."
She pointed down the street.
"Just walk."
Mo Chen followed.
For someone who had ruled ancient battlefields, the peaceful act of walking through a city street was strangely unfamiliar.
People passed them on bicycles.
Shops opened their doors.
Children laughed somewhere nearby.
Lin Yue suddenly stopped at a small street stall.
"Oh!"
She pointed excitedly.
"I want that."
Mo Chen looked at the colorful cotton candy spinning in the machine.
"You want sugar?"
"Yes."
She turned to the vendor.
"One please!"
Moments later she held the fluffy pink cotton candy happily.
She took a bite and smiled.
Then she noticed Mo Chen staring.
"…What?"
"You seem pleased."
"I am."
She held it toward him.
"Try."
Mo Chen looked at the cotton candy.
Then carefully took a small piece.
Lin Yue watched his reaction eagerly.
"Well?"
He paused.
"…Too sweet."
She laughed loudly.
"That's the point!"
They continued walking through the park nearby.
The trees moved gently in the breeze, and sunlight filtered through the leaves.
Lin Yue suddenly slowed down.
Her injured foot still hurt slightly.
Mo Chen noticed immediately.
"You are walking slower."
"It's fine."
Before she could react—
Mo Chen grabbed her wrist gently.
She blinked.
"What are you doing?"
"You should not strain your foot."
"I'm okay!"
But he didn't let go.
Instead, he guided her to a nearby bench.
"Sit."
Lin Yue sighed and sat down.
"You're too serious."
Mo Chen stood in front of her.
"You are careless."
Lin Yue leaned back on the bench and looked up at him.
The sunlight behind him made his dark hair glow slightly.
For a moment she simply stared.
"…You know something?"
"What?"
"You look less scary in daylight."
Mo Chen raised an eyebrow.
"That is an improvement."
Lin Yue laughed softly.
The park around them felt peaceful.
Children ran across the grass.
Birds chirped in the trees.
Mo Chen sat down beside her.
Their shoulders almost touched.
Lin Yue looked down at her hands.
"…Mo Chen."
"Yes?"
"Are you getting used to this world?"
He looked around the park slowly.
"…It is different."
"Better or worse?"
He thought for a moment.
"…Uncertain."
Lin Yue smiled.
"Well…"
She looked at him again.
"You're doing pretty well so far."
Mo Chen glanced at her.
"And you?"
"What about me?"
"You seem unusually calm for someone surrounded by supernatural problems."
Lin Yue shrugged.
"I'll deal with it when it happens."
She stood up carefully.
"Come on."
"Where now?"
She pointed ahead.
"Let's keep walking."
Mo Chen stood up beside her.
As they walked slowly through the park path, their shoulders brushed lightly.
Neither of them moved away.
The morning sunlight followed them quietly.
And for once—
There was no danger.
No enemies.
Just a peaceful moment between them.
End of Chapter 19...