The apartment was quiet again.
After the long day outside, the small living room felt unusually comfortable. The warm light from the lamp filled the room, and the faint noise of the city outside drifted in through the slightly open window.
Lin Yue lay lazily on the sofa with a pillow under her head.
"I'm never walking that much again."
Mo Chen sat on the chair nearby, watching her calmly.
"You said the same thing yesterday."
"That's different."
She turned her head toward him.
"Yesterday I didn't know you were going to make me walk through half the city."
Mo Chen tilted his head slightly.
"You suggested most of the places."
Lin Yue blinked.
"…Okay that's true."
She sat up slowly and stretched.
"Still, I'm tired."
Mo Chen looked at her injured foot.
"Your foot is healing."
Lin Yue followed his gaze.
"Oh."
She moved it slightly.
"It actually hurts less."
"That is because you rested."
She leaned back again and looked at him.
"You know, you're surprisingly good at taking care of people."
Mo Chen didn't respond.
Lin Yue narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
"…Have you done this before?"
"No."
"Really?"
"Yes."
She stared at him for a few seconds.
"You're learning very fast then."
Mo Chen looked toward the window again.
Silence filled the room for a moment.
Then Lin Yue suddenly stood up.
"I'm hungry."
Mo Chen looked at her.
"You ate dinner two hours ago."
"That was two hours ago."
She walked into the kitchen and opened the refrigerator.
After a few seconds she sighed loudly.
"There's nothing again."
Mo Chen stood up and walked closer.
"You eat frequently."
"I burn energy."
"How?"
"Thinking."
Mo Chen looked at her.
"…You think a lot?"
Lin Yue turned around with a spoon in her hand.
"Are you insulting me?"
"Possibly."
She laughed.
"You're getting better at sarcasm."
After searching the cabinets for a few minutes, she finally found instant noodles.
"Perfect."
She filled a pot with water and turned on the stove.
Mo Chen leaned against the kitchen doorway watching her.
"You cook often?"
"Yes."
"Your cooking skills are questionable."
Lin Yue turned around dramatically.
"Excuse me?"
"You burned the eggs yesterday."
"That was one time!"
Mo Chen said nothing.
Lin Yue pointed at him.
"You're banned from commenting on my cooking."
The water started boiling.
She dropped the noodles into the pot and waited.
The warm steam filled the small kitchen.
Mo Chen suddenly spoke again.
"You look happier today."
Lin Yue glanced at him.
"I am."
"Why?"
She shrugged.
"Because today was normal."
She stirred the noodles slowly.
"No vampires."
"No hunters."
"No weird supernatural disasters."
She smiled.
"Just walking around and eating food."
Mo Chen watched her quietly.
"Is that important to you?"
"Yes."
She nodded.
"Normal things are important."
After a moment she placed two bowls on the table.
"Come eat."
Mo Chen sat down across from her.
Lin Yue pushed one bowl toward him.
"You're lucky."
"Why?"
"You get free dinner."
Mo Chen tasted the noodles slowly.
Lin Yue watched him carefully.
"Well?"
"…Better than yesterday."
She grinned proudly.
"I'll take that as a compliment."
They ate quietly for a while.
The apartment felt peaceful again.
After finishing, Lin Yue carried the bowls to the sink.
Mo Chen stood up and walked toward the window again.
The night sky outside was clear.
Stars faintly visible above the city lights.
Lin Yue returned to the sofa and sat down.
Then she looked at him.
"Mo Chen."
"Yes?"
"Do you ever regret waking up?"
He didn't answer immediately.
Lin Yue watched his back carefully.
"I mean…"
She spoke softly.
"Your world must have been completely different."
Mo Chen finally turned toward her.
"Different does not mean better."
Lin Yue nodded slowly.
"I guess."
Then she suddenly smiled.
"Well, at least now you get noodles and ice cream."
Mo Chen's expression softened slightly.
"That is… an improvement."
Lin Yue laughed.
"See? Modern life isn't so bad."
She pulled the blanket from the sofa and wrapped it around herself.
Then she leaned her head against the cushion.
"You know something?"
"What?"
"You look less scary every day."
Mo Chen raised an eyebrow.
"That is not good for my reputation."
Lin Yue yawned.
"Well… too late."
She closed her eyes for a moment.
But after a few seconds she opened them again.
Mo Chen was still standing by the window.
Watching the city.
"Mo Chen."
"Yes?"
"…You're not going to disappear while I'm sleeping, right?"
Mo Chen looked at her quietly.
"No."
Lin Yue smiled sleepily.
"Good."
She pulled the blanket tighter around herself.
The apartment slowly grew silent again.
Outside, the city continued moving beneath the night sky.
But inside the small room—
Everything felt calm.
For now.
End of Chapter 21...