Chapter Thirteen

After a night's rest, Yuzuru completely shed the fatigue of her journey and was fully recharged. After handling several backlogged work matters, she and Mina walked out of the hotel side by side and plunged into the Munich morning light.

The city streets are paved with bluestone slabs, and the European-style buildings on both sides are brightly colored, with windowsills filled with colorful flowers.

They followed the flow of people to Piazza Maria, where the Gothic spire of the town hall pointed straight to the sky, and the bronze fountain in the square splashed up tiny droplets of water. Accompanied by the sound of a street performer's violin, time seemed to slow down.

Just around the corner is St. Peter's Basilica. The moment you step inside, sunlight streams through the stained glass windows, casting dappled light and shadow on the marble floor. The intricate and solemn reliefs on the dome make you unconsciously hold your breath.

The Munich Royal Palace is even more breathtaking, with its gilded columns and magnificent murals. Every detail exudes the grandeur of royalty. The two walked slowly along the corridor, their fingertips brushing against the cool stone walls, as if touching the pulse of history.

As the afternoon wore on, they stopped at a small cafe on the street corner for a break. The freshly baked bread smelled of wheat, and the muffins were drizzled with honey and whipped cream, sweet but not cloying. Paired with a warm latte, it was so pleasant that they didn't want to get up.

"I heard the Munich Oktoberfest is in full swing, lots of locals are going, and there are traditional folk costume performances!" Mui Ne said, holding her coffee cup with sparkling eyes.

Yuzuru was also somewhat tempted, but as soon as he finished speaking, their phones rang almost simultaneously—a video call from Yukimura and a voice message from Tezuka, both with strikingly similar content: the beer festival is crowded and complicated, and you are not allowed to go alone.

Looking at Yukimura's gentle yet unyielding gaze on the screen, and Tezuka's concise and powerful words "unsafe," the two could only helplessly stick out their tongues and give up the idea.

As night deepened, the two lay in bed, covered by the same thin blanket, the lamp casting a warm yellow glow.

“Actually, I didn’t plan to come to Germany this early,” Mina suddenly said, her voice tinged with amusement. “Kuoguang sent me a plane ticket directly, and without thinking twice, I packed my things and flew over.”

Yuzuru turned his head and looked at the smile in her eyes: "Tezuka-kun looks serious, but he's actually a very nice person, and he cares about you a lot."

“Yes,” Mina nodded, her cheeks flushing slightly. “He’s really a good person, but he’s too outstanding, so outstanding that sometimes I feel insecure. I always wonder, can I really stand next to him? Will I hold him back?”

“But he told me that he was with me simply because I am who I am, and nothing else.” Her voice softened, filled with undisguised emotion. “He’s such a man of few words, for him to say something like that, he must have been holding it in for a long time. Thinking about it now, it’s quite embarrassing.”

After a pause, Mina suddenly leaned closer to Yuzuru, lowered her voice, and said excitedly, "I did something really daring! When I first arrived in Munich, he took a day off to spend time with me. One night, I got him drunk—and then I took him!"

"!!" Yuzuru's pupils contracted slightly, and she clicked her tongue in amazement. This level of efficiency was incredible; in half a month, they had covered a distance that she and Yukimura hadn't been able to complete in three years...

“The next day, after he sobered up, he was stunned for a long time, and then he said very seriously that he wanted to take responsibility for me,” Mina’s mouth was almost stretched to her ears. “He also said that he would go back and marry me during the off-season. Both our parents have met and are quite satisfied.”

"It feels like a dream," she said, hugging Yuzuru tightly and shaking him. "Pinch me to see if it's real!"

Yuzuru smiled and nudged her, his heart full of blessings. Once Mina's excitement subsided, her gaze immediately turned gossipy, and she poked Yuzuru's arm: "Now, let's talk about you! How are things between you and Yukimura? He's so clingy, calling you constantly, practically wanting to fly over and be with you right away. Who would have thought that the domineering and strategic Captain Yukimura on the field is like this in private?"

When Yukimura was mentioned, Hanyu's cheeks flushed slightly, and his tone was a little confused: "I can also feel that he has deep feelings for me, but... I don't quite understand why he cares about me so much."

She sighed softly and expressed her unease, "Actually, I'm quite apprehensive. His feelings are so intense, and I'm afraid I can't reciprocate such profound affection."

“How could that be!” Mina immediately retorted, her tone incredibly certain. “If it’s Yuzuru, he definitely can. You’re gentle and resolute; no one is more suitable for him than you.”

As she spoke, Mina suddenly grinned mischievously and reached out to pull down Yuzuru's collar: "Hurry up and tell me honestly, did you hit a home run? How was the experience? Yukimura-kun looks tall and strong, so your stamina should be pretty good, right? Oh my, look at the marks under your collar, it looks like it was quite exciting!"

"I...I did it..." Yuzuru hurriedly grabbed his clothes, his cheeks burning hot, and muttered softly, "It's...it's actually pretty good..."

"Haha, you're so innocent!" Mina laughed so hard she rolled on the floor. "But to be honest, I thought you'd be more passive."

"You were clearly faster!" Yuzuru retorted, unconvinced.

The two chatted amiably, the moonlight streaming through the curtains, reflecting the smiles in each other's eyes. As they talked, drowsiness crept in, their voices grew softer, and finally, they both drifted off into a sweet dream.

On the third day in Munich, the morning light brought a gentle warmth, and Mina took Yuzuru straight to the Old Painting Gallery early in the morning.

Upon entering the museum, the two were immediately enveloped in a tranquil artistic atmosphere. The dome was high, and oil paintings filled the long corridor, each one bearing the weight of time.

Mina's eyes lit up as she leaned closer to admire the artwork while rapidly sending messages to Tezuka, her fingers typing incessantly: "Kunimitsu! This place is absolutely amazing! They even have genuine Dürer works and Rembrandt portraits, the brushstrokes are so delicate!"

She suddenly stopped in front of a still life painting with interplay of light and shadow, covered her mouth and exclaimed, "My God! This is a work with the same color scheme as Vermeer's 'Girl with a Pearl Earring'! I've seen it countless times in art books, and I'm actually seeing the original here!"

Yuzuru followed her gaze and saw the girl on the canvas with gentle eyes and brows. The light and shadow seemed to flow with life. The two leaned closer to examine her closely, not even daring to breathe too heavily.

After leaving the art museum, the two took a taxi to the English Garden. As soon as they entered the park, they were greeted by a vast expanse of greenery, towering ancient trees, winding paths, and the babbling of a clear stream in the distance. No wonder people say that you could spend a whole day here.

A large crowd had already gathered at the artificial wave pool, and the surfers' agile movements amidst the rolling waves drew cheers from the crowds.

Mina immediately raised her camera and started filming the waves and the crowd, muttering, "I have to film this and show it to Guoguang so he can be envious too!"

Yuzuru took out his pre-prepared easel and paintbrushes from his bag and found a shady spot by the lake to sit down.

The lake shimmered, the reeds on the shore swayed gently in the wind, and laughter could be faintly heard from the distant wave pool. She held her paintbrush and carefully sketched the scene before her. Sunlight filtered through the leaves and fell on the paper, leaving dappled light and shadow.

After taking enough photos, Mina moved closer to her, quietly watching the pen move, and occasionally whispered, "It would be even better if I were here too."

In the afternoon, the two followed the aroma of coffee to a small lakeside restaurant.

I chose a seat by the window and ordered two lattes and a slice of Black Forest cake.

Outside the window, pedestrians come and go: couples pushing strollers, young people cycling together, and elderly people strolling side by side. Everything is slow and leisurely, exuding a sense of ease and comfort.

The two held their coffee cups, chatting occasionally, but mostly gazing quietly out the window, feeling the gentle rhythm of the city.

As evening approached, the two headed to Hack Bridge. The setting sun gradually sank in the west, dyeing the sky a brilliant orange-red, and the afterglow spilled onto the river, making it sparkle. Pedestrians by the bridge stopped to take pictures.

Yuzuru and Mina stood side by side on the bridge, the evening breeze gently caressing their hair. As they watched the sunset slowly sink behind the distant buildings, the day's many wonderful moments gradually came to an end, and their hearts were filled with peace and contentment.

Just as the two were about to leave, they heard familiar Chinese conversations behind them.

Looking back, I saw a group of energetic elderly Chinese tourists gathered around the tour guide, listening to his explanation.

Yuzuru took the initiative to greet them and chatted with the elderly people. He learned that they were going to a Bavarian country estate in the suburbs for the next few days. The estate was located at the foot of the Alps and was beautiful and historically rich.

Mina was immediately interested and whispered to Yuzuru about it. The two hit it off and decided to go with the tour group.

The manor did not disappoint. A tranquil and bright rural landscape unfolded before us, with snow-capped mountains in the distance and lush green lawns and colorful flower fields nearby. The ancient manor buildings were arranged in a pleasing and orderly manner, and the air was filled with the fragrance of grass and trees.

Here, time seemed to slow down. The two strolled along the path and even tried horseback riding. They were a little nervous at first, but gradually relaxed under the instructor's guidance. Riding through the woods, the wind whistled past their ears, and it was exceptionally pleasant.

Afterwards, they visited Nymphenburg Palace, a royal palace estate. The palace's design is ingenious, and the Baroque-style architecture is magnificent yet elegant. In particular, there is a huge lake with crystal-clear water that reflects the palace's image, making every snapshot a picture-perfect scene.

Mina kept taking pictures with her camera, exclaiming repeatedly, "This is so beautiful! It's like a castle from a fairy tale!"

They also visited the place where Princess Sissi grew up. A babbling brook flowed through the woods, and wildflowers bloomed on both sides of the stone path. Strolling through the fallen leaves, it was as if they could feel the happy times the princess spent there, making for a wonderful experience.

After a week of crazy travel, Yuzuru and Mina explored almost all the beautiful sights in and around Munich, and every day was fulfilling and joyful.

Yukimura's urging calls became more and more frequent, and Tezuka's messages changed from "be careful" to "when are you going to return?" The dissatisfaction in his tone was almost overflowing from the screen.

Finally, the day of parting arrived. At the airport, Mina clung to Yuzuru, refusing to let go, her eyes red and swollen: "Please don't go, okay? I can't bear to leave you. It's best if you stay with me. Let's not have those stinky men anymore, okay!" As she spoke, tears streamed down her face.

Yuzuru gently patted her back to comfort her: "We'll meet again in the future. When you and Tezuka get married, I'll definitely be your bridesmaid."

Seeing the boarding notice at the airport, Yuzuru had no choice but to let go of her. "It's time. I have to go. Take care of yourself."

After waving goodbye, Yuzuru turned and walked into the security checkpoint. Looking back, Mina was still standing there waving, her eyes still red.

Filled with memories and reluctance, Yuzuru boarded a flight back to the UK.