Chapter 76
The southern French sun was generous and gentle, warming the cobblestone roads of the small village. They had rented two old bicycles, their baskets filled with fresh fruit and a loaf of bread from the market. Ling Yao rode in front, occasionally looking back at Su Rui. His eyes curved into a smile beneath the brim of his hat, shedding all the aloofness of a superstar, like a pure, grown-up boy.
The wheels rolled over the small path through the fields, flanked by endless golden rice paddies. Heavy ears of rice hung low, rippling in the breeze and emitting the dry, warm aroma of grain. In the distance were rolling hills and blue sky with white clouds, as if the world was left only with them and this peaceful land.
"Slow down!" Su Rui called him with a smile. The wind blew his hair, and he felt more cheerful than ever before.
Ling Yao slowed down and waited for him to catch up. They rode side by side, their arms occasionally brushing against each other, bringing a subtle and sweet touch. They had no destination, just moving aimlessly along the ridge of the field, enjoying the sunshine, the breeze, and the simple joy of each other's company.
That afternoon, they wandered into a hidden handmade jewelry shop. The shop was filled with unique jewelry made by local artisans, mostly made of natural diamonds, feathers, and polished wood, exuding a simple yet lively atmosphere. The owner, a kindly old lady, paid them no attention.
Su Rui picked out a simple yet unique ring for Ling Yao, made of sapphires and silver threads. A little later, she was drawn to a bracelet inlaid with irregular turquoise.
"Like it?" Ling Yao leaned close to him and asked in a low voice.
Su Rui nodded, her eyes shining.
"Try it on." Ling Yao picked up the bracelet and carefully placed it on his wrist. The blue stone made Su Rui's skin look even whiter. Ling Yao held her wrist and examined it, a smile on his lips: "It looks good."
In the end, they bought the sapphire ring and turquoise bracelet. Ling Yao slipped the ring directly onto his index finger, raised his hand to the light, and looked very satisfied. The simple ring on his slender finger strangely removed some of his ostentation, giving him a sense of groundedness.
In the evening, they returned to their temporary rental. Su Rui donned an apron and prepared dinner with the ingredients she'd bought at the market. The tomatoes were vibrant red, the basil was fragrant, and the olive oil was golden and translucent.
Ling Yao leaned against the kitchen doorframe, quietly watching him busy himself. Su Rui's movements weren't particularly skillful, but they were exceptionally serious and focused. The warm light outlined his soft profile, giving him a comforting, everyday air.
"Do you need my help?" Ling Yao asked, his voice so gentle that he didn't even notice it.
"No, it will be over soon." Su Rui turned around and smiled at him, "Go and rest for a while."
Simple pasta, salad, and a glass of local red wine. The meal was served and the two sat down facing each other.
Ling Yao took a mouthful of noodles, his eyes lit up slightly: "Delicious."
Su Rui smiled a little embarrassedly: "Just do it casually."
As they ate, it was unclear who started eating first. Ling Yao picked up a piece of tomato covered in sauce with a fork and naturally passed it to Su Rui's mouth: "Try this, it's very sweet."
Su Rui was stunned for a moment, then leaned forward slightly and opened her mouth to eat. Her fingertips accidentally brushed his lips, and they both paused, a hint of sweetness filling the air.
Su Rui lowered her head, cut off a small piece of bread, dipped it in the delicious sauce on the plate, hesitated for a moment, and raised her hand to hand it to Ling Yao.
Ling Yao looked at the tips of his slightly red ears, the smile in his eyes deepened. He lowered his head without hesitation and bit off the piece of bread from his hand. The tip of his tongue even lightly rubbed Su Rui's fingertips.
Su Rui quickly retracted her hand as if she had been scalded, her heart beating like a drum.
A simple dinner, played in this intimate game of feeding each other, became extraordinarily long and sweet. The air was filled with the aroma of food, the richness of red wine, and a simple, pure happiness that seemed to overflow.
Outside the window, the night sky of southern France gradually filled with stars, and the faint chirping of insects could be heard in the distance. Under the warm light, they shared food, shared glances, and shared this gentle time isolated from the world.
Ling Yao looked across at Su Rui, who was eating with her head down. The corner of his heart, which had been hardened by the world of fame and fortune, seemed to be completely softened by this simple dinner and the person before him. He even had an absurd thought: If time could stop at this moment, it wouldn't be a bad thing.
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