After the meal, Yuzuru Hanyu offered to help clear the table.
Reiko Akiba sat on the sofa, casually picked up the remote control, turned on the TV, and aimlessly switched channels, showing no regard for Nanami Hanyu as an outsider.
As the saying goes, men and women working together makes the work easier.
She had prepared such a sumptuous meal, so the mundane task of washing dishes should not fall on her shoulders.
"Ugh, there's nothing good on TV," Akiba Reiko complained.
Yuzuru came out of the kitchen, shaking the water off his hands: "Yes, no matter how wonderful the show is, it can't compare to your wonderful performance today."
"That's right!"
Upon hearing this, Akiba Reiko showed a slightly smug expression.
She had a premonition that after tonight, her name would resound throughout the world, and all this glory and achievement would be brought about by the young man before her.
Reiko Akiba turned her head and glanced sideways at Nanami Hanyu, who was sitting down next to her and picking up the remote to switch programs. Her ruby-red eyes shimmered.
She gazed at him quietly for a while, then suddenly spoke softly, "Did you like today's gift?"
Although this question had already been asked once on stage, Akiba Reiko still wanted to ask it again, not for any other reason than to hear that word of praise once more.
Yuzuru stopped switching programs, turned to look at Reiko Akiba, and said earnestly, word by word, "Of course I like it, it's a wonderful gift."
Akiba Reiko's lips curled up slightly, revealing a satisfied smile: "That's good. I was worried you wouldn't like it."
As soon as he finished speaking, the two fell into a brief silence.
After a short while, Yuzuru broke the silence first, saying, "It's late, you should get some rest. I'm going back now."
As he spoke, he stood up from the sofa.
Akiba Reiko stared intently at Yuzuru's receding figure, opened her mouth, but found that she had no idea what to say or what reason she could give to persuade him to stay.
She was just an ordinary singer, while he was a young master of noble birth. The two should have lived in two parallel worlds and never crossed paths, but they were miraculously drawn together by their tacit understanding.
He redeemed her and became a light in her darkness.
But she could only stare at him blankly as she walked out of the living room, towards the front door, and then slowly stepped outside.
"Bang!"
With a dull thud, the door closed again.
The room instantly became cold and deserted again, all alone, with her left behind.
When Akita Reiko took out a loan to buy this apartment, what she valued most was its quiet and peaceful environment.
However, people are fickle, especially women.
The word "loneliness" can be broken down into two parts: children, fruits, puppies, and mosquitoes. These elements together create a warm and welcoming atmosphere at the entrance of an alley on a hot summer evening.
The children, the fruit, the cats and dogs, the flies—they were certainly lively and cheerful, but all of this had nothing to do with me.
Perhaps, this is what true loneliness is.
Yuzuru stood in front of the elevator, one hand on his chin, looking calm and composed. He didn't rush to press the elevator button, but patiently waited for something.
The result did not disappoint him.
"Hey, can you please not leave?"
Hearing the urgent and expectant call from behind, Yu Shengnan raised an eyebrow, smiled, and turned around. "But what if there are people at home waiting for me?"
Outside the door, Akiba Reiko clutched the hem of her skirt, as if she had made an extremely difficult decision. Her red eyes closed first, then suddenly opened, and she bit her red lips as she said, "But I'm waiting for you too!"
After saying that, she seemed to have lost all her courage, and she appeared somewhat flustered and uneasy.
The ever-proud music queen lowered her head for the first time, anxiously awaiting the final verdict.
Time passed little by little.
Time passed by, second by second.
Just as Akiba Reiko felt she was about to break down, a warm, large hand gently pressed against her soft hair and gently ruffled it.
"Miss Reiko, congratulations on finally getting out of this."
Yuzuru and Akiba Reiko looked at each other with their raised red eyes and spoke softly.
.........
The moon rises above the willow branches, and we meet after dusk.
In the spacious living room, Yu Shengnan leaned comfortably against the soft sofa, his gaze leisurely watching the program playing on the TV in front of him, a slight smile curving his lips.
The one who tied the knot must untie it.
If Akiba Reiko wants to break free from the mental barrier she once sealed herself off, she has to rely on her own efforts. All he can do is stand by her side and help her find the lost key.
As for whether or not to open that door, the final choice ultimately rests with Akiba Reiko herself.
What Yuu Nan wanted was for Akiba Reiko to have only him in her heart from now on.
Perhaps this idea is a bit domineering.
But he likes it, and that alone is enough.
In the bedroom, Akiba Reiko, having let go of her worries, hummed a melodious tune happily, her eyes crinkling with a captivating smile as she adjusted the gorgeous gown she had worn to the concert that day in front of the mirror.
She wanted to prepare a special gift for the handsome young boy.
Although the gift was given during the day, it wasn't perfect because too many people saw it at the time.
This time, however, only one person can appreciate her gift.
The night grew deeper and deeper, like ink.
"Click~"
With a slight sound, the bedroom door was gently opened.
Under the dim light, Akiba Reiko gracefully walked out, her white dress symbolizing purity adding a unique charm to her.
At this moment, compared to the high-pitched queen on stage during the day, although she was dressed in the same outfit, she had lost some of her aloof and unapproachable aura, and instead gained more of a gentle and tender demeanor.
She was like a stunning painting that had suddenly come to life.
"Does it look good?" Akiba Reiko lifted the hem of her skirt and twirled gracefully in front of the sofa.
A pure white dress, cascading black hair tied back with a ribbon, and a stunningly beautiful face that rivals any woman's, even without makeup, paired with a pair of breathtaking red eyes beneath slender willow eyebrows.
At that moment, she was breathtakingly beautiful.
Yuzuru's eyes were filled with undisguised amazement as he exclaimed sincerely, "You're absolutely gorgeous, even more so than you were on stage during the day."
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