Chapter 164: Deja Vu

Anai leaned against my shoulder. I didn’t know if she was comfortable or not. She was close to me, holding my arms with both hands. Her right hand was holding the silver ring that I had just handed to her. The ring that was lost and found seemed to have a more solemn meaning.

Is it progressing too fast? I thought to myself, but for some reason, I was still very happy. This is a long-lost feeling, really, just like Xiaoya is by my side, but I have to admit that Anai is not Xiaoya, but she is as gentle as Xiaoya, like a kitten. She sticks to me, hugs me, and refuses to leave me because she is afraid of losing me. All of this makes me have an illusion that in this pitch-black darkness, she is Xiaoya, and I am not Lu Jia, but Liu Ende. The two of us just snuggle together, although there is no conversation, but our hearts are tightly attached to each other.

"Xiaoya, if you hadn't been so heartless in the beginning, would we still be able to cuddle up with each other like this and support each other?"

I pressed my forehead against hers absentmindedly, just like before. I closed my eyes, held my breath, and quietly felt her breath on my face like a gentle palm, caressing it over and over again. I hugged her tightly, feeling the heartbeat of this individual life, beating against my chest over and over again.

"Luka, what are you talking about?"

She raised her head and looked at me, and I came to my senses and realized that I had spoken my mother tongue, which I had not spoken for a long time. Looking at those eyes shining in the darkness, and hearing the familiar yet unfamiliar Latin language, I woke up from that distant dream again, and everything now returned to reality.

"No, nothing."

I shook my head hurriedly, reached out to touch Anai's head, and combed her messy hair with my fingers.

"I just said, I've lost too much, and I don't want to lose you again..."

Ana suddenly moved her face closer to mine and blocked my lips tightly with her mouth, making me unable to speak.

Was this considered a forced kiss? I was totally unprepared and didn't know what to do. At that moment, I felt like I was under a spell and couldn't move.

Our lips touched for only a dozen seconds, but I felt it was as short as a flash of light, so short that I didn't even have time to react.

"Don't say it."

In the darkness, Anai's affectionate eyes flickered like stars in the night sky. She looked at me and gently pressed her index finger on my lips. "Don't say it," she repeated again. "If you say it, it will be forbidden. God is eavesdropping. Don't let him hear it, because he loves to play tricks on people. Whatever you think, whether it is good or bad, don't say it, don't let others hear it, especially don't let God hear it. Can you promise me?"

"Well, I promise you!"

I groped in the dark, took her hand, and pressed it hard against my heart. These words, like a life creed, were firmly engraved in my heart.

"So, you swear?"

"I swear!"

"What do you swear on?"

"Take..." I was speechless for a moment. I am so tongue-tied. Normally, I have plenty of skills in deceiving others, but when I meet Anai, I am so tongue-tied that I don't know what to say.

Let me think, I looked up and saw the stars in the sky above my head, contrasting with Anais’ eyes.

It had just rained, and the sky was so clear that it felt like the whole world was brand new. The stars were brighter than before, and it was a brand new world. Everyone else had gone to sleep, and no one came to appreciate and own such a clean sky. Fortunately, the sky now belonged to Anais and me for the time being.

"Then, let's use the stars in the sky." I pointed my finger at the sky and showed it to Ana. I used my finger to outline the outline of the Milky Way and the constellations I could recognize. I pointed them out to her. She was very obedient and leaned on my shoulder. No matter what I said, she always listened quietly and didn't disturb me. She must not understand what I was saying, because how could they have such rich knowledge at that time? But she didn't show any boredom. This is what I want. It's better to say that I want a perfect listener, and Ana is it.

Just like that, I talked for a long time and chatted for most of the night, until I was thirsty and realized that Anai had already fallen asleep.

"Well, it seems you were meant to listen."

I smiled and told her that she was breathing evenly and was still sleeping soundly, so I didn't disturb her. I looked up at the sky again and the stars above my head. I felt that it was time to take a nap, but with my beautiful woman by my side, I couldn't fall asleep. That feeling was really too painful. I had no choice but to look up at the sky and silently endure the snoring until dawn.

In the early morning, the first ray of sunshine came from the horizon of eastern Asia, dispelling half of the darkness above. Then, the long bells rang from the church, reviving the sleeping city.

I gently woke up Anai and Andrew beside me and told them that we were on the road. They rubbed their sleepy eyes and looked reluctant to wake up. It seemed that they were not satisfied with the sleep they had last night. Then who could I complain to about my two dark circles? I suppressed my dissatisfaction and kept silent.

It was time to open the city gates. There were already hundreds of civilians from the surrounding villages outside the city. They were eager to enter the city to trade and earn some Fuli copper coins to buy some food to supplement their family expenses. This was the best time for us to go out.

There were already more than a dozen soldiers in charge of checking at the open city gate. They just stood on both sides of the city gate with nothing to do, chatting privately and watching the passers-by from time to time.

"Follow me, as long as we get out of this city gate, we will be free!" I told them, and I couldn't help but quicken my pace. We were almost at the city gate, my heart was pounding, this feeling was really like a thief. We were almost at the city gate, and I secretly glanced at the soldiers leaning against the wall. They didn't pay attention to us.

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"It's okay!" I breathed a sigh of relief. I wondered if Levi would roll around on the bed in anger when he woke up and found that I had already run away with Anai. Haha, I got excited just thinking about it! "Hey, stop, stop!"

Suddenly, I heard a call from behind, which scared me so much that the hairs on my body stood up. I didn't dare to look back, for fear that someone was here to catch us.

“Tap, tap, tap…”

A series of footsteps came from behind me. It was all over. Despair surged in my heart. I couldn't help but clench Anai's hands. My palms were full of sweat.

We saw three fully armed soldiers coming to the city gate. They pushed aside all the pedestrians blocking their way, including the three of us.

"The army has ordered that every passerby be checked now!"

The soldier looked back at everyone and gave orders. It was certain that they did not know us.

"Don't be too optimistic, because Marshal Aetius's guard, His Excellency Livi, will come in person."

Li Wei, ha, that guy sobered up really quickly! Facing the crowded crowd, I thought of a good idea!

(End of this chapter)