A Day of Simple Joys
"If Brother Yao Xuan likes Na'er's gift, then Na'er is so happy!"
Warmth blossomed within Na'er's chest, a radiant feeling that seemed to light her up from the inside. A sweet, unreserved smile graced her lips, so pure it could disarm the hardest of hearts. Her voice was a soft, contented murmur.
"As for Brother Yao Xuan's return gift... Na'er is naturally very, very much looking forward to it! But," she added, a flicker of playful boldness in her amethyst eyes, "if Brother Yao Xuan could return the favor today, Na'er would definitely be even happier. Is that okay, Brother Yao Xuan?"
"Want a return favor today? Of course, no problem, Na'er." Yao Xuan's heart melted at her hopeful expression. He reached out, his fingers gently brushing against her cheek, which felt as smooth and cool as polished jade. "And when I return the favor," he continued, a tender smile playing on his lips, "even if you don't want to close your eyes, that's fine too."
"Okay, Brother Yao Xuan! Then hurry up!" Na'er responded with earnest eagerness, tilting her head forward slightly and presenting her forehead to him, her eyes wide open and trusting.
Leaning forward, Yao Xuan pressed his lips gently against her forehead in a chaste, affectionate kiss that held the warmth of the morning sun. "Okay, Na'er," he said, his voice soft. "Let's go eat." Taking her small hand securely in his, he led her out to the dining room.
Since it was Yao Xuan's birthday and a rare day off, Lin Ximeng had outdone herself. The table was laden with a sumptuous breakfast: a small cream cake dotted with fresh berries, perfectly fried eggs with sun-yellow yolks, crispy strips of bacon, golden-brown toast, tall glasses of milk, and a colorful bowl of assorted fruits. The sight and smell were a feast in themselves.
Faced with such a spread, Yao Xuan and Na'er dug in with beaming smiles, their enjoyment evident. Lin Ximeng watched them, her own smile one of deep satisfaction, her heart full at the sight of her two children eating so happily.
"Mom," Yao Xuan began after they had eaten their fill, "this morning, I'd like to take Na'er to the amusement park near the city center. We'll probably be out for half the day, so we won't be home for lunch."
"Oh, taking Na'er to the amusement park? Of course, that's no problem at all!" Lin Ximeng agreed readily. "A balance between work and rest is essential, and today is a special day. You should go and have fun!" Her expression then turned gently serious. "But I want you both to be careful. Stay together, and don't wander off. There can be unsavory characters about. And Yao Xuan, if you encounter any trouble, remember to show your Soul Master badge first. That will resolve ninety percent of problems before they even start."
"Okay, Mom, I understand." Yao Xuan nodded, taking her advice to heart. "Na'er, let's go get changed."
After getting Lin Ximeng's approval, Yao Xuan returned to his room. He changed into a simple, comfortable black tracksuit and retrieved his wallet. Over the past two years of diligent forging at Mangtian Studio, while most of the earnings went to his teacher, Yao Xuan had still managed to save a considerable sum—over 100,000 Federal Credits. He had given half to Lin Ximeng for household expenses and kept the rest. Even with his occasional spending, he still had nearly 30,000 credits left, more than enough to treat Na'er to a wonderful day out.
A minute later, Na'er emerged from her room. She had changed out of her pajamas and into a simple white dress, one of the gifts Yao Xuan had given her when she first started school. The dress contrasted beautifully with her silver hair, making her look like a little fairy descended from the moon.
"Brother Yao Xuan, let's go!" she urged, her large purple eyes shining with excitement as she looked at him.
"Of course," Yao Xuan said, a brief, admiring glance taking in her appearance. "You look even more beautiful today, Na'er." Offering his arm, he led her out of the house and towards the city center's amusement park.
After paying twenty Federal Credits for their tickets, they passed through the gates. The park wasn't large, especially compared to the colossal theme parks Yao Xuan remembered from his past life. Red Mountain City was, after all, a modest city of a few hundred thousand, a far cry from metropolises like Mingdu. Even on a weekend, the crowds were thin; for an average family, a ten-credit ticket was a occasional luxury. This meant Yao Xuan and Na'er rarely had to wait long for any of the rides.
They stuck to the gentler attractions—the gracefully spinning carousel, the joyfully crashing bumper cars, the winding water slides. Yao Xuan, ever mindful of Na'er, avoided the more thrilling rides like the roller coaster. As they moved from one attraction to the next, they talked and laughed easily. Under Yao Xuan's careful guidance and protection over the past two years, Na'er had slowly learned to navigate human society. Of course, her warmth was still reserved solely for him and Lin Ximeng; towards others, she maintained a polite but distinct distance. Thankfully, with Yao Xuan watching over her, no one at school dared to give her any trouble.
In front of Yao Xuan, however, she was completely at ease, her chatter flowing freely. Time seemed to fly amidst their shared joy, and before they knew it, lunchtime had arrived. Yao Xuan led Na'er to the park's food court.
Soon, their table was covered with an array of delights: sizzling grilled skewers, savory teppanyaki, and steaming bowls of Wuhu noodles. They ate with gusto. Just as she had two years ago, Na'er's appetite seemed bottomless. She ate as much as a grown man, yet her stomach remained perfectly flat. On the other side of the table, Yao Xuan, bolstered by his Ancestral Dragon bloodline, matched her bite for bite. The stack of empty food containers between them grew steadily taller.
"Burp! I'm full, Brother Yao Xuan!"
Finally, after a solid half-hour, Na'er leaned back slightly and let out a soft, satisfied burp. The sound, coupled with her blissful, contented expression, was utterly endearing. The tower of empty containers before her had reached nearly to her chin.
"Good, I'm glad you're full," Yao Xuan said, his own contentment evident in his smile. "I'll go settle the bill."
After paying, he returned to Na'er's side. "Na'er, I still need to go to Teacher Mangtian's place for forging practice this afternoon. Let's head home for now."
Hearing his words, Na'er stood up obediently. She moved to his side, her small hand finding his and holding it tightly, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Together, they walked out of the amusement park, the simple happiness of the morning a warm memory between them. For Yao Xuan, the weight of her hand in his was a constant reminder of what he was striving to protect—a feeling far more motivating than any quest for power. The path of a soul master was long, but with Na'er by his side, every step felt meaningful.