"It's me, Moriian."
Moriian's voice came from outside the door.
"Is something wrong this late?"
Lu Mingming opened the door. The other person had clearly just finished washing up, carrying a clean scent of soapberry. His glasses were misted over, and his plush bathrobe wrapped Moriian tightly, revealing no trace of skin, buttoned up to the very top just like his usual shirts.
"I suddenly felt like seeing you, so I came."
"Come in and sit for a while. It's quite cold out there."
Lu Mingming chuckled at this inexplicable reason, taking it as a joke.
Moriian's gaze fell on Lu Mingming's hair, and he said apologetically,
"Sorry for disturbing you so late."
"It's fine."
Lu Mingming casually took the blanket hanging on the coat rack and wrapped herself in it, constantly wiping her dripping hair with the part that extended out.
Fortunately, the room was heated, so she didn't feel any cold.
After ushering Moriian in, Lu Mingming sat on the bed. "Has there been a change to tomorrow's plan?"
"It's not about the plan."
Moriian shook his head.
"Aren't you going to dry your hair?"
Before Lu Mingming could refuse, he added, "I think your health is more important than any so-called plan."
Moriian's tone was unquestionable.
Moriian stood up and asked, "Where is the hairdryer?"
Lu Mingming was taken aback and pointed in a direction. "It's on the second table next to the bookshelf."
Moriian walked over quickly, found the hairdryer, and returned to the bedside to plug it in. "Let me dry your hair."
Lu Mingming didn't know how things had escalated to this point. Under his concerned and firm gaze, she couldn't find any reason to refuse.
Moriian turned on the hairdryer to its first setting. He tested it by adjusting it to a suitable temperature, first experimenting with his own palm. Finding it acceptable, he then held it at a distance of two fists from Lu Mingming's head, blowing warm air.
"Is this temperature okay?"
"It's... it's alright? Thank you."
Lu Mingming felt it was a bit strange.
"Perhaps I can do it myself?"
"It's okay, drying hair is not a big deal. You even helped me bathe before, so you're not shy about me drying your hair now, are you?"
"Of course not!"
Hearing the smile in his voice, Lu Mingming turned her head back, her face flushed.
Their eyes met, and Moriian's expression slowly faded. He stared at her with an unreadable gaze.
Lu Mingming pretended nothing was amiss and quickly turned back, feeling a gentle breeze sweep across her shoulders and neck.
Her hair ends fell into Moriian's palms. His large hands covered her scalp, gently stroking and massaging it, as if enjoying a high-level of care.
The rising temperature of the hairdryer caused no discomfort. Moriian's fingertips gently passed through her strands of hair, letting each lock slip through his palm, tickling Lu Mingming's delicate shoulders and back.
Moriian lowered his head, his eyes filled with an unreadable emotion. His fingertips repeatedly brushed Lu Mingming's nape, drying her hair inch by inch.
In the quiet night, Moriian stopped the hairdryer. "It's almost done. Drying it too much will damage your hair."
"Thank you."
Lu Mingming thanked him again.
Her cheeks were a little hot, and she awkwardly tidied up the hairdryer and placed it back in the cabinet.
A strange atmosphere seemed to be gradually filling the air. Lu Mingming vaguely sensed something was amiss, and an incredible guess slowly formed in her mind.
What was Moriian's relationship with her? Was he a good friend who could approach her, a good teacher who guided her, or someone like Olanal, who deeply concealed his true nature?
Lu Mingming didn't understand and didn't dare to ask such questions easily.
Moriian looked at Lu Mingming's retreating figure. "Actually, the reason I came to see you today was because you're returning to Xingfu Star tomorrow, and we won't see each other for a long time. So I came to visit and have a chat."
"Oh, I see."
Lu Mingming breathed a sigh of relief, the heaviness that had settled on her heart suddenly lifting.
"I thought it was something else..."
"What did you think it was?"
Moriian seemed to be intentionally guiding the conversation, but Lu Mingming refused to delve deeper, shaking her head like a rattle drum.
Not getting the answer he wanted, Moriian didn't seem disappointed.
He stood up and adjusted his bathrobe.
Unlike Olanal's hands, Moriian's hands had a more delicate and gentle quality.
Moriian extended his arm and tucked a stray strand of hair behind Lu Mingming's ear with his fingertips.
"I hope you sleep well tonight."
Lu Mingming's heartstrings felt as if they were subtly plucked. She couldn't help but ask, "Why are you doing this to me?"
Moriian smiled slightly. "Perhaps you already have the answer in your heart."
He withdrew his hand. "From the moment I saw you until now, I believe that witnessing the cultivation of beauty with more patience and time is a fascinating endeavor. If possible, I hope this full moon hangs high in the sky forever, never to be plucked by anyone."
As soon as he finished speaking, Moriian suddenly chuckled softly.
"I'm sorry, I think I've said too much. I wish you a good night's sleep again."
Lu Mingming immediately got up and escorted Moriian to the door.
His figure gradually disappeared into the night, but the clean soapberry scent Moriian carried still lingered in the room, as if she were being gently drowned in an embrace.
Lu Mingming stared at where Moriian had sat for a long time, before finally turning off the light and going to sleep.
The next day.
Lu Mingming spiritedly packed all her luggage.
Today was the day she and Yi Fu would travel to Xingfu Star. The leaders of Blue Star and Olanal's group came out to see them off.
"When you get there, prioritize your safety. I will eliminate all the rebels. When I return..."
Olanal's deep voice.
"I will prove to you once again that I am worthy."
"Then I'll be waiting for your triumphant return."
Lu Mingming's dimples appeared as she cheered him on.
The second person to step forward was Moriian.
Perhaps it was due to the strange things he had said at Lu Mingming's residence last night, but Moriian said a few words today: "I won't delay your journey. I just hope you arrive safely."
Moriian's expression remained inscrutable, making it impossible to guess his thoughts, unlike the gentle and considerate man who had dried her hair last night.
"Mm."
Lu Mingming quickly responded and quickened her pace towards the next person.
She didn't know how to address Moriian and hadn't yet mastered communicating with him as freely as she could with Olanal.
After bidding farewell to almost everyone, Lu Yan, who had been quietly observing from the edge of the crowd, gradually approached.
"This is for you."
Lu Yan took out a necklace. The original bone whistle had been made into a pendant.
He unfastened the clasp, brushed Lu Mingming's hair from the back of her neck, and fastened the final knot for her.
"This is the modified bone whistle."
With a "click," the bone whistle necklace was securely fastened around Lu Mingming's slender neck.
"I hope this item serves as a souvenir for you. If you encounter any difficulties, you can also blow this bone whistle. No matter what, I will rush to your side immediately to protect your safety. You can ask for anything you need at any time, and I will be there."
"Thank you."
Lu Mingming had lost count of how many times she had said "thank you" recently.
Perhaps it was because she had suddenly become very sensitive, gradually noticing the subtle changes in everyone's emotions towards her. As the center of everything, Lu Mingming chose to evade.
She immediately patted Lu Yan's shoulder, feigning a carefree demeanor. "Don't worry, I'll take good care of myself over there, haha."
Lu Mingming stiffly turned around, not daring to look back, and followed Yi Fu into the aircraft to find her seat.
"Goodbye!"
Lu Mingming waved goodbye.
As the figures in sight gradually shrank to the size of ants, Lu Mingming finally withdrew her gaze, her fingers nervously fiddling with the hem of her clothes.
"I'm back."
Yi Fu returned to her seat with a tray.
The tray contained fruits, snacks, and some of the more expensive drinks from the aircraft.
"Sister, see if there's anything you like to eat?"
Yi Fu lowered the small table in front of her seat and pushed the tray towards Lu Mingming, sharing excitedly, "I found so many delicious things on the aircraft."
"Thank you for your trouble. You seem to have become much more considerate."
Lu Mingming picked up a bag of snacks, tore open the packaging, her mind repeatedly replaying the words of the three people.
"What are you thinking about, Sister? Are you thinking about the three people from Blue Star?"
Yi Fu looked wronged.
"So Sister became more popular while I was away. Did Sister miss me during this time?"