Chapter 195 Sweet Afternoons

Lan Qi, wearing a casual vest, sat on a bench in the Heart Meridian Square with Hyperion and Talia, enjoying the leisure of the three or four o'clock afternoon.

The only sounds that echoed in their ears were the laughter of children chasing each other in the open square and the tinkling of hand bells.

After strolling around the nearby commercial street in the afternoon, they found a perfect resting place along the way in a place with a wide view of the main city.

This square, located on high ground, offered a distant view of the bustling people coming and going in the city-state, like being on a mountain. All around were magnificent buildings, many showcasing ancient craftsmanship and adorned with statues.

In the afternoon sky, dotted with sparse clouds, flocks of birds flew by in the distance.

Surrounding Heart Meridian Square were bustling shopping streets, various foreign restaurants, and cafes, the center of daily life and commercial activities for the residents. They had been wandering for a long time and felt like they had only explored a small corner.

The first breeze after leaving the commercial street gently brushed their faces, causing Hyperion to squint her eyes in contentment.

The clamor of people, the music of musicians, someone's laughter, someone's singing—all could reach this high place.

In the afternoon, the three of them basically wandered around, and whenever they saw a good shop, they would go in and buy some drinks and desserts characteristic of Nan Vantina.

Later, on the way home, they wandered back near Heart Meridian Square, and Talia suddenly stopped for something.

What came into view was a small shop.

Children cheered after school, rushing down the stone-paved road toward this shop, handing over the coins in their hands to the counter one after another, without any heartache or regret.

Talia couldn't smell the aroma from a distance, but judging from the children's expressions, it must be a very popular snack.

So Hyperion glanced at Lan Qi several times, Lan Qi nodded, and after a brief farewell to them, he walked over alone.

If Talia or Hyperion were to line up among the children, it might be a little embarrassing, but Lan Qi didn't mind. He even chatted with the children in a gentle manner, asking about their studies.

At this moment, Hyperion unexpectedly felt that Lan Qi might be a good father in the future; he really knew how to get along with children.

Soon, Lan Qi returned with three boxes of pastries.

The three of them came to the wooden benches set up by the side of the road in the square.

Hyperion's thoughts returned to reality, and she gazed at the dessert in her hand.

This cold cheesecake, which was like yogurt and ice cream, was packaged in a hard cardboard box, and fresh strawberry pulp could be seen from the side.

Before Hyperion could completely open the box, Talia next to her had already scooped up a spoonful with a wooden spoon and put it in her mouth.

Immediately afterward, her expression didn't change at all, but her eyes lit up.

"..."

Talia looked up again and found that Lan Qi and Hyperion were both staring at her cheeks, seemingly waiting for her to make a comment.

"Well, it's very delicious."

Talia commented earnestly.

The one in her hand was chocolate flavored.

Hyperion smiled contentedly. Seeing Tata find it delicious made her feel like she had enjoyed a delicacy herself.

However.

Hyperion realized that Lan Qi was also smiling as he looked at Tata, as if he had enjoyed a delicacy himself.

Hyperion: "..."

Never mind.

She couldn't stop him.

Next time, she'd just have to save him again.

The three of them sat side by side, scooping up the sweets, feeling the sweetness and smoothness on their tongues, while looking at the scenery of this main city of Nan Vantina.

Warm sunlight poured down through the gaps in the leaves, and from time to time, the sound of horses' hooves could be heard clattering on the wide roads in the lowlands.

"..."

"I really want to stay together forever."

Hyperion squinted her eyes at the scenery, chewing on the sweet and sour strawberries, feeling the crunch of the seeds, and couldn't help but reveal her heartfelt thoughts.

She always felt so at ease, as if she were in a falling, gentle dreamscape.

The only difference was that it wasn't her parents by her side, but another kind of special person.

If only it could always stay like this.

To be honest, she didn't want any more estrangement between the three of them, or any more accidents that would cause them to be unable to face each other.

Then, Hyperion felt a gaze.

Lan Qi and Talia were both looking at her.

There was no surprise in their eyes.

Lan Qi still had his usual smile, and Talia still wouldn't smile as usual, but their expressions both made Hyperion feel close.

"Thank you for always being by my side."

Hyperion hesitated for a moment, and finally thanked them sincerely.

"Don't worry, Hyperion."

Talia put down the empty paper box in her hand and looked at her.

Although Lan Qi didn't speak, he lowered his head and glanced at the corner of the cake that Hyperion had just eaten.

"..."

Talia followed Lan Qi's gaze and turned her eyes to his face.

The two of them stared at each other for a short while, and the wind blew between them with rustling sounds, and the air gradually cooled down.

Hyperion looked left and right at the two of them, seemingly unsure how to speak for Lan Qi.

Lan Qi wasn't particularly flustered this time.

"Uh, my box hasn't been touched yet, and I'm a little full. Which of you two wants to try a bite of the matcha cake?"

He picked up his box of cake, which he hadn't actually opened, and handed it to the left, asking if they could help him out.

He had bought three boxes of different flavors.

"Tata, I'll try a small piece of matcha, and I'll give you a small piece of strawberry, how about that?"

Hyperion took the cardboard box from Lan Qi's hand and asked Talia.

"Mm."

Talia hesitated for a moment and nodded.

Then she saw Hyperion cut a small piece of matcha with a clean spoon and put it on her box, and then gave Talia back a large piece of strawberry, handing her the box with a full one and a half cakes worth of cake.

"..."

Talia stared at the brand-new red and green cheesecake, feeling like she had eaten two and a half of the three cakes.

It was as if they were trying to find ways to share things with her, and she accepted it unconsciously.

After looking at the cake for a long time.

"Thank you."

Talia said to the two people next to her.

Before she could pick up the wooden spoon, she saw the two people on the left looking at her in surprise.

"What's wrong?"

Talia asked in confusion.

"Tata, do you know that your tone just now was super gentle?"

Hyperion said excitedly.

"Is that so."

"Yes!"

"Indeed."

Lan Qi also helped Hyperion to corroborate, echoing her words.

Talia was silent for a long time, feeling a little uncomfortable being stared at like this by the two of them.

"Acting."

She scooped up a spoonful of cake, focused her attention on the cake in front of her, and whispered to herself.

"Oh! Tata is shy! You're lying too obviously!"

Hyperion cheered and hugged Talia, leaning against her side and saying with a smile.

"Actually, I don't think Tata is necessarily shy."

Lan Qi analyzed seriously from the side.

Hyperion turned her head and looked at Lan Qi in confusion.

"Tata only focuses on eating when she's eating, and doesn't think about anything else at all."

Lan Qi said.

"You."

Talia's hand holding the wooden spoon paused, as if she was restraining the impulse rising in her heart.

She looked at Lan Qi's innocent and confused appearance, as if hitting him at this time would be her fault.

In the end, she placed the cake box on her lap, scooped up a spoonful, reached out and grabbed Lan Qi's chin, slightly pinching his mouth open, and stuffed this small spoonful into his round, hole-like mouth.

"Ugh ugh!"

Lan Qi was stunned and couldn't speak. He hadn't anticipated Talia's mode of action at all.

And Talia's lips revealed a faint arc as she stared at Lan Qi, as if warning him, "Try provoking me again."

Hyperion, sitting between the two on the bench, shook her head and laughed helplessly.

When Lan Qi was reliable, the three of them could get along very well.

This kind of small-scale fighting wasn't really a problem.

As long as he didn't desperately unleash those bizarre ideas and test the limits of life again.

(End of Chapter)