After the meal, the two of them said goodbye to Su Keke, who was still shoveling food into her mouth, and left the restaurant.
For the rest of the time, Bai Yu continued leading Loweia through the Old Urban District, occasionally sharing stories of their past.
Of course, those stories were all fabricated by Bai Yu.
After all, she and Loweia had no real shared memories.
However, Loweia seemed to lack interest; she appeared lost in thought throughout the walk.
Likely, the question that had surfaced in the restaurant was still troubling her.
Bai Yu didn’t know specifically what Loweia was thinking, and asking yielded no response.
Loweia would only tell her it was nothing before continuing to walk through the streets of the Old Urban District.
Though Loweia followed closely and listened to the stories, she seemed listless the entire time.
This wasn’t a good sign, and Bai Yu wondered what was on her mind.
Still, no ominous premonition stirred in Bai Yu’s heart.
‘Perhaps this means I don’t have to worry about what she’s thinking. Once she figures it out for herself, she’ll probably return to normal.’
With that thought, Bai Yu followed her original plan and continued leading Loweia through the streets.
Before they knew it, the sky gradually darkened.
The red sun sank low, staining the distant horizon with a brilliant layer of orange-red.
Twilight had arrived.
Bai Yu stopped and pulled out her phone to check the time.
It was nearly 6:00 PM.
It was getting late, so she decided to find a place for dinner.
If they ate quickly, they could still catch the final scene.
“Wei Ya, are you hungry? Let’s find a place for dinner.”
To Bai Yu’s suggestion, Loweia suddenly shook her head.
“Bai Yu, I want to go back and eat. I want to eat your cooking. Is that okay?”
Huh?
Why the sudden desire for her cooking?
Though surprised, Bai Yu didn’t refuse.
As a gentle lover, one wouldn’t reject their partner’s request.
“Alright then, let’s go home. There’s food in the fridge. What would you like to eat?”
“Anything is fine, as long as you make it.”
“Then let’s head back now.”
As they walked toward home, Bai Yu stopped by a general store.
“Wei Ya, wait a moment. I’ll be right back.”
“Bai Yu?”
Confusion filled Loweia’s eyes.
She watched Bai Yu enter the store.
A short while later, the girl emerged with a box in her hands.
“Ta-da! Wei Ya, open it and see what’s inside.”
Loweia took the box and opened it carefully, finding a Small Desk Lamp inside.
“I just tested it in the shop. The light is very soft and won’t hurt your eyes. You can put it on your bedside table at night. That way, if you wake up in the middle of the night, you won’t be afraid with the light shining.”
Loweia stared blankly at the lamp Bai Yu handed her.
So, she still remembered.
She remembered how scared Loweia had been last night.
To ensure she wouldn’t have to fear the dark again, she had specially prepared this lamp.
Warmth flooded Loweia’s heart.
‘Bai Yu really is gentle.’
Even if she fell in love with her all over again without remembering anything, it wouldn’t be surprising.
Loweia looked at the lamp and nodded softly.
“Bai Yu, thank you…”
“I told you, there’s no need to thank me. Come on, let’s get home.”
Watching Bai Yu’s retreating back as she walked ahead, Loweia murmured softly, “Bai Yu, perhaps I really will fall in love with you again.”
However, Bai Yu didn’t hear her, and Loweia’s whisper vanished into the wind.
—
Before long, the two of them returned to the apartment building.
Loweia suddenly remembered that Bai Yu had mentioned the most important scene would take place at twilight.
But they were already back at the entrance; would they still have a chance to go?
Seeing Loweia standing still in front of the building, Bai Yu stopped and looked back.
“Wei Ya, what’s wrong?”
“Um, Bai Yu… isn’t there still one most important place we haven’t visited?”
“Oh, we’re going there right now.”
Huh?
Right now?
But if they entered the building, wouldn’t they just be going home?
Could it be that the most important place Bai Yu mentioned was actually their home?
“Follow me and you’ll see.”
Seeing the doubt remaining in Loweia’s eyes, Bai Yu stepped forward and took her hand.
The sudden action caused the girl to startle slightly, a flush of crimson creeping onto her delicate face.
This was a bit too sudden, but before she could fully process the warmth of Bai Yu’s palm, Bai Yu pulled her into the building. After climbing several flights of stairs, a slightly rusted iron door appeared before them.
When Bai Yu released her hand and pushed open the iron door, a gust of wind carrying the residual warmth of the sunset brushed against them, mussing the stray hairs on their foreheads.
“Alright, we’re here.”
Loweia followed Bai Yu onto the spacious Rooftop.
Aside from looking a bit dated, it didn’t seem particularly special.
Why had Bai Yu brought her here?
Just as she was wondering, Loweia instinctively stopped the moment she looked up at the view.
Although the residential building wasn’t very tall, it was surrounded mostly by low-rise houses.
Standing here, she could overlook a large portion of the Old Urban District.
The intricate streets, the houses lined up like matchboxes, and even the slowly flowing river in the distance were all coated in a layer of golden brilliance by the setting sun.
The old, gray-looking district actually displayed a unique kind of gentleness and tranquility under the twilight filter.
And what was most impossible to look away from was the sun slowly sinking in the west.
The red sun dipped low, and before its afterglow vanished, it painted the entire sky in magnificent colors.
“This is the place.”
Bai Yu walked further ahead to the edge of the Rooftop and turned around with her back to the sunset.
The evening breeze blew through her long black hair, several strands fluttering in the wind and grazing her pale cheeks.
She stood there, back to the sinking red sun, the golden afterglow falling upon her and outlining her slender silhouette as if plating her in a warm radiance.
Bai Yu spread her arms toward Loweia, a brilliant smile blooming on her face.
“This is where we first made our relationship official and where we made our promises. What do you think? Isn’t it beautiful?”
Loweia stood silently, looking at the girl sparkling in the sunset.
Her vision gradually grew hazy.
Unconsciously, the image of the Photo Frame surfaced in her mind.
In that photo, the two girls facing the camera were also standing on a rooftop just like this, with their backs to the same sunset, smiling brightly.
The face of the black-haired girl from the photo appeared before her eyes; the curve of her lips was almost identical to the curve on Bai Yu’s face now.
No… she gazed at the black-haired girl before her.
The smile on her face was even more dazzling than the one recorded in the photo, more vivid, and more…
In that moment, Loweia suddenly felt her heart skip a beat.