Dawnmoon Station.
It was nearing 11 PM. After wrapping up Adelina’s assignment, Felyn was transferring trains at Dawnmoon Station.
Come to think of it, it was at Dawnmoon Station that he had run into Viloti last time.
Felyn looked around carefully, making sure there were no Silafiel family crests visible in the VIP lounge.
He sat on a bench, waiting for the train.
Adelina seemed to be sinking deeper and deeper. She was really intense today.
Even at night, Dawnmoon Station was still bustling.
People passed by on the platform in waves, and the shouts of vendors rose and fell like tides.
“Daddy!”
A familiar twin-tailed little girl popped out of the crowd, waving happily.
“Lina, you’re still selling this late?”
Felyn scooped the little girl selling popsicles into his arms, gently patting her head.
The strap on her cart was a bit worn, rubbing against her patched-up clothes.
“Guess who I just saw.”
Lina bounced excitedly, placing her hands on Felyn’s knees, her eyes sparkling with joy.
“Who? Who could make Lina this happy?”
“Of course it was Mama! I saw her!”
Mama?
Daiyi?
“You mean that pretty lady with green eyes?”
“Mhm! She even gave me a hundred crowns and said it was a gift from Daddy.”
Felyn had indeed given Daiyi ten thousand crowns, though it was in exchange for her jewelry.
“She said it was from me?”
“Yup! Thank you, Daddy! I’ll take you to her!”
Lina grabbed Felyn’s index finger tightly.
“Wait, Lina, I’m not going.”
According to the revised contract, even though Daiyi’s service was 24/7, it was only within his home, and it couldn’t interfere with Felyn’s regular work or commutes.
Otherwise, how was he supposed to meet with other clients?
If he went now, wouldn’t he just be adding to his own workload?
Overtime? Not even a dog would do that.
“Did you and Mama have a fight?”
Lina looked visibly disappointed, clutching at Felyn’s coat.
“Please don’t fight, okay? I... I’ll give you a popsicle. For free. Take it to Mama, she’ll be happy.”
With that, Lina opened her cart, pulled out the most expensive one with her tiny hands, and handed it to Felyn.
Felyn fell silent.
People hurried past on the platform. Footsteps and the roar of incoming trains interwove in the air.
The night wind blew with a slight chill, stirring the wind chimes hanging from the station’s canopy.
“Alright then. Since it’s Lina’s request, I have no choice but to say yes.”
Felyn picked her up and held her close.
Lina pointed to the other side of the station. Felyn had barely taken a few steps when he spotted Daiyi.
She really was too striking.
That tall, graceful silhouette stood out on the platform.
She wore a perfectly tailored long coat that traced her elegant figure.
Her presence was so strong that people passing by couldn’t help but glance her way.
“Mama!”
Lina jumped down from Felyn’s arms and ran the last few steps to Daiyi.
Daiyi turned around, revealing a fair and delicate profile. Her neatly pinned dark hair added to her noble aura.
She instinctively reached out to catch Lina as she flew into her arms, holding her tightly.
When Daiyi saw Felyn, her deep green eyes flickered slightly, and she subconsciously brushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
“Daddy bought you a popsicle! Daddy really loves you!” Lina’s innocent words made Daiyi’s cheeks flush faintly.
Felyn thought Daiyi would once again correct the title with her usual rational tone.
But she didn’t tonight.
She accepted the popsicle from Felyn and squatted down, leaning her face against Lina’s.
“Lina,” Daiyi’s voice was unusually soft, “At night, ask Daddy to bring something warm. It’s getting colder.”
“Got it!”
Lina nodded seriously.
As she said this, Daiyi glanced at Felyn out of the corner of her eye, only to look away quickly when their eyes met.
Ever since that night when she realized Felyn had read her notebook, Daiyi hadn’t been able to sleep.
She thought about so many things.
He remembered how she liked her tea.
He quietly prepared warm milk when she stayed up too late.
He always found ways to cheer her up when she was feeling down.
Those feelings she had long suppressed with logic found an opening, surging into her heart.
These were supposed to be part of the contract.
But now, knowing that Felyn had seen through her secret and still stayed, the rigid walls of reason she had built around herself began to crack.
You can accept these feelings. He won’t leave just because of how you feel. Her mind whispered to her.
“Daddy, Mama, I’m heading somewhere else now. You two be good, no fighting!”
As Lina skipped away, Daiyi snuck a glance at Felyn beside her.
The two of them standing side by side, watching the child leave—it looked just like a real couple.
That thought made her heart race even more.
Daiyi suddenly remembered what Felyn had told her that night.
“Since we’re lovers, we should face all our problems together hand in hand.”
That was the promise he gave after learning her secret.
His firm gaze and tone—was it really just because of the contract?
Daiyi realized she had begun to hope for something she shouldn’t.
Like, maybe he actually… liked her just a little bit too?
Felyn saw a flicker of Adelina’s expression in Daiyi’s face.
It puzzled him—had Adelina’s expressions somehow rubbed off on Daiyi?
Could feelings like that be contagious?
“Miss Daiyi, are you here to pick someone up?”
“Mhm. My father sent someone over.” Felyn’s voice snapped Daiyi out of her wandering thoughts.
“I see.”
Felyn didn’t ask further.
It wasn’t service time. A basic professional smile was enough.
“She’s here to check whether we’re really a couple.”
“So soon?”
Felyn had thought they’d have at least a week to prepare.
“Mhm.” Daiyi lowered her head, voice barely audible.
“My train’s almost here. I’ll head home now. Miss Daiyi, take care and don’t catch a cold.”
He turned to leave, but felt someone tug on his sleeve.
“Miss Daiyi?”
He didn’t know where she found the courage, but Daiyi’s hand reached out and grabbed his sleeve.
“I…” She buried her chin in her collar, voice soft, “Let’s go back together.”
The moment she said that, her face burned red.
All the knowledge she had ever learned rushed into her head, analyzing the motivation behind her behavior.
And finally, Daiyi reached a conclusion.
Right now, she just wanted to spend a little more time with him.
“But…”
Felyn hesitated.
“I know it’s not service time.” Daiyi bit her lip and mustered the courage to go on, “We’re just going back together. I’ll pay for the ride. And you won’t have to transfer buses again…”
Her voice grew quieter and quieter, until it was nearly inaudible. But she still held tightly to his sleeve, as if doing so could make him stay.
The night wind blew, and the wind chimes on the platform rang out a crisp note. As the train rumbled into the station, Daiyi felt her heartbeat loud enough for him to hear.
“If it’s Miss Daiyi’s request, I’d be happy to accompany you.” Felyn smiled under her expectant gaze.
It’s not like someone paid the fare so he didn’t have to transfer buses again.
What kind of heartless bastard would let such a lovely girl go home alone?
“Mhm…” Daiyi nodded, but still didn’t let go of his sleeve.
The wind tonight was a bit strong.
Felyn took a scarf from his bag and gently wrapped it around her neck. “Now you won’t catch a cold.”
Don’t ask why he had a scarf in his bag even though it was still late summer. That was the pride of his professional standards.
What mattered wasn’t the object, but the thoughtfulness behind it.
Daiyi lowered her head, letting him tie the scarf for her.
She could smell his scent on it. Her heart skipped a beat again.
“Let’s go.” Felyn turned and walked ahead.
Daiyi followed behind, watching his back, thinking to herself how nice it would be if this could go on forever.
—
2 AM.
Daiyi suddenly sat up, flinging off her blanket.
She had completely forgotten she was supposed to be picking someone up at the station.
“Bernice?! You’re not still at the station, are you?” She frantically activated the communication sigil, explaining what had happened tonight.
Dawnmoon Station.
Under the moonlight, a tall figure leaned against the wall of the platform. Her short hair, dyed with black and red streaks, swayed gently in the night breeze, the tips shimmering faintly like metal.
The girl wore a loose white short-sleeved T-shirt, tied casually at the collar to reveal a sliver of her slender waist. Below was a high-waisted pleated mini skirt, and on her feet were black ankle-high combat boots.
She had been standing in the wind for over two hours.
“You traitor. Who forgets her friend over romance.”
She spoke to the communication sigil calmly, without a trace of emotion.
(End of Chapter)