I Missed You

When Chen Mian returned to the vicinity of the apartment, the demi-humans were carrying boxes of fruit pomace and placing them next to the fishery. Many pieces of mana grass were already floating on the water's surface.

Since the Brewing Workshop had begun to speed up its operations, the fish in the fishery had plenty of extra food, keeping the demi-humans quite busy. However, they were more than happy to do it. Chen Mian treated them incredibly well, and seeing their yields grow only gave them a greater sense of accomplishment.

“Mr. Chen Mian!” Melo spotted him from afar in the orchard and jogged over, waving her hand.

“What is it, Melo?” Chen Mian stopped and asked.

“Mr. Chen Mian, something major happened just a moment ago! A massive explosion suddenly echoed through the forest!” Melo panted, pausing before continuing, “We were just about to return from Linyu Port when it happened. The noise was incredibly loud, and the residents of Linyu Port were terrified.”

“Yes, I know,” Chen Mian nodded. “The magical beast riot will quiet down very soon.”

Melo looked up at Chen Mian's calm expression and nodded vigorously. “If you say it's fine, Mr. Chen Mian, then we can rest easy.”

“Where are Flora and the others?”

“Miss Flora seems to be in the clearing by the side of the apartment,” Melo replied after a brief thought.

Chen Mian softened his footsteps and walked to the side of the apartment, spotting Flora's figure from a distance.

She was currently sitting cross-legged on a large boulder, a magic staff resting on her lap. Her light brown hair fluttered gently in the wind. Judging by her mana aura, she seemed to be in the middle of meditation, though her breathing and energy felt slightly erratic.

Chen Mian concealed his mana aura and quietly walked over to sit beneath a large tree, silently watching her cultivate. Such a sight was quite rare.

After a moment, Flora opened her eyes and frowned slightly as she looked toward the forest. Only after a long while did she withdraw her gaze and close her eyes again.

Chen Mian stood up, keeping his aura hidden as he slipped behind Flora and gently wrapped his arms around her.

Flora's body stiffened for a brief moment before she relaxed, looking down at the hands wrapped around her waist. A few seconds passed before her voice sounded, carrying a barely perceptible tremor. “Chen Mian... you're back.”

“Mm.” Chen Mian rested his chin on her shoulder and said softly, “It seems someone isn't paying very close attention to her magic cultivation.”

Hearing this, Flora's ears flushed slightly. She stared down at the staff on her lap for a moment, then simply tossed it onto the grass. Turning around, she threw her arms around him, resting her forehead gently against his chest and hugging his waist tightly.

Chen Mian was slightly taken aback. Looking down at Flora, who had buried her face in his chest, he reached out to pat her head. “What's wrong?”

Flora didn't say anything, only snuggling her face deeper into his chest. After a long silence, she whispered, “There was an explosion deep in the forest just now. The mana fluctuations were so violent... I was worried about you.”

“I'm fine, and I was only gone for a little while...” Chen Mian said gently.

“But still...” Flora mumbled, still hugging him tightly. “I was just worried... and you were definitely gone for more than just a little while.”

“Did you miss me?” There was a hint of amusement in Chen Mian's voice.

At his words, Flora's grip loosened slightly. Her ears burned red as she kept her head lowered, whispering, “...Yes.”

“Missed what?”

“...I missed you.” Having said that, Flora lowered her head even further, as if trying to hide.

Chen Mian reached out to cup her face. Forced to look up, Flora's cheeks burned bright red, her eyes shimmering with a trace of bashful moisture. Her lips were slightly pursed, as if she was bracing herself for his teasing.

Looking at her, Chen Mian said with a tender gaze, “Flora, I missed you too. That's why I came straight back to find you the moment I finished my business.”

Flora blinked, the blush on her face deepening as her heart raced. She quickly lowered her head and buried her face back into his chest, wrapping her arms even tighter around him. “Why are you being so sweet today...” she murmured.

“Because someone was waiting for me to come home, so distracted that she couldn't even focus on her secret magic cultivation.”

“I wasn't doing it in secret,” Flora protested, looking up with a smile. “I was cultivating out in the open.”

“And what were you practicing?”

Flora's eyes darted away. Suddenly releasing her embrace, she lightly propped herself up on the boulder, tilted her head, and pressed her lips to his.

Having done this, Flora seemed to lose her courage once more. She clung to him again, burying her face back into his chest, her voice trembling slightly. “T-This is your punishment...”

“Punishment for what?”

“F-For making me worry... and for laughing at me.”

“Then let's have another punishment.” With that, Chen Mian gently cupped Flora's face and kissed her, ignoring her startled gaze.

“Mmh!”

It was a long moment before they slowly parted...

Flora buried her face in his chest. The morning breeze blew gently, carrying a hint of coolness as the two of them simply held each other in silence.

After a long while, Flora slowly raised her head. The blush on her face hadn't entirely faded, but her eyes were incredibly bright.

She looked at Chen Mian's face, a small curve gracing the corners of her lips. “Chen Mian.”

“Mm?”

Flora propped herself up and leaned close to his ear. Her voice was barely a whisper, yet it carried a trace of an unmistakable, joyful smile. “...Husband.”

Right after the word left her lips, Flora quickly leaped down from the boulder, scooped up her magic staff from the grass, and bolted toward the apartment. After a few paces, she turned back, her face still flushed but lit up with a radiant smile. Her voice sounded much lighter as she called out, “I-I'll go get lunch ready!”

With that, she turned and ran back to the apartment.

Standing in place, Chen Mian watched her retreat as she ran off in her loungewear while clutching her magic staff, letting out a soft chuckle.

A moment later, he bent down to pick up a hair tie from the grass—she must have dropped it when she ran off. Slipping it into his pocket, Chen Mian turned and walked toward the apartment.

The distant sounds of the demi-humans carrying wooden boxes echoed through the air, while the faint, sweet scent of Flora still lingered on him.