They both walked together holding hands in the shopping district to their destination
Some passerby noticed immediately—men glanced with envy written all over their faces, a few whispering curses under their breath. A little boy tugged at his mother's sleeve, pointing with wide eyes "mommy what's that?" until his mom hissed, "Don't stare," and guided him away.
Jeff, however, looked utterly unbothered. In fact, he was wearing that cocky, self-satisfied grin—the kind of shameless smugness of a man who knew he was walking hand-in-hand with someone way out of his league.
Rover felt her cheeks heat up. Why… why does this feel so normal? The thought gnawed at her, because they had only met not long ago. Yet somehow, walking beside him like this, their hands fitting together so naturally—it was as though they'd done it a hundred times before.
Jeff felt it too. He wasn't exactly new to being around women, but this—this was different. Fast, almost reckless. And yet the warmth in her palm, the comfort in her presence… it felt familiar. Nostalgic even. Like a foggy memory he couldn't quite place yet.
They eventually reached the souvenir shop, the scent of old wood and faint incense greeting them as the doorbell chimed. Inside, rows of trinkets and keepsakes lined the walls, the glass counters glinting with polished stones, bracelets, and delicate ornaments.
Behind the counter, a young woman straightened, her smile practiced but kind.
Ganxue greeted, her tone welcoming. "What can I get for the both of you today? Looking for something in particular?"
Jeff glanced at Rover, his grin softening into something gentler.
"A gift for the fine lady beside me, please."
Rover's eyes widened, and a blush crept across her face. "F-fine lady?" she muttered under her breath, clearly flustered, her gaze darting away.
Ganxue raised a brow, intrigued by their dynamic. "Any specifics? Bracelet, necklace, a ring perhaps?".
Rover froze, her lips parting at the mention of a ring. Almost shyly, almost reluctantly, she cleared her throat. "A necklace… will do."
Ganxue nodded and pulled out a tray filled with necklaces, each unique in its own right—silver chains, jade pendants, crystal charms. They all glittered faintly under the warm shop lights.
Rover's gaze skimmed over them until she stopped. Her eyes softened, and she reached out, fingertips brushing a particular piece.
A delicate Red Lotus pendant
"I… want this one," she said quietly.
Ganxue blinked, her expression flickering with surprise. Almost instinctively, her eyes flicked to Jeff, as though gauging his reaction.
Jeff leaned closer, studying the pendant with interest before flashing a grin. "You heard the lady. We'll take this one."
Neither of them noticed the look Ganxue gave them—the kind of look that said she knew something they didn't. Do they even realize? she thought to herself. A red lotus symbolizes passionate, heartfelt… sometimes even sacred love. Well maybe they are a couple best not to pry.
"Here," Jeff said, taking the necklace once Ganxue handed it over. He stepped behind Rover, his breath brushing against the back of her neck as he carefully clasped it in place. His fingers grazed her skin just slightly, enough to make her shiver.
Rover turned around, her hand brushing the pendant as it rested lightly against her collarbone. Her eyes lifted to meet his, a question lingering in her gaze.
"Well? What do you think?"
Jeff's eyes lingered a little too long on her before he smiled. "It suits you."
Something flickered in his chest. That strange familiarity again. A déjà vu he couldn't shake, like this wasn't the first time he'd seen someone wear something like this.
He paid quickly, exchanged thanks with Ganxue, and together they walked out of the shop, both oblivious to the weight of the symbol Rover now wore around her neck.
The river shimmered under the soft glow of the moon, its surface rippling. A faint breeze rustled through the grass. Jeff and Rover walked side by side, their footsteps slow, unhurried like they have all the time in the world. The silence between them wasn't heavy or awkward—rather, it felt quite comforting, like being in the presence of each other was enough.
Up ahead, a weathered bench sat facing the river. Without a word, they both gravitated toward it, as if the seat had been waiting for them. Jeff dropped down first, stretching his arms with a groan before leaning back against the bench. Rover followed, folding her hands neatly in her lap, her gaze fixed on the water.
"Man," Jeff muttered, running a hand through his messy hair. "What a day."
Rover exhaled softly through her nose, her lips twitching into the faintest smirk. "You tell me."
For a while, they simply sat there, letting the sound of the river fill the spaces words couldn't. The quiet was easy, almost comforting. But Rover's eyes flicked toward Jeff, curiosity stirring behind them. She tilted her head, hesitated, then broke the silence.
"You know…" she began, voice gentle, "I never asked you this before. How did you find me back at the beginning?"
Jeff blinked, caught off guard by the question. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, and stared at the ground contemplating on how to answer "Hah. Where do I even start?" He scratched at the back of his neck, thoughtful."One moment, I was on my way home from work. The next? Boom. I'm standing in the middle of Gorges of Spirits. Sounds fucking insane, right? Like I got dumped there by… I don't know, some invisible entity. I woke up sick, disoriented—I honestly thought I was drunk or hallucinating."
Rover's lips curved into a small, amused chuckle, her shoulders shaking slightly. "Hallucinating, huh?"
Jeff glanced sideways at her, grinning "Yeah, laugh it up. But once I pulled myself together, I did what I always do when I'm somewhere unfamiliar recon. A practice that kept me alive more than I can count. After a few minutes of wandering the ruins of Gorge of Spirits, that's when I saw you. A girl lying unconscious on the ground, out cold. And well… the rest's history."
Rover's expression softened, her eyes reflecting the glow of the river. She hummed thoughtfully. "I see…"
Jeff leaned back against the bench, folding his arms, his gaze now lifted to the stars. "You know, thinking about it now… it almost feels like fate. The odds of me stumbling on you, at that exact moment, in that exact place? Almost impossible. Like… someone put us there on purpose." His brow furrowed, shadows tugging at his expression as his thoughts spiraled. If someone did put me here, then why? Why put me in a place where I can find her first? Why me? So many questions I never have answers to.
Rover turned her head to study him, her eyes narrowing in contemplation. Then, softly, she said, "To be honest with you… I feel the same way."
Jeff's gaze snapped to hers, surprised.
"It's strange," Rover admitted, her fingers tightening around the fabric of her skirt. "But ever since I woke up and saw you there, it feels like… us meeting was inevitable. Like no matter what, it was always going to happen. Sounds stupid I know but that's how I feel."
Their eyes met then, and the silence that followed felt different—almost endearing. Neither seemed to know what to say next. Rover broke first, inhaling sharply as if bracing herself. Her lips parted, hesitation flickering across her face, but then she pushed the words out anyway, her voice firm despite the faint tremor beneath it.
"I want to learn more about you."
Jeff blinked, stunned. "What?"
Rover looked away quickly, cheeks warming. "I mean… I want to learn more about the first person I ever laid my eyes on since waking up. Is that… too much?"
Jeff froze, his brain short-circuiting for a second. What the hell…? Is this that protagonist rizz people always talk about enough to charm both men and women alike? No way. No fucking way I'm not that easy. His ears burned, and he rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly, trying to mask the fluster crawling up his face.
"No. Not at all," he said finally, his voice softer than usual. He forced a small smile. "What do you want to know?"
Rover turned back to him, her gaze steady now despite the faint color on her cheeks. "Where did you come from?"
Jeff hesitated. The truth teetered on the tip of his tongue—that in his world, she was nothing more than a character, pixels and code in a game he used to play. But that truth could never leave his mouth. So he smoothed his expression and answered carefully.
"A country far, far from here," he said, his tone casual but distant.
Rover studied him for a long moment, as if she could see through the half-truth, but she didn't press. Instead, she asked another question. Then another. And Jeff, practiced in deflection, answered with ease—giving her just enough to satisfy her curiosity while skirting the truths she wasn't ready to hear.
And through it all, the night stretched on, the river carrying their words into the darkness.
Jeff leaned back on the bench, exhaling softly as he let his gaze wander over the river. The quiet between them wasn't heavy—it was comfortable, almost intimate. His lips curved into a small, genuine smile. "This is nice," he murmured.
Rover tilted her head, watching him with mild curiosity. "Really?"
Jeff shifted his gaze to her, eyes soft but steady. "Really," he said again, and the way he looked at her carried a weight that words alone couldn't.
For a moment, neither of them moved. Jeff let his eyes linger, studying the subtle details of her beautiful delicate face. Finally, he spoke, his voice steady and sincere.
"I enjoyed spending time with you today. Thanks for accompanying me and indulging me with my escapades."
His sincerity caught Rover off guard. She blinked, then quickly masked the flicker of warmth rising in her chest with a playful smirk. "Don't think too much about it. Without me, the clothes you'd be wearing would've been horrendous. Honestly, I saved your dignity."
Jeff's laugh broke through the quiet, deep and genuine, and Rover couldn't help but feel a strange lightness stir inside her at the sound.
"And for that," he chuckled, "I'll be forever grateful."
He leaned in slightly, mischief dancing in his eyes. "Not bad for a date, huh?"
The word made Rover's breath hitch. Her head snapped toward him, eyes widening. "A… date?"
Jeff's expression softened, not teasing but earnest. "Well… a date's by definition is spending time with someone you want to know more about, right? I feel like… that's mutual. Don't you think?"
Her lips parted but no words came out at first. Rover's thoughts flickered back through the day: the blacksmith shop, Panhua's restaurant, the clothing store, the souvenir shop where he gave me the trinket she wore now—the red lotus necklace resting against her collarbone, warm from her skin. Somewhere along the way, she had told him she wanted to know him better. And now, here they were.
A quiet laugh escaped her, almost sheepish. "It really is like a date."
Jeff's grin widened, boyish and unguarded. "Yeah… it is." He laughed too, the sound mixing with hers in the cool evening air.
His eyes gleamed with curiosity. "So… from one to ten, how would you rate our date today?"
Rover pretended to ponder, tapping a finger against her chin. "Hmm… 6.5."
Jeff recoiled dramatically, hand clutching his chest. "Six point five? Wow, that's brutal. Why 6.5 thought?"
"You made me wait at the blacksmith while you chatted forever with Uncle Wei," she shot back, crossing her arms but unable to hide the amused curve of her lips. "Not exactly good manners to keep a lady waiting. And… your sense of fashion still needs a miracle."
Jeff groaned, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. "Yeah, sorry about that."
Her expression softened, sincerity slipping through her teasing tone. "But… you made up for it. All of it, actually." She reached up, fingers brushing the red lotus pendant that dangled just above her chest. Her voice grew quieter, almost tender. "It was fun. I don't regret joining you at all. It… led me here. Talking to you, getting to know you better. This necklace, this experience… it's more than enough for me."
Her words hit him harder than he expected. Jeff's throat tightened, and when he spoke, his voice was quiet but full of truth. "I had fun too."
The air between them shifted, turning sweet. Their laughter had faded into something deeper, something neither of them dared to name. Slowly, their eyes met again, and it felt as though the world around them went to a halt. Jeff's hand hesitated before moving, inching toward her shoulder, closing the space between them bit by bit. Their faces drew closer, breaths mingling, hearts pounding—
And then their terminals rang.
The sudden, tinny voice of Yangyang shattered the fragile spell.
"Where are you guys? Mortefi's done with the experiments, and Baizhi's waiting for you at the Academy."
Both Jeff and Rover jerked back, startled, their cheeks heating as if they'd been caught in the act.
Jeff scrambled for composure, clearing his throat. "We'll be there in no time."
"Yeah," Rover added quickly, a little too fast.
"The more we learn about you guys, the better. We'll be waiting for you guys here in the Academy" Yangyang said before the line clicked dead.
An awkward silence followed. Jeff rubbed his palms against his knees, hesitating before glancing at her. "Looks like… we have to go."
Rover gave a small nod, recovering her calm. "Yeah. We better not keep them waiting."
They rose from the bench, walking side by side. Their shoulders and hands brushed once, then again—until, without even realizing when it happened, their fingers found each other. Intertwined, as if it was the most natural thing in the world
As they walked back toward the Academy, a blue butterfly🦋 drifted near the river's edge, its delicate wings catching the lantern light. It lingered for a moment, circling them as if blessing their bond, before fluttering off into the night.