Since we are all reborn, let’s arrest the senior!

The sweet aroma of caramel pudding still lingered in the air when the autumn wind quietly painted the maple leaves outside the rose garden red.

Jiang Yun was squatting under the flower trellis tying supports to the roses when a falling maple leaf suddenly hit the top of her head.

She turned around, holding the maple leaf, and just then saw Lu Mingze carrying a log from the corner of the yard. Wood chips were stuck to the collar of his dark gray sweater, and the sunlight stretched his shadow long.

"The material of the sign?"

Jiang Yun tiptoed to reach the piece of wood on his shoulder, but Lu Mingze dodged her by turning to the side.

"Be careful not to move around too much and get scratched."

He gently leaned the log against the wall of the tool shed, and as he turned around, his fingertips brushed against her reddened earlobe. "Go wait for me in the kitchen. I have something to show you."

On the kitchen countertop sits a polished wooden board with vine patterns carved along the edges, and crooked words drawn in pencil in the blank space in the middle.

Jiang Yun leaned closer to examine it: "'Jiang Lu's Rose Secret Realm'? Mr. Lu, your handwriting isn't even as good as the five-year-old kid downstairs from my house."

Lu Mingze wrapped his arms around her from behind, resting his chin on the top of her head: "Then, Teacher Jiang, would you like to give a live demonstration?"

He took her hand, and with a brush dipped in gold powder, he made the first stroke on the wooden board. Within the rose petal-shaped strokes, he deliberately slowed his heartbeat.

On the day the temperature dropped, Jiang Yun caught a cold and curled up on the sofa wrapped in a blanket, watching Lu Mingze busy in the kitchen.

His figure, wearing a bear apron and brewing ginger tea, was reflected on the misty glass window.

Amidst the soft clinking of the porcelain spoon against the rim of the bowl, she vaguely heard footsteps approaching from afar, and warm palms pressed against her burning forehead.

"Get up and drink your medicine."

Lu Mingze's voice was warm as he brushed the stray hairs from her forehead with his fingertips, "After you take your medicine, I'll take you somewhere."

In the old attic, dusty cardboard boxes were piled up like a small mountain.

Lu Mingze pulled out a wooden music box, and the moment he wound it up, the melody of "Canon" flowed out.

Jiang Yun leaned on his shoulder, watching him carefully wipe the rose relief on the box lid: "This was left by my grandmother. When you get better, hang it on the swing in the rose garden."

On a rainy night before Christmas, Jiang Yun was awakened by a noise coming from the living room.

She put on her coat and went downstairs, where she saw Lu Mingze lying on the carpet with various parts and blueprints spread out in front of him. Under the warm yellow floor lamp, the shadow cast by his eyelashes trembled gently with his movements.

"Assemble Christmas presents?" She stepped barefoot across the carpet and sat down beside him.

Lu Mingze hurriedly covered the parts with the blueprints: "Go to sleep, you'll see a surprise tomorrow morning."

His ears turned red, but when he stood up, Jiang Yun grabbed the corner of his clothes.

"I'll help you."

She reached for the screwdriver, the scent of jasmine mingling with the aroma of wood in her hair. "But as payment—"

She tiptoed and lightly kissed his lips, "Mr. Lu, you're going to tell me a bedtime story."

As the morning light climbed the Christmas tree, Jiang Yun discovered a huge gift box under the tree.

Unwrapping the packaging reveals a wooden swing model, with each crossbeam engraved with intricate rose patterns, and a ginkgo leaf-shaped pendant attached to the swing ropes.

Lu Mingze wrapped his arms around her from behind, his chin brushing against the top of her head: "When spring comes, we'll put a real swing under the trellis full of flowers."

The snow fell silently outside the window, and the rose garden slept quietly beneath the snow.

Jiang Yun turned around, clutching the pendant, only to bump into Lu Mingze's warm embrace. His kiss, carrying the scent of cedar and Christmas pine, landed on her burning earlobe: "Merry Christmas, my rose."

The firewood crackled in the fireplace, and the warm light bathed the living room in a honey color.

Jiang Yun knelt on the carpet, her fingertips twirling a red ribbon, deliberately making her Christmas stocking hang precariously.

The lace stockings dangled from her wrist, swaying gently with her movements. Lu Mingze had just hung the last star on the Christmas tree when his peripheral vision was drawn to that glimpse of snow-white.

"Come and take a look at this for me."

She suddenly turned around, her fluffy curly hair sweeping across her shoulders and neck, her deep V-neck burgundy knit dress slipping down half an inch, revealing a rose tattoo on her collarbone.

Lu Mingze's Adam's apple bobbed, but as he bent over, she stopped him with her hand, her warm fingertips touching his chest. "Don't move, the second button on your shirt is crooked."

He looked down at her focused expression, her eyelashes casting a fan-shaped shadow under her eyes, her fingertips inadvertently brushing against his abs.

As she stood on tiptoe to adjust her collar, Lu Mingze smelled the orange blossom scent mixed with cedar in her hair and suddenly remembered the half-open shower gel bottle cap in the bathroom this morning—it was the new scent he had secretly changed last week.

"All right."

Jiang Yun took a half step back, but deliberately stepped on her skirt and stumbled. Lu Mingze reflexively put his arm around her waist.

They were very close, and when she tilted her head up, her red lips almost brushed against his chin: "Mr. Lu, your reaction is so quick, have you been trained?"

The last syllable of his voice carried a captivating tremor, and her fingertips gently traced the muscle lines of his arm.

The doorbell rang suddenly, breaking the ambiguous atmosphere. Jiang Yun blinked, broke free from his embrace, and opened the door. Lu Mingze watched her swaying figure, secretly adjusting his breathing. The deliveryman brought not only gingerbread ingredients but also the mulled wine she had ordered in advance.

"Want to help me mix a drink?" She stood barefoot on the bar stool, unbuttoning the pearl buttons of her knitted dress to reveal the lace trim of her camisole underneath.

Lu Mingze took the cinnamon stick she offered, but she grabbed his wrist: "No, it should be like this—" She pressed against his back, guiding him to stir the red wine, her warm breath brushing against his ear, "Can you smell it? There's a clove scent."

The glasses clinked together, making a crisp sound. Jiang Yun took a sip of red wine and deliberately left a lip print on the rim of the glass.

She jumped off the stool, her skirt brushing against his calf. "Let's go bake gingerbread. I want to be a dancing snowman." As she turned, the bells in her hair swayed gently. Watching her skipping figure, Lu Mingze suddenly felt that even the Christmas tree lights seemed dim.

A sweet aroma soon filled the kitchen. Jiang Yun rolled the dough into a thin sheet, then suddenly smeared some flour on Lu Mingze's nose and said, "Santa Claus has grown a beard." Before he could react, she tiptoed and gave him a light peck on the lips.

Lu Mingze pinned her against the cabinet with his hand, the sweet scent of red wine mixed with the orange blossom scent on her body wafting towards him.

"The gingerbread is going to burn." She smiled and pushed him away, her eyes glistening with a beautiful blush.

In the red glow of the oven, their shadows overlapped on the wall. As Lu Mingze watched her carefully drawing eyes on the gingerbread, he suddenly remembered that when they first met, she had also been so focused on adjusting the camera.

As night falls, the entire house is adorned with colorful lights.

Jiang Yun changed into a sweater with a deer pattern, and nestled in Lu Mingze's arms, holding a hot cocoa.

An old movie was playing on TV, snow was falling on the windowpane, and she suddenly pointed at the screen: "They kissed under the mistletoe."

Lu Mingze followed her finger and saw a string of fresh mistletoe hanging on the living room door frame. As he looked down, Jiang Yun was already straddling his lap, her wide-necked sweater revealing a delicate collarbone chain: "Mr. Lu, not following Christmas traditions?" Her fingertips twirled the hair behind his neck, her voice as soft as a feather brushing against his ear.

Lu Mingze's Adam's apple bobbed as he reached out and plucked the mistletoe. Just as Jiang Yun thought he was going to dodge, he suddenly pressed her down on the sofa, the mistletoe gently pressed against her lips: "What if the Christmas elf cheats?" Before she could answer, a warm kiss landed, carrying the slight intoxication of red wine and the sweetness of gingerbread.

As the midnight bells rang, Jiang Yun stood on the terrace wrapped in a blanket.

Snowflakes fell on her eyelashes, and the Christmas tree in the distance twinkled in the night.

Lu Mingze wrapped his arms around her from behind, his coat enveloping them both: "Make a wish?" His breath condensed into white mist in the cold air and landed on the top of her hair.

As Jiang Yun turned around, a few drops of snowflakes gently fell from her eyelashes. She reached out and untied Lu Mingze's scarf, revealing a silver necklace at his collarbone. "My wish—" she said, standing on tiptoe and biting the necklace pendant, her warm tongue tracing his skin, "has been fulfilled."

Lu Mingze let out a low, husky chuckle, then suddenly swept her up in his arms. The warm light from the room spilled out, illuminating the burning intensity in his eyes: "Christmas elf, it's time to unwrap the presents." He carried her toward the bedroom, the Christmas tree lights behind them flickering like countless twinkling stars.

Jiang Yun was awakened by the aroma of coffee.

Lu Mingze walked in wearing the reindeer pajamas she had given him, carrying a breakfast tray.

Sunlight fell on his hair, turning the stray strands golden: "Merry Christmas." He leaned down to kiss her forehead, but his fingers were not so well-behaved, slowly wandering along her waist.

Jiang Yun reached out and hooked her arm around his neck, pulling him down onto the bed. In the morning light, their shadows intertwined on the snow-white sheets. She chuckled softly in his ear, "Mr. Lu, now it's my turn to unwrap the present." The snow was still falling outside the window, and the Christmas tree lights were still on, turning this winter morning into the sweetest wine.

When Jiang Yun went out shopping in the afternoon, she deliberately chose a short down jacket, and a red sweater revealed her slender waist. She linked arms with Lu Mingze as they strolled through the Christmas market, the bells in her hair jingling softly with each step. Passing a mulled wine stall, she suddenly stopped: "I want some."

Lu Mingze took the cup from the stall owner, but Jiang Yun stopped him. She tiptoed and took a sip, deliberately leaving some red wine on the corner of her lips: "Feed me." Her voice trailed off with a coquettish tone. Lu Mingze's Adam's apple bobbed, and he leaned down to kiss away the wine stain on her lips. Good-natured laughter erupted around them, but Jiang Yun smiled slyly, her fingertips hooking his tie.

As night fell again, Jiang Yun changed into an off-the-shoulder knitted dress and set up a candlelight dinner in the living room.

Lu Mingze stood in the doorway, watching her back as she bent over setting the table, his heart skipped a beat. As she turned, the necklace around her neck swayed with her movement, her collarbone faintly visible: "Coming to help?"

After dinner, Jiang Yun turned on the stereo and pulled Lu Mingze to dance.

Jazz music filled the air. She pressed herself against his chest, her fingertips tracing his back. "Mr. Lu doesn't seem to be very good at dancing?" Before he could answer, she stood on tiptoe and bit his earlobe. "I'll teach you."

When the dance music ended, Jiang Yun suddenly pushed him away and walked towards the Christmas tree.

She reached out and plucked the highest star, her eyes gleaming mischievously as she turned. "I've found my star," she said, shoving it into Lu Mingze's hand before snuggling into his arms. "Now it's your turn to grant my wish."

Lu Mingze looked down at the person in his arms. The Christmas lights outside the window reflected in her eyes, like countless dancing stars.

He leaned down and kissed her; the kiss was more intoxicating than mulled wine, sweeter than gingerbread, and gentler than the starlight on a Christmas tree.

Snowflakes fell on the windowsill, turning this night into the most romantic fairy tale.

The crackling flames in the fireplace bathed the living room in a warm orange hue.

Jiang Yun nestled in Lu Mingze's arms, her fingertips unconsciously tracing the patterns on his sweater. An old-fashioned Christmas movie was playing on the television, the male and female leads kissing in the snowy streets, the image reflected in her eyes, shimmering with tiny lights.

"When I was little, I looked forward to receiving apples at Christmas the most." She suddenly said, her voice filled with a touch of nostalgia. "Back then, apples were wrapped beautifully with ribbons and wrapping paper, and we would hide them in our desk drawers, reluctant to eat them."

Lu Mingze lowered his head and rubbed his chin against the top of her head: "Now you can have as many apples as you want." He then made a move to get up.

Jiang Yun quickly grabbed him: "It's not like I really wanted to eat an apple." She flipped over and straddled his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck. "Back then, I felt like receiving an apple was like receiving blessings from the whole world. And—" she deliberately lowered her voice, raising the corners of her eyes, "if I received one from someone I liked, it would make me happy all winter long."

Lu Mingze's Adam's apple bobbed as he reached out and tucked a stray strand of her hair behind her ear: "Miss Jiang, did you ever receive an apple like this when you were little?"

"I won't tell you." She smiled slyly and suddenly pulled an exquisite gift box from the gap in the sofa. "But now, someone is going to receive a Christmas present from Teacher Jiang."

The gift box was opened, revealing an apple wrapped in red velvet, its surface inlaid with fine silver foil that shimmered under the light. Above the apple was a card with Jiang Yun's neat handwriting: "To Mr. Lu, wishing you peace and safety year after year, and that I may be with you every year."

Lu Mingze stroked the card, a smile unconsciously creeping onto his lips: "So Aunt Jiang can say sweet nothings too."

“Who says I can’t?” Jiang Yun raised an eyebrow, leaned down and bit his lower lip. “Want to hear a few more words?” Before he could respond, a warm kiss landed on his lips.

As they parted, Jiang Yun's cheeks were flushed, but her eyes remained bright: "I haven't finished unwrapping the gifts yet." She reached out and unbuttoned Lu Mingze's shirt, her fingertips tracing his warm chest. "Do you like this gift?"

Lu Mingze pulled her back onto the sofa, his voice low and deep: "I like it, but—" His kiss landed on the hollow of her collarbone, "I also have a gift for Miss Jiang."

Before he finished speaking, he got up and brought a paper bag from the entryway. Inside were carefully selected apples, each wrapped in a different colored paper and tied with a small bow. On top was a particularly large apple, with two little figures holding hands drawn crookedly on its wrapping paper, next to which was written: "To my little princess, Merry Christmas!"

Looking at the slightly clumsy packaging, Jiang Yun couldn't help but laugh out loud: "Mr. Lu, your packaging skills are just as good as your handwriting." Although she said that, her eyes were full of smiles.

"Let's open it and take a look." Lu Mingze sat down next to her, his eyes filled with anticipation.

Jiang Yun opened the largest apple and found an exquisite necklace inside. The pendant was a diamond-encrusted rose, the very same style she had lingered over in the jewelry store last time.

"Do you like it?" Lu Mingze reached out and put the necklace around her neck, his fingertips inadvertently brushing against her sensitive skin.

(End of this chapter)