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

On the first weekend after autumn, the morning light shone through the gaps in the blinds, weaving golden grids on the floor.

Lu Mingze was awakened by the hum of the coffee machine, a sound like the first waltz of the morning, with a familiar rhythm.

He rubbed his sleepy eyes and lazily pushed open the bedroom door, the scene before him instantly waking him up.

Jiang Yun wore a light purple silk nightgown, the hem of which swayed gently as she tiptoed, like an iris blooming in the morning light.

She was trying to put coffee beans into a sealed jar on the top shelf of the cupboard, her slender arms outstretched, the pearl necklace around her neck swaying slightly with the movement, casting dappled light and shadow on her fair skin.

The ties of her nightgown hung loosely at her waist, subtly outlining her graceful waistline.

"Do you need any help?" Lu Mingze smiled gently and tiptoed behind her.

He wrapped his arms around her from behind, his chin nuzzling affectionately against the top of her head, the faint scent of lavender lingering in her nostrils. "My height advantage should always come in handy."

Jiang Yun chuckled and gently tapped the back of his hand with her fingertips, a hint of reproach in her voice: "Where were you before? Now you want to be so attentive?" Despite her words, she still gently placed the glass jar into his palm, the touch of their fingertips carrying the coolness of the morning air.

Lu Mingze took the jar, easily placed the coffee beans inside, then turned and trapped Jiang Yun between himself and the cupboard. He looked down at her, his eyes filled with love: "I'm just worried that some people are too independent and won't need me anymore." As he spoke, he leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead.

Jiang Yun reached out and gently pushed his chest, a faint blush rising on her cheeks: "You chatterbox, go wash up, breakfast hasn't been made yet."

Lu Mingze reluctantly let go, but secretly pinched her waist as he turned away, eliciting a soft, coquettish reproach. After washing up, he tied on his apron covered in teddy bear prints and went into the kitchen to get busy. The bacon sizzled in the frying pan, filling the air with its aroma; the bread in the oven gradually turned golden brown, fluffy and soft. He even took out Jiang Yun's favorite colored pencils and carefully drew a cute pattern on the coffee cup—this time, a chubby little bear holding coffee beans.

When Jiang Yun arrived at the dining table, she was amused by the sight before her. On the table, fried eggs were arranged in the shape of a heart, except that the yolk of one of the hearts was broken, and the egg white was flowing out. Next to it were several slices of crispy toast, on which the words "Good morning, my little princess" were written crookedly with jam.

"Is Chef Lu creating abstract art?" Jiang Yun asked, biting into her toast and trying to suppress her laughter, her gaze falling on the poor fried egg.

Lu Mingze raised an eyebrow, twirled the runny egg yolk with his fork, and lightly touched her lips: "This is called 'Too Soft-Hearted,' a limited edition specially modified for Designer Jiang. Come on, try it and see if it suits your taste?"

Jiang Yun opened her mouth and took a bite. The warm egg yolk spread in her mouth, sweet and delicious. She nodded in satisfaction: "Hmm, the taste is good, but the presentation could be improved."

"As long as Designer Jiang is satisfied, that's fine." Lu Mingze smiled as he sat down opposite her and began to enjoy his breakfast. The two chatted about their plans for the day while eating, occasionally exchanging glances and smiles, a sweet atmosphere filling the air.

After breakfast, Jiang Yun cleared the table, while Lu Mingze volunteered to wash the dishes. The water splashed loudly as he hummed a tuneless little tune, diligently washing each dish. After washing, he dried his hands, wrapped his arms around Jiang Yun from behind as she wiped the counter, and rested his chin on her shoulder: "What's next?"

Jiang Yun turned around and gently wiped the water droplets from the tip of his nose: "Why don't we organize some old photos? The photo albums at home are almost overflowing."

So the two sat on the bay window, sunlight streaming through the window and bathing them in warmth and comfort. Jiang Yun pulled out a long-forgotten photo album and carefully opened it. In the photos, they were strolling on the beach, waves lapping at their ankles; laughing in an amusement park, their faces still covered in cotton candy crumbs; cuddling in a rose garden, petals falling into their hair.

Suddenly, Jiang Yun flipped to a photo taken last year in the Rose Garden. Back then, they hadn't experienced that turmoil yet. In the photo, she smiled broadly, her eyes crinkling, and Lu Mingze's hand rested naturally on her shoulder. Their smiles were radiant and pure. "Look how naive you were back then," she said, her fingertips lightly tracing the photo, her tone tinged with a touch of wistfulness. "Now you've even learned to carve love words with clay."

Lu Mingze suddenly placed the photo album on his lap and pulled her into his arms.

He looked down at her, his eyes burning: "Want to revisit the younger version?" He lowered his head to kiss her neck, his stubble tickling her. "Remember when you taught me to throw a potter's wheel? Your hands were so much softer then."

Jiang Yun blushed and tried to push him away, but he grabbed her wrist and pressed her down onto the cushion. Soft kisses rained down on her cheeks, forehead, and the tip of her nose, finally settling on her lips.

She slightly opened her mouth, responding to his passion. The two entwined on the bay window, the sunlight casting a golden halo over them.

After an unknown amount of time, the two separated, panting. Jiang Yun leaned against Lu Mingze, her cheeks flushed: "It's all your fault, you messed up all the photos."

Lu Mingze smiled and hugged her tighter: "It's all messed up now, the important thing is the present." He reached out and gently smoothed her disheveled hair. "We'll take more photos in the future to record every happy moment of our lives."

In the evening, the two decided to go out shopping. Walking down the street, a gentle autumn breeze carried a slight chill. Jiang Yun wore a black knitted cardigan over a white dress, paired with black ankle boots—simple yet elegant.

Lu Mingze, dressed in a dark blue trench coat, walked alongside her, occasionally pulling her to the inside of the path, as if afraid she would be bumped into by passersby.

As Jiang Yun passed the pet section, her steps involuntarily slowed down.

In the shop window, a newly arrived cat tree was adorned with fluffy balls and bells, which excitedly made the adopted orange tabby cat "Tangyuan" pounce on the glass, leaving adorable paw prints on the surface. "Should we get it a new toy?" she asked Lu Mingze, her eyes shining like stars, full of anticipation.

Lu Mingze had already seen through her thoughts. He reached out and ruffled her hair: "Designer Jiang's muse must be equipped with top-of-the-line gear." As he spoke, he pushed the cat tree into the shopping cart and also grabbed a few new cat toys and scratching posts.

Jiang Yun felt a warmth in her heart as she watched him busily working. She followed behind him, choosing cat food and litter. Suddenly, she spotted a limited-edition cat treat on the shelf, its packaging adorned with cute kitten designs. Her eyes lit up, and she reached out to grab it, only to find she couldn't reach it.

Lu Mingze noticed her little movements, walked over to her, and easily took the snacks: "You like them? Then buy them for Tangyuan."

Jiang Yun nodded happily, "Thank you, Dad Lu." She winked playfully, a sweet smile spreading across her face. On her way home after shopping, she passed a flower shop and was drawn to the blue roses in the window. The blue was deep and mysterious, the petals seemingly still glistening with dewdrops, appearing exceptionally enchanting under the light. She stood there for a long time, her eyes filled with admiration.

Lu Mingze silently kept it in mind, saying nothing more. The next morning, Jiang Yun was still asleep when she was awakened by a gentle kiss. She slowly opened her eyes and saw Lu Mingze smiling at her. On the small table beside her bed was a small ceramic jar filled with blue roses—it was made from a shard of a broken ceramic cup from last time. The words "For my little princess" were engraved on the jar, the characters slightly crooked, but full of love.

“Making use of waste,” Lu Mingze squeezed to the bedside and gently held her hand. “After all, with our relationship, we can’t even bear to throw away broken clay. Do you like it?”

Jiang Yun sat up, gently stroking the pottery jar, her eyes slightly moist. She turned to look at Lu Mingze, her eyes filled with emotion: "I like it, thank you, Mingze."

Lu Mingze pulled her into his arms, resting his chin on the top of her head: "Silly girl, why are you thanking me? I'm willing to do anything for you as long as you like it."

Days passed by peacefully and warmly. On weekend afternoons, Lu Mingze and Jiang Yun would snuggle together on the sofa to watch old movies. Jiang Yun leaned on Lu Mingze's shoulder, holding a bowl of popcorn, feeding him a piece every now and then. As the movie plot gradually blurred, her eyelids grew heavier and heavier, and before she knew it, she had fallen asleep on Lu Mingze's shoulder, her breathing even and steady.

Lu Mingze noticed her movement, looked down at her, and a gentle smile touched his lips. He turned down the TV volume, carefully placed her head on his lap, and gently brushed aside the stray hairs that were obscuring her eyes. Moonlight streamed through the sheer curtains, casting delicate shadows on her eyelashes, her face serene and beautiful. He simply gazed at her quietly, his heart filled with peace and contentment. Suddenly, he felt that these small, warm moments were probably the most romantic eternity he could imagine.

As night deepened, Lu Mingze gently picked up Jiang Yun, carried her back to the bedroom, carefully placed her on the bed, and covered her with a blanket. He sat by the bed, quietly gazing at her sleeping face, and then gently kissed her forehead: "Goodnight, my love."

Back in the living room, Lu Mingze tidied up the snack crumbs and blankets on the sofa. Suddenly, he noticed the design sketches Jiang Yun had left on the coffee table—the rose garden party plan she was revising. He picked up the sketches and examined them carefully, thinking that perhaps they could give her some inspiration.

As he looked at the drawings, he noticed some areas that could be improved. So he picked up a pen and wrote down his thoughts and suggestions. After finishing, he checked them again to make sure nothing was missed.

The next morning, when Jiang Yun woke up, she found a warm glass of milk and the revised design drawings on her bedside table. She picked up the drawings and saw Lu Mingze's handwriting, a warm feeling welling up inside her. She went to the living room and saw Lu Mingze making breakfast. She hugged him from behind, saying, "Thank you, Mingze, your suggestion was fantastic."

Lu Mingze turned around and pulled her into his arms: "Why are you being so polite with me? I'm your personal assistant." He lowered his head and kissed the tip of her nose. "Go wash up, breakfast will be ready soon."

After breakfast, the two decided to go to the pottery studio. Stepping inside, the familiar smell of clay greeted them. They walked to the workbench where they used to make vases together, exchanged a smile, and Lu Mingze picked up a lump of clay and handed it to Jiang Yun: "What shall we make today?"

Jiang Yun took the clay and pondered for a moment: "Why don't we make a pair of couple bowls? We can use them to eat every day from now on."

Lu Mingze smiled and nodded: "Okay, I'll listen to Designer Jiang."

So the two began to focus on making it. Lu Mingze was still as clumsy as before, always struggling to control the force when throwing the potter's wheel, resulting in oddly shaped pieces that made Jiang Yun laugh heartily. But he didn't get discouraged, and under Jiang Yun's guidance, he gradually mastered the technique.

They chatted and laughed as they worked, their laughter echoing through the studio. After several hours of effort, a pair of couple bowls were finally completed. Although not perfect, they were engraved with their names and the words "Forever Together," each stroke brimming with their love.

"Once it's fired up, we can use it." Jiang Yun looked at her creation with a happy smile on her face.

Lu Mingze pulled her into his arms: "We'll do many more things together in the future, and each one will be etched with our story."

After leaving the studio, it was already dark. The two walked hand in hand on their way home, the streetlights casting long shadows. As they passed a night market, Jiang Yun was drawn by a delicious aroma. She pulled Lu Mingze over and saw a stall selling barbecue skewers.

"It smells so good! Let's buy some to take home and eat." Jiang Yun looked at the skewers with longing eyes, her eyes full of anticipation.

Lu Mingze smiled and nodded: "Okay, order whatever you want to eat."

So, Jiang Yun happily picked out her favorite skewers, including lamb skewers, chicken wings, eggplant... Lu Mingze paid the bill on the side, and didn't forget to tell the owner to add more chili.

Back home with the skewers, the two sat at the dining table, eating and chatting. Jiang Yun, munching on the skewers, had a satisfied expression on her face: "They're so delicious! We'll buy more tomorrow."

Lu Mingze couldn't help but laugh as he watched her eat with her mouth covered in oil. He reached out and wiped the oil from the corner of her mouth with a tissue: "Little glutton, eat slowly, don't choke."

Jiang Yun stuck out her tongue: "You should eat too, it's really delicious." As she spoke, she picked up a skewer of grilled meat and fed it to Lu Mingze.

Lu Mingze opened his mouth and took a bite, then smiled and said, "Mmm, it's delicious, but not as sweet as you."

Jiang Yun blushed and lightly slapped him: "You're always being cheeky."

After finishing their barbecue, the two cleaned up the table together. Jiang Yun suddenly remembered there was still ice cream in the refrigerator, so she ran to get it.

"Here, have some ice cream to cleanse your palate." Jiang Yun handed the ice cream to Lu Mingze.

Lu Mingze took the ice cream, scooped out a spoonful and fed it to Jiang Yun: "Open your mouth, baby."

Jiang Yun smiled as she ate the ice cream, the cool sensation spreading in her mouth, sweet and delightful. The two sat on the sofa, enjoying their ice cream while watching TV, savoring the cozy evening.

(End of this chapter)