I am only one world away from Yukinoshita.

Full of sarcasm.

"You too, don't drink too much."

Pushing open the bar door, the sound of bells rang out. He wrapped his heavy coat tighter around himself, clutched the leather box in his hand, and took a deep breath.

The winter night wind was as cold as ever, but it couldn't compare to the warmth in Qinglai's heart at that moment.

Go home...

With slightly heavy steps, Kiyoyori walked towards the place called "home".

I stood in the cold wind outside my door for a while, and then carefully sniffed myself before finally opening the door.

Leaving the cold wind behind, the warmth of the room made Qinglai relax. He hung his coat on the coat rack in the entryway, then casually hung up the exquisite designer handbag that had fallen on the floor before leaning against the wall to change his shoes.

"I am back."

No one responded; the entrance was quiet, except for the warm lighting in the living room, which made it seem less cold.

As I changed into slippers and went inside, I could vaguely hear noises coming from the living room, or more precisely, from the kitchen.

He bent down and placed the leather case of the oboe beside the sofa, then slowly walked toward the figure busy in the kitchen.

A simple knitted sweater, partially exposed shoulders, a fair neck, and earrings peeking out from under her short hair.

Qinglai couldn't help but swallow.

The shadow in his dream slowly overlapped with the figure in front of him, so similar yet so different. Kiyoshi could never see the face of the person in his dream clearly, but he could always find the other's shadow in his wife.

That shouldn't be the case.

This version of myself is really terrible.

He embraced his wife, but his thoughts were on someone else.

But her feelings for her wife were too complicated—hate, or love, or perhaps, it was all the same feeling.

It seemed the sound of the kitchen range hood was too familiar; the busy wife didn't notice Qinglai's approach until she was embraced from behind, until she was surrounded by something familiar.

She then turned around.

"Chiang Lai?"

"Um……"

The person buried in the neck responded in a muffled voice.

"Drinking?"

"Um……"

"You went to see Ms. Tanaka?"

"Um……"

"Heh..." The woman being embraced chuckled. "I thought that medieval man would be as brave as he was back then."

Kiyoshi looked up at his wife's profile.

"No, perhaps she never possessed courage at all."

Are you talking about me?

Kiyoshi and his wife faced off in silence.

"How could I be talking about you, darling~?"

She remains the same as before, unable to see through the thoughts of the person in front of her.

even so--

"Who would risk their entire life because of a family marriage..."

Asuka, that idiot.

I guess I still like the person in front of me.

"What did you say?"

The wife did not hear clearly.

“Well, whatever happens, happens,” the woman said, cupping Kiyoyori’s face and leaving a light kiss on her cheek. “Welcome home, Kiyoyori.”

"Yes, I'm back."

He pulled the woman's beautiful body into his arms tightly.

"Yang Nai".

P.S.: The New Year's Day bonus chapter is over. You got all the three flavors you wanted: incense, sweetness, cult elements, and angst. As for this chapter, how you interpret it is up to you. Enjoy! Next time, back to the main text.

Could you please post more side stories? Sigh... (Author sighs)