The door of the rented apartment was pushed open, and the moment they stepped inside, the air was filled with that earthy, metallic smell that rises when dust meets water.
Lyte placed the bag he was carrying onto the coffee table in the living room.
He touched the outside of the kettle to confirm it was cold, then set it on the water heater to warm it up.
“Mm… So this is our home?”
Noi slipped off the black short heels issued by the church, her black stockinged feet stepping onto the wooden floorboards, their wooden lining exposed.
The boots fit her perfectly.
As a penniless girl who had to scrimp and save her weekly wages, she really didn’t have the heart to buy new shoes—such extravagance was out of reach.
“It’s a bit plain. I was living alone, so I just made do, as long as it didn’t get in the way of daily life. But now you’re here…”
He brushed his palm over the sofa, only picking up a bit of dust.
Lyte patted the spot beside him, signaling for Noi to sit down.
“It’s fine, we have plenty of time. We can clean up little by little.”
Smoothing her skirt along the curve of her hips, Noi sat gracefully on the sofa, knees together at a slant.
Without even noticing, she’d already gotten used to the proper posture for wearing skirts.
Walking around all day was surprisingly exhausting.
Lyte would do some simple bodyweight exercises at home in his spare time, so he’d installed an air conditioner powered by a Water Elemental Magic Stone.
The standing air conditioner in the corner was blowing out a cool breeze.
Considering Noi was in her period and her body was more fragile, Lyte set the temperature much lower.
“Pudu pudu”
The kettle began to boil on the water heater, which had a small piece of Fire Elemental Magic Stone installed.
On the long sofa, the boy leaned back for a nap against the slightly stiff cushion, while the girl nestled in his warm embrace, calming her excited heart.
Life finally settled into a peaceful routine.
Walking the same path, sitting on the same sofa—even if they didn’t speak or move, neither felt awkward.
It was as if their hearts held a simmering, rich broth—full of meaning, no words needed.
Just knowing the other was close by was enough to feel content.
This was the way old married couples lived—simple, ordinary happiness.
They were adapting, and adapting quickly.
“Ding~”
The kettle’s switch popped, and the water heater stopped working.
Lyte gently shook the girl in his arms.
“Don’t fall asleep, okay? It’s almost dinner time. Let’s eat first, then talk.”
With that, he picked up a small porcelain cup from the coffee table, rinsed it with some of the cool water they’d stored, then mixed half hot water and half cool to get the right temperature, and handed it to Noi.
“Mm, I’m not asleep, just resting a bit.”
She cupped the porcelain mug in both hands, sipping in small mouthfuls, soothing her throat that had gone dry from an afternoon of shopping.
Once she was rested, Lyte opened up two large bags, sorting the contents on the coffee table for easier organizing.
“This one! Lyte, I want to eat this one!”
Noi, still holding her mug, pointed at two boxes of instant noodles.
Everyone has lazy days.
Lyte worried that if he was ever too busy or just didn’t want to cook, they could eat these ready-to-eat foods for a change of pace.
Neither of them were picky eaters.
As long as there was enough, it was fine.
“Okay, I’ll heat it up. Vivi, you can decide where you want to put these things.”
Whether they were cute decorations to add some fun to life, or useful daily necessities, the things they bought had to serve a purpose.
When Lyte lived alone, he didn’t care about appearances.
But now, with someone else here, he had to create a cozy environment.
The feeling of home was the greatest pillar in one’s heart.
She placed the empty porcelain cup gently on the coffee table, then set a teapot and a tin of Mosod-produced tea leaves—items that rightfully belonged on the table—beside it.
Before she came here, Noi had been a true Huaxia native.
If nothing else, she’d drunk plenty of tea while sitting at the hospital.
Naturally, she wanted Lyte to experience the beauty of the Tea Ceremony.
She’d originally wanted to buy some cute trinkets to put on the shelves or next to the TV, but after thinking it through, Noi realized that as a future housewife, she’d probably get annoyed at how hard those little things were to clean.
So, she decisively gave up on buying them.
Most of what she bought were practical things for daily living.
After sorting them carefully, Noi started putting them away.
First, she took down the old, thin, see-through curtains and replaced them with the new, thick brown patterned ones she’d just bought.
Noi had used those old curtains more than once to peek at Lyte working out undressed, but now that she was moving in herself, she was determined to eliminate any risk of their privacy being exposed—Lyte’s body was for her eyes only.
The watering can for the plants was also ready.
These flowers and plants survived mostly on a bit of recycled water from the reusable Water Elemental Magic Stone and some rainwater that collected in the pots.
Noi felt sorry for them and decided to take better care of them.
She walked into the bedroom.
The wardrobe was nearly empty—Lyte had only brought four or five sets of clothes, and after getting a Spatial Ring, he just tossed them all inside.
Noi was more traditional and didn’t really get used to the convenience of a Spatial Ring.
She’d even made a special trip back to the church dormitory to fetch her Nun Uniform, regular clothes, stockings, and other garments.
Lyte respected her for her seemingly unnecessary efforts.
He didn’t want to argue over little things.
It was just a small matter, and they had a long life ahead—leaving each other space was important.
Soon, the wardrobe was filled with Noi’s clothes.
In the little drawers at the bottom, there were even a few pairs of panties, and two big packs of new “little Pads”—it wasn’t good to always borrow from Chenxi.
Once she’d almost finished decorating their new home, Noi clapped her hands and took a look around the bedroom.
The small bathroom, the simple vanity with just a mirror, and the bed—which was actually quite big.
If they both slept together, they could roll over without a problem.
On the nightstand was a small lamp, which, when turned on, cast a warm orange glow.
Paired with the night slowly rising outside the window, it gave the room a hazy, intimate feeling.
She placed the last item on the nightstand—a few large photo stickers in a frame, which she’d taken specially with Lyte, to serve as a temporary wedding photo.
She wanted to use every method she knew to turn this rented apartment into their home.
“Vivi! Dinner’s ready!”
“I’m coming!”
With a smile on her face, Noi slowed her steps, using her feet to memorize every grain and groove in the floor.
She wanted to be able to reach Lyte by the fastest route every time he called her, to hold his hand and help him solve any trouble.
This little home for two didn’t have a dining room yet, and the kitchen wasn’t well-equipped.
The microwave and small fridge were the most expensive appliances they had.
Noi came to the living room.
On the coffee table were two steaming boxes of mixed noodles, the sauces still unopened.
Lyte, considering their different tastes, planned to let her choose for herself.
There were both metal forks and chopsticks laid out for use.
Lyte was searching on his phone how to make tea, and when he saw Noi come in, he quickly asked for help.
“Vivi… I don’t understand tea. Do I put the leaves in first or rinse the cups first?”
“Hehe, it’s not hard at all. Watch me do it once and you’ll get it.”
Sitting by the coffee table, Noi deftly used tongs to pick up the little teacups, rinsed them with hot water…
Lyte watched without blinking, his eyes almost sparkling.
In his eyes, Noi seemed to be savoring the whole process of making tea—her movements elegant and serious, yet not at all stiff.
The tranquil atmosphere of brewing tea seeped into his very bones.
Even before tasting the tea, he already felt at peace.
“Here, try it.”
The little teacup was half-filled with golden tea.
Lyte pinched the rim, took a sip, and his brows lifted.
“Mm… Amazing! It tastes completely different from the plain tea with added flavor we had yesterday.”
“Ehehe, tea cuts the grease—perfect with these oily noodles. Let’s eat.”
The setting sun sank beyond the horizon, the sky draped in a deep gray veil.
They didn’t turn on the lights, but sat together on the sofa, quietly chewing their noodles in the fading light.