Chapter 157

Soon, Shadow Moon arrived at the door of the hospital ward, stood there, and gently patted her small face to psych herself up before pushing the door open.

As far as the eye could see, the room was decorated in azure blue and pure white. It didn't look like a hospital room at all; it looked much more like his personal bedroom. Shadow Moon recalled that when she came last night, she hadn't observed carefully, but looking at it now, she couldn't help curling her lip in silent disdain at Arthur's extravagant luxury. Despite these thoughts, when she caught sight of Arthur's sleeping face, she softened her footsteps, walked up to his hospital bed, and sat down quietly. Her charming purple eyes gazed intently at Arthur's enchanting sleeping visage, the corners of her lips curving upward into a soothing, radiant smile!

Whether it was because her gaze was simply too fervent or not, just as she sat down, Arthur's eyelashes fluttered and he woke up. However, the moment Arthur saw Shadow Moon, his azure eyes instantly brimmed with overwhelming joy, and he cried out, "Blue, you're finally here! I thought you were angry with me and didn't like me anymore!" As he spoke, his blue eyes were misty with moisture, and the look he gave Shadow Moon was utterly pitiful, one of his hands instinctively and tightly clutching the corner of Shadow Moon's clothes.

Hearing Arthur's words, Shadow Moon froze slightly. Looking at his innocent, child-like expression, her heart gave a sharp pang, and her eye sockets instantly stung. Yet, the next second, meeting Arthur's apprehensive gaze, she replaced her expression with a sweet smile and spoke to him affectionately, "How could I ever not want you? For the rest of this life, you have to stay by my side, and you're not allowed to go anywhere else!" With these domineering words, Shadow Moon put her hands on her hips, striking a willful and spoiled pose. Her eyes were wide as she glared fiercely at Arthur, looking precisely like a ferocious shrew ready to unleash her fury if he uttered a single out-of-line word!

Seeing Shadow Moon's overbearing stance, Arthur's rose-colored lips curved into a charming arc. He threw himself straight into her arms, speaking with a hint of spoiled coquetry, "Blue, you're so good to me. Don't worry, I'm latching onto you for the rest of my life, and don't even think about shaking me off!" Arthur's arms wrapped tightly around her, as if fearing that Shadow Moon might run away. Meanwhile, deep within those azure eyes—hidden from Shadow Moon's view—a flash of dark blue light darted by at lightning speed.

"Yes, yes, yes. Rest assured, I'll take care of you for the rest of your life!" Holding Arthur, Shadow Moon felt that the person in her arms had grown much thinner, and a wave of heartache washed over her. Ah, what a foolish man he was!

"So, you need to get better quickly and stop making me worry, okay?" Her purple eyes, overflowing with deep affection and tenderness, stared straight into Arthur's crystalline blue ones.

Arthur looked at Shadow Moon, nodded heavily, and said, "I promise I won't let you worry about me anymore!" With a face full of absolute confidence, his cheeks suddenly flushed red. He lowered his head shyly and stammered, "Blue... um... I want..."

Seeing Arthur's conflicted expression, Shadow Moon felt a wave of astonishment. "What's wrong? Are you uncomfortable somewhere?" Worriedly, she reached out to touch Arthur's cheek, finding it burning hot. She instantly panicked and jumped to her feet. "I'll go get the doctor!" With that, she turned to leave.

"Blue!" Seeing her about to leave, Arthur's face grew even redder, but with lightning speed, he grabbed the hem of her garment and whispered, "I'm fine, I'm really well, you don't need to call a doctor."

Shadow Moon turned back, looking at him suspiciously. "Are you really sure you don't need a doctor? Your face looks even redder. Are you truly alright?"

At this, Arthur's face and ears turned thoroughly crimson. Unable to voice what he wanted, and terrified that Shadow Moon would ask further questions, he exerted strength in his arms and pulled her directly back into his embrace. Lowering his head, he captured those captivating, sakura-petal lips!

Shadow Moon was momentarily stunned, completely failing to react in time. She remained frozen in Arthur's arms like a stiff Barbie doll, until Arthur's dissatisfied voice broke through. "Blue, why are you as stiff as a sugarcane stalk? It's hurting my chest! I remember you used to be as soft as tofu!" His voice carried a mixture of grievance and complaint, yet it instantly snapped Shadow Moon's soul back to reality. Her face exploded into a violent crimson. Furious and flustered, she shoved at Arthur, demanding angrily, "What on earth are you doing?!" Not only was he acting like a rogue, but he was also finding fault with her?!

Dodging Shadow Moon's row of probing little teeth, Arthur murmured with a wronged expression, "Blue, I just missed you. It felt like I hadn't seen you in forever, and I felt like you wanted to abandon me. I was feeling uneasy, so I just wanted to make sure!"

Hearing this, Shadow Moon felt a sudden sting at the corners of her eyes and an ache in her heart. Indeed, the two of them really hadn't seen each other in such a long time! And they had almost missed each other forever in this lifetime! Thinking of this, Shadow Moon's arms tightened around Arthur's back, wanting to press her chest even closer to his, wanting to feel his powerful heartbeat and let him feel hers as well! Her sakura-like lips parted at that very moment, welcoming the long-overdue warmth and breath. Her petite body instantly melted into a pool of spring water as she collapsed into Arthur's embrace.

Feeling the capitulation and trust of the person in his arms, Arthur's azure eyes lit up brilliantly. He closed his eyes, savoring the familiar, intoxicating scent lingering between their breaths. As their hearts beat as one, a soft murmur slipped past his lips, "Blue... I've missed you so much... I've missed you so, so much!"

Hearing Arthur's sigh-like murmur, Shadow Moon could no longer hold back. A single crystalline tear slipped from the corner of her eye. Amidst her ragged breath, she murmured her reply to him,

"I've missed you too... so much... so, so much... Sky..."

Shadow Moon called out that name, the one that had brought them countless moments of joy, and her heart melted into an utter ruin of tenderness.

Upon hearing her call that name, the smile on Arthur's lips could no longer be contained. An overwhelming, suffocating tide of joy flooded his heart and eyes! Therefore, he could only channel all of it through his rose-toned lips, pressing them urgently against hers. All the suffering and entanglements of these past years melted away in each other's warmth, leaving behind only an endless, lingering devotion and love.

After a long while, the two rested their foreheads together, their eyes hazy yet brimming with deep affection as they gazed at each other. Gentle, ragged breathing echoed between them. The familiar scent of one another wrapped around them, instantly filling the quiet space with a soft, pinkish glow. Both of their faces were flushed pink, and their lips were red and glistening with moisture.

Looking at each other's somewhat "disheveled" appearance, a spark of amusement flashed in their eyes, and they burst into hearty laughter together. In an instant, the hospital room, already overflowing with warmth, was imbued with a joyful atmosphere, as if everything had brightened alongside their clear laughter.

"Blue, stay and keep me company tonight, okay?" Arthur pushed his high, straight nose forward, rubbing it playfully against Shadow Moon's small, rounded nose as he whispered.

Hearing this, Shadow Moon felt a flutter in her chest, but she rubbed her nose back against his and replied, "No. A lone man and a woman staying together will ruin my towering reputation!" A gleam of mischievous amusement flashed in her purple eyes as the corners of her mouth ticked upward, though she spoke in a thoroughly serious tone.

Arthur pouted his red lips, his eyes instantly brimming with artificial moisture as he complained plaintively, "Blue, I'll be very good. Just lie down beside me, and I promise I won't move around. I just miss you, and I just want you to stay by my side. When you're not with me, I always feel uneasy."

Looking at Arthur like this, Shadow Moon's already melting heart softened into an utter mess. She quickly cupped his face, planted a loud smack right on his red lips, and looked at him with watery eyes. "Fine, I'll stay."

Overjoyed, Arthur imitated what she had just done, cupped her small face, planted a resounding smack on her red lips, and then lingered, leaving the imprint of his scent all over her little face. Until—

"Hey, Arthur, are you part dog or something? Why are you even resorting to licking?!"

And thus, these two individuals, who had once again cast aside the darkness of adversity to find their way back to each other, spent the entire day acting completely inseparable and utterly devoted.

By evening, Shadow Moon called Shi Lei and the others to let them know she wouldn't be coming back and would be staying at the hospital to look after Arthur so they wouldn't worry.

Immediately afterward, a furious roar came booming through the phone—Xuanyuan Xuanjing's dissatisfaction with her, his complaints, and his angry curses directed at Arthur. Feeling helpless, Shadow Moon held the receiver away from her ear, waiting patiently for the hot-tempered old man to vent his fury. Only when he finished did she bring the phone back to her ear and say, "Alright, Grandpa, I'm hanging up now." Just as she was about to cut the call, Xuanyuan Xuanjing yelled out anxiously, "Wait, girl! Put that brat on the phone, I want to talk to him!"

Hearing this, Shadow Moon glanced at Arthur, who was blinking his eyes like an innocent child from the hospital bed. She smiled at him, and then spoke into the mouthpiece, "Alright, Grandpa, Arthur hasn't fully recovered yet, so I won't let him talk to you. Bye-bye!" With that, she clicked the end call button, leaving Xuanyuan Xuanjing on the other end so furious his mustache was twitching!

Hanging up, Shadow Moon walked back to Arthur's side and asked, "What do you want for dinner? I'll go buy it."

With bright, sparkling eyes, Arthur pulled her straight into his embrace and coaxed, "I don't want you to go out. Just order takeout over the phone; I'm not picky. Whatever you eat, I'll eat."

Snuggling into his chest, Shadow Moon gazed at the man who was acting so dependent on her, her eyes curving into crescent moons. She proceeded to place a delivery order.

The two of them enjoyed their dinner in an exceptionally sweet atmosphere. Looking as lazy as a Siamese cat, Arthur rested his head on Shadow Moon's lap as they chatted. Gradually, as the sky grew dark, Arthur's breathing evened out. He slipped quietly into a peaceful dream, a satisfied smile still lingering at the corners of his lips.

Shadow Moon stroked his soft hair. At that moment, the phone left on the side table vibrated. Glancing at the screen display, she gently lifted Arthur's head, placed it onto the pillow, and softly picked up her phone before stepping out of the hospital ward.

The very second Shadow Moon turned around, Arthur, who had seemingly been fast asleep, abruptly opened his eyes, and a flash of blue light flickered briefly within the empty room.

Standing outside the ward, Shadow Moon answered the call, "Hello?"