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She was a good person and did nothing wrong. That day, she even planned to go camping and have a barbecue with her family after returning home. In the following days, she planned to go to the beach to get a healthy tan and take her two dogs to the groomer for a haircut.

Her plans were simple, fulfilling, and happy.

But in that instant, when an unexpected accident occurred, everything ceased to exist.

It is said that a person will experience death three times in their lifetime.

The first instance is when the heart stops beating, which, from a biological perspective, declares the deceased dead.

The second instance is at the funeral, where those around the deceased come to pay their respects. Once the crowd disperses and the deceased is laid to rest, their social status and relationships come to an end.

The third time is many years later, after the last person who retained the relevant memories dies, that person truly disappears completely from this world.

During the funeral, Lady Yukinoshita and Yukino remained melancholy throughout, their brows etched with an inescapable sorrow.

Yuan Qianye considerately stayed by their side, helping to handle various matters. Whenever there was a need to do something at the funeral, he would lend a helping hand as much as possible, silently sharing those tedious and heavy chores.

Five days later, the deceased was laid to rest.

The person is gone, but those who are alive must keep moving forward and cannot remain immersed in grief forever.

After bidding farewell to their families, Yukinoshita, her daughter, and Minamoto Chiya drove to the airport.

After getting off the bus, Mrs. Yukinoshita used the excuse of buying drinks to send Kaito Chiya away. Then, she looked at her increasingly beautiful and charming youngest daughter and sighed deeply.

She reached out and gently stroked her youngest daughter's delicate, fair face, her eyes filled with both pity and heartache: "I'm sorry."

Yukino paused slightly, then looked up in confusion: "Why is Mom apologizing all of a sudden?"

If I hadn't made the decision to send you to the UK, if I had been more resolute and personally visited Qianye and his parents to persuade you to stay together like you did in elementary school, perhaps things wouldn't be in this complicated situation now...

In that case, Mrs. Yukinoshita naturally couldn't speak so frankly to her youngest daughter.

"It's nothing, I just feel that my Yukino is really working hard."

Yukino thought her mother was referring to the exhaustion from the funeral, so she gently shook her head: "I'm not that delicate."

Mrs. Yukinoshita smiled gently and continued speaking with feeling: "When I was with your father, everyone around me, including your grandparents, did not support me being with him. They thought he was just a bad-natured hoodlum and that my future with him was not guaranteed and that I would not be happy."

"Why are you suddenly bringing this up all of a sudden..."

"But I still followed my wishes and insisted on being with him. It turns out I didn't make a mistake. My husband is quite successful, and we have two lovely daughters. We are living a very happy life. So, no matter what you do in life, you don't need to care too much about other people's opinions, even your parents' opinions. Just be straightforward, live for yourself, and strive to be happy and have no regrets every day in this uncertain life. That's enough."

"Mother……"

"I'm sorry, Yukino. Mom, seeing my old friend leave so suddenly makes me feel a little sad and complicated. I've been a bit long-winded, haven't I?"

"That's not the case."

She probably understands what her mother means.

Those words perhaps contained not only feelings of sorrow for a deceased friend, but also a certain expectation and encouragement for her, his daughter.

Without giving Yukino, who was lowering her head and sighing softly, more time to think, Mrs. Yukinoshita took out her phone to check the boarding time back home and continued, "This is a rare opportunity. Why don't you consider taking a break? You've been working at the company since graduating from university and haven't had a break since."

"No need, Mom. I came out unexpectedly this time, and I have some things to take care of..."

"Don't worry about those trivial details. Just leave those tasks to your sister."

"But……"

“That’s what she owes you. She’s been bullying her sister like that since she was little, and she’s still doing it now that she’s grown up. She even kept it from me… She kept it from me for so long. I’ve actually wanted to find a chance to teach her a lesson for a long time.”

Yukino chuckled involuntarily, and was about to say something more when Mrs. Yukinoshita turned to look at her side, where Chiya Minamoto, who had been temporarily sent away, had slowly walked back.

"Alright, I'll head back by myself then. Chiya, Yukino's not feeling well and wants to clear her head. Can I ask you for help?"

Seeing Chiyo somewhat stunned by the sudden news, Yukino's fair ears turned blush. She went to her mother's side, took her arm, and called out "Mom" urgently and shyly.

Mrs. Yukinoshita remained unmoved, only looking at Minamoto Chiya with gentle eyes.

Without further hesitation, Yuan Qianye said, "Don't worry, I will take good care of her."

"Then I'm officially handing this child over to you."

"Yes."

"mom!"

"After we return to Tokyo, do you need me to arrange a driver for you?"

"No need, everything has been arranged at home. As for you and Yukino, you can arrange your own trip to relax, just don't go to dangerous places, and please be very careful."

"Yes, I've got it."

Chiya and Yukinoshita were talking back and forth, completely ignoring Yukino's meaning.

When it was time to board, Yukino clung tightly to her mother's arm, as if she were reluctant to leave or trying to escape, silently protesting.

But in the end, Xue Mu gently but firmly pried her fingers apart one by one and pushed her to Yuan Qianye's side.

Watching Yuki's mother disappear from sight, Gen Chiya then turned his gaze to Yukino, who was standing beside him with her head down and her cheeks flushed.

“Yukino.” Chiya Minamoto took her hand.

"..." Yukino took out her phone with her other free hand, unlocked it, but her fingers were frantically clicking on something.

"Yukino Yukino Yukino..."

Gen Chiyo repeated her name with affection, making Yukino's face flush even more from the scrutinizing gazes of passersby. In Gen Chiyo's eyes, this made him even more moved.

"I'm sorry, Yukino. I was thinking that no matter how anxious I was about things between us, I didn't intend to rush you. We could just take it slow, like before... But now, I've changed my mind."

"……what you up to?"

"How about we make a bet?"

"I never make bets with anyone."

"Then, do you want to participate in the competition?"

"You're really cunning. Fine... what do you want to compete in?"

"In the next week, I will make Yukino unable to hide her feelings any longer, and make her fall in love with me completely, unreservedly, and hopelessly."

Xue finally revealed her usual contemptuous smile: "Then you're doomed to lose."

Yuan Qianye faced her and grasped her other hand: "You're quite arrogant, considering you haven't won many matches against me before."

“This time it’s different. I’m both a competitor and a referee. You absolutely can’t beat me.”

"You seem to handle this with ease. Let's give it a try."

What will you do if you lose?

"Then let's try again."

"What is this..."

“I made up my mind a long, long time ago.” Gen Chiyo’s voice was deep and resolute: “I can’t live without Yukino Yukinoshita, no matter how much time or effort it takes—I must be with her.”

"Is this... a pre-match declaration?" Yukino's voice unconsciously softened.

"It's my true heart."

"..."

"Yukino."

"Ah."

"Yukino."

"..."

"Yukino."

"...You're so annoying."

"Now that we're officially starting our dates, is there anywhere in particular you'd like to go?"

"You can decide..."

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Two weeks later.

Late at night, Tokyo Haneda Airport.

Chiya and Yukino came out holding hands tightly.

They did not inform anyone that they had returned to their home country.

After taking a taxi, Chiyo took Yukino back to the vicinity of her studio apartment and showed no intention of leaving.

He took Yukino's hand and got out of the car. They went to a nearby convenience store and browsed around. While queuing to pay, under her trembling but trying-to-remain calm gaze, he took a pack of three condoms from the shelf and threw it into his shopping basket.

After thinking for a moment, he put the original mini box back and took out two boxes of twelve and put them in.

There will only be more in the future, not less, so it's better to be prepared.

When he picked it up, he casually checked the specific style and thickness, looking as relaxed as if he were choosing chewing gum.

At this point, the second young lady felt the ambiguous gazes around her and buried her burning cheeks completely in Qianye's arms.

Back in the apartment, Yukino opened the window to let in some fresh air and breathed a sigh of relief, thinking she would take a shower first.

Yuan Qianye had already hugged her from behind, his hands slipping under the hem of her shirt.

She was completely enveloped in his arms, feeling his increasingly rapid breathing and rising body temperature.

Before she could say anything, he picked her up and carried her into the bedroom.

"At least take a shower first..." Yukino whispered, making a final resistance, but her hands had already obediently cooperated with his actions of helping her take off her clothes and raised her hands.

She hated this newfound natural reaction she had developed over the past week.

She covered her eyes with one hand and rested the other on her chest, appearing passive and timid.

With each breath, the fabric on her chest rose and fell gently, each rise outlining a slightly regrettable yet incredibly soft silhouette.

It was as if the petals trembled in the night breeze, then quietly closed up again.

"Yukino, my Yukino..."

Yuan Qianye was utterly captivated by the scent emanating from her body, a blend of soapy fragrance and sweet warmth from her body.

"I love you, Yukino..."