【Interstellar Contract Magician】Ruyuanke

Chapter 447 [Empire] Carpe Diem

I drowsily opened my eyes, and the first thing I saw was Nightingale's face, a face tinged with resignation. His eyes were red, as if he hadn't slept well all night, yet I was still holding him securely, unaware of it. My arms were wrapped around his waist, like a tightly wrapped vine, warm and heavy.

He looked at me, his eyes filled with an indescribable emotion. My heart suddenly tightened. Had he sensed my thoughts last night? That cold, calculating air, the quiet savagery of advantage. His eyes were complex, a hint of fatigue, but more of a sense of powerlessness, as if he were accepting some inevitable reality.

I looked away slightly, not daring to meet his eyes. I couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt. After all, this unconscious dependence had made him bear a burden that didn't belong to him. My grip remained firm, tightening even more, as if I were unwilling to face the approaching morning and the reality that would inevitably follow.

"You're... a little heavy." Nightingale's voice was a little hoarse and a little tired, but there was no blame in her tone, just a gentle reminder. He raised his hand, as if to push me away, but stopped for some reason.

I was stunned for a moment, and the hidden emotions in my heart unconsciously surged up in my heart. So, I laughed dryly and pretended to be relaxed and loosened my grip on his arm.

"I'm sorry," I whispered, my tone a little uncomfortable, even with a hint of unconscious shame.

He didn't respond, but just looked at me silently, the helplessness lingering in his eyes. I wasn't sure what he wanted to say, or how much he saw through me.

"You're such a nuisance." Nightingale finally muttered softly, his voice weak but filled with unconcealed helplessness. He rubbed his temples, as if trying to regain his composure.

I want to laugh, but I don't know what to laugh at. Our relationship has always been so complicated, whether it's the emotional entanglement or the uneasiness and hesitation in my heart, it's always difficult to sort out.

I didn't dare say anything more, but just looked at him quietly and silently, my heart full of complicated thoughts.

I suddenly laughed for some reason: "You've been held like this by me all morning, are you in a hurry to go to the bathroom?"

Nightingale was stunned for a moment after hearing what I said, as if he hadn't expected me to say such a thing. Then he sighed helplessly, a faint smile flashing in his eyes. Then, he patted my arm gently, his tone tinged with helplessness and joking, "You're always looking for opportunities to tease me."

Seeing his expression, I couldn't help but laugh out loud. The gloom in my heart seemed to be broken at that moment. Indeed, the depression and uneasiness I had just felt seemed to dissipate a little at his relaxed response. I loosened my arms around him and sat up.

"But I'm quite sorry. After all, I accidentally took up your whole morning." I smiled awkwardly and raised my hand to pinch my ear. Although I was still a little conflicted, the atmosphere at this moment was indeed not as heavy as before.

Nightingale didn't say anything else, just glanced at me, as if observing my expression. There was no blame in his eyes, but rather an inexplicable tenderness and tolerance. He didn't rush to get up, but leaned his head against the headboard, his eyes calm, "It's nothing, it won't hurt to wait a little longer."

We sat there quietly, seemingly waiting for something, yet seemingly with nothing more to say. It was just his faint smile and the slightly tired look in his eyes that made me feel an indescribable emotion surging in my heart.

"What are your plans for today?" Nightingale finally broke the silence. He looked at me, his eyes still so calm, as if everything was under his control.

I thought about it for a while and shook my head: "I haven't decided yet. Maybe I'll just stay here for a while." I looked at him uncertainly, unable to decide whether to continue staying in this temporary "safe haven".

Nightingale just nodded, then closed her eyes as if she was a little tired: "I don't have any special plans, let's rest for a while."

There was a quiet and slightly uneasy atmosphere in the air. We sat side by side, with no sound around us, as if the world had suddenly stopped.

After a while, I scratched my head and asked, "You really don't want to go to the toilet?"

Nightingale listened to me, and the silence seemed to be broken by my question. He frowned slightly, and finally let go of his silence. He glanced at me, and a hint of teasing flashed in his eyes: "You really care about these things." He pushed me gently, smiled as if somewhat helpless, and finally stood up: "Okay, I'll go."

I sat on the bed and watched him get up, slightly stunned. Nightingale walked to the bathroom, her movements still graceful and calm, as if nothing had ever bothered her. It wasn't until the door closed that I breathed a sigh of relief, and I couldn't help but feel relieved.

During his absence, the atmosphere finally changed, becoming less tense. I suddenly leaned lazily on the bed, raised my arms to support the back of my head, and unconsciously recalled some of the past events.

My feelings towards Nightingale seemed to be constantly shifting, sometimes rational, sometimes confused. I couldn't quite grasp the complexities of his emotions. Every time I thought I was about to understand him, he'd act in ways that baffled me, as if deliberately distancing himself from me, or simply protecting a part of himself he didn't want me to see.

I sighed softly, my head felt dizzy, and it seemed that without realizing it, my emotions began to become a little confused.

"Hiss—" A slight pain sobered me up a bit. I subconsciously pinched my brow. The headache I'd just had seemed to have not completely subsided. Add to that the alcohol I'd drunk last night, and the alcohol in my system seemed to still be there.

Just then, the bathroom door opened again, and Nightingale came out. He held the door frame with one hand, wiped his hair casually with the other, and walked in. He didn't seem to be feeling unwell, and his face was still wearing that playful smile.

"You're quite considerate." He walked towards me with a hint of sarcasm in his eyes: "Are you still worried about me going to the bathroom?"

I was stunned, realizing I'd been dwelling on this question since he left. I subconsciously smiled again and shook my head, "No, I just suddenly felt you were very patient."

"Sometimes, there's nothing wrong in being patient." Nightingale's tone was still calm, as if she was saying something very ordinary, but her eyes never left me, as if she was detecting my reaction.

I looked at him and suddenly realized that some things should have been made clear earlier, and some tangled emotions had been ignored or buried in my heart, but now, I wanted to know what he was thinking.

At this moment, I suddenly had some thoughts similar to enjoying life in the moment, so I took his hand and smiled.

Nightingale was slightly taken aback, as if he hadn't expected me to suddenly grab his hand. For a moment, a flicker of surprise flashed across his eyes, but he quickly suppressed it. He lowered his head, his lips curling slightly. "What are you doing?" His tone was calm, yet his curiosity was barely concealed.

I didn't answer directly, but smiled and shook my head, then took his hand, tightening it a little. A different atmosphere seemed to fill the air. Although it was just a simple gesture, it held an unspoken meaning.

I smiled and said softly, "Anyway, it's always good to live a happier life, isn't it?"

Nightingale said nothing more, simply staring at me quietly, as if my words had stirred a deep thought. His gaze grew deep, as if he were examining me, searching for something. I could sense the subtle tension within him, but he didn't break free from my hand. Instead, he lowered his head slightly and whispered, "You're always like this, careless about the little things. Aren't you afraid of regretting this?"

I was stunned, my heart involuntarily tightening slightly. Regret? I knew what he meant, but at this moment I was already a little heartless and didn't have much energy to think about such things. Looking up at his eyes, I chuckled and said, "Regret? If I don't do something now, will I regret it later when I miss it?"

Nightingale was silent for a moment, as if pondering my words. He narrowed his eyes slightly, and as he looked at me, it was as if he were seeing a part of himself he once feared to face, or perhaps, simply seeing a part of himself that still didn't know how to cherish the present. After a moment, he sighed softly, "You're always so confident, thinking you can get back what you've missed. But some things, once lost, are truly irretrievable."

I looked at him, my heartbeat suddenly accelerating, his words echoing in my mind. I didn't know how to respond, so I just squeezed his hand tighter, as if that would give me some different kind of strength.

"Nightingale," I whispered his name, my tone softening. "I know what you mean. But sometimes, I don't want to wait any longer, or miss out again."

He didn't answer immediately, but just looked at me, as if waiting for me to continue. The air seemed to freeze at this moment, and the silence in the room made everything between us more clear.

I took a deep breath and finally said what was weighing on my heart: "I don't want to see you bear all that sadness alone anymore. I don't want to see you go on alone anymore. Nightingale...can you please come a little closer?"

He paused for a moment, the depth and doubt in his eyes palpable. He seemed about to say something, but in the end, he simply sighed, slowly lowered his head, and gently squeezed my hand. Though silent, his actions spoke louder than any words could.

At that moment, I knew that he might not fully understand why he did this, but at least he responded to my wish.