TYWN Ch 7

A wine-colored car smoothly exited the university’s main gate. Its sleek, sophisticated exterior and smooth ride caught the eyes of passersby.c47a5134d73a9fea

Although automobiles 1d9e12fa13 had become ae19308bc8 more common, a7b727fb55 the majority b55da640f8 were mass-produced, b749fd1889 resulting in e42a6fe9fa a uniform 6092288493 and impersonal 38c414c518 appearance. Custom-built cars, crafted ec1125f1ad by skilled artisans, 8687ff9c52 remained a luxury 1eb6a6a75d affordable only to d37b44fc86 the wealthy.0945f5b92e3f0c9f

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Parking by the 550c5f0d16 roadside, Yuris glanced 32437e4336 at the woman 61b27115aa sitting beside him. Radia, who had 1623dbbdd0 been silently looking 67593b46e9 out the window, 5ba22aac13 turned her head. Yuris feigned ignorance and 8962c3a055 looked back to the be613eefa6 front.1c46807dc32189eb

“So, where do you want to go?”96eef628cd175a8b

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His indifferent tone, as if it wouldn’t matter if they just talked there, irritated Radia. She looked down at the bag on her lap. The gazes of pedestrians passing by stuck to the car window and then disappeared, repeatedly.08eb61c4191d6cb0

“Does that mean you’ll go along with my suggestion?”c6883596da2bfda8

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“To a certain extent.”81efa05737040a59

He didn’t prefer relinquishing control, but this much courtesy was acceptable.362521221c55de9f

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“There’s a park nearby.”6dc0fe4e1dcd3f82

“Are you referring to Gravida Park?”ef182ef17ba5068f

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Gravida National Park, a ten-minute tram ride from the university, wasn’t particularly large, but its accessibility made it a popular destination.024bd1fdc3e86bbd

“For now.”47807e7fee26f335

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The car started moving smoothly again. Radia leaned back against the plush seat and massaged her stiff shoulders. Closing her eyes, only the faint scent of leather tickling her nose, the engine’s hum, and the cool breeze against her face remained.1e1cbc6b9a87fa72

Perhaps because she hadn’t eaten a proper lunch, she felt a pang of hunger.b8d96a37a7c93037

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The car soon stopped next to Gravida Park. Many people were coming and going through the park’s entrance, marked by a large sign. It looked quite noisy at a glance.a2f855537aada364

As soon ccd3a53840 as the d14173f384 car was 73775aec14 parked on 2f5c00d079 the side d7a220729f of the b30ee1e7bc road, Radia 3525d4f23e opened the dd7732312b door and 6438a30ae8 got out. After closing 348e48bfeb the car c84a2b74c7 door, Yuris 638ff1cd31 leaned against 9a0dced185 it, arms f8a1a4ecff crossed. His gaze, as bed342be3f he leisurely surveyed 5ba347187e his surroundings while 6ed54b31d5 waiting for Radia, fc6ac7361c was utterly dry.65d867865a871271

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I should have worn dd98cce5a1 a hat.a2c78979cd251ce0

Sure enough, ac25328c64 sensing the 9cae61a16c furtive glances 33948e1580 directed at 1eac7fec44 him, Yuris f8c6c8f2c8 gritted his 83071ea008 teeth. I should 7c22b0393f just gouge a7748e12cc out their 79319a823a eyeballs.01e7fe1ffe5f693d

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While his black hair was manageable, his red eyes were an uncommon trait that couldn’t be hidden. As a symbol of the royal bloodline, they were revered, and most people were proud of their eye color. However, for someone who disliked attention, they were merely a nuisance.892ea0fd931b7a8e

Spotting Radia approaching, 7fd33b70b4 Yuris finally straightened f777de0c08 up. She walked briskly 2c2b7e61b8 towards him, holding ff8812d19f something in her 484585e3bb hand, and offered d5881d826d it to him.8b3276e2ccd82f5e

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“Did you wait long?”f732b79392b89362

Radia handed Yuris a8940a6786 a cone filled 87cd300a2e with strawberry ice d4267d5fd2 cream. Accepting it 64f9dad867 without a 1af0f31e64 word, he 71d86e7e8d glanced in f00e2004f4 the direction fadb09fe07 Radia had d2635aba50 come from. A white ice cream fe32bd80c1 truck was parked in 78ff8b018c the distance.6adab4dc53ee5ac6

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“Shall we go then?”96fd8e90a1dc27f4

Instead of heading 6c2ac28a93 towards the park 5f056aefe2 entrance, Radia gestured 53238ef87b in another direction. Yuris asked, puzzled,1c517e896aaa8adc

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“Weren’t we going here?”7fdf1603cfd3cae8

“It’s crowded here.”39bb636c6b3604e2

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Radia started walking d5785ebde2 without further explanation. Though feeling b0c6efac5e slightly manipulated, fc07855720 Yuris silently b87b28041d followed. He stared 8ad8708fe6 at the 66ae58aeea ice cream 96a5782953 and took e427a433c1 a small 9cabc4fd59 bite. The sweet, cool 49111d1032 taste filled his c33e2878ae mouth.3c11919abbd8def5

After walking for a ca47f97d77 while, they arrived at adc719d3eb an open space. A small fountain 19f40c4125 stood in the 663aa445eb center, surrounded by f91b4dc928 a few benches. Perhaps because it 1b3e32a60e was a weekday 2e3a6a77a1 and quite a 3aaa97759c distance from Gravida 2fd0a80abe Park, the area 7f57b20cb8 was deserted.ec4faa3d4445d091

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They sat side-by-side on 0c7f200ce2 a bench. The space between them abaa4ce770 was wide enough to 5ba3fb4bb6 accommodate two more people.a0d2b1a9c2aed95d

Not too bcf861abae far, not 0744c361c8 too close, 8813d2a855 just the 9b6e4f0cf6 right distance. Radia was acutely fcd450c72a aware of the f5ff9d9860 weight of the a211d9aea5 space between them.c39f0bdc87d7e921

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Yuris spoke first.1aa112a8fdbb6f51

“So, you called me out here just to sit and eat ice cream?”f5458aa13be0dbf3

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“Not exactly… but to show goodwill, you should offer something the other person likes.”916b3684c2c2b78e

“Aha.”118c821020139ad1

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Yuris stared blankly at f220162baf the ice cream in cf10b7a13e his hand. Countless people had 7fabb37ce4 tried to curry b56d58e504 favor with him, e0556c0d3c but this was 20df8915c9 the first time df49a347b7 anyone had bought e849c8de0c him ice cream.46ebb099fa242a91

Well, it 5a4b29dd0c does taste 92282b3647 good.950da40f1a7f3e92

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“Do you think I have a child’s palate?”ad6e7482e0418cf8

Despite his appearance, which suggested he’d prefer a steak dinner at a fancy restaurant, he was a picky eater with a sweet tooth. He also disliked rich foods, generally avoiding anything with too much butter.4d976885294f059a

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Small things 081393e1aa like this fdc0574568 made him 38a63b5444 realize that 1e3b9eaa8a the other 4055dcab1f person knew 30098d2365 him well.c79f39caf51434d9

“I did nag you about taking care of your health.”b63f145ac8d0c0a8

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Yuris chuckled 24ae8beaaf softly at 613aebb169 her honest f806720a72 reply. Radia stared at him, a29a82144c mesmerized. A bird flapped its a515fab622 wings and flew over af163ffd36 their heads.dafa5b3637da848a

“So, what do you want to say?”21c06b0a1b66c060

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As he cut straight to the point, Radia’s expression gradually grew serious. Yuris patiently waited as she fell silent, seemingly gathering her thoughts. Just as he finished his ice cream, Radia finally spoke.5858f264b451c9c4

“Is your memory still the same?”b793598d5cee15ea

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“I’ll be seeing my doctor soon, but my memory is still patchy from my university days. I still don’t remember you.”75d4c77341d8ac01

Fortunately, his 9f6ea72bbd knowledge related be3a847e56 to the d7dae5dbde company remained aa55c89975 intact, allowing e76de901d7 him to 1039634454 perform his b87667c33f duties without 27d22eea7f issue. It would have b4dd4710f1 been a real ae3e16b5e9 headache if he b20433390a had completely reverted 6f5a57779d to his college 4238486530 days.a32055d89879a6bb

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[You told me not to contact you,] his secretary, Eleanor, had said, bewildered. Only then did Yuris remember that he was on vacation until Friday.

Unable to simply sit 85de81083b still, plagued by unnecessary 1b80c384dc thoughts, he had spent a2f8b39cc5 yesterday catching up on 37351879c4 pending work.7e444e820f253394

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“I’ve been thinking about it, and I don’t understand.”c7ca253bdd4877ae

“What?”3264ef0d318c4f8d

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“Why you lost your memory. The hospital said there were no external injuries.”520c394f804a01c6

“I don’t know the cause… but what can I do about something I’ve already lost? It’s better to focus on how to deal with the aftermath.”509e21d74ed2d921

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It was a 96ac8c874f remark befitting a 6d76e3cdbc skilled executive, prioritizing 1ee2bbe9c8 current gains over 53e5e836e8 past losses.ad997e9c6abb9041

Radia cautiously gauged his 3ddbd8be02 reaction before speaking.6f70460bb5e9b95c

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“Do you really not want to regain your memories?”aa64fa7c903588b1

“They’ll return if they’re meant to.”1149b9c14e2d8e84

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His casual response made 8226059c5e her anxious. Radia spoke again.8165779999a6cafc

“Look.”b1e0128d294e646b

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His face 39893c4575 filled her 0141e14f79 obsidian-black eyes. Unlike Yuris, who observed 064caae8f2 her with composure, Radia 388a1a2fac bit her lip.08d5e3633b4e2dce

“Do you really dislike me that much?”0a14abd2c9692d3e

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Even after hearing her subdued voice, Yuris’s expression remained unchanged. He stared at her, a woman who meant nothing to him, with impassive eyes.35a5992ac0b0e0c7

“Dislike is not the word. It’s more… unpleasant.”0cfc69e6ae9d6aa1

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“What is?”12b4538b74700de3

A charming smile graced the man’s lips. Even though Radia recognized it as a sign that he didn’t intend to elaborate further, she didn’t back down.8062b70668537014

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“You don’t know anything about me.”3486fc85d705df25

“Because I know nothing, I can’t understand it.”7c02b9d4fba1f33f

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His cold gaze met a4d7b391f9 hers. The warmth that usually 89d2b5c82f resembled a flickering flame 4d44febb0b had vanished from his 3b52b8370f eyes, leaving them beautiful b398308376 like jewels, but equally 2f55e5d572 cold.501edeac3de13b54

The Yuris who had 5f8400db14 lost his memories was 0a88740ed1 far more aloof and 07c9ee22c7 less prone to laughter ded1b69af4 than the man she 1764c181c6 knew. His smiles lacked 02b556c249 sincerity. The superficial smiles she 1b56464acd often saw at parties e83d6f6fcc made her feel increasingly 32e9339a1c intimidated.ba6684bf2d1023cc

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“I know you’re incredibly confused right now. Even I, who remembers everything, feel this unsettled, so you must be even more bewildered.”63326999df43d574

“You understand well. So, have you come to tell me you’ll break up with me, as I wish?”60e4c7a3964378fc

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“No.”3b2b32998a500219

A multitude of worries d2b1fca4da enveloped Radia as she e7332f1109 spoke. Should I 655e856a71 be saying 8c4156e43f this? Will I f7cb2657b3 regret this 7c0c1e41ab later?adfb9ac797702e83

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However, she couldn’t just stand idly by and do nothing.44816944a662491a

“So, let’s make a contract.”d2bb0da07a7d6c4b

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“A contract?”5c70ea598a9765c8

“Let’s become contractual lovers.”388f6f60c11db091

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Contract. The stark word e70c6a510d scratched at the 796e82dd21 inside of her 7205fd6ad9 mouth, leaving a 25eb6c67d2 bitter taste on 1d8fd93b49 her tongue.ff4d02e1996e183c

“I don’t want to break up, and you seem to want nothing to do with me. But I’m not exactly thrilled about my boyfriend of over nine years acting like this. You understand that much, right?”9d5b259ed76ed62e

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Radia forced herself to 94388080d5 sound calm as she 947e2c84ef spoke, though she felt 4318390584 more nervous than the 2dcddc9e42 first time she stood 371cb24244 in court as a 538c526441 lawyer. The silence was heavy, 150eb025ca and she wanted to 112d97ae80 blurt out everything, but 783afb24ab she held back.d51ec2da6fe5abcf

Showing anxiety during a negotiation was foolish. Emotionally, she was already at a disadvantage, and with the other party fully aware of it, she didn’t want to worsen the situation.49065f7e923b46c7

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“The duration will be until the third Sunday of next month. It’s difficult for me to take more vacation time than that. My profession isn’t exactly leisurely.”9943ff365db3c7d8

That was roughly a 7b7d945efa month and three days. Perhaps five f0b3775caa weeks, if d4d135859f rounded up.a7878fb75c0cf723

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Yuris didn’t question her profession, perhaps having heard about it from Claude. Radia continued calmly,3b2828771f7f6f57

“I won’t ask for anything difficult. I won’t do anything you don’t want.”8a3f0903821aa9c9

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“Is that confidence that I’ll be the one asking for something?”0dfbbd1d0c8d3e1b

“No. It’s common courtesy between people. Even between lovers, engaging in unwanted acts constitutes harassment, doesn’t it?”37287f19ae429914

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Yuris was momentarily speechless by her firm, principled response. Looking at Radia’s stern expression, he suddenly wondered:5051376910e435d0

Is there a baf49dea2c moment when this 109e038838 cold, indifferent facade 0dad24a921 crumbles? Does she 247fbac9ad ever smile b7e3c8878f brightly, shed e3551779e4 tears, or d131a83f2f desperately cling 919ef3512c to something?b57ef55f21aac014

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He recalled 26374d0fc1 the expression 5773251735 she had 49fbb11c1b worn moments cba0e00753 ago under 218ea18058 the fragrant 89a85fee28 olive tree, cc60a82e93 reminiscing. Was that a a6a7fb12a8 privilege enjoyed by cd51c23d9b her lover?58befa56395f7a89

“So, if you come to like me during the contract period, our relationship will continue.”0187ff2c128dfa80

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After a brief 5bec797610 pause, Radia continued,3cc21b4b5e1570cf

“And if you still have no feelings for me after that period… then we’ll part ways cleanly, as you wish.”d639966a10733699

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Yuris watched with amusement 2f87e191a9 as Radia, her face 68a683de2f pale, spoke of parting.ab12972ac3dbb012

“Are you sure you want to set those terms? You said you didn’t want to break up.”52c90587c9491bce

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Radia nodded d565224582 at his 92cea715e1 teasing question.2d28193aebcdd911

“There’s no guarantee when your memory will return, so it’s better to do what I can.”f7f75841e9574939

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If Yuris’s memory returned, this would all be a funny anecdote. But she also had to consider the worst-case scenario: his memory never returning. He might fall for someone else while he couldn’t remember her. Radia didn’t want to remain in this ambiguous state any longer.2d38872b593cde15

No one 8f2ff583ee enjoys being 57407a8569 hurt.5e89d04fdb934e70

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“But even without this wager, if I say I want to break up right now, it’s over, isn’t it? While love takes two, a breakup only requires one person’s will.”26973447ed5a75bc

His playful tone pricked at Radia’s heart. She sensed how lightly he took this situation.8c2048d961cf3208

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She clenched her fists f5abd57cbf as if to restrain 71e167f085 her surging emotions.3435b4e37adae7f0

“I’d appreciate it if you maintained some decorum. Otherwise, I don’t know what I might tell the press.”97628012677419c8

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“Is that a threat? How cute.”b2d71cfaa2a901c8

Yuris crossed 4e30a47c2d his arms, ab79b8fcb7 a hint 31445fbe54 of amusement 517241a535 in his 205a090843 voice. Radia, carefully af65fad873 observing his c45b24885a expression, replied c5049fdc60 calmly,df976c0229372cd1

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“I’m not doing this to get something from you. I never have, and I never will. You don’t need to worry about that. We can even have it notarized, if you like.”89fbe37ba2cd4d6a

Yuris’s shoulders twitched slightly at her sharp reply, as if she had seen right through him. A smile bloomed on his lips.22bc65111c2d27cc

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“Radia.”1aaaf26d4e9dab66

At the sound d77e9abee9 of her name 4e46f1de56 spoken so tenderly, 106f5e204b Radia froze. Yuris stood 598cf1f82c up with ec25baa208 a leisurely 7e756751ca movement and 5e00eb5bf4 stepped in 2a280ed76a front of b3f2db595f her. His long shadow a3d1b91656 enveloped her.a5ffdeca2059d3ec

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Even as he leaned closer, Radia didn’t flinch. A large hand gently cupped the back of her head. His face drew near, and their lips met in a silent kiss.db246ff33429b9a6

Up close, the skin 3ad8ab3081 around her eyes was 438bbd6be8 flushed. He slowly 4d3697e3d9 moved his 91613288a8 hand down 9639598773 to her 72ce92eba6 neck, feeling eacc511ff1 the rapid 6f14296def pulse beneath f2d18596f3 his fingertips.9c48f00332b6ff74

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“Aren’t you angry?” he whispered.fa3a172086c2d56b

Radia shook her f10b26da53 head, as if 90dbda58b5 to say she caeac7ca8c could tolerate this 06dffbea5a much.f42bdfe9fd48effe

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His impression ad1fc962c8 of the 460591bfd7 impulsive, brief abc7804e3f kiss was a0388ca50f simple.86906e72e4a2b2e6

“You really do like me.”ecf368f2168bee3e

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Releasing her hair with a hint of reluctance, Yuris lifted his head. Radia glared at him, though her reddened eyes didn’t look very threatening.177c7c807fa07b97

“…I don’t like you very much right now.”7712214fe5d91525

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“Ahaha,” Yuris burst into laughter at her grumpy reply. Then he continued,41720c78e3b57d90

“Consider it a signature in lieu of a contract.”ca459716fd68a709

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“A signature…?”99a609ace94bc695

“We’re not exactly drawing up a formal contract… but for a lover’s agreement, a kiss is necessary, isn’t it?”3c86b4777a1c591e

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Following his nonchalant 95c3ec8f4e remark, he extended 1543fa187e his hand as 4797e58347 if offering a d34dc628a3 handshake.29796f6ba47fe19f

“I look forward to our time together.”a9869a1a1da1f10e

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Radia gazed 7491367558 at his cc53aa17dd outstretched hand, 953911fc37 a gesture 205d963f51 of acceptance, 6d5efce209 and cautiously de28e8d1e2 took it.9271a1a7b6f79b47

Despite so much 9def8c0efc having changed, his 6d3c695bd8 hand was still a7f89016a1 warm, and it 5694b870c6 evoked an indescribable 83a9cbfdfd feeling within her.0399058e533e7e4d

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“Likewise.”f31e3768eb58d6fb