Ning Yu decided to leave in three days.
The moment she turned the doorknob, she had already made up her mind. As long as she could deal with the troubles on her, she would immediately return to find Shen Yiyue. With her current abilities, staying in the Ark Base to protect herself would definitely not be a problem.
Three days later, she would leave some information for her and quietly depart. This was Ning Yu's plan.
As soon as the door opened, Ning Yu smelled the aroma of food from the kitchen. No need to guess, it was Shen Yiyue preparing dinner. Under her careful guidance, Shen Yiyue's cooking skills had improved significantly, at least to the point where Shen Qianqian no longer complained.
As for Ning Yu, although she had a deep understanding of "eating," as a killer, her standards were low enough. The meals Shen Yiyue could prepare now were already very satisfying to her.
"Sister Ning Yu!"
Shen Qianqian ran to the door. Ning Yu instinctively reached out to pat her head.
"Sister bought strawberry milk! I... I couldn't help it and secretly drank a box..."
Shen Qianqian rubbed against Ning Yu, a bit embarrassed, her two fingers tapping each other.
"Don't worry, I'll tell your sister that I drank it myself."
Seeing her cute appearance, Ning Yu smiled and started conspiring with Shen Qianqian.
"Sister Ning Yu is the best!!"
Shen Qianqian no longer had to worry about her secret drinking, shaking Ning Yu's hand and exclaiming happily.
"Actually... Sister also bought mango flavor, but I wanted to try strawberry. Sister said it's Sister Ning Yu's favorite flavor, so she told me not to drink too much."
"Okay, you can drink as much as you like, it's all on me~"
Ning Yu walked over and quietly handed a few more boxes to Shen Qianqian, winking at her, making it their little secret.
Looking at the fruit milk boxes on the ground, Ning Yu appeared happy on the surface, but at this moment, she felt a complex emotion welling up inside her.
"You're back, Xiao Yu?"
Shen Yiyue came out from the kitchen, still wearing an apron and holding a spatula, her long, black, and beautiful hair tied up.
"Yeah, I'm back."
Ning Yu casually poked open a box of strawberry milk, inserted the straw to the bottom of the box, and started sipping.
It was the familiar sour and sweet taste.
"Why did you take so long? I thought something happened."
Seeing Ning Yu drinking the strawberry milk she specially bought, Shen Yiyue gave her a sweet smile.
"Hmm, I just strolled around the base and brought you a little gift."
Before Ning Xuan left, Ning Yu had asked for the same music box golden pocket watch to give to Shen Yiyue as a small gift. This way, the two of them would have their first pair of couple accessories. Although Ning Yu had never worn the watch before.
"Yay!! Wait a moment, dinner will be ready soon~"
Hearing about the gift, Shen Yiyue felt like she had gained some extra motivation and happily hopped back to the kitchen to continue cooking.
Ning Yu washed her hands briefly and then went to the kitchen to help Shen Yiyue. However, since it was already nearing the end, they soon finished and could start eating.
At the dinner table, Ning Yu had strawberry milk, while Shen Qianqian and Shen Yiyue had mango and pineapple milk. The three of them laughed and chatted, like a family of three.
Only Ning Yu occasionally stopped, watching the occasional bickering between the two sisters, feeling a bit dazed.
"What's wrong, Xiao Yu?"
Shen Yiyue turned her head and saw Ning Yu's eyes hidden under the shadow of her freshly combed bangs, making them hard to see clearly.
But she noticed that Ning Yu had stopped eating.
"Did I make it too salty again?"
Shen Yiyue suddenly thought of a possibility, then saw Ning Yu shake her head.
"No, it's very tasty today."
"Mmm~~ Today's sister is barely qualified!"
Shen Qianqian also reluctantly refrained from criticizing her sister this time.
"Why did you suddenly think of buying fruit milk?"
Ning Yu successfully changed the topic.
"Because Xiao Yu hasn't had it in a long time, right? So I thought Xiao Yu might want some."
Shen Yiyue said as she picked up a bit of today's dishes, checking again for any taste issues.
Seeing her silly appearance, Ning Yu couldn't help but get lost in thought.
After dinner.
After washing all the dishes, Ning Yu saw Shen Yiyue sitting bored on the sofa, surprisingly holding a book in her hands.
She quietly walked behind Shen Yiyue, took out a golden pocket watch from her pocket, and looped it around Shen Yiyue's chest from the front.
The metal chain of the watch fell in front of her, forming a clear curve.
"Huh? Xiao Yu, is this the little gift you mentioned? Why does it look so much like yours..."
Shen Yiyue felt the cool metallic touch on her neck and saw Ning Yu's white, slender fingers hanging a pocket watch in front of her chest. She couldn't help but ask curiously.
Because this style looked exactly like the one Ning Yu had, which contained a family photo.
Ning Yu knew Shen Yiyue would misunderstand, so she stretched out her hand and opened the pocket watch just hung on Shen Yiyue's neck.
She had already wound the spring once, so when opened, the pocket watch played a crisp music box tune.
Ding ding dong dong, the sound was as light and serene as falling snow, pleasing to the ear.
"Huh?"
Shen Yiyue's reaction was the same as Ning Yu's first time seeing this identical piece, expressing her surprise.
After hanging it up for her, Ning Yu walked to Shen Yiyue's side, stretched out her hand, and showed her the one originally belonging to herself.
Only then did Shen Yiyue finally understand what was going on.
"Are... are they a couple set?"
Shen Yiyue held the identical pocket watch in her hands, feeling delighted.
"The melody is also so nice, do you know the name of the song, Xiao Yu?"
Ning Yu shook her head and instead asked:
"Do you like it?"
"Mmm!"
Shen Yiyue's eyes sparkled with joy, like a child who had just eaten ice cream in summer.
"I like anything you give me, Xiao Yu."
Seeing her wearing the pocket watch, Ning Yu also put on hers and sat down with Shen Yiyue, their legs touching, shoulders leaning together.
Shen Yiyue naturally leaned her head and rested it on Ning Yu's shoulder, even the brass chains of the watches touching each other.
"Clingy~"
Ning Yu hugged her and pinched her snow-white cheek.
"I'll cling to you!"
Hearing that, Shen Yiyue became even more affectionate, gently rubbing against Ning Yu's collarbone, her eyes half-closed.
"I want to put a photo in the pocket watch too!"
Shen Yiyue suddenly thought of something, ran to the side, picked up her phone, switched to the front camera, and didn't even turn on the beauty filter.
"Qianqian! Come over here!"
She called out to Shen Qianqian, who had gone to her room to read comics, not wanting to disturb the sweet moment between the two.