He added, "You talk a lot about your ex-husband in your mind."

Roxanna bit her lower lip. "I... I can’t control it. Most of the time."

After all, Leon had been part of her life for years. It was impossible for her not to think about him at all.

Luan fell silent for a moment, watching her carefully. "Does he still matter to you?"

Roxanna quickly shook her head. "No. Not like that." She paused, then added more quietly, "It’s just... some memories don’t disappear that easily."

"But... can you try not to think about him?"

Roxanna looked at him, confused. "What? Are you jealous?" she asked. "I’m not thinking about him because I like him or because I think he’s better than you. I just—"

"I know," Luan said softly. His gaze turned gentle as he reached for her arm again. This time, Roxanna didn’t pull away. "I know you’re not thinking about him because you still like him, or because you think he’s better than us."

He paused for a moment before continuing, his voice quieter. "But every time you think about him... you look sad. And I don’t like seeing that."

Luan stepped closer and gently cupped her cheeks in his hands. "I don’t want your ex-husband to keep haunting you," he said softly. "I don’t want him to stop you from being truly happy."

Roxanna went quiet.

For a moment, she just looked at him, her eyes slightly unfocused, as if she didn’t know what to say. "It’s not that easy," she admitted softly.

Luan didn’t interrupt her this time. He just listened.

"I don’t want to think about him either," she continued. "But sometimes the memories just... come back on their own." She lowered her gaze. "I can’t stop them."

His thumbs gently brushed against her cheeks. "Then don’t force yourself to stop them."

Roxanna blinked in surprise. "What?"

"If you force it, it will only hurt you more," Luan said quietly. "But..." He paused, then added, "When those memories come, maybe I can make you feel better by doing something."

Roxanna chuckled. "Like what?"

Luan didn’t answer right away. Instead, he leaned in and kissed her lips.

Roxanna’s eyes widened for a brief second, caught off guard. Then slowly, she relaxed.

Her fingers tightened slightly against his clothes as she closed her eyes, letting herself melt into the kiss. It wasn’t rushed or forceful, but it was soft and warm, as if he was trying to calm her without saying another word.

When Luan finally pulled back, their faces were still close.

"That?" Roxanna whispered, looking at his emerald eyes.

Luan nodded, a faint smile on his lips. "Does it work?"

Roxanna blinked, then looked away, her cheeks warming. "Maybe."

"Only maybe?" he asked, tilting his head slightly.

She hesitated, then quietly admitted, "It’s better than thinking about him."

Something in Luan’s expression softened at that. "Then I’ll do it more often," he said simply. 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

The moment he saw Roxanna calm down, he asked, "Are we good now?"

She nodded quickly. "I think so."

"Good." He brushed his lips lightly against hers, smiling. "Then we need to find the cure for Cyrus’ mind now."

Roxanna blinked, as if she had just remembered something important. "Right... Cyrus."

Her expression turned serious again, though this time it wasn’t filled with panic.

"We need to get the medicinal plants quickly for him!" she said, but then she started to panic again. "But I actually don’t know where I can find the Blue Thornless Rose, Water Pouch Plant, and Transparent Mushroom."

"We need to get the medicinal plants quickly for him!" she said, but then she started to panic again. "But I actually don’t know where I can find the Blue Thornless Rose, Water Pouch Plant, and Transparent Mushroom."

Luan smiled, then took her hand and gently pulled her deeper into the forest. "Well, I guess you’re lucky, because this husband of yours used to wander around the forest quite often," he said lightly. "Don’t worry, I know the way."

After that, Roxanna let Luan drag her to who-knows-where. Since he told her that he knew the way, she decided to just believe him.

Moments later, the path grew narrower as they moved forward, branches brushing lightly against their arms. After a few more steps, the trees began to thin out.

"There," Luan said softly.

Roxanna followed his gaze—and her eyes widened.

A small clearing opened before them, bathed in soft light. In the center, a patch of strange plants grew together, their colors standing out against the green forest floor.

"Those are—" Roxanna stepped closer, her voice filled with disbelief.

Luan nodded. "Take a closer look."

She walked carefully toward them, her heart beating faster with every step.

A pale blue rose stood among the plants, its petals smooth and completely free of thorns.

"Blue Thornless Rose..." she murmured. "They’re beautiful."

She wasn’t even exaggerating when she said that. The rose glowed slightly under the moonlight, something she had never seen in her old world before.

"This forest is dangerous, indeed," Luan said as he picked a few of the roses with his hands. "But honestly, despite the danger, this place also holds many beautiful things."

Roxanna watched him for a moment, her gaze softening. "Just like you?" she teased quietly.

Luan paused, then let out a small chuckle. "Are you saying I’m dangerous?"

She tilted her head slightly. "A little."

"And the beautiful part?" he asked, glancing at her.

Roxanna smiled faintly but didn’t answer.

Instead, she crouched down and looked at the other plants nearby. Her eyes quickly found a strange pouch-shaped plant hanging low to the ground, its surface shimmering faintly.

"This must be the Water Pouch Plant..." she said. "I didn’t know they grow in the same place."

Luan crouched down beside her and said, "I’m not an expert on plants, but I believe the rose needs a lot of water, and the Water Pouch Plant can provide that."

"I see..." Roxanna nodded, reaching out carefully.

"Wait," Luan said, stopping her hand.

Roxanna blinked. "What?"

"I’ll handle it," he said, his tone calm but firm. "We don’t know how it reacts."