Hannah leaned against Arnold Simmons’s shoulder, gazing at the starry locust trees not far away.

After a while, she closed her eyes.

"I’m sleepy."

Her voice had gradually calmed down, tears only lingering in her eyes for a moment before quickly disappearing.

No crying.

Arnold Simmons gently patted her back, as if lulling her to sleep, and asked softly, "Do you want to eat something first?"

The grilled meat was a twice-processed version of the dry food Hannah had brought earlier.

Hannah smelled the fragrance and twitched her nose. She then opened her eyes, "Alright, I’ll have a little."

She was indeed hungry.

Arnold Simmons quickly got up, went to the fire pit, took the prepared grilled meat wrapped in a large leaf, and brought it to her.

"The temperature is just right. Try the flavor."

He lowered his gaze, carefully cutting a large piece of grilled meat for Hannah.

Hannah tasted a piece.

In the past, she would have just thought it tasted good, but after reclaiming those memories, she found the flavor incredibly familiar.

A familiar kind of delicious.

"Archer used to make grilled meat with this same flavor," Hannah remarked.

The youth in her memory was forever gentle and attentive.

Hearing this, Arnold Simmons slightly startled, then lifted his head, "So, you like Archer a little better?"

Archer was the true Arnold Simmons of his youth.

Hannah picked up a piece of meat and put it in her mouth, her eyes curving into a smile.

She said, "Archer was really nice."

Arnold Simmons felt a touch of jealousy.

Jealous of himself.

Although he knew it was childish, he couldn’t help it.

But soon after, Hannah added another line, "Arnold Simmons is nice too."

It was as if she sensed something and leaned her chin on her hand, tilting her head and moving closer, her face still adorned with a sweet smile.

Arnold Simmons raised his eyes, meeting Hannah’s gaze exactly at that moment—her bright, black eyes reflecting the starlight and his face. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

"Arnold Simmons."

Hannah suddenly called his name, her voice soft like candy.

Orange-flavored.

Arnold Simmons responded, "Hmm, what is it?"

Hannah leaned in closer, seriously gazing into his eyes, and then gently touched her own soft, pale cheek.

She spoke in a whisper, softening her voice even more, "Would you kiss me?"

After she finished, she looked down, a faint blush coloring her cheeks, as if shy yet playfully tantalizing.

With no immediate response, Hannah’s gaze had nowhere to rest but on Arnold Simmons’s hand.

Those hands, well-defined, cold like jade, yet carried a warmth that comforted others.

But before Hannah could savor the view, the hand in her line of sight disappeared.

Arnold Simmons leaned forward, his left hand cradling the back of Hannah’s head, and kissed her lips.

The kiss began gently but slowly became more insistent.

The Place of Lost Souls was very quiet, a place even the wind couldn’t penetrate.

The distant shimmery trees swayed without wind, as if bathing in the frosty moonlight.

Moonlight and firelight intertwined, their shadows merging as one. Arnold Simmons nearly enveloped Hannah entirely in his embrace.

He lifted his hand, lightly touching her earlobe.

His scalding fingertip’s heat was transferred.

Hannah instinctively tried to pull away, but Arnold Simmons wrapped his arm around her lower back, bringing her fully into his embrace.

His chin rested lightly on her neck, as he turned to kiss the lightly blushing earlobe.

His breath was also burning hot.

Hannah reached out and grabbed onto Arnold Simmons’s hem, her grip tightening slightly, and he immediately stopped, pulling back slightly to look at her expression.

She met his fervent gaze directly, her breathing somewhat uneven, yet her lips carried a smile, "Arnold Simmons, I’m sleepy, I want to go to sleep."