Lillie's eyes slowly fluttered open when she felt soft lips pressed onto her cheek. She knows who it was. Her senses were familiar with his soothing presence that's why she wasn't alarmed by the contact.

"Good morning, love."

​​

She turned to him and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him to her chest. "Good morning." She groggily replied, nuzzling the curve of his neck with her nose, inhaling his scent.

Vibrations lightly prickled her nose as his throat bubbled out an amused chuckle. Joining his wife on the bed, he carefully repositioned himself so that his wife lays comfortable on him.

His fingers played with her smooth hair while the other stroked her waist.

When he concluded that he couldn't spend another day away from Lillie, Ethan fixed the issue with the speed of lightning. He made a lot of people cry because of the work rush, but as the heartless Devil people know him for, he didn't care.

What he cares about was making it to Lillie's side just in time for the sun to rise in Fenhua City.

"I brought souvenirs from the Philippines."

Lillie perked. One eye looked at him, puzzled. "You made a detour to the Philippines just to buy me souvenirs?"

"You were craving mangoes. Besides, it wasn't a long flight." He said as if it was a natural thing to do—which it was, for him at least. "I bought different varieties, you didn't specify which kind."

Lillie laughed softly. She wasn't exactly having a pregnancy craving for mangoes.

Days ago, they were watching an action movie. The fighting scene was in the market and there she noticed the piles of mangoes of various kinds.

She blurted out, "oh, those mangoes look pretty."

Ethan must've translated it differently.

Regardless, Lillie can't deny that she appreciates Ethan's efforts. He makes her happy, and she's aware that he would go to certain lengths just to keep her that way.

Lillie flashed him the smile that always makes Ethan's heart race and his face end up in a blushing mess.

This isn't good for his health, but he can't help but stare at every detail on it. He's too addicted that even therapy couldn't fix.

Her sweet laugher ringing through his ears seem to disengage every stress and tension his body accumulated from all the hours at work. His body felt lighter, content. Melting into the mattress and greedily soak in the warmth she radiates.

He didn't realize his eyes have shut, tiredness finally winning the battle between his consciousness.

Lillie halted her finger from making small circles on his chest. She raised her eyes and examine his peaceful expression.

Ethan has fallen asleep.

She huffed softly through her nose in amusement. Fatigue was evident on his features, dark bags marring his lower eyelids and lines etched the skin between his eyebrows as if he's been frowning and scowling all day.

Seems like this was the first time he had any proper rest after he left for Shanghai.

Stubborn man, ah. He should listen to his own advice when he's telling her to sleep more and look out for her health.

Lillie planted her hand on the side of his face, stroking her thumb on his eyebrow. Even in his sleep, Ethan can feel her affectionate touches. He unconsciously leaned into it, and his expression became more content and relaxed.

Finding his reaction amusing, Lillie hoisted her upper body by propping her elbow on the mattress to boost her up. Inclining herself forward, she gave his lips a feathery kiss before gently plopping herself back into his embrace and allowed sleep to visit her once more.

***

"Ethan, you've here." Han Rushi was surprised to see her son walking in the dining hall with her daughter-in-law. Wasn't he supposed to be in Shanghai and wasn't expected to arrive for at least two days?

Aiyo, he's really living up to the family name, isn't he?

A Li's love can be quite frightening—for others, that is—because they love like no other. Han Rushi, against her family's wishes, married Li Yefeng because of their love for each other.

And it was the greatest decision she ever made.

"How was the issue there? Was everything sorted out?" Li Yefeng asked his son as they all sat down at the round table.

Now that everyone's here, the servants brought out their steaming breakfast and placed it on the table.

"I've done my part completely. Their job now is to know how to make good use of it."

What they'll do in the future was no longer his concern. He won't be held accountable for whatever happens in the future because of their ignorance.

Li Yefeng nodded, understanding and agreeing with his son's answer.

"It's good to see you're earlier than expected, Ethan." Agathe smiled at her son-in-law.

"Too early," Alexander grumbled quietly, then grimaced when his dear wife pinched his side.

"Yeah, sister-in-law was so lonely without you." Li Yifei said teasingly yet factually. "She had all of us with her when we toured the city, yet she didn't seem to enjoy it at all."

"I enjoyed everyone's company, Yifei." It just felt different without Ethan. "You and Gabriel were just too busy with one another that you must've not noticed." Lillie smoothly deflected to topic towards them.

The two's faces instantly went red. Li Yifei flailed, attempting to subdue the matter without anyone suspecting anything. While Gabriel just pretended to bury his attention on his phone as if nothing happened.

"How wonderful it would be if you two would end up together like your elder siblings." Han Rushi mentioned after wiping her mouth with a napkin.

"En, you two wouldn't have to search far and wide for a partner," Agathe added. "But this is just your mothers' musings. We're not forcing you two with anything. Lillie and Ethan were just different cases that need a little bit of nudging."

'You call an arranged marriage a little nudge?' Li Yifei and Gabriel both thought, looking at their mothers with deadpanned expressions.

After the lovely breakfast, everyone busied themselves with their appointed tasks. Lillie's parents went to the city's town square where the show will take place to supervise its progression.

An outdoor event goes perfectly with the cool season and the aesthetic background of the leaves turning yellow, orange, and red.

The Li couple went to check how business in Fenhua was running.

Li Yefei and Gabriel went out separately—to go on a secret date.

Now as for our main characters, they choose to stay at home for a moment. But later when the sun goes down, they'll also go for a date around the city.

There are still a lot of places Lillie wanted to explore with Ethan.

For now, Ethan needs to know what happened after he left home.

"Does the name Four Horsemen sounds familiar to you?" The two of them lounge in the backyard pavilion.

Displayed on the glass table are refreshments; two glasses of mango juice and two plates of sliced, sweet, and crunchy mangoes that Ethan brought from the Philippines.

"They were a small group back then, weren't they? I haven't met them, but I'd heard about their potentials. I'd expected they would rise through the ranks eventually."

"En, your assumptions are correct. They've been one of the Uncrowned Leaders for a few years now."

Many things have changed after Ethan left the Underworld. So it wasn't surprising if the small groups he heard of before became big shots today.

"So what's up with the sudden interest? Are you planning to recruit them?"

"If they behave, I'll grant them the honor."

Ethan felt something was amiss.

"Did something happen after I left?"

"Well, we currently have four unwilling guests staying in our basement."