After dinner, the two were quite satisfied with their meal and wine, then sat together beside the floor-to-ceiling windows to gaze at the stars.
Alexander pointed at the stars in the sky and said, âOver there is Orion⦠and next to it, thatâs Andromedaâ¦â
Purple felt it was incredibly romantic, cuddling with the person she liked while watching the starsâ¦
âAnd that one?â Purple leaned into his embrace, pointing to another part, âWhat constellation is that?â
Alexander said, âCorvus.â
Purple was a bit puzzled: Is there really a constellation called Corvus?
Testing him, she asked again, âAnd the one on the left?â
âSerpens,â Alexander responded casually.
Purple pinched his arm, âYouâre completely bluffing! I would at least recognize the Big Dipper!â
Alexander laughed, âItâs just looking at stars, why be so serious? I think that looks like a snake, with the raised part as the head and the bottom as the coiled tail.â
âYou make nonsense sound reasonable?â Purple was both irritated and amused, never having seen Alexander be such a rogue.
âYouâre pinching me so hard, itâs swellingâ¦â Alexander feigned pain, âIâve married a tigress, subjected to domestic abuse every day.â
âNonsense!â Purple hit him lightly a couple of times.
âLook! Domestic abuse again!â Alexander protested.
Purple, unsure whether to hit him or not, could only glaring at him, frustrated.
He said he had married a tigress.
She was angry to be compared to a tigress, yet there was a peculiar feeling in her heart, like a feather lightly brushing the tip of her heart, causing a ticklish feeling, an indescribable sense of elation.
â¦Would he marry her?
Even though she knew the hope was slim, she had a blind trust in him, as if no matter if it was the identity of the family head or their sibling relationship, he would easily solve them and then⦠marry her, and they would be together openly and rightfully.
Purple sat up slightly,âRoll up your sleeve, letâs see if itâs really swollen.â
Alexander extended his arm for her examination.
As the sleeve was rolled up layer by layer, his tight skin was exposed, and every line of his sturdy forearm was filled with a sense of strength.
âI knew you were tricking me.â Purple deliberately hit his arm hard a couple of times, âSolid as a rock, how could it be swollen.â
Alexander said, âThe place where you pinched me isnât swollen, but it might have caused swelling elsewhere.â
âWhere is it swollen?â Purple asked.
Alexander pretended to undo his belt.
Purple, flustered and indignant, pushed him down: âYou jerk! Youâre the most mood-killing one!â
Alexander burst into laughter, then pounced back, pinning Purple beneath him and showering her with fierce kisses.
Purple struggled but was held down by Alexanderâs grip on her hands.
The wooden floor was covered with a snow-white rabbit fur blanket, soft and warm, contrasting with Purpleâs spread-out black hair, appearing like an ink painting with distinct black and white, and she, the sprite within the painting, revealed sweet shyness under him, like the purest color blooming in its ultimate enchantment.
Alexanderâs throat tightened, his breathing all at once becoming uneven.
He increasingly doubted whether he could actually wait until she turned eighteen.
He gazed at her, the earnest warmth in his eyes making Purple shy away, turning her head to look at the dazzling stars outside the window, âLook, those stars are so beautiful.â
Alexander followed her gaze and asked with a smile, âDo you know what constellation that is?â
Purpleâs clear eyes shimmered with a smile, âYou know?â
âOf course, I do.â He bent down, lightly biting her earlobe, âThatâs Purple Summers Constellation.â
âNonsense again.â Purple chided, âYou donât even ask if the stars are willing, just naming them randomly.â
When she looked up at those stars again, her cheeks unwittingly flushed with warmth. She turned over, her back to Alexander, unwilling to let him see her blushing face.
In her heart, she firmly memorized those stars: That was Purple Summers Constellation.