Chapter 68: North Island
The carriage rolled over the land that was covered in ice and snow all year round and slowly drove into the small town of North Island.
The air here was cold but incredibly clear, without the soot pollution of the city, only the faint, fresh scent of pine needles.
In the distance were continuous snowy mountains. Nearby were colorful little houses, especially the roofs, which were simply a riot of color. Christmas trees were hung with socks filled with snow. If Santa Claus came, he wouldn’t know where to put the gifts.
In the center of the town was a huge rock with patterns eroded by the wind and snow. A wolf’s head totem was carved on the stone surface. At first glance, the wolf’s eyes were sharp, but upon closer inspection, there was a hint of compassion.
Let the heavy snow fly. It stood unmoving, silently guarding this land.
Lina curiously looked at this world of ice and snow and asked casually, “Do only wolves live here?”
Adele intertwined her fingers with hers, a gentle smile blooming in her eyes. “It used to be, but now…”
She deliberately paused, squeezing Lina’s fingers. “There’s an extra rabbit that delivered itself to the door.”
Lina smiled lightly, lowered the carriage curtain, and turned to look at her, her eyes bright. “Then am I not finished? A rabbit in a wolf’s den～”
Adele was made to feel an itch in her heart by her deliberately cute appearance and scared her, “So stick close to me. Be careful you don’t get snatched away and eaten by another ‘wolf’.”
“Ah…” Lina moved closer to her ear and said in a whisper, “But I only want you to eat me, Master… Mmph!”
Before she could finish, she was encircled by a fluffy wolf’s tail.
The lop-eared rabbit’s waist was full of ticklish spots.
“No, no!” Lina instantly softened and fell into Adele’s arms, her voice trembling as she begged for mercy. “I was wrong, hahaha, spare me, hahaha…”
The bad rabbit who loved to talk dirty was finally sanctioned.
The carriage drove for another ten minutes before it stopped in front of a two-story small building.
Adele got out of the carriage first and held out her hand for Lina to hold. “Be careful.”
Lina was already used to her care and was no longer so timid.
The small building had its own front garden. On the east side were several tall and straight spruce trees. The green leaves and red tiles complemented each other, with the white snow dotted in between, a natural painting.
Just as the two of them were about to open the door, an old woman with a full head of silver hair, but still hale and hearty, walked out of the small building next door. She hadn’t put on her glasses yet. Just by squinting her eyes and looking over, she recognized Adele, and a surprised smile bloomed on her face.
“Adele! You’re back!” The old woman’s voice was kind and gentle.
Adele led Lina closer. “It’s me, Granny. I’m back.”
“Good, good, it’s good that you’re back!” The old woman’s eyes curved in a smile. She noticed the slightly shorter little one beside Adele, quickly put on her glasses, and asked, “This is…?”
Adele glanced at Lina and said, “This is Lina, and also my lover.”
My.
Lover.
My lover.
Returning to her hometown, introducing her lover to her elders—it was always inexplicably exciting. At the same time as her heart was out of sync, Adele couldn’t control the strength in her fingertips and held Lina tightly.
Hearing the word “lover,” Lina squeezed Adele’s hand back. She showed a smile to the old woman with great composure and greeted her obediently, “Hello, Granny.”
“Oh! Lover?!” The old woman’s eyes widened in surprise, and then she burst out laughing, several happy wrinkles suddenly appearing on her face.
She was so surprised that a grayish-white wolf’s tail popped out uncontrollably with a “poof” and wagged happily.
“That’s great! This is great news!” The old woman said excitedly, “I have to go and tell them right away! Our little wolf has a partner! And a beautiful one at that…”
As she spoke, she suddenly reacted. The aura on Lina, which was clearly different from the wolf clan’s, made her retract her tail with a “swish.” Her tone became a little cautious. “That… child, don’t be afraid. Although we are all wolves, we are vegetarians… ah no, we eat normal food!”
Looking at the old woman’s flustered and cute appearance, Lina took the initiative to step forward and brought out her two long golden ears. “I’m not afraid.”
The old woman was stunned for a moment when she saw the pair of rabbit ears, then let out a big sigh of relief. “Good, good, it’s good that you’re not afraid! What a good child!”
The more she looked, the more she felt they were a good match. Her heart was filled with joy. “I have to go to the circus now. I’ll bring you some baked cookies tomorrow, and come to my house for a meal.”
The old woman said, wrapped her shawl tightly, hummed a melodious little tune, and walked toward the town center with light steps.
The two of them watched her walk away before they prepared to go in.
Lina was a little nervous. She was afraid that Adele’s parents were at home.
Meeting the parents… so nervous…
As she thought, her rabbit tail trembled.
But after opening the door, it was deserted inside.
The room was filled with the faint, fresh scent of wood. The furniture was neatly arranged, but it was all covered with a thin layer of dust.
Lina looked around Adele’s home. Her gaze swept over the coffee table, the sofa… and finally rested on the wall.
There were several photos hanging there. Without exception, they were all of Adele alone.
The smile on Lina’s face slowly faded. She said softly, “Adele… there’s only you in the photos.”
Where are your family?
Lina already had a bad premonition, but in her memory, Adele had indeed never mentioned her family.
In both worlds, she had never mentioned them.
Adele looked at the wall, her eyes relieved, her tone calm. “I don’t have a family. At least not in my memory.”
Lina was stunned.
She had always assumed that a gentle and kind person like Adele had grown up in a family full of love and warmth. She had never thought…
Adele smiled, very gentle.
Her gaze was cast out the window, looking at the quiet little town. “Granny and the other elders in the town have taken good care of me. You’ve just met the parents, in a way.”
After she finished speaking, the room fell into a short silence.
The calmer Adele was.
The more Lina’s heart ached.
So her lover was not without pain, but had just quietly hidden the pain, giving her only gentleness and beauty.
Lina reached out and hugged Adele tightly from behind. “You have a family now.”
She tightened her arms and, word by word, repeated clearly, “Adele, you have a family now, a real family. I will never leave you.”
“Never.”
Adele’s body stiffened slightly, then completely relaxed. She covered Lina’s hand and responded, “Mhm.”
*
The cookies were too delicious. Lina was full.
The moment Adele went upstairs, she saw Lina lying on her newly made bed, pitifully rubbing her stomach.
The rabbit ball had really eaten her stomach into a ball.
“Adele.”
Lina called.
Adele walked over. “Should I rub it for you?”
“Teacher.”
Adele chuckled.
“Master.”
“I’m here.” Adele heard that she was throwing a little tantrum and patiently cooperated.
She thought Lina was very cute.
Her ears were cute.
Her tail was cute.
She was also cute when she was angry.
She liked it when Lina was angry, liked it when she was clingy, liked it when she made a fuss.
She didn’t like it when Lina was sensible.
A sensible person is too wronged.
“I’m going to die,” Lina said.
Adele raised her hand. Just as she was about to spank her bottom, a voice sounded in her mind—
Don’t reward her!!!
The expected slap did not fall. Lina let out a dissatisfied “hmpf.”
“Don’t say that.” Adele frowned.
A word can become a prophecy. She was afraid.
Lina realized she had misspoken.
Adele cared more about her than she did herself.
Lina understood it all.
“Hug me, okay?” The last three words were a coquettish plea. Lina was sure that Adele would not refuse.
“Okay.”
Adele climbed onto the bed and held out an arm. Lina skillfully lay in her embrace.
They hadn’t drawn the curtains. Outside the French windows was the town, shrouded in twilight. Under the colorful lights, figures were moving. In the distance were the snowy mountains that had sunk into the night.
Lina was growing bolder with Adele by the day.
Of course, this was also spoiled by a certain wolf.
Lina touched Adele’s chin, then her lips, then slid up her nose, and finally… the wolf ears that had popped out from the top of her head.
“You’re more sensitive than a rabbit,” Lina said.
Adele wanted to retract her ears but was once again captivated by Lina’s finger.
“…I’m not.”
“You are.” Lina was also a person of action. She directly dropped a kiss.
The wolf’s ears trembled. Under the snow-white fluffy fur was skin that had instantly turned pink.
“I already know why you used to always run to the bathroom.” Lina said.
It had been two whole years. Adele still couldn’t resist her wickedness. She wanted to make a move directly. The moment she raised her arm, she was caught by the wrist by the already prepared Lina and pressed above her head.
“You?!”
Adele was surprised at her strength.
“The method you taught me to train my upper body strength is indeed professional.” Lina got on top of her. “Do you want to try the student you taught?”
“Is this your fetish?” Adele asked, “Do you have to do the teacher-student thing? I have to go to God to confess eight times a week.”
“Do you prefer master and servant?” Lina’s mouth was obedient. “I’m fine with anything. I’m happy to serve you.”
Adele looked at the French windows. “The curtains are not drawn.”
Lina tilted her head to look.
It was starting to snow again.
Adele wanted to launch a sneak attack. She struggled for a moment but couldn’t move.
Lina turned her head. She was sitting under the blue-toned sky, her smile wanton and flamboyant.
“I knew you were up to something.”
You want to play mind games with me? Teacher, you’re still a little off.
Adele was subdued, but her mouth was not. “You just launched a sneak attack. That’s not fair.”
“Mhm…” Lina’s two rabbit ears curved into two question marks. “So?”
“So you have to let me go, and we’ll decide who’s on top again,” Adele said.
She was actually a little afraid of Lina.
She was too sensitive, but the young person was too reckless.
She couldn’t take it.
The two rabbit ears made a big “X.” Lina leaned down, almost kissing but not, and let out a wicked hum as their temples brushed. It was unclear whether it was a genuine expression or a deliberate seduction.
It was like being playful, like being forced, like a spoiled person being reckless.
Adele wanted to respond to her but found that the kiss had not fallen at all.
She had been played.
But she smiled.
“You’ve been in a carriage for so long. Didn’t you say your back hurts?” Lina coaxed, “You should lie down.”
Adele’s wickedness was also aroused by her. She was restrained with the rabbit, but if the rabbit wanted to mess with her, why would she hold back?
“I don’t want to lie down.”
The snow outside was falling heavier and heavier. Last year at this time, Haia had come back for a follow-up, saying that Lina’s illness was basically under control, and the probability of relapse was not high, but not zero.
What Adele could do was to give her a passionate response, to let her feel that she was strongly loved.
Strongly.
Passionately.
Possessed.
Lina complained, “Are you rejecting me?”
A person in love is always suspicious. A naturally sensitive person, when they start to overthink, even a speck of dust floating before them can become a suspect.
Adele tilted her head up.
A kiss was pressed on Lina’s wrist.
A naked invitation bloomed in her dark green eyes. “Go to the window. The snow in North Island is very beautiful. Let’s watch it together.”
Lina was stunned.
The usually restrained person had never spoken so frankly. For a moment, she couldn’t respond.
“Lina,” Adele called her.
Lina came back to her senses.
“Wash your hands,” Adele commanded.
She knew that the rabbit liked this.
Lina went downstairs in a daze, and then came back with wet hands, still in a daze.
The room was very warm. Before the two of them even got close, the air was on fire.
Adele, in front of Lina, touched the first button of her shirt and said, “Come here.”
Lina was completely dazed.
Only obedience remained.
They kissed passionately.
The spruce trees outside the window seemed to have gone from a few to a large patch. The full moon nestled on the top of the snowy mountain also seemed to have become several.
But there were only three handprints on the window, or two, or none at all.
The heavy snow had turned the Christmas tree snow-white and had also covered the road signs. Santa Claus got lost, passed by Adele’s house, and in a daze, he heard a “please.” He was riding a reindeer, full of the air of a working man. “If you want a gift, make an appointment in advance! No on-the-spot wishes!”
The snow in North Island would fall for a whole year. When spring came, and the first pink rose bloomed, a sweet dew would fall from the sky, and the snow would melt.
Lina had already smelled the fragrance of the rose in advance.
The snow had also melted in advance, trickling down in front of the window.
It seems there will be a good harvest next year.
Of course, not in North Island. This place does not rely on agriculture. In the past, it relied on hunting, and now it relies on imports.
Adele went from trembling to numb. She had only one thought. In the future, if she were to hunt, she must not provoke a lop-eared rabbit.
Absolutely not.
Lop-eared rabbits are very bad.
But she also loved them very much.
They stood, knelt, and finally returned to the bed. It wasn’t until the distant sky turned a fish-belly white, until the firewood in the room had all burned out, that they finally quieted down and began to watch the snow.
Fortunately, the snow had not stopped.
“It’s very beautiful,” Lina said.
Adele was still trembling, but she saw that Lina’s shoulder was exposed from the quilt. She immediately pulled the person to her side with a trembling hand. “It’s cold.”
Lina’s nose was covered in sweat.
Perhaps it wasn’t sweat.
She followed Adele’s pull and moved closer, enjoying the care of the person she had almost driven into a daze.
Adele carefully tucked Lina in, pressing down every single gap that might let in a draft.
Then she lay back down, the afterglow still making her head spin.
“I heard from Granny that the circus in the little town is very interesting.” The hand under Lina’s quilt held Adele’s.
Adele’s thoughts had just been stirred up. She remembered Lina’s diary again. She had read it from beginning to end and only felt that her baby had had it too hard.
She had always wanted to leave a sentence in the diary.
She had thought about it for a long time and still couldn’t find an answer.
Lina’s hot breath floated into her ear.
“The circus seems to have little elves too. Let’s go too.”
A ray of golden sunlight passed through the glass and fell on the faces of the two of them. Adele turned her head and met Lina’s watery eyes.
She still had no answer.
But she was willing to spend her life looking for one.
“Alright.”
“I’ll go with you.”
Wherever you go, I will go with you.
No one is coming?
No.
—End of Main Text—
