【Interstellar Contract Magician】Ruyuanke

Chapter 437 [Empire] Little One

"I understand, Nightingale, but I think you could try to consider others." I said it a little cryptically.

Nightingale's expression froze for a moment, as if he didn't immediately understand what I said. For a moment, I saw a flicker of confusion in his eyes, but then he regained his usual composure.

"Consider others?" He repeated my words with a hint of amusement in his tone. "Do you mean me? Or someone else?"

My heart warmed, knowing he didn't fully understand what I meant. I paused, trying to organize my words. "I just feel that sometimes... you're always so focused on yourself, or on me. You could try to consider others, even for just a moment."

Nightingale seemed silent for a moment. He did not rush to respond, but tilted his head slightly, his eyes becoming a little deep, as if he was thinking about what I said.

"You said 'others'?" he asked in a low voice. "Do you mean yourself, or someone else who is not related?"

I didn't respond right away. His words were sharp, yet they left me feeling a bit awkward. I wasn't trying to blame him, but I felt like he always focused all his attention on me, as if I were the only one, with no one else to share his attention with. Even he seemed consumed by me.

"You..." I lowered my head, the emotions in my heart becoming more and more chaotic, "Why do you always care about me so much?"

Nightingale didn't show any anger. Instead, he chuckled softly. "Care about you? You might be overthinking it." His smile was a bit frivolous, as if he was teasing me. "Actually, I just think you're too hard to understand, and too hard to get close to. I always want to understand why you're always so cold and so hard to get close to."

I froze, a mixture of emotions welling up inside me. His words seemed to have pierced through all my defenses. I had thought I was holding on to something, but now I suddenly had no idea what I was avoiding, or what I was afraid of.

"You won't understand," I whispered, "some things can't be said easily."

Nightingale smiled and didn't press the issue any further. He just looked at me silently, as if he understood something. After a moment's silence, he whispered, "Perhaps, I'll stay here until you're ready to speak."

His voice was soft, but it was like a promise, quietly leaving some invisible bond in the air.

I looked up at him, without saying any more words, but a complex emotion had already emerged in my heart, like an unspeakable fog, shrouding us.

The nightingale and I seemed to have no need for words anymore. We sat quietly, as if time had stopped at this moment.

Nightingale's gaze rested gently on me, as if waiting for me to speak further. But I was uneasy at that moment, and when I finally spoke, my voice was a little unnatural: "I'm hungry."

He didn't speak immediately, but just looked at me silently, a glint of something unclear flashing in his eyes. Then, he curled his lips slightly and chuckled as if relieved.

"Are you hungry? Then go eat something." There was no trace of frivolity in his tone when he spoke, but rather a sense of command that could not be refused.

I stood up, still thinking about the conversation, but my stomach was already protesting. Although I knew what I said was a bit abrupt, it seemed there was no point in dwelling on it. After all, if I was hungry, I was hungry.

Nightingale patted my shoulder, gave me a gentle push, and motioned for me to follow him. "Let's go to the tavern. Don't you want to eat something good?"

I felt a faint sense of unease, but ultimately didn't refuse his offer. After all, I was hungry, and the topic had been put on hold for too long, so I might as well just let it go and fill my stomach.

"Okay," I agreed and walked out of the house with him.

Nightingale seemed to be in a good mood, walking at a relaxed pace, as if he had long since stopped worrying about what I said. He whispered, "You know, if you're hungry, you should eat. There's a good restaurant nearby anyway. Let's go there."

We walked down the street, the surrounding lights stretching our shadows long, and everything seemed blurred in the night. I stopped talking, occasionally looking up at him, a subtle emotion surging in my heart. This person was always unpredictable. He couldn't explain what he was doing, but every time he seemed like the one who could lead me out of trouble.

We arrived at the restaurant, and Nightingale didn't ask me any more questions, but took me to sit down. No matter what the situation was, he was always so calm, and even in such seemingly ordinary situations, he could give people a sense of stability.

"Are you hungry now, or are you worried about something else?" He raised his eyebrows slightly and glanced at me. "Don't make yourself so nervous. Relax."

I lowered my head and whispered, "There are just some things I don't know how to say."

Nightingale nodded. "Some things may not always have an answer. But you can try to let them go. At least for now, fill your stomach first."

At this time, the waiter brought the food, and my eyes followed him, temporarily no longer entangled in those unspeakable emotions.

Watching the news about Commander Ye Qing on the computer screen, I couldn't help but feel a mixture of emotions. Wang Si's army had won their first battle on the border battlefield, a huge victory for the Empire. But at the same time, it also made me understand why the system hadn't arranged a meeting between me and Ye Qing yet—he was incredibly busy. After all, with such heavy tasks as defending the border and fighting the Insect Mother, how could he find time to care for a dependent who was "completing a mission"?

I couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. At least now I was free of any pressure. Here on this bustling capital planet, I could temporarily let go of all my burdens. There were no Zerg threats, no pressing crises, and even the system's urging wasn't that pressing. I ate well, lived well, and while life sometimes felt a bit dull, this kind of relaxed life wasn't necessarily bad.

"Not bad, actually," I muttered to myself, smiling as I gently set down my laptop. The air around me was still warm, the street lights outside the window still shone brightly, and the entire city was immersed in a festive atmosphere.

At this moment, Nightingale suddenly came over from the side, seeming to be in a hurry. "Are you watching the news?" He sat down next to me, his eyes also fell on the laptop, a hint of interest flashing in his eyes. "Ye Qing is really busy. He has to put everything first."

I nodded gently, but I didn't dwell on it anymore. I just responded calmly, "It seems like he really hasn't had the time to take care of me lately."

Nightingale didn't seem to intend to dwell on this topic any longer. He simply turned his head, his gaze somewhat distant. "Well, you can relax for now. Perhaps we'll have a chance to meet again in the future." He paused, "But you must remember that the mission always takes priority."

Listening to his words, I couldn't help but raise an eyebrow and asked, "What about you? When can you take a break?"

Nightingale smiled slightly, seeming a little proud: "Rest? I'm just working on the edge of rest."

I smiled, but a certain silence remained within me. Nightingale was always so contradictory, sometimes a stern mentor, sometimes a lazy idler. His every word and action seemed tinged with uncertainty, yet this very uncertainty was part of his irresistible charm.

"After I finish this stage of the mission, you should be ready to leave, right?" Nightingale suddenly asked again. Her tone was no longer that of light-hearted teasing, but carried a hint of seriousness that could not be avoided.

I paused, lowered my head, and didn't answer immediately. Finally, I simply nodded calmly: "Yes, I have to leave sooner or later."

"Hmm." Nightingale didn't say anything else, just staring at me silently, as if he was thinking about something. I could feel his gaze penetrate everything, seeing the secrets deep in my heart. But no matter what, I didn't plan to say anything. I just continued to sit there, quietly enjoying this rare peace.

Time seems to stand still at this moment.