<aside> 🔑 Key: 🦌: Lu Chen/Alkaid 🖌️: MC

</aside>

We arranged the compound according to the miniature model, dividing the work as planned. 🖌️: Don't worry, leave this place to me.

Alkaid still received research emails often, and he often switched into 'work mode'. Naturally, the position of ‘supervisor on duty’ for courtyard remodelling was naturally given to me. Alkaid would appear right before the sun set. After checking the construction site together, he would warn the workers to take note of details for future construction. But today, it wasn't until dusk left the courtyard’s wall that Alkaid's shadow appeared at the entrance of the Yuyan Lane.

🦌: There are still problems with today’s data.

I nodded my head, The ‘data’ Alkaid mentioned normally referred to his graduate program, monitoring the X-ray astronomical satellite project— according to my knowledge, it seems to be related to a certain huge decline of faraway celestial bodies.

🖌️: There's nothing you can do. Unexpected events happen all the time..

We sat shoulder to shoulder on the bench, the sun shining on our backs, looking at the foundation works of the courtyard.

🖌️: Don’t tire yourself out, you have me here.

From inside the popcorn bucket, I picked out the biggest piece and gave it to Alkaid. Alkaid didn’t extend his hand to take it, instead licking it out of my hands. It lightly tickled me as Alkaid brushed off the crumbs on my wrist. My hands couldn't help but tremble a little as my fingertips touched Alkaid’s lips.

🦌: Mm, sweet.

Alkaid pursed his lips, licking the crumbs of caramel popcorn at the corners of his mouth. I coughed lightly, wanting to push the blush on my face down to no avail. I could only pretend it didn’t happen and tell Alkaid about today's progress on the construction.

🦌: So, Beanie’s cat bed can finally be placed with Sparkles?

🖌️: Oh, I did consider it, but I haven't talked about the problems with settling the two of them together yet. Your mind was somewhere else just now, wasn't it?

🖌️: You need to remember to rest nowadays.

I lifted my hand to pinch Alkaid’s cheek, noticing what seemed like light dark circles under his eyes.

🦌: Mn, I am.

🦌: Sorry, for turning on autopilot without permission.

🖌️: You don't need to apologise. You don't need to shut it down, either.