Chapter 142

The noblewomen and young ladies surrounding Nathan finally left, defeated by Rosalyne's overwhelming presence. 

"Nathan, do you think I'm too rough?" 

Before they were even fully gone, Rosalyne had already leaned in close. 

Her cheeks were puffed out to their maximum, filled with silent frustration, and in her eyes, Nathan's reflection was all that remained. 

"No… Of course not, Rosalyne! How could you be rough?" 

Nathan wasn't an idiot—there was no way he'd say something that would make her unhappy. 

Besides, Rosalyne had always been pure and adorable—how could she possibly be considered rough? 

At most, she had just expressed a tiny bit of jealousy when Nathan was surrounded by those women earlier. 

"Then, Nathan… let me protect you from now on, okay?" 

"Huh? I'm a grown man… Do I really need a girl to protect me?" 

Nathan was stunned for a moment. 

Right now, compared to her future self, Rosalyne didn't have a single ounce of power. 

Wasn't this backwards? Shouldn't he be the one protecting her? 

"Hmph! I'll stay by your side and make sure no wildflowers try to steal you away!" 

She stepped closer, pressing her shoulder firmly against his. 

"N-No need for that…" 

The word "wildflower" instantly triggered Nathan's memories of the future. 

Back in the Golden House, after she had become La Signora, Rosalyne had used the exact same phrase. 

"Hmm…? Or could it be… that as the owner of a flower shop, you actually enjoy being surrounded by wildflowers?" 

The pressure on his shoulder increased—Rosalyne's emotions were clearly shifting. 

"No, no! I'm not interested in those women!" 

Not to mention Rosalyne right now—even in the real world, where Ningguang and the others were waiting for him, Nathan would never go around flirting with women in this life simulation. 

"Mmm, that's how it should be! Nathan, you have this beautiful flower right here—that's enough, isn't it? Even if you own a flower shop, you shouldn't be too flower-hearted!" 

She reached out her delicate hand, adjusting the collar of his clothes, which had been messed up by the enthusiastic women earlier. 

For some reason, Nathan suddenly felt that this jealous Rosalyne was beginning to resemble her future self more and more. 

---

"By the way, Nathan, if you had to compare me to a flower… which one would I be?" 

"Uh…" 

As she carefully adjusted his outfit, Rosalyne's expectant gaze locked onto him. 

Nathan glanced around the shop, scanning the flowers on display, looking for the perfect one to match her. 

"Got it!" 

Without hesitation, he walked toward the corner of the shop. 

Unlike Mondstadt's signature Windwheel Asters, the flower he picked was a rose from a distant land. 

He gently plucked a single bloom, then returned to Rosalyne with a smile. 

"Rosalyne, you're like this ice-blue rose—a symbol of purity and sincerity." 

For a brief moment, Rosalyne froze. 

Then, the smile on her face became impossible to hide. 

Her lips curved into a joyful arc, her eyes filled with warmth. 

Blushing slightly, she lowered her head, her happiness almost overflowing. 

"Hmph, you'd better not say such sweet words to anyone else!" 

"...." 

Nathan was at a loss for words. 

If she wanted to warn him, she was a bit too late. 

Long before Rosalyne… several other girls had already fallen for him. 

"Idiot, what are you spacing out for? Hurry up and put it on!" 

Seeing Nathan standing there stunned, Rosalyne reminded him impatiently. 

"Put… put what on?" 

"The rose, of course! What else were you thinking of putting on?" 

With their relationship progressing, Rosalyne's words had become bolder and bolder. 

"N-No! I wasn't thinking of anything else!" 

Nathan awkwardly chuckled, shaking his head. 

Compared to the lonely, moonlit singer he had met before, the Rosalyne standing before him now felt so much more human. 

Between her initial breathtaking beauty and her current personality, Nathan preferred this version of her much more. 

Of course—if only she didn't start resembling Ningguang and the others so much… 

---

"Mmm, all done!" 

While Nathan was lost in thought, he had already placed the ice-blue rose into her hair. 

"Nathan… how does it look?" 

Rosalyne lifted her head, the flower adorning her flawless beauty—a perfect combination. 

"It… it suits you perfectly!" 

She was so breathtaking that all the flowers in the shop seemed to pale in comparison. 

"But, Nathan… do you know? In the language of roses, this color represents passionate love." 

Before he could react, Rosalyne's gorgeous face leaned in closer— 

Her soft lips pressing directly against the corner of his mouth. 

---

Under the warm morning sunlight, her actions only grew more intense. 

She poured her everything into the moment— 

Her warmth, her softness, her delicate fragrance… 

Nathan had barely recovered from being surrounded by those women earlier—and now Rosalyne was pushing her emotions onto him with full force. 

Her strength increased, as if she wanted to leave a mark on him—a symbol that he belonged to her. 

When a girl falls deeply in love with a man, when a girl truly gives her heart away… 

Not even the most dramatic acts of love could compare to Rosalyne's fervent passion at this moment. 

Because— 

Even in broad daylight, her hands had already begun attacking his outerwear. 

"Mmph…!" 

Nathan tried to stop her, but his mouth was completely sealed shut. 

Wait—even though Mondstadt was a city of freedom… 

Wasn't this a bit too wild for a public street?! 

Sure, the flower shop was in a quieter part of town— 

But that didn't mean customers wouldn't show up at any moment! 

Rosalyne's eyes burned with passion, her entire body swayed by desire. 

Stop! Stop! 

Even though he couldn't speak, his hands could still move. 

He grabbed her wrists firmly, preventing her from taking things any further. 

"Rosalyne, calm down! Don't let your desires cloud your reason!" 

Finally, just as they were both about to run out of air, she reluctantly let go. 

Nathan managed to steady her, helping her regain her composure. 

As her rationality returned, a deep blush spread across her cheeks. 

"I… I'm sorry, Nathan. I lost control for a moment…" 

The fiery, assertive girl from a moment ago seemed like a completely different person now. 

"It's still the middle of the day! Remember, this isn't the time for such things!" 

Nathan pointed at the bright sun overhead— 

There was an old saying: Whatever you do, don't do it in broad daylight… 

"Ehhh…? Does that mean… it's fine at night?"

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