Chapter 313: Chapter 313

After they ate, Chloe launched into cleaning.

“To make space for the tree, we need to tidy up first.”

Guru lay on the sofa watching Chloe clean.

Rather than cleaning, she looked more like she was searching for something.

After she had checked every inch of the apartment, Chloe spoke up, conspicuously loud.

“Should we go buy a tree?”

“Yesh! Gwuu wuvs it!”

Chloe bought a small tree just a little taller than Guru.

Guru’s suggestion to buy a bigger one was vetoed, but having a tree at all felt good.

Beaming, the two returned to the apartment—and just as they were about to step out of the elevator, a huge tree blocked their way.

The doorbell rang over and over.

“Guess no one’s home? Try calling.”

“I wanted to surprise her.”

This time it was Ijo’s.

Chloe moved to hit the elevator’s close button with Guru—only for Guru to dart out first and run straight at Jurim.

Ijo welcomed her, and Jurim, as if it were second nature, hoisted the child up.

Flushed red with excitement over the giant tree they’d brought, Guru asked several times:

“Chwee? Chwee?! Is it a pwesent?”

“How about it. Decorate the tree with your samchuns.”

With two trees now, Guru looked about ready to faint from joy.

“Unnie! We got two tweeess!”

Even Chloe, who had been watching with a look of disapproval, ended up bursting into laughter at the sight.

Then Ijo came over, took the small tree from Chloe, and took her hand. His big, long hand enclosed hers in one palm.

“Sorry I didn’t make breakfast today. I went to pick this up.”

While their hands rested together, he quietly laced their fingers.

“...How am I supposed to deal with something that ridiculously big when you just haul it over like that?”

“Sorry. But the size wasn’t my idea. That guy’s not exactly delicate.”

With a shrug, Jurim headed into the apartment.

“I’m still better though, right?” Follow current ɴᴏᴠᴇʟs on novel⦿fire.net

Never one to miss a chance to appeal, he made Chloe snort with laughter again.

“Right. This one’s better.”

Ijo flashed a radiant, happy smile, and Chloe paused, meeting it head-on.

Then he lifted their linked hands and pecked the back of hers.

Before she could protest, he gave her a gentle push inside.

Chloe suddenly realized she was enjoying this racket, this pleasant sweeping-up into things.

In the living room, Jurim was setting up the tree while Guru held decorations up against it for comparison, and both looked over at them.

Once the door closed behind them, Ijo took Chloe’s coat and headed to the clothing refresher.

Chloe took in the peaceful scene in silence.

When was the last time she decorated a tree?

Tracing her memory back, it was the last year her parents were alive.

A wave of pain rolled over her.

Why did these people keep reminding her—

That she, in truth, longed so fiercely for the warmth between people. That she wanted so badly to love people.

Behind the tree as ornaments went up one by one, the black Tower was faintly visible through the balcony window.

While Jurim and Guru decorated, Chloe stepped out onto the terrace to look at the Tower more closely.

The Tower stood everywhere like a mirage; anyone who wished could go to it.

No one had yet figured out how such a phenomenon was possible.

Guru tried to follow Chloe out, but Jurim shook his head.

Ijo was already heading for the terrace with a shawl.

He draped it around Chloe’s shoulders and showed her that same soft, in-love smile.

Leaning on the terrace rail, gazing at the Tower, Chloe asked:

“How do you think the 99th-floor assault will go?”

“We still have to do it.”

Chloe looked farther off.

In the park’s center, maybe to set a Christmas mood, a massive tree strung with fairy lights had been erected.

Families and couples were ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) out there enjoying Christmas.

Do those people not even see the Tower?

Beyond that tree, the black Tower stood like a gravestone—the symbol of destruction.

Even as the world collapsed, why did people love?

“Guru asked me something.”

“She asked if, knowing you’d have to part, you shouldn’t love.”

“Huh? So what did you say?”

“I asked what kind of rascal she’d met to say that. It was at the kids’ café, right?”

Ijo laughed, a blossom popping open.

“Dunno. Didn’t see any such rascal. Maybe it’s unrequited love. Like me.”

He lifted his shoulders as he said it.

He pitches himself as naturally as breathing. Chloe no longer had the energy to snipe back, so she changed tack.

“On Ijo-ssi, what about you?”

“How would you answer? ‘Don’t start from the beginning’?”

“No. I’d say you don’t have to hesitate to enjoy today’s happiness just because of tomorrow’s misfortune.”

The answer came straight out, like a truth that the sun rises in the east—and Chloe found herself agreeing before she could object.

So that’s it. That’s how you live.

Ijo’s smile deepened as he lowered his eyes.

“When the assault’s over, I’ll come back to you first.”

“Then let’s go on a trip. With Guru.”

At the way he spoke, so naturally sketching our future, Chloe let out a small laugh.

“CeeCee, do you like the sea?”

And I’m the one who can’t push the fox away. Chloe thought with self-mockery.

“Somewhere no one goes?”

In a quiet place, Guru could run and play.

Smiling, she pictured walking a secluded beach with Guru.

“Then what about me?”

His big hands slid down her arms and clasped both her hands.

Chloe closed her eyes and opened them again.

A world where the Tower was gone.

Guru shrieking with delight as she ran from the waves.

And in that vision—On Ijo.

Holding her hand on her rounded belly as they watched Guru.

It was the shape of the happiness she had unconsciously longed for.

In truth, she had always kept picturing a future where they raised a child together and loved.

With both cheeks flushed, Chloe spoke in a small voice.

“Someone please teach me how to dislike you.”

I didn’t want to fall this hard.

Chloe’s hands rose to cradle Ijo’s cheeks.

His eyes went wide at the sudden kiss.

Chloe laughed, delighted.

“When you come back, I have something to tell you.”

They were deceiving you at the lab, and I stood by.

But because I came to love you and grew to love Guru, I can’t keep my mouth shut anymore.

Today, she decided to let her career and life crash down.

“So come back as quickly and safely as you can.”

Once she resolved to say everything, her mind went terrifyingly calm.

She couldn’t say it all in a fit of passion now.

There was no telling how the Company would react.

If she relied on Ijo’s help now, she and Guru could run—but...

She wanted to save all the children in the lab, too.

For that, she needed time, and in the meantime, Ijo had to go save the world.

So she couldn’t tell him yet.

Instead, after Ijo entered the Tower, she would have to protect the lab kids—and the child in her belly—alone.

Chloe flicked a glance toward the bug and pressed her lips into a line.

If she said, where the Company could hear, that she “didn’t want a child,” she could probably buy time until she gave birth.

For now, it would be better to remain one of the docile researchers under Company surveillance.

Even so, it was fine.

Chloe Han’s way of loving had always been sacrificial and consuming.