[Mingjue was surprised to see Julieta suddenly reappear here of all places. He hadn't seen her since a few months back when he woke up in a matrimony suite in the hotel next to her. After that point, he thought it was another trick The House was pulling off on him. But when he casually strolled about the halls on his random patrols, he found her intensely playing a small game of slots.

Approaching Julieta, Mingjue quickly told her they needed to meet up, saying that she should contact him via the wristwatch once she felt free to catch up. He needed information, and he wanted to know what he had missed.

And so Mingjue had entered The Red Cardinal in his usual fashion. He quickly nodded to the proprietress, accepting that he had become a regular at the small traditional Chinese dive bar. Only to walk up beside his old pupil and take a seat.]

I'll have tea.

[Mingjue ordered casually towards the bartender. It was his usual, as he was one to avoid drinking unless he deemed it necessary to the situation. He doubted Julieta would mind too much.]

I haven't seen you in nearly five lunar cycles now.

Back to that, are you?

[Mingjue could not keep back a wry smirk when Julieta mentioned their previous encounter. Huffing out with amusement as he turned in his bar stool to face her directly.]

You know, you weren't the only one to end up in the throughs of an arranged marriage with me back then. I have another I am also wed to.

[Mingjue felt shocked by Julieta's admission. His eyes grew wide, if only briefly before his expression settled on something kinder and softer. Replacing the smirk is now a soft smile. Ignoring the small pot of tea before him, he focused on her still. Taking in her neutral expression with curiosity.]

You are quite the woman.

[It was only then that he turned to look at his tea, pouring it into a cup and bringing it to his lips before continuing.]

And do you know that Guangyao is here as well?

I can't believe the time would come for me to outdo my father in the number of people I'm officially courting.

[The air between them seemed to lighten up almost immediately. Mingjue was finally taking a moment to sip at his cup lightly. Enjoying the soft aroma of jasmine as it played over his senses. It was nothing like the quality back home, but it was more familiar and comfortable to him than anything the prison they both hailed from had offered.]

Ahhhh...

[He sighed out deeply, comfortably. It was one of the few times in this new world that he had felt that he was in an environment where he could truly drop his guard.]

What have you been doing these past few months? I don't imagine it to be much like you not trying to contact me when you are so committed to this arrangement.

[The final sentence had brought a bit of redness to the balls of Mingjue's cheeks. Not many had spoken to him in such a way, mainly Guangyao, occasionally one of the dalliances brave enough in his two years gallivanting between worlds. But overall, it was so rare and far between that he'd hear such praise that he wasn't used to it.]

Perhaps.

[Mingjue glanced off to the side, somewhat bashfully. He suddenly remembered his and Julieta's last time together. It was back when he finally accepted the position of her cultivation tutor.]

It happened to me as well when I first arrived here. When I woke up, it felt as if it were just the day before that Reparacija had been falling into disrepair, and we were being evacuated. A few days after I woke up here, I ran into Guangyao again, and from his perspective, he had already been residing in this hotel for a few months by the time I had shown up.

[He sighed.]

Unfortunately, because of how time seems to work, I'm losing track of how old I am. When Reparacija ended, it was autumn, and when I showed up here, the people of this realm claimed it to be late winter. And now, it is the start of Summer. I even skipped one of my birthdays entirely.

[Time travel and world-hopping was a confusing thing.]

Oh?

[Genuine surprise seemed to overtake Mingjue as Julieta slumped against his broad shoulder. His body language remained comfortable; overall, he could not help but find this little moment endearing. It was strange how quickly she could break past his initial awkward behaviors. It was only the second time in his life that a woman was able to make him feel so comfortable.]

Hmn, perhaps. Although I also enjoy getting to tease Guangyao for being even more of an old man than myself.

[After all, Mingjue had been 'Da-ge' for many years. It was almost amusing to have someone else "technically" carry the affinitive nick-name.]

Here.

[Reaching out, Mingjue poured another glass of tea. But instead of drinking it, he offered it to Julieta.]

You should make sure to keep hydrated.

Wow. Respect your elders.

[Mingjue responded with the blandest of reactions. Deadpan staring towards Julieta as he watched her take the tea from him.]

I'll let you know I am only in my early thirties. Guangyao is the old man.

[Oh, Mingjue could already picture Guangyao's reaction to him saying such a thing. Those wide golden brown eyes would probably stare up at him with astonishment. He would also be gasping out and slightly whining in protest before probably trying to deflect the argument by telling Mingjue how Xichen was older than either of them yet again.

It was adorably predictable.]

So there is what, a nine-year difference between us?

[Actually, that still sounded pretty bad now that Mingjue said it out loud. Well, at least he had seen much grander age gaps between relationships. Although that probably did not justify anything. And considering he was pretty confident that Julieta was still older than Maomao, it couldn't help but leave Mingjue feeling slightly guilty.]

Huh.

No need to try. I couldn't care less about those things.

[If anything, Mingjue was truthful. As much as he had grown up in a society filled with specific requirements in one's etiquette, he was never really one to give them much heed. And besides, he liked genuine people. Usually, such forced behaviors only kept others from being open.]

You need not question yourself; You know you will be a fine wife. All I need is your presence and willingness to help bear the burden of marrying someone of my name.

[And what other burdens came with the lineage, of course.]

Besides, we have already dual-cultivated once before. Usually, that is an act reserved between husbands and wives.

I suppose, despite all we have learned and experienced from one another on a physical level, we don't know much otherwise, do we?

[That had managed to spark Mingjue's attention. His gaze shifted down at Julieta as she kept nuzzling into him. Physically like this, he felt so very comfortable, yet when it came to one another's lives, they were practically strangers, weren't they?]

I hate to say it, but there are just as many burdens to my family's name and heritage as there are boons. It won't always be easy.

Nonsense. If we are now family, our histories belong to each of us!

[Mingjue seemed to tense up with that response. His voice raised in tone as he responded with utmost adamancy. He shifted in his seat to turn to face Julieta more directly. The intensity of his adamant mindset shone through his eyes like a blaze.]

You are my wife, and I am your husband. Since that is now the case, it is not one-sided but a shared commitment to continue our legacies. Your history is just as important as my own, Julieta.