Xingtetsu: You are not included in Elio's script!

The air in the plant cultivation chamber is moist and filled with the fresh scent of soil and plants.

Various exotic plants grow quietly under the soft fill light.

As Ester said, there were almost no staff in the cabin during this time period.

They soon found the lily of the valley.

This is a magical plant. Its leaves are ordinary emerald green during the day, but at night, tiny, stardust-like blue spots will appear on the veins and edges of the petals. From a distance, it looks like a miniature starry sky spread on the ground.

"It's really glowing!" Ester squatted down and carefully touched the glowing petals with her fingers.

"So beautiful... The synthesis mechanism of this fluorescein must be very special."

Lin Yu stood behind her, looking at her focused and soft profile. The light from the lamp reflected in her clear eyes was more moving than any exotic flowers and plants.

He took out the device he carried with him and quietly recorded the scene.

Estelle noticed his movements and stood up a little embarrassedly, "Why are you taking pictures secretly..."

"Because it's beautiful." Lin Yu put away the equipment, walked forward, and naturally put his arms around her waist from behind, resting his chin lightly on the top of her head. "The flowers are beautiful, and the people are even more beautiful."

Ester froze for a moment, then slumped into his arms, her cheeks flushed. Her voice was as thin as a mosquito's, "Nonsense again."

The two of them hugged each other quietly, standing in the quiet and glowing "starry sky".

The only sounds around were the subtle breathing of plants and each other's heartbeats.

Ester relaxed in his arms, feeling the rare peace and intimacy.

The endless affairs to deal with during the day and the pressure brought by the family seemed to be quietly soothed at this moment.

Ester said softly, "Sometimes I feel that just staying in the space station, planting flowers, looking at the stars, and being with you... doesn't seem bad." There was a subtle hint of yearning and fatigue in her tone.

Lin Yu tightened his arms, "Then give yourself more time like this. The space station can't do without you, but you don't need to tie yourself completely to the console."

"Next time you feel tired, just tell me and I'll take you to another planet to see the real starry sky, or just stay in the space station and take a break like this."

"Yeah..." Esther nodded gently, feeling warm in her heart.

They stayed in the plant cabin for a long time. Ester was like an excited guide, taking Lin Yu to learn about the various plants she had carefully cultivated and sharing their interesting characteristics and stories.

Lin Yu listened patiently, occasionally asking questions, his eyes always gently on her.

It was not until Ester yawned that Lin Yu realized that it was too late.

"It's time to go back." He said softly.

"Yeah." Estelle was a little reluctant to leave.

On the way to send Ester back to her room, we passed a viewing bridge. Outside the window was the vast universe and the brilliant Milky Way.

The two of them stopped at the same time.

Esther looked out the window and suddenly whispered, "Sometimes I feel like the universe is so vast, the space station is like a tiny speck of dust... and I am even smaller."

There was a hint of confusion in her tone.

Lin Yu held her hand and pointed to an exceptionally bright star outside the window. "But even the smallest speck of dust can reflect light."

"You see, the space station is here, providing shelter and a frontier of research for countless people."

"And you, Estelle, are the core that enables this 'dust' to operate in an orderly manner. The light you emit is brighter than many stars."

Estelle turned her head to look at him, her eyes slightly warm, "You really...are good at talking."

"I'm just stating the facts." Lin Yu smiled, lowered his head and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. "Good night, baby. Have a good rest."

After sending Esther to the door of the room, watching her go in and closing the door gently, Lin Yu turned around and prepared to leave.

Lin Yu's footsteps stopped when the door behind him suddenly opened.

He turned around and saw Ester leaning half of her body out. Her nightgown made her skin look like jade, her long hair hung loosely on her shoulders, her face still had a lingering blush and a strange, determined tension.

"Do you want to... sleep together?" Her voice was obviously trembling, her eyes were dodging, but she tried hard to meet his gaze, as if she had used up all her courage.

Lin Yu was slightly startled, subconsciously thinking that she was still frightened after experiencing the family affairs during the day and needed company.

He slowed his voice and asked soothingly, "What's wrong? Are you scared of sleeping alone? I can wait until you fall asleep before leaving."

"No..." Ester quickly shook her head, her fingers nervously tugging at the fabric of her nightgown, and she took a deep breath, as if to cheer herself up.

"I...I'm not a child anymore..." She raised her head, her eyes flashing with a complex light, a mixture of shyness, determination and a hint of desire to prove something.

"I..I want to become more mature..."

She said this a little bit without any context, but Lin Yu understood it instantly.

She wasn't afraid.

In this way, she was clumsily but bravely trying to narrow the distance between them, trying to cross the line from "protected lover" to "closer partner".

Perhaps it was because the existence of the black tower made her feel a little uneasy, perhaps it was because the pressure from her family made her desire to grasp a more tangible warmth, or perhaps it was simply because she loved him and wanted to be closer to him in a more "mature" way.

He looked at the girl in front of him who was trying hard to appear "mature" but even spoke so immaturely and clumsily when inviting others, and his eyes were filled with infinite love and tenderness.

He didn't answer immediately, but took a step forward, walked back to the door, and reached out to gently hold her hot cheeks.

His thumb gently caressed her delicate skin.

"Esther." Lin Yu was very serious, without any frivolity or joking.

"Do you know what 'sleeping together' means? It has nothing to do with whether you are 'mature' or not."

"This should be intimacy that happens naturally between two people in love when they are willing and ready, rather than a 'task' or 'proof' that needs to be achieved."

"You don't need to prove that you've grown up in this way."

"In my heart, you have long been an independent, strong woman who deserves to be deeply loved."

"Your maturity is reflected in your ability to manage the space station, your resilience in the face of family pressure, and every time you bravely express your feelings... not in this incident."

Ester's eyes felt slightly warmed by his words, and her fingers that were grabbing the hem of her skirt slowly loosened.

She understood his respect and love, and her heartstrings, which were tense due to tension and shame, relaxed a little. However, the desire in her heart to be closer to him did not subside. Instead, it became clearer because of his understanding.

"I..I know..." she whispered, her voice choked a little.

"I'm not trying to prove anything... I just... I just want to be closer to you..." She lowered her head and gently rested her forehead on his chest.

"A lot of things happened today... I want you to stay with me, not just stand outside the door, or wait until I fall asleep and then leave... I want to see you the first thing when I wake up."

Her expression was still clumsy, but extremely sincere.

Lin Yu's heart completely softened. He lowered his head, kissed the top of her head, and then gently held her in his arms.

"it is good."

Lin Yu gave a simple and affirmative answer, "I'll accompany you."

He picked her up by the waist, walked into the room, and closed the door gently with his heel.

Lin Yu gently placed her on the soft bed and lay down on his side, facing her.

He pulled the quilt over them both.

"Go to sleep," he whispered in her ear. "I'm here and I'm not going anywhere."

Ester moved slightly in his arms, finding the most comfortable position, and relaxed completely.

His embrace was warm and secure, with a reassuring atmosphere.

The tension, fatigue, and subtle anxieties of the day slowly dissipated in this hug.

She did not make any more mature attempts, but just nestled quietly in his arms, feeling his steady heartbeat and regular breathing.

The intimacy and sense of security brought by simply sleeping in each other's arms were far stronger and more beautiful than any mature behavior she could imagine.

"Lin Yu..." she called softly.

"Ok?"

"Thank you for not laughing at me..."

"Why would I laugh at you?" He tightened his arms. "My Estelle is always adorable no matter what she does."

"Say that again..." She protested softly, but couldn't help but curl up the corners of her mouth as she shrank back into his arms.

...