事情發生在2160年、黑教堂事件的前一年,某個無所事事的下午。331Please respect copyright.PENANAvGJcR4kd7t
331Please respect copyright.PENANAWqtMEGLjr1
「欸?這麼突然?」331Please respect copyright.PENANAW6wyC05Ylz
331Please respect copyright.PENANAZSXzcYrERS
仙境大樓,2F醫護室,派翠克接到母親打來的電話,表情很錯愕。331Please respect copyright.PENANAeFUuCyrH3l
331Please respect copyright.PENANATFkYAS1PCm
「這……我問問,明天跟妳說。」331Please respect copyright.PENANAstFvwbDhEU
331Please respect copyright.PENANApBShfCsTAP
派翠克結束通話。尼可拉斯轉著辦公椅,轉到派翠克面前問:「怎麼了?」331Please respect copyright.PENANASAD78Q0KaI
331Please respect copyright.PENANANxL0PAh0mB
「呃,」有點難啟齒,派翠克拐彎抹角地問:「你喜歡拍照嗎?」331Please respect copyright.PENANAFtMnLHcoKF
331Please respect copyright.PENANAxxksNGZpEw
「拍照?」尼可拉斯微愣,「小時候不喜歡,現在還好。問這做什麼?」331Please respect copyright.PENANAMkUks8D0v8
331Please respect copyright.PENANA2EeRtlSZYs
「嗯……」331Please respect copyright.PENANAvMd606DDaU
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思來想去,派翠克想不到更好的問法,直接告訴尼可拉斯:「我媽問,你願不願意當我們家的模特兒。」331Please respect copyright.PENANA5Ud1EGkDCn
331Please respect copyright.PENANAZnFp80Zcso
「哈???」331Please respect copyright.PENANAFg5YkSHzup
331Please respect copyright.PENANAYM9RGFvgb5
尼可拉斯滿頭問號。派翠克解釋:「她說這一期的時裝很適合你。事實上,我爸就是以你為靈感,設計出這一系列的。」331Please respect copyright.PENANAlyNIodsaCj
331Please respect copyright.PENANAYe8cI8GhIl
雷蒙一家說大不大,說小不小。跟謝氏、薩拉凱爾教、Platinum相比,影響力確實不高,但其橫跨的產業非常多,包含時尚界、演藝圈、大眾媒體、物流業,是和民眾最貼近的十大家族。派翠克的父親是設計師,母親是娛樂公司的總製作人,叔叔伯伯姑姑阿姨舅舅哥哥姊姊弟弟妹妹不用說,都是一方巨擘。331Please respect copyright.PENANAO3mzp4WIae
331Please respect copyright.PENANAG2llUNAqeJ
第一代水果塔「公爵夫人」薇奧拉.雷蒙,留給後代的宗旨只有二字:和平。雷蒙一家不只內部團結,對外也不和反高派交惡,是評價很好的家族,堪稱二十二世紀的白鴿。331Please respect copyright.PENANAdSbZwajyQb
331Please respect copyright.PENANAyPCeJXur8Y
派翠克加入神與畜、和尼可拉斯交往,在雷蒙一家早就不是秘密。尼可拉斯每個月都會和派翠克的父母吃飯,已經是「準女婿」了。331Please respect copyright.PENANAKoS52Bo0nW
331Please respect copyright.PENANAst9wKSdQ7n
「你爸的設計……」331Please respect copyright.PENANAAfztyqV7bx
331Please respect copyright.PENANAzyOvGgmyzF
腦中閃過色鉛筆插在頭上的畫面,尼可拉斯有點害怕,小心翼翼問:「是『正常』的衣服嗎?」331Please respect copyright.PENANAK0bBVnqmtO
331Please respect copyright.PENANAm0L9xwERdG
「你『不正常』的定義是什麼?」派翠克真心發問。331Please respect copyright.PENANAbK3EaGl1sa
331Please respect copyright.PENANAXPFQQfUCi7
「滾筒衛生紙纏身上、童軍繩綁頭髮,之類的。」331Please respect copyright.PENANAKarWT1S0Qh
331Please respect copyright.PENANA7u7oVOH75G
「哪有不正常,那叫時尚!時尚!」331Please respect copyright.PENANAwbFPkwGP9o
331Please respect copyright.PENANAANHhhHDq44
派翠克一臉篤定。尼可拉斯不跟他爭,派翠克某部分的審美觀已經壞死,爭也沒用。331Please respect copyright.PENANAk6PIJsZS8E
331Please respect copyright.PENANAxSdNnSjvaF
「百貨公司會看到的那種。」派翠克解釋:「『正常』的衣服和鞋子,香水、飾品、手錶一類,可能也要你幫忙,你OK嗎?」331Please respect copyright.PENANAvqjrK2Lokv
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「OK啊。」331Please respect copyright.PENANAwguE54xgYl
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雖然不愛社交,但岳父岳母人很好,尼可拉斯沒有理由拒絕,爽快答應。331Please respect copyright.PENANAW56Ojir3nl
331Please respect copyright.PENANA6cuwvGK4cX
「不過,這樣拋頭露面好嗎?我好歹是個懷特。」331Please respect copyright.PENANAhu9AmygQpQ
331Please respect copyright.PENANAuEJpcPXrDT
「我問問宇維少爺,以防萬一。」331Please respect copyright.PENANAhoKgsW2HlC
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──前因後果大致如此。幾個月後,以尼可拉斯為主的系列公諸於世。派翠克的父母很有眼光,尼可拉斯獨特的氣質搭配無死角的五官,狂野、高冷、頹廢、豪放……活生生的衣架子,什麼風格都能駕馭,當季銷售額因此暴增三倍。尼可拉斯模特兒的收入,相當於李博洋十年的薪水,在仙境大樓走路都有風,囂張極了。331Please respect copyright.PENANAcyNXX8PL07
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「派翠克,你為什麼不找我!本大爺也很帥啊!」331Please respect copyright.PENANACP5uWIy2ZG
331Please respect copyright.PENANAb1y3N2zALe
331Please respect copyright.PENANAObdZHcjQ5M
每天滑手機都看到尼可拉斯,李晴煬一肚子火,在三樓大客廳抗議。331Please respect copyright.PENANAyFL5tZblSK
331Please respect copyright.PENANAOE0qjRPfBJ
「不是我,爸媽指定的。」派翠克不跟他吵,直接甩鍋。331Please respect copyright.PENANAhbUuqOyLPz
331Please respect copyright.PENANAfqRZ20ggd8
「那是我岳父岳母,嘸你係咧靠!」難得沒在醫護室,披著醫師袍的尼可拉斯走過來,看到李晴煬就想嘴兩句。331Please respect copyright.PENANAfTBqX9KJuM
331Please respect copyright.PENANAgulAr9eabw
「晴煬,別想了,你是『李門小少爺』,不能隨便露臉,宇維少爺不會答應。」331Please respect copyright.PENANAMhczZxDUyO
331Please respect copyright.PENANACpwMN7WJz3
葛蕾絲端了一盤蛋糕來。看到兒子的照片,葛蕾絲超級得意,炫耀地說:「幸好遺傳到我的優良基因,不是你那邋遢老爸……唉唷,我兒子怎麼這麼好看!我真是太會生了,呵呵呵!」331Please respect copyright.PENANAqZyACNFIRU
331Please respect copyright.PENANAYEDXMhy94G
不知為何,被媽媽稱讚就是特別彆扭。尼可拉斯默默喝咖啡,覺得很尷尬,不想回應。331Please respect copyright.PENANAzRTVusNwlk
331Please respect copyright.PENANAGFMqai50Lg
「派翠克,本大爺一直有個疑問。」331Please respect copyright.PENANAd1TK3zwENv
331Please respect copyright.PENANAhMccpaw1SX
吃著蛋糕,李晴煬突然一臉認真,正經發問:「你的體液都有毒,可以自由控制嗎?」331Please respect copyright.PENANAZRSd4NWTX1
331Please respect copyright.PENANAZvv6u8wKWl
「當然可以……你幹嘛問這個?」331Please respect copyright.PENANAzSNDh0m80X
331Please respect copyright.PENANAaXFqHAn9wV
「沒什麼,單純好奇。」331Please respect copyright.PENANA6aVwk4KT3S
331Please respect copyright.PENANAXySW32q6UA
李晴煬這人,如果突然認真,一定在想不正經的東西──尼可拉斯太了解他,拍桌怒吼:331Please respect copyright.PENANAUAPmW6IDAe
331Please respect copyright.PENANAqvDXhuZpBD
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「廢話!不然我要怎麼幫他(嗶──)!!」331Please respect copyright.PENANATdSktsqf4J
331Please respect copyright.PENANAAVLb1Wno7g
331Please respect copyright.PENANAFqFRwuOKi3
尼可拉斯聲音超大,整個三樓聽得一清二楚。李晴煬一副「原來如此啊!」的表情,恍然大悟地說:「也是,否則尼可早就死在床上了!」331Please respect copyright.PENANA8W90CFr2Io
331Please respect copyright.PENANAdMfdouTFPX
「你們能不能別聊這個,我不想聽……」331Please respect copyright.PENANAqLPiiqV6qQ
331Please respect copyright.PENANAQuYN8QwoGn
窗邊的座位,謝綠和江云格也在客廳。出生於保守的謝氏,謝綠加入神與畜,什麼都能適應,就是無法適應黃色話題。331Please respect copyright.PENANACrDB62AnBq
331Please respect copyright.PENANAuxEm5dUAX0
「敢砍哥哥的手,卻不敢看A片,妳也真的很奇怪!」尼可拉斯調侃謝綠:「學學江云格,他多淡定!」331Please respect copyright.PENANAdKUBRJW7qn
331Please respect copyright.PENANA4oN7qE7RIF
江云格真的很淡定,咬著小魚乾歪頭,「交配行為和繁衍後代,不是很自然的事嗎?」331Please respect copyright.PENANA3dVNew5QmO
331Please respect copyright.PENANAEME1k6vXzH
「以動物來說確實……唔,格格你不懂啦……」331Please respect copyright.PENANA5YMg3rqWXJ
331Please respect copyright.PENANAXjcTguVBns
謝綠摀著耳朵、趴在桌上。看她這麼痛苦,尼可拉斯故意繼續話題,和李晴煬從上面的嘴聊到下面的頭,聽得謝綠哀號,兩顆抱枕直接砸過去。331Please respect copyright.PENANAcWRRH8aIMN
331Please respect copyright.PENANAzooxwyvrGo
仙境大樓人一多,就會像這樣吵吵鬧鬧。神與畜有條規定叫「感情和睦,禁止吵架」,很顯然,根本沒人遵守。331Please respect copyright.PENANAy56H14xfT7
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「媳婦啊,能陪我去買東西嗎?」331Please respect copyright.PENANAksJGeBOuCe
331Please respect copyright.PENANAjyNcCGaAFO
331Please respect copyright.PENANAnJ9iZSDvgL
只有葛蕾絲會這樣叫他。派翠克點頭,問葛蕾絲:「買什麼?」331Please respect copyright.PENANAntxeb5kibX
331Please respect copyright.PENANAzpN4FrxL46
「天氣變冷,哥哥說檸檬需要一條圍巾。」葛蕾絲微笑,「十分鐘後一樓集合,待會見!」331Please respect copyright.PENANAcgXazESdWt
331Please respect copyright.PENANAOSYY9NRTpm
和葛蕾絲出門不是第一次,派翠克也習慣和「婆婆」相處,但圍巾這類針織品,什麼都會的葛蕾絲習慣自己做,這次竟然要用買的,派翠克覺得奇怪。331Please respect copyright.PENANANQOLJjDQPU
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「親愛的,你還好嗎?」331Please respect copyright.PENANAsZ0Rz7pqzU
331Please respect copyright.PENANAs9xAfXelfh
為了不引人注目,派翠克出門都會戴黑色口罩。兩人走在大街上,派翠克眨了眨眼,「我?」331Please respect copyright.PENANAjpUsMhOOq3
331Please respect copyright.PENANAmGZJOD7r7F
「尼可出名,這麼多人看到他帥氣的一面,是不是後悔答應父母了?」331Please respect copyright.PENANAk2bGua2LUA
331Please respect copyright.PENANABOJBtj5dlM
「……!」331Please respect copyright.PENANAKZDi6nLtL6
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心情被說中,派翠克一陣尷尬。尼可拉斯沒發現,派翠克以為自己藏得很好,卻瞞不過活了一百多年的長輩,葛蕾絲和里奧的觀察力真驚人。331Please respect copyright.PENANANOyHQZBCGz
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「我……」331Please respect copyright.PENANAlKIUK9e56M
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否認沒有意義。派翠克認輸,嘆了口氣。331Please respect copyright.PENANARdirHaJVBK
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「確實,一開始很替他開心,但看到網上的留言,有種……什麼被搶走的感覺,我說不上來。」派翠克說。331Please respect copyright.PENANATDLHLbnNfQ
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「我懂,另一伴長得好看,又是知名人物,多少有這種感覺。」葛蕾絲回憶:「我哥以前也這樣。」331Please respect copyright.PENANAeFTFmJc92u
331Please respect copyright.PENANAXt32Qh5Cly
「里奧大哥?」331Please respect copyright.PENANAfkMHCdsxYX
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派翠克很震驚。葛蕾絲點頭,「大嫂很漂亮,又是黑教堂的副諮理,在薩拉凱爾教的人氣很高,算是名人。」331Please respect copyright.PENANAdmGWdTq7VA
331Please respect copyright.PENANAC4lOqUnEBK
派翠克沒見過賴雪檸,葛蕾絲簡單形容:「你想像長大版的檸檬,個性開朗、說話溫柔,有時很調皮,偶爾會惡作劇,大嫂就是這麼可愛。」331Please respect copyright.PENANADQJ0Upj8wO
331Please respect copyright.PENANA2PUQJYaBPb
派翠克看過雪檸的照片。在神與畜,每個人提起賴雪檸,都會露出懷念的表情,包括李博洋、李晴煬,還有看誰都不順眼的赫密士。331Please respect copyright.PENANAU5alZVg2yq
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如果雪檸還在,神與畜的氣氛會是什麼樣,派翠克很難想像;至少尼可拉斯不用背負罪惡感,檸檬的人生也會不一樣。331Please respect copyright.PENANAJdsZlxynnl
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「後來,經過宇維少爺開導,我哥釋懷了。大嫂其實很懶惰,也有任性的一面,這些只有我哥看過。『因為是你,她才願意展露缺點』,宇維少爺這麼跟他說。」331Please respect copyright.PENANALDLCuNjTDR
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他們走到附近的公園,葛蕾絲突然停下腳步,轉身面對派翠克。331Please respect copyright.PENANA8TqZwlCM8o
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「你們倆也是!尼可的缺點很多,但有些缺點,他只願意讓你知道。」葛蕾絲偷笑,「那孩子很黏人,對吧?」331Please respect copyright.PENANABVytnMKRkj
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派翠克知道葛蕾絲的意思,無法否認。331Please respect copyright.PENANA5upkZdLT4C
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「都怪我死得太早,尼可的成長過程很孤單。那孩子表面強勢,其實很需要陪伴。」葛蕾絲很欣慰,「再怎麼說,他年紀都比你小,是個年下男友。有你照顧他,我很放心喔!」331Please respect copyright.PENANAz6zA1MkwHz
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「……。」331Please respect copyright.PENANA0vcOnlFiv9
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什麼都會的葛蕾絲,果然也擅長安慰人。派翠克莫名想哭,能被葛蕾絲稱讚、認可,他真的真的很開心。331Please respect copyright.PENANAForcTQsa1f
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「啊咧?這是要哭了嗎?」葛蕾絲打趣地問。331Please respect copyright.PENANAZjkcaFzD5y
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「被男朋友的媽媽這樣說,誰不會哭……」331Please respect copyright.PENANAUE5Z2ThEZV
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跟尼可拉斯相反;派翠克表面柔弱,內在剛強。他用袖子抹掉眼淚,迅速重整心情,看著葛蕾絲。331Please respect copyright.PENANAU0bfZgIUqW
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「圍巾還要買嗎?」331Please respect copyright.PENANAJm3Vsd4Ctw
331Please respect copyright.PENANAyCty8RRehC
買東西是藉口,葛蕾絲特地把派翠克約出門,是為了跟他說這些。331Please respect copyright.PENANAU4z76dopUB
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「圍巾不用,但我想幫云格買條厚棉被,他是隻怕冷的貓。」葛蕾絲燦爛一笑,「最近任務少,趁這時候多多逛街,我們走吧!」331Please respect copyright.PENANAm46oL6Al8b
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說完,葛蕾絲牽著派翠克,開心走去商店街。不只里奧,葛蕾絲買東西也能報公帳;至於派翠克怎麼發現、事後怎麼幫葛蕾絲隱瞞(尤其是李博洋),那都是後話了。331Please respect copyright.PENANAAfXgrRDHhj
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同樣2160年、某個無所事事的下午。里奧和檸檬去博物館,看《大秦帝國》展覽和兵馬俑;MIO、李博洋、李晴煬,三人被葛蕾絲綁架,強迫參加淨灘活動曬太陽;謝綠和江云格當志工,協助流浪貓咪找到家;赫密士一如往常搞失蹤,沒人知道他去哪;只有派翠克和尼可拉斯在仙境大樓,非常難得的一天。331Please respect copyright.PENANA4Agoq1C2Su
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「呼……」331Please respect copyright.PENANAdEOC5bUgKJ
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不用待在醫務室,又不用帶小孩,尼可拉斯躺在床上睡午覺,派翠克戴眼鏡打電動。好不容易打完BOSS,派翠克按暫停,決定休息一下──打遊戲很耗心神,何況他在玩《黑○靈魂》。331Please respect copyright.PENANADVQV6tHZSe
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看著手機,派翠克才剛坐到床上,尼可拉斯就捲著棉被、整個人縮了過來,緊緊挨著派翠克。331Please respect copyright.PENANAaVXTncXMCK
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「……?」331Please respect copyright.PENANAyzoZGIcpAP
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尼可拉斯還在睡。派翠克做實驗:他故意從床上起來、繞一圈,改坐到床的另一邊。尼可拉斯起初沒反應,五秒後,他好像感應到什麼,又捲著棉被、翻身,整個人朝派翠克縮過來,緊緊挨著。331Please respect copyright.PENANABmxrERroWm
331Please respect copyright.PENANAIkJlcbvZmX
「這是……下意識反應嗎?」331Please respect copyright.PENANAWESbVKrDup
331Please respect copyright.PENANAVoSiGprrjL
派翠克覺得很神奇。尼可拉斯向來晚睡,派翠克自己單獨醒著,這是很少見的情況。他想起前陣子和葛蕾絲的對話──尼可拉斯很黏人,千真萬確。331Please respect copyright.PENANAzpeby8VTAB
331Please respect copyright.PENANArYXtUkuNjs
「嗯……」331Please respect copyright.PENANASrQ896Fax0
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尼可拉斯呻吟。本來就挨著派翠克的他,突然伸手抱住對方,頭靠到派翠克腿上,繼續睡。331Please respect copyright.PENANAc0HeWDS9KY
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「尼可。」331Please respect copyright.PENANA4PV4HFUen1
331Please respect copyright.PENANAbFzcHd0iGG
派翠克搖他的肩,「我遊戲還沒打完,放開我。」331Please respect copyright.PENANAg0i2G7CFrP
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「不要……」331Please respect copyright.PENANAoSMab2GKeL
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好像夢話,又好像不是。尼可拉斯沒醒,手卻越抱越緊。331Please respect copyright.PENANA4a7HoANS8e
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「不要……走……」331Please respect copyright.PENANA9a3l41n8mZ
331Please respect copyright.PENANAgZDSFQG1SM
「陪我……」331Please respect copyright.PENANAXzTssEEqY7
331Please respect copyright.PENANAyyqXUdDvrC
331Please respect copyright.PENANAF6HJ2UzjSd
斷斷續續說完五個字,尼可拉斯又睡死了。派翠克拿他沒轍,伸手摸尼可拉斯的側臉,再摸摸他銀白色的頭髮,好像在安撫小孩。331Please respect copyright.PENANAuf59VZqN31
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「……。」331Please respect copyright.PENANARJEqPjOeih
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強勢、高傲、囂張、脾氣差,尼可拉斯就是這樣。大家以為派翠克是弱勢,事實相反,他才是被依賴的那一方。尼可拉斯就算睡著,也會無意識黏著派翠克,叫他不要離開自己。331Please respect copyright.PENANACkenQqDYqj
331Please respect copyright.PENANAMij8ms7KJ2
反正動不了,派翠克拿起手機,偷拍睡著的尼可拉斯。他瀏覽相簿,都是尼可拉斯的照片,睡覺、吃飯、被咖啡燙到,還有從床上滾下去、撞到床頭櫃的蠢樣,這些都是派翠克的,其它地方看不到,比時尚照片更珍貴。331Please respect copyright.PENANAZ65x4Rs7pe
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「好好睡吧,尼可。」331Please respect copyright.PENANA2skYAZlHr4
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他們相遇前,尼可拉斯經歷很多,那些時光只有他一人,現在不一樣。331Please respect copyright.PENANApDHwLVCChW
331Please respect copyright.PENANAEEzO7oAqWm
兩雙拖鞋、兩個枕頭、兩支牙刷、兩條毛巾。除了神與畜的戒指,他們還有一副對戒,戴在兩人的手上。331Please respect copyright.PENANAW0A4ivdcIw
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「你現在有我。」331Please respect copyright.PENANA6xOqT0UHXH
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派翠克俯身,親了親尼可拉斯的臉頰,輕聲說道:331Please respect copyright.PENANAzvu1s9QPan
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「──我陪你。」331Please respect copyright.PENANA1N4Bx0zsQp