The silence between them didn't last.
It never did when Mo Ran was around.
Lin Mo could still feel it
The warmth of his hand.
The way their powers had reacted the moment they touched.
Stronger than before.
Deeper.
Like something that had been waiting… just for this.
"…You're staring."
Mo Ran's voice broke through his thoughts.
Low. Calm.
But there was something else beneath it.
Something sharp.
Lin Mo blinked, realizing he hadn't moved.
Hadn't even let go.
His hand was still wrapped around Mo Ran's wrist.
For a brief second,
He considered pulling away.
But he didn't.
"…You came back," Lin Mo said softly instead.
Mo Ran tilted his head slightly, his dark eyes watching him carefully.
"Is that a problem?"
"No."
The answer came too quickly.
Too honestly.
Something flickered in Mo Ran's gaze.
"Then why do you look like you've seen a ghost?"
Lin Mo hesitated.
Because the truth was
He had.
"I thought I lost you."
The words slipped out before he could stop them.
Silence followed.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
Mo Ran didn't reply immediately.
Instead… his gaze dropped.
To their hands.
Still connected.
"…You're still holding me."
Lin Mo's breath caught slightly.
He hadn't realized.
Or maybe,
He had.
Slowly, he tried to loosen his grip,
But before he could fully pull away
Mo Ran's fingers tightened.
Not forcefully.
Not enough to hurt.
Just enough to stop him.
"…Who said you could let go first?"
His voice was quiet.
Almost careless.
But his hand didn't move.
Lin Mo looked at him, surprised.
Mo Ran avoided his gaze.
"…You always do that."
"Do what?" Lin Mo asked.
"Leave first."
The words were simple.
But they carried weight.
Lin Mo's chest tightened.
"I didn't leave you," he said softly.
Mo Ran let out a quiet scoff.
"Didn't you?"
There it was again.
That edge.
That hurt he kept trying to hide.
For someone who looked so composed…
He was far too easy to read.
Lin Mo stepped a little closer.
"I tried to reach you," he said.
Mo Ran didn't respond.
So Lin Mo continued
More quietly this time.
"…I thought if I held on… everything would break."
Silence.
"And now?" Mo Ran asked.
Lin Mo didn't hesitate.
"…Now I don't care."
That made Mo Ran freeze.
Slowly,
He turned his head to look at him fully.
"…You don't care?" he repeated.
Lin Mo's grip tightened slightly.
"I don't care what Heaven says."
The words hung in the air.
Dangerous.
Irreversible.
For a moment
Even the wind seemed to stop.
Mo Ran's eyes darkened.
"…You shouldn't say things like that."
"Why?"
"Because you don't understand what you're doing."
Lin Mo held his gaze.
"Then explain it to me."
Silence.
For once
Mo Ran didn't have an answer.
Instead, he looked away again.
"…You're still the same."
"And you're not?" Lin Mo asked quietly.
Mo Ran laughed softly.
"I'm worse."
That much was obvious.
The darkness around him shifted slightly, as if reacting to his emotions.
Alive.
Unstable.
Lin Mo noticed.
"You're hurt," he said again.
Mo Ran clicked his tongue.
"Still worried about that?"
"Yes."
The answer came without hesitation.
That made something in Mo Ran's expression soften.
Just a little.
"…You're annoying," he muttered.
But he didn't pull his hand away.
If anything
He stepped closer.
Now there was barely any space between them.
Lin Mo could feel it
The heat from his body.
The darkness wrapping around him, not suffocating…
But surrounding.
"…Don't get used to this," Mo Ran said quietly.
"To what?" Lin Mo asked.
Mo Ran glanced at their hands again.
"…This."
Lin Mo's lips parted slightly.
"…Then let go."
A pause.
Mo Ran didn't move.
"…No."
The answer was soft.
Almost reluctant.
But firm.
Lin Mo felt his heart skip.
For a moment
Neither of them spoke.
Then,
A sudden shift in the air.
Sharp.
Cold.
Lin Mo's expression changed instantly.
"…Someone's coming."
Mo Ran's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…Heaven?"
Lin Mo nodded.
The light around them flickered.
Without thinking
He stepped closer again.
And pulled Mo Ran behind him.
"Stay here."
Mo Ran stilled.
For a second
He just looked at him.
Then, quietly.
"…You're protecting me now?"
Lin Mo didn't turn around.
"Yes."
Silence.
Mo Ran's gaze lingered on him.
Longer than it should have.
"…You really have changed."
But there was no mockery in his voice this time.
Only something softer.
Something unreadable.
And still
He didn't let go.
To be continued… 🖤🔥