The training ground was unusually quiet.
Yue Ling and Lu Chen stood side by side, both looking… completely unwilling.
In front of them
Shen Yan.
Arms crossed. Expression cold.
"Your punishment," he said calmly, "is simple."
Yue Ling narrowed her eyes.
"…I don't like that tone already."
Lu Chen sighed.
"Same."
Shen Yan ignored them.
"You will clean the entire training ground."
Silence.
Then
"…WHAT?!"
"The entire ground?!" Yue Ling shouted.
Lu Chen looked around.
It was huge.
"…General, be reasonable," he said helplessly.
Shen Yan raised an eyebrow.
"Do you wish to add more to your punishment?"
"…No."
"Then start."
Yue Ling groaned.
"This is abuse…"
Minutes later
Yue Ling lazily swept the ground, clearly not serious.
"This is so unfair…" she complained.
Lu Chen chuckled.
"You challenged a princess. What did you expect?"
"I didn't challenge her she challenged me!"
Yue Ling argued.
From a distance
Shen Yan watched them.
Silent.
Observing.
"Hey," Lu Chen suddenly said, leaning closer. "You're actually interesting."
Yue Ling smirked.
"Of course I am."
"I mean it," he continued. "You're not afraid of anyone. Not even Shen Yan."
She shrugged.
"Why should I be afraid?"
Lu Chen laughed.
"You're brave… or crazy."
"Maybe both."
They both laughed.
From afar
Shen Yan's gaze darkened.
For some reason
He didn't like what he was seeing.
Yue Ling wiped her sweat.
"Tsk… I'm tired."
She sat down on the ground.
"I'm not doing this anymore."
Lu Chen raised an eyebrow.
"You're giving up already?"
"I'm hungry," she replied seriously.
"…That's your reason?"
"Yes."
Suddenly
A shadow fell over them.
They both looked up.
Shen Yan.
Standing there.
"Who said you could rest?"
Yue Ling crossed her arms.
"My body said so."
"…Get up."
"No."
Silence.
Dangerous silence.
Lu Chen slowly stepped back.
"…I'm not part of this."
Shen Yan stepped closer.
"You are disobeying again."
Yue Ling looked straight into his eyes.
"And what if I am?"
For a moment
The air between them changed.
Heavy.
Tense.
And then
FLASHBACK
The sound of laughter echoed softly.
A different place.
A different time.
"Gu Jin! Hurry up!" Yue Ling's voice rang out playful and bright.
A young man stood beneath the sunlight, smiling at her.
"Why are you always so impatient?"
"Because you're too slow!" she teased.
He walked closer and gently tapped her forehead.
"You'll get yourself hurt one day."
She crossed her arms.
"Then protect me."
Silence.
Then
He smiled softly.
"…I always will."
BACK TO PRESENT
"…!"
Yue Ling blinked suddenly.
Her chest tightened.
That memory
So clear.
So real.
"…Gu Jin…"
she whispered unconsciously.
Shen Yan froze.
His grip on her wrist tightened slightly.
"…What did you say?"
Yue Ling snapped back to reality.
"…Nothing."
But her eyes
Were different now.
Shen Yan stared at her.
For a brief moment
Something flickered in his mind.
A voice.
A memory he couldn't quite grasp.
"…Strange…"
he muttered under his breath.
Yue Ling pulled her hand away.
"Fine! I'll do it!"
But this time
Her smile wasn't the same.
From the side
Lu Chen narrowed his eyes.
"…So there's more to her…"
he whispered.
As the sun slowly set
Two people stood in the same place
Yet both
Were lost in memories that didn't belong to the present.