After parting with Han Liang, Yuan Yu walked quickly toward home, his heart caught between excitement and a quiet ache. The familiar streets felt strangely empty, urging him forward. More than anything, he longed for the safety of his own room.
Once inside, he went straight to his chamber, set his belongings aside, and let out a long breath. The tension of the past days still lingered in his body, refusing to fade so easily.
He ordered hot water and sank into the bath. The rising steam wrapped around him, easing some of the fear and exhaustion that clung to him. For a moment, he allowed himself to relax, letting his body sink deeper into the warmth.
When he closed his eyes, Han Liang appeared in his mind. His face, his voice, the strength in his arms—all of it returned with startling clarity. Yuan Yu's heartbeat quickened, the memory far too vivid to ignore.
These feelings… he didn't understand them. Toward another man, they felt unfamiliar, difficult to name. Or perhaps he understood more than he wished to admit.
For now, he let the thought drift away.
Let it be.
After dressing and drying his hair, he suddenly heard footsteps outside his door. A moment later, a familiar voice called out.
"Yuan Yu?"
It was his mother. She entered quickly, her eyes already filled with tears, her voice trembling with worry.
"You frightened me so much! You disappeared for days without a word. You were late by a whole day. Do you want to make me sick with worry?" she said, her tone caught between anger and fear.
Yuan Yu lowered his gaze.
"I just… went away for a while, Mother. I didn't mean to worry you. And please… I'm not a child anymore. I can stand on my own," he replied softly.
His mother had never been able to let him out of her sight. After losing three children during pregnancy, Yuan Yu became her only hope—the one she held onto with everything she had. Her protectiveness was not without reason.
He had not been raised as a warrior, but as a strategist and scholar. Yet hidden deep within him were abilities no one else knew of.
As she stepped closer, Yuan Yu instinctively shifted, hiding his wrists. He did not want her to notice the faint red marks left behind.
"Don't ever vanish like that again," his mother whispered, her voice breaking slightly. "You are my only son… losing you would destroy me."
Yuan Yu only nodded. He could not answer. Inside him, a storm continued to grow. There was a world outside calling to him, yet his mother's love held him just as tightly as any chain.
"I just want to rest now, Mother," he said quietly. "We can talk in the morning."
After she left, he dried his hair fully, lay down on his bed, and closed the window. The air was warmer now, the season slowly shifting toward summer.
As he stared at the ceiling, his thoughts drifted back to Han Liang.
Far away, Han Liang was thinking of him as well. Each time he closed his eyes, he saw Yuan Yu's smile and felt again the lightness of holding him in his arms.
So light… like a bird.
I should feed him better next time.
A faint smile touched his lips.
That night, both joy and longing settled quietly into their hearts.
Yuan Yu eventually fell asleep. In his dream, he stood once more by the lakeside, but this time there was no fear, no cold. The water was calm, the air warm, and before him stood Han Liang.
Waiting.
Yuan Yu ran to him without hesitation. Strong arms wrapped around him, holding him close, steady and safe. Fingers brushed gently through his hair, and a familiar voice spoke softly.
"You're safe now."
The dream felt so real that Yuan Yu woke with a tear slipping down his cheek. His heart beat fast as he whispered into the quiet darkness.
"Han Liang…"