The next morning, the courtyard outside the Hall of Tranquility bloomed with soft pink petals. Plum blossoms danced in the wind, swirling in elegant spirals.
Jin Mei sat on the stone bench, lazily plucking petals from her sleeves.
"Do you ever sit still?" Rui Shen asked, arms folded as he leaned against a nearby column.
"I do," she said. "Just not when people like you are nearby. You're a walking storm of sarcasm and silk."
Rui grinned. "Ah, so you admit you like storms."
She rolled her eyes but didn't look away. "You're still here?"
"You were the one who asked me to come."
She looked away. "That was before I knew you'd bring that smug face with you."
He chuckled. "And yet, here I am. Again."
Jin Mei's smile faltered, just for a moment.
There was a strange comfort in his presence — too familiar, too dangerous.
He had been her childhood friend, always teasing, always hovering like a shadow. And yet now… she couldn't help but notice the way his eyes lingered a little longer, the way he seemed to understand the parts of her she didn't show the world.
"You think my brother suspects anything?" she asked, suddenly serious.
Rui's expression shifted. "About Li Hua?"
She nodded.
Rui exhaled. "He suspects everything. But he's drowning in memories. If she's playing a game... she's winning."
Jin Mei lowered her gaze. "I hope she's not."
Rui looked at her. "You care?"
She hesitated. "Not for her. For him."
A beat passed.
He smiled softly. "You're not as cold as you pretend."
"Don't get used to it."
---
That evening, in the War God's private chamber, Jin Xuan Yue stood by the open balcony, wind tousling his hair.
Behind him, Li Hua entered silently, placing down a scroll of war reports.
"I didn't summon you," he said without turning.
"You didn't need to," she replied. "The steward said you skipped dinner again."
He said nothing.
"Do gods not eat?" she asked.
He turned, eyes narrowing. "Do servants always ask so many questions?"
"Only when they think their master might starve and collapse dramatically."
He blinked.
Was that… concern?
She stepped closer. "I brought lotus soup."
He stared at her. "Why are you really here?"
Li Hua's fingers tightened around the bowl. "Why do you keep asking that?"
"Because every time you speak, I hear someone else's voice."
She froze.
"And every time you look at me," he added, voice lower, "my heart forgets it's supposed to be silent."
Her breath caught.
A long pause.
Then she forced a smile. "You're imagining things."
"Am I?"
He stepped toward her. Slowly.
"You say your name is Li Hua. But your eyes are filled with storms older than your years. You hold a teacup like it's a blade. And you move… like you've danced through battles."
She swallowed. "You think too much."
He was now just inches from her.
"Or maybe you're hiding too much."
Her mask cracked — for the briefest second.
But it was enough.
He saw the flash of gold in her eyes.
Not human.
Not ordinary.
Not a servant.
Then… the moment shattered as a thunderous bell rang across the palace.
An emergency summons.
Jin Xuan Yue pulled back, armor already forming at his call.
"Stay inside," he ordered.
And he was gone.
Li Hua stood there, heart racing.
He's too close.
Too fast.
And the worst part?
For a moment…
She wanted to be found.