Li Feng sat in the carriage, the rhythmic creak of the wheels a steady background to his silence. Outside, dusk wrapped the world in cooling shadows, and the trees along the path blurred like strokes of black ink against a fading scroll.
He sat poised, one arm braced against the window, the other resting on his knee. Across from him, Jin Yue shifted nervously for the tenth time.
The boy hadn't stopped fidgeting since they left.
He's too quiet, Li Feng thought. Too tense.
Not that Li Feng cared for noise — he hated pointless chatter. But with Jin Yue, the silence felt… charged.
Finally, Jin Yue spoke, voice soft. "Thanks for… choosing me. I guess."
"I didn't do it to be kind," Li Feng replied, his tone smooth and flat and cold voice.
The silence returned, heavier now
Then — a sudden jolt.
The carriage hit a rock hard. Its wheels bounced with a violent crack, and Jin Yue, unprepared, lost his balance.
He pitched forward.
Straight into Li Feng.
Jin Yue crashed awkwardly into his lap, eyes wide with panic. One hand braced against Li Feng's chest, the other caught mid-air — but he didn't fall.
Because Li Feng's arm had snapped around his waist.
Strong fingers wrapped around him, holding him securely in place, steady and close.Their faces hovered just inches apart.
Jin Yue's eyes flicked up, and lingered — just a little too long — on Li Feng's features. The sculpted jawline, the faint scar on his lip, the intense gaze that seemed to see through everything the point nose, his thick black hair.
Li Feng noticed.
He's staring.
He raised a brow, a faint curve teasing the corner of his mouth. "See something you like?"
Jin Yue's breath caught in his throat. "I—I wasn't—!"
"Don't lie. Your eyes betray you."
He didn't let go. In fact, his grip on Jin Yue's waist tightened slightly, enough for Jin Yue to feel the strength in his arm.
Fall into my lap again," Li Feng murmured, "and I might start thinking you enjoy it."
Jin Yue turned red — not just his cheeks, but down to his collarbone.
"I—it was just the road—!"
Another soft bump in the road gave Li Feng the excuse to draw him just a little closer. Jin Yue nearly yelped.
Then, finally, Li Feng released him.
Jin Yue scrambled back to his seat like a startled cat, face burning, avoiding all eye contact.
Li Feng leaned back casually, folding his arms, eyes half-lidded in quiet amusement.
This is going to be a very interesting mission.
Outside, the trees thickened. The edge of the forest was near.
And neither of them was ready for what waited beyond the dark.