Ningyan had never imagined that he would one day see the usually jovial, chaotic Wuhen looking so solemn... so quietly broken as he watched over his sister.
For a long while, Ningyan stood there, saying nothing. There was nothing to say. No comforting words, no silver lining to cling to. This wasn't something he could fix or predict.
He was simply living, just like everyone else in this world, reacting to events he couldn't control.
Eventually, he decided to leave the siblings alone.
The manor was vast, far larger than the academy residences. It wasn't just a place to stay. It was a living space, a true clan manor where generations had lived and died.
As he wandered, he found himself in the courtyard.
Snow drifted quietly from the night sky, blanketing the ground in a calm, almost deceptive serenity.
Tu Lanyin stood there, leaning against a wooden railing, staring upward. Her white bunny ears twitched faintly at the cold.
Ningyan hesitated, then moved to stand beside her.
