The night air was quiet, only the sound of crickets outside drifting into the house. Mo Ying stood before the closed door of Yuen's room, his hand hovering for a moment before knocking softly.
"Yuen," he called gently. "It's me."
There was no answer, only silence. Mo Ying sighed and pushed the door open.
Inside, the little boy sat on the edge of his bed, his knees pulled up to his chest. His eyes were red from crying, but he quickly turned away when he saw Mo Ying enter.
Mo Ying didn't scold him. He simply walked over, sat down beside him, and remained quiet for a long moment. The silence stretched, calm and steady, until finally Yuen whispered, "I don't want to go to school…"
"I know," Mo Ying said softly. "But tell me, Yuen… do you know there are schools where they teach not just books, but martial arts as well?"
Yuen's head jerked up, his small eyes wide. "Really? A school like that exists?"
