The rain didn't stop.
It never did when her thoughts were loud.
Shi Mu walked the campus paths alone, umbrella now open—not to stay dry, but to feel separate. Shielded.
The conversation with Fu Yunshen looped in her head like an unfinished melody.
"I was assigned to watch you.""I stopped following orders."
She didn't doubt him.
But belief didn't always quiet hurt.
She ended up at the koi pond behind the west wing. Forgotten by most students, it was a quiet place. The rippling water matched her thoughts—restless, but contained.
Raindrops danced across the surface.
She stood there long enough for her umbrella to drip steady streams around her feet.
"Cold?"
She didn't turn.
Didn't need to.
Fu Yunshen's voice was soft behind her.
"You followed me."
"I said I'd wait. I didn't say I'd stay far."
Shi Mu lowered the umbrella slightly.
Not a rejection.
But not permission either.
He stepped beside her, just out of reach.
No umbrella.
Just wet hair, damp sleeves, and tired eyes.
"You're going to get sick," she said quietly.
"Worth it."
She rolled her eyes—but it lacked venom.
"I'm angry," she finally admitted.
"I know."
"And confused."
"I deserve that too."
"But I'm not walking away."
He turned to her.
"You're not?"
"I wanted to," she said honestly. "But you've been more honest with me than most people who never had an agenda."
A pause.
"Besides," she added, "If you were still following orders, I'd never have found out."
Fu Yunshen gave a soft laugh, one that didn't quite reach his eyes.
"You're too sharp."
"And you're too obvious."
"Painfully."
They stood in silence.
Rain continued to fall.
Neither moved.
And yet, the air felt different.
Less heavy.
Like the truth had taken something with it when it left.
"I want to keep moving forward," she said, "but on my terms."
He nodded. "Then I'll follow."
"Not behind me."
He met her eyes.
"Beside?"
"Beside."
[System Notification]
Emotional Restoration In Progress – Trust Recalibrated
Brotherhood Value +105 (Hurt Acknowledged + Forgiveness Initiated)
Current Total: 3,405 / 1,000,000
As they walked back together under her umbrella, steps quiet and close, neither spoke of ghosts or missions or systems.
Just the rhythm of rain.
And the space between them—
Finally safe.