Lu Nian and Yichen sat together at the table when dinner was finally served. Yichen stared blankly at the food, his thoughts drifting far away. He could almost taste the past, the quiet evenings when Zhaoyan would cook for him. A soft ache tightened his chest.
Lu Nian leaned forward, concerned. "Yichen… what happened?"
Yichen looked up, forcing a faint smile. "Nothing."
They began eating in silence, until the sudden appearance of a girl disrupted the calm. She carried herself with elegance, her clothes and demeanor marking her as someone from a wealthy family. She smiled politely, her eyes fixed on Yichen.
"Yichen, can we talk?"
The chopsticks slipped from Lu Nian's hand. He coughed, startled, while Yichen's eyes widened in shock.
"How do you know me?" he asked, his voice unsteady.
She only smiled, calm and composed. "It's a long story."
Lu Nian could only stare as Yichen rose slowly to his feet. The girl turned and walked away, and after a pause, Yichen followed her.
