A faint, sweet scent of osmanthus drifted on the early autumn air.
Ye Siyu had just set down the last dish, sweet and sour pork ribs, when her younger brother, Ye Siyuan, bounded over and snatched a piece right off the plate.
"Sis, these are amazing!" he mumbled through a full mouth, his eyes sparkling.
"It's still hot. Slow down," Ye Siyu said, grabbing a napkin to wipe the grease from his lips.
From the kitchen, their mother, Li Wanhua, emerged with a bowl of soup and gave her son a pointed look. "Look at you. Anyone would think you haven't eaten in days. Where are your manners?"
Their father, Ye Qiwen, came out of his study, drawn by the aroma. "Alright, let's not just stand around," he said with a warm smile. "Time to eat. Siyu's young man is coming over today, so we should probably eat early and give you two some space later."
"Dad!" Ye Siyu's face flushed. "He's not my... we're not official yet!"
Despite her words, the smile in her eyes gave her away.
Ye Siyuan couldn't resist teasing her. "Oh, still playing shy? Why else would he be over here every day?"
"You talk too much," Ye Siyu retorted, stuffing a piece of vegetable into his mouth.
Laughter and banter filled the cozy room, bathed in a warm, yellow glow that made everything feel wonderfully safe. A sweet warmth blossomed in Ye Siyu's chest. She cherished this feeling—her family gathered together, happy and whole.
After dinner, Ye Siyu went to her room to change. She chose a cream-colored dress with delicate daisies embroidered on the hem. In the mirror, the girl staring back had fair skin and bright eyes that shone with a mix of anticipation and shyness.
She picked up her phone and opened her chat with Gu Jingshen. The last message was from that afternoon.
Gu Jingshen: [I'll pick you up tonight.]
Ye Siyu: [Okay.]
Just two simple words, but she read them over and over, a soft smile on her lips.
A knock came at her door. It was her mother. "Siyu, Jingshen is downstairs."
"Coming!" Ye Siyu replied, grabbing her small bag and hurrying out.
In the living room, her father was chatting with Gu Jingshen. Seeing his daughter, he smiled. "Go on, have fun. Don't be back too late."
"I know, Dad."
Gu Jingshen stood and took her bag from her. "Don't worry, Uncle, Auntie," he said to her parents. "I'll make sure she gets home safely."
His voice was deep and pleasant, carrying a reassuring weight.
Ye Siyu followed him out, her heart pounding as she gazed at his broad shoulders.
Tonight, they were meeting friends for their usual get-together at a bar called "Nightfall." When they arrived, the private room was already buzzing with energy. Seeing them walk in together, their friends immediately started whooping and cheering.
"Well, look who it is! The main event has finally arrived!"
"Jingshen, cutting it close as always!"
Gu Jingshen paid them no mind, simply guiding Ye Siyu to a spot on the sofa before sitting beside her. He placed her bag safely at the far end of the couch and poured her a glass of warm water.
Ye Siyu sipped her water, her cheeks warming at his quiet thoughtfulness.
They had been childhood sweethearts, growing up side-by-side. Everyone could see how well he treated her. The affection had crept up on her so slowly, so naturally, that it had become an inseparable part of her life.
Tonight, she thought, might be the perfect chance to finally take the next step.
"What are you thinking about? You're a million miles away," Gu Jingshen's voice murmured in her ear.
Ye Siyu snapped back to reality, shaking her head. "It's nothing."
She looked up at him. The bar's dim lighting cast his profile in sharp relief—a high, straight nose and deep, piercing eyes.
Just then, the door to the room swung open again.
Shen Boyan sauntered in, wearing a flashy shirt with the top two buttons undone. He had an air of reckless charm about him, and his eyes immediately found Ye Siyu and Gu Jingshen tucked away in the corner.
"Well, well, if it isn't Jingshen and our dear Siyu," Shen Boyan drawled, a roguish grin on his face. "What's this? Finally making it official tonight?"
Ye Siyu disliked his flippant tone and instinctively edged closer to Gu Jingshen.
Gu Jingshen's expression hardened. "Have you been drinking?" he asked, his voice cold.
Shen Boyan just shrugged, dropping onto the sofa across from them. He picked up a dice cup and shook it loudly, his eyes still fixed on Ye Siyu. "Life is short. You've got to enjoy it, right, Siyu?"
Ye Siyu said nothing, merely taking another sip of her water. She'd known Shen Boyan for years; in their circles, he was unavoidable. But she'd always felt they were from different worlds. He was too flashy, changing girlfriends more often than he changed clothes, and she made a point to keep her distance.
The party was in full swing, with everyone playing games and singing. Ye Siyu wasn't much for games, so she sat quietly, exchanging a few words with Gu Jingshen.
At one point, she excused herself to go to the restroom. On her way back, she ran into Shen Boyan in the hallway. He smelled faintly of tobacco and leaned against the wall, blocking her path.
"Got a minute?" he asked, his voice lower and deeper than it had been in the room.
"We have nothing to talk about," Ye Siyu said, trying to step around him.
Shen Boyan stretched out an arm, stopping her.
"Don't be so cold," he chuckled. "Are you really going to spend your whole life with that stick-in-the-mud? How boring."
"I know him better than you do," she retorted with a frown. "Now, move."
"What if I told you," he said, leaning in closer, his voice dropping to a whisper, his eyes holding a strange glint, "that I could give you more than he ever could?"
Ye Siyu found him utterly ridiculous.
"Shen Boyan, do you really think every girl is going to fall for your act?" she snapped. "Sorry, but I'm not interested. And please, don't make such pathetic jokes again."
Without another glance, she pushed past his arm and walked back into the room.
Shen Boyan remained in the hall, his eyes following her until the door closed. The usual carefree smirk on his face slowly vanished, replaced by a dark, complex expression.
When she returned to her seat, Gu Jingshen immediately sensed something was wrong. "What happened?"
"Nothing. Just ran into someone," Ye Siyu said, shaking her head. She didn't want to let Shen Boyan ruin her mood.
She sat down, but an unshakeable feeling of unease settled over her.
The party went on late into the night. By the time it wound down, most of them were a little drunk. Gu Jingshen, however, was completely sober. He hadn't touched a drop of alcohol.
"I'll take you home," he said to Ye Siyu.
"Okay."
The ride back was quiet. Ye Siyu watched the city lights streak past her window, her mind racing as she tried to find the right words. Should she just come out and ask, "So, what are we?" Or should she wait for a better moment?
As they neared her apartment complex, Gu Jingshen finally broke the silence.
"Siyu."
"Hm?"
"I want to take you somewhere in a bit."
"Where?"
"You'll see," he said, turning to her with a gentle smile.
Ye Siyu's heart skipped a beat.
The car pulled up to her building. "I'm heading up," she said, unbuckling her seatbelt.
"Alright," Gu Jingshen said, his eyes on her. "Message me when you're inside."
"Okay."
Ye Siyu opened the car door and a sudden chill hit her. She pulled her coat tighter, turned to wave at him, and then hurried into the building.
When she got home, the living room light was still on. Her parents were on the sofa, watching TV.
"You're back?" Li Wanhua asked.
"Yeah."
"Where's Jingshen? He didn't come up to say hello?"
"He went home."
Ye Siyu slipped off her shoes and took her mother's arm. "Mom, it's so late. Why are you two still up?"
"We were waiting for you," Ye Qiwen said. "Where's your brother? Didn't he come home?"
"He went to an internet cafe with his friends. Said he's pulling an all-nighter and won't be back until morning."
"That kid," Ye Qiwen grumbled with a laugh.
Ye Siyu watched TV with her parents for a little while before heading to her room. After washing up, she lay in bed and sent a message to Gu Jingshen.
[I'm home.]
He replied almost instantly.
[Get some rest. 🌙]
Ye Siyu gazed at the little moon emoji, her heart feeling full. She set her phone down, closed her eyes, and drifted off to sleep, her mind filled with thoughts of Gu Jingshen and the promise of what was to come.
Everything was perfect, like a beautiful dream. She fell into a deep, peaceful sleep, a sweet smile on her lips.
She didn't know it would be the last peaceful night of her life.
Outside, the night grew darker.
A black sedan, like a predator lurking in the shadows, pulled up silently at the corner of the street. The man inside put out his cigarette, his gaze fixed on the lit window of the Ye family's home. His eyes were dark and frenzied.
He picked up his phone and dialed a number.
"It's time."
The voice on the other end hesitated. "Sir... but it's a family of four..."
"I said, it's time." His voice was cold and cruel, each word ground out from between his teeth. "Leave no one alive."
"...Yes, sir."
He hung up, started the car, and the black vehicle melted back into the endless night.
In the pre-dawn hours of the fifteenth, a bloody tragedy began to unfold.
And the dreamers inside were none the wiser.