Chancellor Lasson treasured this space so much that even their relationship as godfather and godson couldn't grant him this much access. It meant he had some sort of leverage that the poor old man was forced to relent. But instead of taking his girlfriend, he brought Yu Xi over.
They spent the afternoon there, lounging among the orchids and bioluminescent vines, sharing cake and sipping tea. Jian Ci talked about everything and nothing, and Yu Xi listened, letting the warmth of the space and the boy beside him sweeten the core of his bitter heart.
Alarna, for once, was nowhere in sight. And for a few hours, it felt like the world had narrowed to just the two of them.
***
Two days later, Jian Ci kept his promise. As soon as the semester officially ended, he whisked Yu Xi away for a birthday celebration. He had been planning it for weeks, and he'd made one thing very clear: no one else was to know they were hanging out.
