Yuan lay still, his head resting comfortably on the soft warmth of a girl's lap.
The world around them was peaceful—so peaceful that it felt unreal, as though sound itself had learned to tread lightly. Above them stretched a clear blue sky, unmarred by clouds or storm, endless and gentle in a way that invited breathing to slow and thoughts to drift.
The grass beneath them swayed in a mild breeze, each blade catching sunlight like threads of emerald silk. Wildflowers dotted the field, their colors vivid and alive, humming quietly with the presence of life. Somewhere far away, birds sang, their voices weaving together into a soft, careless melody.
Yuan looked no older than fifteen.
His features were youthful but calm, dark hair falling loosely across his forehead, stirring slightly whenever the breeze passed. His eyes were closed, lashes resting gently against his cheeks, his expression relaxed—free of worry, free of pain.
The girl beneath his head appeared to be the same age.
She sat with her legs folded beneath her, posture relaxed, one hand resting lightly in Yuan's hair. Her fingers moved slowly, absentmindedly combing through the dark strands as though it were the most natural thing in the world. Her other hand rested near her knee, fingers tracing small patterns in the grass.
She looked down at him with quiet affection.
Her eyes were soft, filled with warmth and something deeper—something steady and unwavering. A smile curved her lips, small and sincere, the kind that came not from excitement but from contentment.
She leaned forward slightly and pressed a gentle kiss to Yuan's forehead.
It was brief, light as a whisper.
Yuan smiled.
His lips curved upward almost unconsciously, as though his body responded before his mind did. He shifted slightly, nestling more comfortably against her lap, and let out a quiet breath of satisfaction.
"You're smiling again," the girl said softly.
Her voice was gentle, like the breeze that brushed against the field.
Yuan opened one eye and looked up at her. "That's because you keep cheating."
She blinked. "Cheating?"
"You know," he said lazily, his tone playful. "Using kisses. That's unfair."
She laughed quietly, covering her mouth with the back of her hand. "If it works, it works."
She leaned down again and kissed his cheek this time, lingering just a moment longer.
Yuan closed his eye again, utterly unbothered. "See? Completely unfair."
Her laughter softened, fading into a fond smile as she returned her attention to stroking his hair. For a while, neither of them spoke. Words felt unnecessary in the gentle stillness that surrounded them.
This place—this moment—felt untouched by the rest of the world.
It was as if time had slowed just for them.
Yuan listened to the sound of her breathing, slow and steady, syncing with his own. Each breath seemed to carry warmth with it, settling deep within his chest.
"Do you ever think," the girl said after a while, her voice thoughtful, "that moments like this should last forever?"
Yuan considered her question, eyes still closed.
"Sometimes," he replied. "But if they lasted forever, maybe we wouldn't appreciate them as much."
She hummed softly in response, neither agreeing nor disagreeing. Her fingers paused for a moment, then resumed their gentle movement.
"You always say things like that," she murmured.
"That's because I'm wise."
She snorted. "You're lazy."
"Also true."
She shook her head, smiling.
The breeze shifted, carrying with it the scent of flowers and warm earth. Clouds drifted lazily overhead, their shapes changing slowly, unhurried.
Yuan opened both eyes now, gazing upward. "What do you think they look like?" he asked.
The girl followed his gaze. "That one looks like a rabbit," she said after a moment.
"Hmm," Yuan said. "I see a dragon."
Her hand stilled.
"A dragon?" she repeated, glancing down at him.
"Yeah," he said casually. "A really big one."
She studied the cloud again, her brow faintly furrowed. "I don't see it."
"That's because it's sleeping," Yuan replied. "You have to imagine it breathing."
She laughed softly again. "You're strange."
"You like that," he said.
She didn't deny it.
Instead, she leaned down and kissed him once more—this time just above his eye.
Yuan's smile widened.
For a brief moment, something flickered behind his eyes.
A sensation.
Like warmth layered over something deeper. Like a dream half-remembered, slipping away the moment one tried to grasp it. Images that made no sense—fire, light, falling stars—faded before they could take shape.
He frowned slightly.
The girl noticed immediately.
"What's wrong?" she asked, concern gently coloring her voice.
"Nothing," Yuan said after a moment. "Just… thought I felt something."
She tilted her head. "Something bad?"
He shook his head. "No. Just… something."
She didn't press him. Instead, she brushed her thumb lightly against his temple, her touch grounding, steady.
"You don't have to worry," she said softly. "You're here. With me."
Yuan exhaled.
"Yeah," he said. "I am."
The strange sensation faded, dissolving into the warmth of the afternoon sun and the softness of her lap.
He shifted again, turning slightly so he could look up at her more clearly. "Hey."
"Yes?"
"Do you ever regret anything?"
She blinked, surprised by the question.
She thought for a moment, eyes drifting back toward the sky. "Sometimes," she admitted. "But not this."
Yuan smiled. "Good."
She returned the smile, then leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to his lips.
It was innocent and brief, more affection than passion.
Yuan accepted it happily, his hand lifting to rest lightly against her arm.
They lingered like that for a moment, close and quiet, before she pulled back and resumed her gentle caressing of his hair.
"Promise me something," she said softly.
Yuan raised an eyebrow. "That sounds serious."
"It is," she replied, though her smile softened the words. "Promise you'll stay like this. No matter what happens."
He didn't answer immediately.
Something stirred again, faint and distant, like thunder heard from very far away.
But Yuan ignored it.
"I promise," he said.
She let out a small, relieved breath and kissed his forehead once more.
They lay together beneath the open sky, wrapped in warmth and youth and a love that felt simple and complete.
Far away—beyond fields and hills and the reach of memory—two lifeless cores lay buried deep within a broken world.
And somewhere even farther still, something ancient and unknowable watched.
But for now, Yuan slept peacefully, unaware of the echoes that stirred beyond his dreams.