Ming Ye hadn't meant to follow her at first.
At least, that's what he told himself.
But the moment he noticed Zi Han slipping away from the ggroup, without a word to anyone, he followed.
Some might have called it stalking. He didn't bother giving it a name. He simply didn't like the idea of her being out of his sight.
The deeper she went into the forest, the quieter it became. The distant voices of the students faded, replaced by the soft crunch of gravel.
Ming Ye kept his distance, his steps careful enough that she wouldn't notice him.
Then she stopped.
He slowed as well, his gaze settling on her crouched figure.
A mushroom.
Of all things.
She was staring at it with an intensity that almost made him scoff, but he didn't. Instead, he found himself watching her longer than necessary. The way her eyes softened with curiosity, the faint tilt of her head as she examined it, completely absorbed in something so small and insignificant.
Something tightened in his chest.
