Shen Qiyao and He Qing sat on the grass near the shrine, still breathing a little fast after all the running. The stolen wine jar sat between them.
He Qing took a long sip and passed it over. "Your turn, Mr. Taller Shen. Drink slowly. The wine tastes better when you're tired like this."
Qiyao accepted the jar and drank. "It's strong."
He Qing laughed quietly. "Of course it is. That's why we stole it. Makes your body feel warm after all that chaos with the chickens."
Qiyao passed the jar back. "You caused that chaos."
He Qing grinned and took another sip. "And you loved it. I saw you smiling and laughing while we ran. Don't deny it. You had fun tonight."
Qiyao looked at him. "A little."
He Qing scooted closer until their shoulders pressed together. "Just a little? That's not fair. You were running and holding my arm so tight. Admit it properly, Mr. Taller Shen."
Qiyao stayed quiet for a moment. "It was… different."
He Qing laughed again. "Different is good! Best friends need nights like this. Stealing wine, running from chickens, getting all sweaty together. Perfect."
They passed the jar back and forth several times, drinking slowly.
Qiyao stared toward the dark bamboo grove. After a long silence he spoke softly. "I haven't heard the flute in a while."
He Qing paused with the jar halfway to his mouth. "The flute?"
"Yes," Qiyao said. "It used to play every night. Now it's completely silent."
He Qing lowered the jar. "You really miss it that much?"
Qiyao nodded. "It felt like someone was there. Listening to me. Answering me."
He Qing turned to look at him. "Mr. Taller Shen… you will hear it again. I promise you."
Qiyao met his eyes. "How can you be so sure?"
He Qing smiled gently. "I just am. The flute hasn't gone away forever. It's still close. Maybe it's waiting for something."
Qiyao took the jar from him. "Waiting for what?"
He Qing shrugged lightly. "The right time. The right person. You'll hear those soft notes again, I swear."
Qiyao drank and passed it back. "You sound very confident."
"Because I am," He Qing replied. "Trust me on this one thing. The flute will come back for you."
Qiyao stayed quiet. "You know a lot about it."
He Qing leaned his head against Qiyao's shoulder. "Not really. I just feel it. Don't worry too much tonight. We just had a great adventure."
Qiyao didn't move away from the touch. "You're still sticky from running."
He Qing chuckled. "So are you. We both smell like wine and sweat now. But it's nice, right? Sitting here together after everything."
Qiyao hummed. "It's okay."
He Qing took another sip. "Just okay? Mr. Taller Shen, you're so hard to please. I stole wine for us, made you laugh, and now we're sharing it under the night sky. This should be more than okay."
Qiyao gave a small smile. "It's good."
He Qing's eyes lit up. "There we go. That's better. I like when you say things like that."
They kept passing the jar, drinking little by little.
"Mr. Taller Shen," He Qing said after a while. "Do you ever get tired of me talking so much?"
Qiyao shook his head. "No."
He Qing smiled. "Really? Even when I drag you into stealing wine and chicken chases?"
"Even then," Qiyao replied softly.
He Qing bumped their shoulders. "You're too nice to me. I might get spoiled and never leave the shrine."
Qiyao looked at him. "You can stay."
He Qing paused. "You really mean that?"
"Yes."
He Qing's voice became softer. "Thank you. I'm really glad I met you. Glad you let me stay even when you didn't want to at first."
Qiyao took the jar. "You were persistent."
He Qing laughed quietly. "Very persistent. But it worked. Now look at us. Sharing stolen wine, sitting this close. Best friends, right?"
Qiyao nodded. "Best friends."
A faint sweet fragrance drifted in the warm night air, mixing with the smell of wine on their breath. He Qing noticed it too.
"Smells nice tonight," He Qing said. "Like flowers or something. Or maybe it's just the wine making everything better."
Qiyao inhaled quietly. "It does smell familiar."
He Qing leaned a little more against him. "Everything feels better with you. Even quiet nights like this. After all the running and laughing… this part is my favorite."
Qiyao stayed silent for a while, then spoke. "Mine too."
He Qing smiled. "See? You're getting better at saying what you feel. Slowly, but better."
They finished the last of the wine. The jar sat empty beside them.
"Mr. Taller Shen," He Qing said softly. "About the flute… I really will make sure you hear it again. I don't break promises to you."
Qiyao looked at him for a long moment. "I believe you."
He Qing's expression was warm but carried something deeper. "Good. Then just wait a little longer."
They remained sitting close together. Shoulders touching. Arms occasionally brushing. The night felt warm and intimate around them.
No more running. No more loud laughter.
Just two people sharing a quiet moment after the chaos. Closer than before.
Yet a hidden truth still lingered unspoken between them.