At last, Yuan Yu could no longer remain inside.
For four days he had endured sect affairs, family expectations, and his mother's unspoken urgency. The walls of his residence had begun to feel too narrow for his breath.
I must go out, he told himself.
And so he did.
The market was alive beneath the midday sun.
The air carried the sharp fragrance of roasted spices and sweet fruit, mingling with the bright colors of vegetables stacked in careful towers. Birds chirped from above, and merchants called out their wares as crowds flowed like a restless river.
Yuan Yu moved through it all with quiet grace—conspicuous no matter how gently he walked.
He wore a jade-colored hanfu, and a thin veil draped over his face, falling softly to his waist. The fabric made him a mystery… yet it also spoke unmistakably of wealth. Sunlight filtered through it, casting faint shadows across his skin, hiding his identity without truly concealing his presence.
Yuan Yu stopped at a stall; a white beaded bracelet caught his attention.
It was strung with smooth white stones, polished so perfectly that they almost seemed to glow beneath the daylight. When he lifted it into his hand, a cool serenity spread across his fingers, the beads cold and flawless against his skin.
At the joining point, two dragon motifs were carved in delicate detail. Their craftsmanship was exquisite—every scale finely etched, every curve graceful. The dragons' eyes were closed, as if sleeping peacefully, and their noses gently touched each other, frozen in an eternal meeting.
"What a beautiful dragon design," Yuan Yu murmured. "Such a unique bracelet… Two dragons, their eyes closed, their noses gently touching each other."
He turned it slightly, captivated by the quiet elegance of the piece, lost in thought—
when suddenly a voice came beside him. Deep, masculine, unmistakably belonging to a man.
"It would suit you."
Yuan Yu's fingers stilled. He turned slightly. Han Liang stood there, as though the market itself had carried him forward.
For a long moment, Yuan Yu simply looked at him through the veil. Then he smiled—faint, almost amused.
"Should I buy it?" Yuan Yu asked softly.
Han Liang's gaze sharpened, then softened all at once.
"If you accept," he said, hesitating only a heartbeat, "I would like to gift it to you."
Yuan Yu did not hesitate.
He accepted.
"Then…" Yuan Yu said, almost amused, "should I not offer you a meal in return?"
Han Liang froze.
A warrior who had faced battle without flinching suddenly found himself undone by something as simple as kindness.
"Today," he murmured under his breath, "the heavens are rewarding me."
"Sir?" Yuan Yu asked.
Han Liang cleared his throat quickly.
"No—nothing."
He reached for the bracelet. His fingers were steady, yet his palm was warm with nervousness as he slid the dragon-motif around Yuan Yu's wrist.
The dragons met. Their noses touched.
"Two dragons have found each other," Han Liang said quietly. "It belongs there."
Yuan Yu's smile widened, bright even behind the veil.
Han Liang's chest tightened.
He is a man, he reminded himself fiercely. Do not think like this.
And yet… how could he not?
They paid the stall owner, leaving even a generous tip. The merchant thanked them profusely, sensing that something far greater than jewelry had passed between them.
As they walked through the stone streets, Yuan Yu spoke again.
"This city has the best roast duck," he said lightly, "and spicy noodles that will warm even the coldest soul. Come. Eat with me."
Han Liang gave a quiet, almost helpless smile.
"I do enjoy eating."
They found a small table tucked away from the loudest crowds. A cook approached, wiping her hands on her apron.
"Gentlemen, what would you like?"
"One roast duck, noodles," Yuan Yu said, "and the same for my… friend."
The word lingered longer than it should have.
Then Yuan Yu tilted his head.
"May I ask your name?"
He lifted his hat slightly, revealing his face at last.
The veil fell away.
Han Liang stopped breathing. Even in moonlight, Yuan Yu had been beautiful—
but beneath the sun, it was almost unbearable.
He regained himself with effort.
"My name is Liang," he said quietly. "Just Liang."
Yuan Yu nodded.
"Then… I will tell you mine as well. Gu Feng."
A lie. A small shield.
The meals arrived, fragrant and steaming. For a while, they ate in silence, the warmth of food easing the strange tension between them.
Then Gu Feng (Yuan Yu) spoke again.
"You are new to this city, aren't you? I would not have forgotten a face like yours."
Han Liang's lips curved faintly.
"Yes… I have traveled for a long time. This city is lively… but complicated."
His gaze drifted, thoughtful.
"It was rare to meet you," he added softly. "Coincidences like this do not happen often."
Yuan Yu smiled, comfortable… and yet alert.
Their conversation continued, accompanied by light laughter, until the chaos of the market faded away and only the world between two people remained.
When the meal ended, Liang rose first.
"Today was good," he said, bowing slightly. "Perhaps… we will meet again."
Gu Feng placed his hat back on, veil falling once more. Through the thin fabric, his eyes locked with Liang's.
"Maybe…" Yuan Yu whispered.
And then, without another word, they disappeared into the crowd— their paths diverging once more… even as something unseen continued to draw them back toward each other.