The afternoon was calm.
For once, nothing urgent.Nothing overwhelming.
A Small Outing
Shui Mingyun rarely took them outside.
Not because she didn't want to—
But because it was difficult.
And risky.
Three children.Too noticeable.
But today…
After days of quiet pleading and curious eyes—
She gave in.
"We're only going downstairs," she said softly.
"No running too far."
They nodded.
Not fully understanding the caution—
But excited anyway.
The World Outside
The small park near the apartment wasn't crowded.
Just a few people.A quiet space.
Safe enough.
The moment they stepped onto the grass—
They scattered.
One ran ahead immediately
One walked carefully, observing everything
One stayed close to Mingyun, holding her hand
She watched them closely.
Every movement.
Every step.
Not relaxed—
But… softer than before.
Elsewhere
Gu Yi hadn't planned to be there.
A meeting had ended earlier than expected.
He had taken a different route back.
And somehow—
He found himself passing by the park.
He paused.
Just for a moment.
The First Glimpse
It was nothing at first.
Just children playing.
Then—
Something caught his attention.
A small figure crouched near the edge of the grass, holding a stick, drawing something in the dirt.
Gu Yi frowned slightly.
Lines.
Shapes.
Not random.
Structured.
He stepped closer without realizing it.
Curiosity
The child didn't notice him at first.
Focused.
Careful.
Then—
"That's not stable."
The voice was soft.
Calm.
Gu Yi blinked.
"…What?"
The child looked up at him.
Eyes clear.
Unbothered.
"If you connect it like that, it won't work," the child said, pointing at the drawing.
Gu Yi stared.
"…You understand this?"
A small pause.
Then a simple answer:
"It's easy."
Something Familiar
For a brief moment—
Gu Yi felt it again.
That strange pull.
The way the child spoke.
The calmness.
The logic.
It felt… familiar.
Too familiar.
"Who taught you that?" he asked without thinking.
The child tilted their head slightly.
"Mama."
Interrupted
Before Gu Yi could respond—
A voice called out.
"Come back."
Soft.
Controlled.
The child stood immediately.
No hesitation.
"I have to go," they said simply.
And just like that—
They ran back.
The Distance
Gu Yi's gaze followed.
And for the first time—
He saw her.
Standing a short distance away.
Three children near her.
Shui Mingyun.
His breath caught.
It had been years.
But he recognized her instantly.
Not Close Enough
She didn't look at him.
Not directly.
Her attention was fully on the children.
Gathering them.
Checking them.
Protecting them.
For a moment—
Their worlds almost touched.
But not quite.
She turned.
And began to walk away.
Frozen in Place
Gu Yi didn't move.
His mind tried to catch up.
Was that… her?
The children.
The way they moved.
The way one of them spoke.
His chest tightened.
Something wasn't adding up.
As Mingyun walked away, one of the children looked back briefly.
Just for a second.
Their gaze met his.
Then—
They were gone.
Gu Yi stood there, unmoving.
The quiet feeling in his chest—
Was no longer vague.
It was sharp.
Clear.
Unsettling.
"…What was that?"
For the first time—
The distance between them didn't feel safe anymore.
It felt like something waiting to be broken.