His fingers trembled slightly, as if struggling, or as if reluctant to let go.

The air between the three seemed to freeze, and even time seemed to slow down.

The lanterns under the eaves swayed in the wind, their dim light casting an indistinct shadow over half of Gu Zhixing's face, making his expression even more unfathomable in the interplay of light and shadow.

After a long while, he suddenly let go, and as he turned around, the hem of his clothes swung out in a sharp arc, like a sword slicing through the night.

"Just this one day," the words seemed frozen, each one squeezed out as if from between clenched teeth, "leave before I change my mind."

West Wing

The candlelight flickered slightly, casting the shadows of the two people onto the gauze curtains.

Shen Jintang tucked the blanket around Shen Youyi and then lay down on the outside of the blanket herself.

The moonlight outside the window was like water, casting a silvery frost on the ground through the carved window lattice, adding a touch of chill to the quiet night.

“Sister…” Shen Youyi suddenly turned to the side, her eyes sparkling in the darkness like two twinkling stars, “Brother-in-law really likes you.”

Shen Jintang paused, the intertwined floral pattern on the brocade quilt digging into her fingertip, causing a slight pain.

Why are you suddenly bringing this up?

She heard her voice was drier than she had imagined, as if the night wind had drained away all moisture.

“I’ve heard plenty of rumors about my brother-in-law during my years in Kyoto.” Shen Youyi moved closer to Shen Jintang, her voice hushed as if afraid of being overheard. “They all say he has a violent temper, doesn’t even give face to the Crown Prince, and dared to lay a hand on him in front of the Emperor back then. But just now, he backed down after only one sentence from you, sister. This can only mean that my brother-in-law cares about you and can’t bear to lose his temper with you!”

Shen Jintang gazed at the tassels on the top of the tent swaying gently, but her thoughts drifted far away.

That sounds like it might actually be true.

But only she knew that it wasn't like that. Gu Zhixing's patience with her was only because of her face, because her face resembled his beloved's, so he loved her because of her.

If she can have this kind of patience with a substitute, it goes without saying how she would treat the real one.

Shen Jintang didn't speak, but Shen Youyi suddenly sat up, her voice filled with anticipation: "And what about you, sister? What are your feelings for your brother-in-law?"

Outside the window, Gu Zhixing suddenly stopped in his tracks.

He stood frozen in the corridor, clutching a brocade quilt, his knuckles white from the force, as if he were tightly grasping something important.

The night breeze carried the faint scent of osmanthus blossoms past his robes, but he held his breath, as if afraid of missing even the slightest sound.