*Chapter 29: Bonds of Fire*
That night, they lit a fire on the beach. The friends argued over who roasted the worst marshmallows, their laughter filling the night sky.
Mei Yan's marshmallow caught fire, and the investor immediately snatched it away. "You'll burn the whole beach!"
She shoved him playfully, laughing until her eyes watered. Li Xue watched, warmth filling her chest at the sight of her friend's joy.
Zhao Liang, however, sat apart, his gaze fixed on the flames. When Li Xue approached and sat beside him, the silence between them felt heavier than the sea itself.
"Do you ever get tired of pushing everyone away?" she asked softly.
His eyes flickered to her, dark and unreadable. "Do you ever get tired of waiting for me to change?"
The words sank deep, heavier than the waves. She didn't answer. She couldn't.