The night had settled over the village like a soft blanket.Crickets chirped lazily from the fields, and the scent of night-blooming jasmine drifted through the open windows. The house was still—too still for Li Wei, who lay wide-eyed on the thin mattress beside his snoring sister.
He tossed once, twice, and then sat up with a sigh. "How does everyone sleep so easily out here?" he muttered. The glow of the lantern in the corridor beckoned faintly, and his curiosity tugged him toward it.
As he tiptoed past the kitchen, his eyes caught something shining under the shelf—an unopened tin box.He peeked inside and grinned. "Jackpot."Inside were laddus and a few sugar-coated sweets from the wedding. He grabbed a handful and sneaked toward the hall.
There, under the faint golden light, Lin Yue sat on the floor with a blanket around her shoulders, her injured foot propped on a stool. She blinked when she saw him. "You again?"
He held up the tin like a trophy. "I come bearing peace—and sugar."
She giggled. "You'll get caught."
"Then we share the punishment," he said, sitting beside her and passing a sweet. "Partners in crime."
The hall was quiet except for the hum of night insects and their soft chewing. Through the window, moonlight spilled across the wooden floor in pale silver squares. Outside, fireflies winked near the canal, and somewhere, a dog barked sleepily.
"These are good," Li Wei said, licking sugar off his fingers. "Way better than city snacks."
"That's because they're made with real ghee," she said proudly. "Not those fancy packets you fight over."
He laughed. "You'll never let me forget that, will you?"
"Never." She smiled mischievously. "City boy, zero wins."
He leaned back against the wall. "Hey, I carried you today. That's at least one win."
She looked down, her face softening. "You didn't have to."
"Yeah, I did," he said quietly. "Couldn't leave my tour guide behind."
The lantern flickered, and for a moment they both watched the shadows dance along the walls. The warmth from the sweets, the cool air, and the faint rhythm of crickets made everything feel dreamlike.
"I like it here," Li Wei said suddenly. "It's calm. Even the stars look closer."
"You can't see stars like this in the city?" she asked.
He shook his head. "Too many lights. Too many people rushing."
She thought for a moment, then said softly, "Then come visit again. When you miss the stars."
He looked at her, half-smiling. "I might just do that."
They shared another sweet, trading jokes and stories until their voices grew slower, softer, blending into the night. At some point, Li Wei's head tilted back against the wall, and Lin Yue's shoulder brushed his. Neither of them noticed when their laughter faded into sleep.
Morning
Sunlight spilled into the hall like liquid gold. Birds chattered outside, and footsteps echoed from the kitchen.
"Li Wei? Yue'er?" his mother's voice called out.
When she turned the corner, she froze.There they were—Li Wei and Lin Yue—still asleep on the floor, an empty tin box between them, crumbs scattered like evidence of a midnight heist. Lin Yue's blanket had half-slipped, her head leaning lightly against his shoulder.
A beat of stunned silence.
Then Li Na burst out laughing. "Ohhh, someone had a sweet night!"
Li Wei jerked awake. "Wha—?! What time is— oh no."
Lin Yue blinked, confused, then saw the crowd of amused parents. Her face went crimson. "Ah! I— we— it's not—" She quickly pushed him away, grabbing her blanket. "You're such a troublemaker!"
"Ow! What did I do?" he yelped, rubbing his arm as she fled toward her room.
Both mothers tried (and failed) to stifle smiles. Li Wei's father coughed awkwardly. "Seems like our son found new… village customs."
"Dad!" Li Wei groaned.
Breakfast was filled with laughter and teasing. Lin Yue avoided eye contact, focusing fiercely on her porridge while everyone else pretended not to notice. Li Na whispered dramatically, "I think you two drooled on each other's shoulders."
"Li Na, eat your breakfast before I move you back here alone," Li Wei muttered, red-faced.
After the meal, Li Wei's mother stood and began gathering their bags. "We'll leave after lunch. Yue still needs rest, but we shouldn't overstay."
Lin Yue's mother nodded. "Thank you for staying the night. It meant a lot to her."
Li Wei glanced toward the hallway where Lin Yue's room door was half-closed. He wanted to say something—anything—but the words tangled inside him.
As his family prepared to leave, Lin Yue stepped out slowly, her bandaged foot touching the floor gingerly. She held a small paper packet. "For the road," she said, handing it to him. "More laddus. So you don't steal from the kitchen next time."
He grinned. "Hey, I call that smart midnight planning."
She smiled back, soft and a little shy. "Just… don't forget the village, okay?"
"I won't," he said. "Not even if the city lights try to make me."
Their parents called from the car, and he gave her one last wave. The breeze picked up, rustling the flower trees along the road as he climbed in. Through the window, he saw her standing at the gate, the sunlight painting her hair gold, her smile small but real.
As the car rolled away, Li Wei looked down at the packet in his hand.The smell of ghee and cardamom filled the air, wrapping around him like a memory he knew he'd carry for a long, long time.