The distance between Lin Yue and Mo Shan had been shrinking quietly, almost without notice.
Mo Shan never announced his care. He simply existed beside Lin Yue—steady, attentive, constant. When the heat made Lin Yue restless at night, Mo Shan adjusted the cooling stones near his bed. When meals felt too heavy, he prepared lighter food without being asked. His concern was never loud, never demanding. It was the kind of care that waited patiently, trusting time.
Feng Lihan saw everything.
Sometimes, a sharp ache stirred in his chest—jealousy he did not deny. Yet even then, he did not interfere. He wanted Lin Yue to be safe, to be surrounded by warmth from more than one direction. If Mo Shan's presence eased Lin Yue's breathing, steadied his heart, then Feng Lihan would endure that ache in silence.
Winter had fully withdrawn.
Summer arrived with blazing sunlight and heavy air. The stone paths radiated heat, and even the mountain wind felt warm. Lin Yue sat beneath the shade of a tree, fanning himself weakly before letting out a long sigh.
"It's too hot," he murmured. "I feel like bathing."
Feng Lihan and Mo Shan both turned toward him.
"Somewhere open," Lin Yue continued, hesitating as he searched for the right words. "Like… a swimming pool."
He paused, then sighed again, rubbing the back of his neck.
"In my world, there were bathing places—long stretches of water. You could swim in them. Even dive." He shook his head slightly. "I don't know how to explain it properly."
Feng Lihan's expression shifted.
An idea sparked.
"I know a place," he said.
Lin Yue looked at him skeptically. "Where?"
"I'll show you."
Before Lin Yue could react, Feng Lihan bent down and lifted him into his arms with practiced ease.
"Wait—Feng Lihan!" Lin Yue instinctively grabbed his collar.
Crimson wings unfurled, heat rippling through the air as Feng Lihan leapt skyward. Lin Yue stiffened at first, then slowly relaxed as the familiar rhythm of flight steadied his breathing.
Behind them, Mo Shan followed—moving swiftly along ridges and stone paths, never falling far behind. His eyes stayed locked on Lin Yue, calm but alert, as if ready to act at the slightest sign of discomfort.
The sound reached them before the sight.
Rushing water. Powerful. Endless.
They landed near a waterfall, where white torrents crashed down into a wide natural pool below. The water was clear and deep, mist rising like breath in the summer air. Sunlight broke through the leaves, scattering gold across the surface.
Feng Lihan set Lin Yue down gently.
Lin Yue stared, stunned.
"…Here?" he asked softly.
"Yes," Feng Lihan replied. "It's deep. Open. Cool."
Mo Shan stepped closer, his voice quiet but reassuring.
"If it's too much, we'll stop. If you're tired, we'll stay close."
Lin Yue looked from the pool to the two men standing beside him.
For the first time in days, the tension in his shoulders eased.
"This…" he said slowly, "…this is perfect."
He stepped toward the water, letting the cool surface brush his skin. Feng Lihan moved behind him instinctively, close but not confining. Mo Shan stayed at his side, offering silent support.
As Lin Yue entered the pool, the heat finally loosened its grip.
Surrounded by falling water, mist, and two steady presences, Lin Yue felt something unfamiliar but welcome—
Not pressure.
Not expectation.
Just safety.
And for now, that was enough.