Finally home, Liang Wei collapsed onto his small, worn-out bed.
Everything around him felt quiet, almost painfully ordinary. But inside, his mind was anything but calm.
Then, his phone rang.
Mei Ling.
For the first time, he didn't hesitate.
He didn't pick up.
He knew what she wanted. Always had. Always would. And yet… he didn't need her to ask this time.
Without warning, without explanation, he focused.
Her body obeyed instantly.
Shocked, Mei Ling gasped, eyes wide, cheeks burning. Relief came, yes—but also confusion, and a twinge of fear.
Liang Wei watched quietly from afar.
One last time… for now, he thought.
And then he vanished.
Not forever. Not completely. Just enough to disappear from her daily life.
Packing only a few belongings, he moved to another town, leaving familiar streets and kitchens behind.
The silence felt powerful, almost intoxicating. He was free, independent, untouchable.
Yet deep down, he knew this was temporary.
I'll be back, he promised himself, a faint, dark smile touching his lips. When the time is right… I'll see her again.
For now, Mei Ling would feel the absence, and the memory of him—of what he could do—would linger.
And when he returned… everything would change.