Late morning sunlight crept gently through the wooden shutters of the Half Moon Inn, casting golden lines across the soft bed. The incense from the night before had long burned out, replaced by the crisp scent of blooming sky-willow outside the window.
Yun Rou stirred slightly, her eyelashes fluttering. Her mind was still hazy—trapped between dream and waking—when a sudden knock echoed against the door.
"Thump… Tump… Thump…"
The sound was light, polite, but persistent. Her eyes snapped open.
The first thing she noticed was warmth—strong, steady, and close.
Kent's palm was tightly gripping one of her milk white balloon and holding her like she was the only anchor in his world.
Yun Rou froze, heart pounding in her chest as the memories from the night before came rushing back like an untamed tide. Her face flushed crimson. She sat up abruptly, brushing the silk sheets aside and straightening her robe with hurried fingers.
What happened? Did we—? No… no, he was just… helping.
