The silence between Wei and Mei Lan had lingered longer than usual, a quiet tension that neither of them wanted to acknowledge. It wasn't just about the Shadow Sect or the constant danger that loomed over them—it was something deeper. Something personal.
Mei Lan had kept it buried, pushing it down with every fight and strategy session, but now, as they stood alone in the pawnshop's dim light, the weight of it all pressed heavily on her chest.
Wei noticed it too. He had tried to bridge the gap with words, with reassurances, but it wasn't enough. Mei Lan had closed herself off, her usual sharpness muted, her expressions more guarded.
After a long moment, Wei finally spoke. "You've been distant lately."
Mei Lan didn't respond immediately. Instead, she moved to the nearest table, her fingers brushing against the edge of an ancient artifact without really looking at it. I've had a lot on my mind, she signed, still not meeting his eyes.
