The tension between Wei and Mei Lan lingered like an unspoken truth, thick in the air but not yet addressed. After their kiss, everything felt different. Wei couldn't shake the memory of her lips on his, the warmth of her body pressed against his, and the weight of their shared confessions. Yet, as much as he wanted to hold on to that moment, the reality of their situation loomed large.
The Shadow Sect was still out there, plotting, waiting. And Mei Lan—Mei Lan was still holding on to something. A secret, a betrayal she hadn't yet told him about. Wei could sense it in the way she moved, in the fleeting glances she gave him when she thought he wasn't looking.
Tonight, as they sat in the pawnshop after hours, a quiet fell between them. Mr. Shen had retired to his quarters, leaving them alone. Wei could feel the weight of her silence, the way her fingers fidgeted slightly, a telltale sign that something was bothering her.
