The moonlight spilled into the room, casting a soft glow on the ornate furnishings of the manor. The gentle rustle of leaves from the nearby garden drifted through the open window, but Tianwu was too consumed by his thoughts to notice. He stood at the edge of the room, staring at his reflection in the mirror, his expression distant. His mind replayed the events of the past few days—conversations with Yuren, the sudden and intense reappearance of Nian, and the heavy silence between him and Xianglu.His heart felt as though it was caught between conflicting tides, the pull of affection and desire at war with the duty he felt as the eldest son of the Shi family.He turned away from the mirror and walked to the window, gazing out at the courtyard below. The moon hung high in the sky, its light illuminating the flowered pathways that led to the training grounds. His thoughts strayed back to the conversation he'd had with Xianglu earlier that day. There was something unspoken in the air—something he couldn't quite grasp, but which felt so tangible.Xianglu had been different. His usual calm demeanor had faltered for a brief moment, revealing a vulnerability that Tianwu had never seen before. The way Xianglu had looked at him—quiet, pained—had unsettled him deeply.---The day had started innocuously enough, with Xianglu bringing tea to Tianwu in his study, as he had done countless times before. But that morning, Tianwu had sensed a shift in the air."You seem preoccupied, Young Master," Xianglu had commented as he placed the tea set on the low table in front of Tianwu.Tianwu had barely looked up, distracted by the papers in front of him. "It's nothing. Just the usual matters."Xianglu's gaze lingered on him, his expression unreadable. "Is that so? You've been distracted lately. More so than usual."Tianwu had frowned, setting his brush down and meeting Xianglu's eyes. "What do you mean?""There is a weight in your eyes," Xianglu had said softly, almost as if speaking to himself. "A heaviness that you can't seem to shake off."Tianwu had felt a strange flutter in his chest. He had been avoiding confronting his feelings—his increasingly confusing emotions toward Yuren, the sudden appearance of Nian in his life, and the way Xianglu's quiet devotion seemed to grow deeper each day.Before he could respond, Xianglu had continued, his voice low. "If there is something troubling you... you don't have to bear it alone. You know I'm always here for you."The words had felt like a weight pressing down on Tianwu's heart. He knew Xianglu meant them genuinely, but Tianwu could never give him the answer he wanted. Not when he was still so unsure of what he wanted for himself."I don't know what I want, Xianglu," Tianwu had confessed, his voice betraying the frustration he felt within himself. "I don't even know who I am anymore. Every day, everything feels more tangled. I don't know where to turn."Xianglu had stepped closer, his gaze softening, but there was something more in his eyes—something Tianwu didn't know how to address."I will always support you," Xianglu had said gently. "But you must face the truth of your own heart, Tianwu. Only then will you know which path to take."---Now, standing by the window, Tianwu could still feel the weight of Xianglu's words hanging in the air. What truth? He wasn't sure he even knew what his heart wanted anymore. But one thing was certain: whatever it was, it was only getting more complicated.The faint sound of footsteps echoed in the hallway, and Tianwu's thoughts were abruptly interrupted. The door to his chamber creaked open, and Yuren stepped inside, his presence filling the room with an almost tangible energy."Tianwu," Yuren's voice was calm, but there was an undercurrent of something deeper in it—something Tianwu couldn't place.Tianwu turned, meeting Yuren's gaze. He saw the familiar warmth there, but there was something more, something that had been there since their first real conversation. Yuren's feelings were clear to Tianwu, but he still didn't know what to do with them. They had always been close, but lately, there was a subtle shift, a tension in the air that neither of them had been able to ignore."I didn't mean to disturb you," Yuren said, his tone sincere. "But I wanted to speak with you. I've noticed you've been more distant lately. Is something bothering you?"Tianwu didn't know how to respond. There was no way to explain everything—the strange longing he felt every time Yuren was near, the way his heart had raced when their eyes met for just a second too long. But there was more. There was the lingering presence of Nian, whose return had brought back memories and feelings Tianwu wasn't ready to confront."I'm fine," Tianwu said, though it came out sounding more hollow than he'd intended. "Just... thinking about things."Yuren studied him, his expression shifting slightly. "You've been thinking about him, haven't you?"Tianwu froze, his breath catching. "What do you mean?" he asked, though he had a sinking feeling he knew exactly who Yuren was talking about."About Nian," Yuren said quietly. His gaze was unreadable, but there was a faint tension in his shoulders. "I know you're struggling with what to do about him. But I want you to know that whatever happens, you don't have to go through it alone."Tianwu opened his mouth to speak, but the words faltered on his lips. Yuren was always perceptive, but this time, it felt different. There was something else in his words, something unspoken, something that made Tianwu's chest tighten with a mixture of guilt and desire."I..." Tianwu started, but his voice failed him.Yuren took a step closer, and for the first time, there was a certain vulnerability in his gaze. "Tianwu, I don't know what you're going through. I don't know the weight of your past or the burden of your family's expectations. But I do know this—I care for you. And I want to be there for you, even if it's just as someone you can talk to."Tianwu's heart raced at the sincerity in Yuren's voice. But at the same time, he couldn't ignore the growing tension between them. The unspoken feelings that had been simmering for so long, finally bubbling to the surface, threatened to consume him."I don't know what to do anymore," Tianwu whispered, his voice barely above a breath.Yuren's eyes softened, but there was a new intensity in them, a longing that Tianwu couldn't escape. Before he could stop himself, he found himself moving toward Yuren, closing the distance between them. His breath quickened, his hands trembling slightly as he reached for Yuren.And in that moment, with no more words left to say, the silence between them shattered.---To be continued...---