The night had fallen, and Zian lay in his room, staring at the ceiling, guilt weighing heavily on his heart. He kept thinking about how he shouldn't have spoken to Yu that way earlier. "I need to apologize to him," he muttered to himself, pacing to the window. His room faced Yu's, and he glanced over, hoping to catch a glimpse of him. But just as he looked, Yu's room lights turned off.
Zian sighed, turning away. "He must have gone to sleep already," he thought. Deciding he'd apologize in the morning, he turned off his own lights and climbed into bed.
The next morning, Zian woke early, dressed quickly, and stepped outside for a walk, hoping to clear his mind. While strolling through the garden, he spotted Yu at a distance. A flicker of hope rose in Zian's chest as he moved closer, ready to call out to him.
Before he could, Mao called out to Yu.
"Yu, come here! I need to show you something," Mao said with a smile.
Yu turned, curious. "What is it, Mao?"
"You'll see. Come with me," Mao replied, taking him along.
Zian hesitated, watching them walk away. "Maybe I'll talk to him later," he thought. Yet, an uncomfortable feeling churned in his chest, something he couldn't quite name. Was it guilt or… jealousy? He couldn't decide.
Later in the day, Zian found Yu sitting in the garden alone, idly plucking at the grass. Gathering his courage, Zian approached him.
"Yu," he called softly.
Yu looked up, a hint of surprise on his face. "Zian? What are you doing here? And why do you look so gloomy? What's wrong?"
Zian hesitated, then blurted out, "Yu, I'm sorry."
Yu raised an eyebrow. "Sorry? What for?"
"For what I said yesterday," Zian admitted, his voice tinged with regret. "I shouldn't have spoken to you like that."
Yu's face softened, and he chuckled. "Oh, that? I'd already forgotten about it. Besides, it wasn't your fault. I know I can be a bit too playful sometimes, so you don't need to apologize."
"Really?" Zian asked, a hint of relief in his voice. "I thought you were upset with me."
Yu grinned. "I don't hold grudges. And honestly, with someone as beautiful as you, how could I ever stay mad?"
Zian's cheeks flushed. Before he could respond, Yu suddenly perked up. "Oh, that reminds me! Mao showed me something earlier and told me not to tell anyone about it. But I don't think it'll hurt if I show you. You wouldn't tell anyone, right?"
Zian tilted his head. "What is it? And yes, I promise I won't tell anyone."
"Good," Yu said, standing up. "Come with me. But make sure Mao doesn't notice!"
Zian smirked. "Are you scared of her?"
Yu scoffed. "Scared? Me? I'm not scared of anyone! Now, stop wasting time and follow me."
With that, Yu led the way, glancing back occasionally to make sure Zian was following. They arrived at a secluded area by a small lake, surrounded by tall grass and trees.
"Look," Yu said, pointing excitedly.
Zian scanned the area, confused. "I've been here before. What's so special about this place?"
Yu rolled his eyes. "Of course you've been here. You live here, don't you? But look closer—over there!"
Zian followed Yu's gaze and spotted a nest nestled in the branches of a low-hanging tree. Inside were baby birds chirping softly.
"See how cute they are?" Yu said, his voice full of excitement.
Zian smiled. "They really are. But how did Mao find them?"
"She said she stumbled upon them while walking around," Yu explained.
Zian nodded. "Makes sense."
Yu leaned closer to the nest, pointing at one of the chicks. "This one's my favorite. Look how tiny and fluffy it is!"
Zian chuckled. "They're all adorable."
As they stood there, admiring the little family of birds, Zian felt a weight lift from his shoulders. Yu's carefree nature was infectious, and for a moment, all his worries melted away. This was why he treasured Yu—his ability to find beauty in the simplest things and make everything feel a little brighter.