Meng Nian crouched beside the bed, brushing a few strands of hair from Haoyu's forehead. He hesitated for a moment before leaning down, pressing a light kiss to his temple.
"I'll see you again when you're older," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.
Meng Nian walking to the doorway, his gaze lingering on Tang Haoyu, who lay sprawled across the bed, tangled in the sheets. His bare shoulders rose and fell with deep, even breaths, his face slack with exhaustion.
The soft glow from the bedside lamp cast long shadows across the room, highlighting the faint sheen of sweat still clinging to his skin.
Meng Nian exhaled slowly. He knew this was how it would end. Haoyu had made that clear from the start.
Just one night. Nothing more.
He had played along, knowing better than to expect anything different. And yet, standing there now, watching Haoyu sleep so peacefully, something gnawed at him.
A quiet, bitter ache that he refused to acknowledge.
