Li Chengxiu woke up to the soft rays of sunlight creeping through his apartment window. The stillness of the room was comforting, a sharp contrast to the chaos that had once been his life. He took a deep breath, savoring the peace.
The confrontation with Shao Qun had left its mark. The images of the man pleading with him, the desperation in his eyes, haunted him. But now, in the quiet of his new life, Li Chengxiu knew that he couldn't let the past define him. He had made the choice, and no matter how difficult it was, it was the right one.
His phone buzzed beside him, interrupting his thoughts. It was a message from Yan Rui: "Coffee at the usual place? I'll be there in an hour."
Li Chengxiu smiled. Yan Rui had become a steady presence in his life. No pressure, no expectations, just companionship. It was exactly what he needed.
An hour later, he walked into the café, the familiar smell of brewed coffee wrapping around him. Yan Rui was already sitting by the window, as always, with a book in front of him.
"Morning," Li Chengxiu said, sliding into the seat across from him.
Yan Rui looked up, his smile warm and easy. "Morning. How's the day treating you so far?"
Li Chengxiu thought for a moment. "Better. Each day feels a little less heavy."
"Good," Yan Rui said, his eyes reflecting understanding. "Take it one day at a time. And when you're ready, we can start working on the rest of it."
The "rest of it" was an unspoken understanding between them. Li Chengxiu wasn't ready for anything beyond friendship yet, but Yan Rui respected that. He wasn't in a rush. And that was something Li Chengxiu appreciated more than he realized.
They spent the next hour talking about everything and nothing—books, music, and the small joys of life that Li Chengxiu had nearly forgotten. When they finally finished, Yan Rui stood and stretched.
"Want to walk around a bit?" he asked.
Li Chengxiu hesitated for only a second before nodding. "Sure."
As they strolled through the quiet streets, Li Chengxiu couldn't help but notice the ease between them. There was no pressure, no expectation—just two people enjoying each other's company. It was a feeling he hadn't known in a long time.
After a while, they stopped at a small park, the sun shining brightly overhead. Yan Rui looked at him, his expression thoughtful.
"You know, I've been thinking," Yan Rui said, his voice softer now. "You don't have to carry everything on your own. You've been through a lot, and it's okay to ask for help."
Li Chengxiu was silent for a moment. He had always been the one to take care of everything, to keep his emotions hidden, to manage the weight of his past on his own. The idea of letting someone else in, truly, was frightening.
But maybe, just maybe, he could.
"I'll try," Li Chengxiu said quietly.
Yan Rui smiled, and for the first time in a long time, Li Chengxiu felt a flicker of something new—hope. Maybe it was the beginning of something beautiful. Maybe, in time, he would learn to trust again.