The atmosphere around the table was as if millions of spring flowers had bloomed all at once not merely because of the fragrant incense burning in the room, but due to the overwhelming emotions and the shimmering eyes that were continuously sensing each other, lost in a shared gaze.

  Yu Sui, with a slight hesitation and a soft, bashful cough, looked at his flute. When he spoke, his tone was so tender that if anyone else had heard that voice, they would have struggled to believe it belonged to the Patriarch of Black Heaven.

  He asked:

  "Mo... do you trust me?"

  As he spoke, his eyes welled up, as if he were barely holding himself together. But before Mo Yan could respond, Yu Sui reached into his robes and pulled out a small porcelain talisman. It was crafted delicately, shaped exactly like a tender leaf of a guava tree. The moment his eyes fell upon it, a smile touched his lips, and he drifted away into a vast ocean of memories.

  Flashback: Years Ago

  Years ago, when Mo Yan and Yu Sui were but children...

  Yu Sui was hiding behind a guava tree, his small frame carefully tucked away in the shadows. He was peeking out, his eyes narrowed as he tried to catch sight of someone in the distance. As soon as a figure appeared, he moved instantly, scurrying into a nearby house to hide. That approaching figure was none other than Mo Yan, walking with small, steady steps toward the guava tree.

  Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

  The moment Yu Sui saw Mo Yan approaching, his face bloomed like a rose in full sun. His eyes sparkled like tiny stars, the way a child’s eyes glow when they have waited the entire day for this single moment.

  Yu Sui watched Mo Yan through a crack in the wooden wall. His heart was thumping loudly against his chest, and an uncontrollable, wide grin spread across his face. Perhaps even he didn't realize how much he was smiling. He whispered softly to himself:

  "He really loves playing with dry leaves..."

  "Dry leaf. little dry leaf."

  He laughed softly to himself the kind of laugh that belongs only to a child who is deeply in love.

  Outside, Mo Yan climbed the guava tree with ease, reaching for the ripest fruit. He placed his feet firmly on the sturdy branches and sat down, eating a guava as he always did. However, his attention was more on his surroundings than on the fruit. While his mouth was busy eating, his eyes were searching everywhere, looking for someone.

  Seeing him perched high up, Yu Sui’s expression softened. He glanced down at the pile of dry leaves on the ground and let out a long breath. He looked back and forth from Mo Yan to the leaves.

  To ensure Mo Yan’s safety, Yu Sui had carefully gathered a thick pile of dry leaves beneath the tree, so that if Mo Yan were to fall, he would not be hurt.

  Yu Sui gripped the talisman in his hand, a leaf-shaped seal dangling from it. He looked at it and said with a smile:

  "One day, this will belong to him."

  He tucked it back into his robes and returned to the crack in the wood, continuing to watch Mo Yan with adoring eyes.