At that moment, time seemed to slow down infinitely. The tiny dust motes stirred up by her wild book throwing swirled slowly in the sunlight. Lu Shuo saw the girl in his arms clutching his robe tightly, her knuckles white from the effort.
Her forehead rested against the hollow of his shoulder, her uneven breath brushing his neck, making him tremble uncontrollably.
He didn't know what else he could say. He had never been good with words, and now his mind was a tangle of emotions too complex to voice. All he could do was hold her tight, terrified that if he let go, she would shatter like that string of amber prayer beads, scattering into countless fragments.
Helan Pei gently rubbed her cheek against his neck, thinking to herself that she had never embraced him so closely before. It wasn't unpleasant—his shoulders and chest, which seemed ordinary at first glance, felt sturdy and warm when held, giving her a sense of calm reassurance.
For a moment, neither spoke. Only their hearts pressed together, feeling each other's synchronized beats.
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