Fated | Fangs Of Fortune [ZhuYi]

Chapter 2 : First Snow, First Secrets

Once they were sure the guards weren't pursuing them anymore, they stopped in front of a closed wooden shop, both catching their breath. They looked at each other and in the next moment, they burst out laughing.

"That was fun!" Yichen said between breaths.

"It really was" Zhu Yan agreed, chuckling.

They laughed together, a shared excitement lingering in the air. Then, with a playful smirk, Zhu Yan asked, "So, Young Master Yichen, why are you running away from home?"

Yichen's laughter stilled and he looked at Zhu Yan, surprised. "You...you know who I am?"

"Not exactly" Zhu Yan replied with a grin. "But I heard those guards calling you 'young master' and you didn't give me your family name. It seemed like you were hoping I wouldn't find out."

Yichen sighed softly, then gave a shy smile. "Yes, I'd rather you didn't know. Will you still be willing to be my friend?"

Zhu Yan met Yichen's eyes, noticing a flicker of hope there. He smiled. "Oh? I didn't know we were friends already" he teased.

"I...um..." Yichen stammered, his face reddening.

Zhu Yan's expression softened. "It doesn't matter who you are. I'd be glad to be your friend." He paused, a hint of sincerity in his voice. "I don't have many—well, really just one."

At that moment, something soft and cold touched Zhu Yan's cheek. He looked up, watching as delicate snowflakes began to fall from the sky.

"The first snow!" Yichen exclaimed, his face lighting up with pure delight. He stretched out his arms, spinning in place, trying to catch the flakes as they fell. "It's the first snow of the season!" His joy was infectious and Zhu Yan found himself grinning as he watched Yichen.

"Do you want to walk through the market?" Zhu Yan suggested. "We'll get to see it covered in snow."

Yichen nodded eagerly and together they strolled down the lantern-lit streets as the snow continued to drift from above, coating the world in a soft white layer. They stopped at various stalls, their breath visible in the cool night air and admired the trinkets and goods for sale.

At one stall, Zhu Yan's gaze fell on a pendant of blue jade. It reminded him of Yichen's eyes, bright and full of life and he picked it up, inspecting the smooth, polished surface.

Yichen noticed and tilted his head. "Are you getting that for someone?" he asked with a shy smile.

Zhu Yan hesitated, then gave him a playful grin. "I am. For a certain friend who dragged me through half the city."

Yichen's eyes widened as Zhu Yan bought the pendant and handed it to him. "It suits you" Zhu Yan said, his voice soft. "This blue jade...it's just like your eyes."

Yichen took the pendant, his cheeks warming as he fumbled for words. "I—I don't know what to say. Thank you."

He looked back at the display, searching for something in return. His gaze landed on a reddish jade pendant, and he smiled, taking it in his hand.

"This one..." Yichen trailed off, studying the pendant's color before looking at Zhu Yan. "I think it suits you. It's bold...like you."

Zhu Yan laughed, taken by surprise. "Bold? Is that how you see me?"

Yichen handed him the pendant, his eyes shy but sincere. "Yes. You seem...brave, like that color."

Zhu Yan accepted the pendant, feeling an unexpected warmth fill his chest. They continued to wander, each quietly admiring their new pendants as the snow fell around them.