"Little warmth"

Han Li opened her eyes to the pitch-black night surrounding her. The eerie quite and silent night.

The silence felt heavy. Too heavy.

Her fingers instinctively brushed against the cool metal resting on her lap—the gun he gave her. Even after all these years, it was still there, a silent guardian against the nightmares that haunted her, just like its name, Athena.

And every time she touched it, she thought of him.

Mo Zihao.

Like a ghost, like a shadow—he was always there.

Even when she fought to push him out, he forced his way back in. Unshakable. Inevitable. The king of darkness, forever lingering just beyond the light, watching. Even after so many years apart, everything in her life still whispers of him

In the cold wind that whispered against her skin. In the flickering city lights that reminded her of his sharp, predatory eyes. In the quiet moments before sleep when her mind refused to let go. 

Han Li clenched her jaw and exhaled. She was not going to think about him. Not tonight. 

A sharp beep from outside pulled her from her thoughts. 

She turned her head just in time the car pulling up in front of her apartment building. The headlights cut through the night, illuminating the pavement in harsh white light. 

"You're home."

The voice from the driver's seat was warm yet steady. Han Li glanced at Li Yushen, who was watching her with quiet curiosity in eyes and a warm smile. 

"Mhm. Thanks for the ride," she murmured. 

Li Yushen studied her for a second and observed the gun on her lap, which she tucked in her bag, before offering a small smile of comfort. 

"Sleep well, boss." 

She nodded before stepping out, closing the door softly behind her. 

The cold air nipped at her skin as she walked toward the entrance. Her grip tightened around her bag. She ignored the lingering sensation in her chest—the one that always came when memories of the past tried to creep in—and disappeared inside the building. 

---

Gooseberry Condominium

Penthouse, 50th Floor 

The penthouse was still brightly lit despite the late hour. 

Soft golden light spilled over the modern furniture, casting long shadows across the walls. The atmosphere was warm but quiet, the only sound coming from the occasional rustle of paper. 

Shen Anyu sat cross-legged on the plush carpet, surrounded by scattered files and an open laptop. She was still dressed in her work attire, a faint crease forming between her brows as she skimmed through reports. 

Behind her, nestled in a bundle of white blankets on the couch, a small figure lay curled up in sleep. 

Junmo. 

His tiny hands clutched the edge of the quilt, his soft chest rising and falling in steady rhythm. His cheeks were flushed pink, his dark lashes fluttering slightly with each deep breath. 

The moment Han Li stepped inside, Shen Anyu looked up. 

"You're back." 

Han Li's gaze drifted to the table first—files everywhere, a laptop still on, the faint scent of coffee lingering in the air. 

"Are you working late again?" she asked, voice tinged with mild disapproval. 

Shen Anyu sighed, shutting her laptop with a soft click. 

"Blame your little darling." She gestured toward the couch with an amused smirk. "He insisted on waiting for you but passed out halfway." 

Han Li's eyes softened. 

She finally turned her attention to the small bundle on the couch. 

The exhaustion from the day, the weight of her thoughts—all of it faded in an instant. 

For the first time tonight, a genuine smile curved her lips. 

She crouched beside him, watching his small chest rise and fall. 

Junmo was het little warmth. He was the only thing that truly felt like home.

Gently, she reached out and poked his cheek. His face scrunched slightly before he let out a soft, sleepy whimper. 

Han Li chuckled before slipping her arms under his small frame, lifting him carefully into her embrace. 

As if sensing her touch, the little boy stirred, his tiny fingers gripping her shirt. 

His voice came out in a sleepy murmur, barely above a whisper. 

"Mommy… Jno mished you…" 

A sharp, unexpected ache spread through Han Li's chest. She held him closer, pressing a kiss to the top of his head. 

"Mommy missed Jno the most."

She could feel him relax against her, his breathing slowing once again as he drifted back into sleep. 

Warmth.

That was what he gave her. Something she had spent years convincing herself she didn't deserve.

Shen Anyu leaned against the table, watching with quiet amusement. 

"You should get some rest," Han Li said, glancing at her friend. "Thanks for taking care of him while I was out."

Shen Anyu waved a hand lazily. "Please. You adopted him, but at this point, I might as well be his second mother."

Han Li didn't argue. Because in many ways, it was true. Junmo wasn't just hers. He was theirs. And Shen Anyu had more right than her to be called his mother. All day long she takes care of him and deals with every whim of his.

Shen Anyu stretched her arms before carefully taking Junmo from Han Li's arms. The little boy barely stirred, only letting out a soft sigh as he settled into her embrace. 

She smirked. "Bonne nuit, my dear overworked friend."

Han Li exhaled a quiet laugh, rubbing her temples. 

"Bonne nuit."*

She watched as Shen Anyu disappeared into junmo's room, settling him down she returned to her own, which watch attached to junmo's room.

For a moment, Han Li simply stood there, staring at the now-empty couch. 

The past had claws. It always found ways to dig into her skin, to remind her of everything she had lost and everything she was running from. 

But here, in this quiet space, she had something real. Something worth protecting. With a deep breath, she turned off the lights and walked toward her own room. 

Tomorrow, she would face the ghosts again. But tonight—tonight belonged to peace.

----------

NOTE:

"*Bonne nuit = Good night "