The night passed in silence...
At some point, exhaustion caught up with Zhao Tian.
He didn't mean to fall asleep and didn't even realize he is been drifting... but the quiet warmth, the gentle presence beside him, had lulled him into slumber before he could fight it.
...
The first thing he became aware of as he woke was warmth.
Not just the warmth of his own body, but something softer, something comforting.
His head was resting against something delicate and he felt a faint rise and fall beneath him.
A scent... faintly floral, mixed with the crisp scent of morning air filled his senses.
For a moment, he lay still, and his mind was sluggish from sleep, unwilling to fully rise from the comforting haze of unconsciousness.
Then, a slow realization settled in.
Where is he?
His brows furrowed slightly and his eyes fluttered open.
Morning light streamed in, casting soft golden hues over the courtyard.