The next morning arrived quietly.
Too quietly.
Lan Yue noticed it the moment she opened her eyes.
There was no chaos waiting for her.
No explosion from Tang Xiaoli echoing across the courtyard.
No overwhelming thoughts crashing into her the second she woke up.
No immediate urge to hide under her blanket and pretend the world could wait a little longer.
Instead, there was just… calm.
She sat up slowly, frowning slightly at the unfamiliar feeling.
"…This feels like a trap," she muttered under her breath.
The room looked the same as always.
Soft light filtered through the window, pale and steady, settling gently across the floor and walls. Nothing felt urgent. Nothing demanded attention.
Which was exactly why it felt suspicious.
Across the room, Zhao Lingxi was already awake.
Of course she was.
She sat at the table with perfect posture, a scroll open in front of her, completely absorbed, as if mornings were something to be approached with discipline instead of survived.
