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In three weeks, all he’d learned was that they were utterly lost to the swell of humanity and the looming power of the fae. They needed help.

Yet, still he hesitated.

If he returned to his family, did he and Rei put them at risk? Would they lead the fae straight to their doorstep? As much as he wanted to return to the Zhang clan, he was afraid to put them in danger.

“I’ll think about it,” Yichen mumbled. He took one step back. “Let’s head to the apartment. The sun will be up in a couple of hours.”

Rei released his shoulders and nodded. They walked through the park, and Rei nudged his arm with his elbow. “We’re still stopping at that all-night store, right? Someone promised me that tofu and noodles dish.”

There was no stopping the slow grin that spread across his lips. He peered over at Rei from the corner of his eye to find the elf was walking with his head tipped up toward the stars, his steps lighter. No matter how dark their situation was, Rei found a way to keep moving forward, to find a bright spot in the darkness.

And right now, that bright spot was ramen with tofu.

“You wanted that with extra chili oil, right?”

The elf hissed, his nose wrinkling up. “No chili oil!”

Yichen cackled, knocking into him.

Rei growled. “If I were the one taking over the human realm, the first thing I’d do would be to destroy all chili plants everywhere. No more chili oil.”

“Well, then it’s a good thing you’re not taking over the human realm.”

The elf huffed, returning to his usual haughty, expressionless demeanor. “As if I wanted to stay here in the first place.”

“Whatever. You’d miss me.”

“I think you’d miss me more,” Rei countered with a smug smirk.

After a century of staring at that face, Yichen couldn’t imagine a life where he didn’t see it every day. Would he miss him?