In the heart of a serene bamboo forest, where towering stalks reached for the heavens and sharp leaves whispered in the breeze, the only sound was the song of birds echoing in the void. Amidst the scattered stones and ancient earth, Duie and Yu Sui sat together. A cool wind wound its way through the bamboo.

  Breaking the tranquility, Duie spoke with a tone of solemn warning:

  "Remember... the name of your spiritual soulmate will manifest upon the flute. In the ancient Chwen script. This mantra exists for this sole purpose. It shall calm your heart... and steady your soul."

  Upon hearing this, Yu Sui closed his eyes. He sat cross-legged on a large stone, straightening his spine into a meditative posture. He pressed two fingers of his left hand to the space between his brows, while with his right, he traced a celestial circle in the air. Within the circle, golden mantras of the Chwen language flickered into existence. As the circle completed, it erupted in a brilliant golden radiance, splitting perfectly into two halves. From the center of the light, a deep, crimson-red flute emerged, floating weightlessly in the air. At its end hung a magnificent ornament of white and blue.

  Duie’s breath hitched. He had never seen a flute of such a blood-red hue. In all his studies, a crimson flute was a rare, almost legendary phenomenon it was unheard of. When Yu Sui opened his eyes and saw the instrument suspended in a golden aura, he reached out and grasped it. But before he could marvel at it, Duie snatched it away, inspecting every inch with frantic curiosity.

  Yu Sui tried to reclaim it, but Duie had already found what he was looking for. There, etched into the wood, was a name: Mo Yan.

  The moment Duie read that name, his body went limp. A cold shiver washed over him, and his breath stalled as if his very soul had gone into seclusion. Overwhelmed by the revelation, he collapsed onto the ground, fainting dead away.

  A Short While Later...

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

  Yu Sui sat on the same stone, idly twirling the flute between his fingers. He looked down at Duie, who was still sprawled out like a fallen corpse. Poking Duie with the end of the flute, Yu Sui sighed.

  "Enough already, Duie. How much longer are you going to keep up this act?"

  Duie stirred, though his eyes remained wide with shock. His mind was reeling from two things: the impossible crimson color of the flute and the name carved upon it. He looked up at Yu Sui, who merely shrugged and made a face, looking like a thief whose secret had finally been exposed.

  After a long silence, Duie began to fiddle with a small pebble on the ground.

  "So... that’s how it is. Have you ever told him?"

  Yu Sui didn't answer. A heavy stillness settled over him. He stared at the flute where Mo Yan’s name was engraved, and before he knew it, his eyes began to brim with tears. They looked like a moonlit lake still, deep, and shimmering. When a few droplets splashed onto the flute, Duie noticed that his friend was weeping in silence.

  Duie’s teasing stopped. He had never seen Yu Sui shed a tear before. With a brotherly hesitation, he placed a hand on Yu Sui’s shoulder. An uncomfortable, profound silence enveloped them until Duie’s own eyes grew misty.

  "I understand, brother," Duie whispered. "I have felt the same for someone."

  Startled, Yu Sui turned to him, two tears rolling down his cheeks. Duie didn't meet his gaze, keeping his eyes fixed on the pebble.

  "No one knows better than I what this feeling is. It is the reason you cannot stay away from the person you yearn for, even if you tried. Yet, there is always that fear... the fear that you are alone in this feeling. But if you ever get even a sliver of a chance to tell him... do it. Who knows if that moment will be the only right one."

  There was a rare warmth and depth in Duie’s voice. Hearing this, a smile finally broke across Yu Sui’s lips a genuine, enchanting smile, like the first leaf of spring blossoming after a harsh winter.

  After another moment of quiet, Yu Sui finally confessed:

  "It is true. I consider him my soulmate. My heart races for him even when I don't want it to. I want to be near him, to keep him close. I want to love him... I want to do everything just to see a smile on his face."

  Tears escaped Duie’s eyes as he listened. Without a word, he traced a name into the dirt on the ground, stood up, and began to walk away.

  When Yu Sui leaned over to read the name Duie had written, his eyes nearly popped out of his head. His mouth fell open in utter disbelief. He had always assumed Duie liked their friend Zhuie, but this name... it was beyond his wildest imagination. Seeing Duie walking away, Yu Sui scrambled to his feet and ran after him, teasing him relentlessly about his secret.