151 His Secret

Bai Ye must've been worn out by the long day. Usually, he would hold me in his arms for a long time afterward and keep talking to me until I fell asleep, but he was the one to fall asleep first tonight. In the wavering candlelight, I lay by his side and watched him quietly, until the flames burned out and I dozed off as well. When I woke up to the rising sun in the morning, he was already gone.

He left without saying goodbye? I rubbed my bleary eyes and felt a bit disappointed. This was unlike him—he had always let me see him off every time before he left for a trip—though I suppose a retreat was different. He probably just wanted to avoid last-minute distractions.