Jet blinked, surprised by Bao's boldness, but a smile tugged at his lips. Turning toward the house, he called, "I'll be out for the day! Don't worry, I'll be fine."
With a knowing grin, Bao led him toward the gate, and as they stepped beyond the threshold, Jet felt a weight lift from his shoulders.
They strolled through the town, taking various paths to explore. By afternoon, Bao treated him to tea, apologizing with a sheepish smile. "I know it's simple, but it's the best I can do for lunch."
Jet shook his head reassuringly. "It's perfect," he replied. "Besides, my mother has the servants following me everywhere, so this is a treat."
Bao pretended to shiver. "Having eyes on you all the time… that sounds awful." She studied him thoughtfully. "What made her so overprotective? Isn't she usually more relaxed?"
Jet took a sip before responding. "Yes, but… things changed after the Mid-Autumn Festival last week. I made a new friend that night."
"A friend? She's being strict because you met someone?" Bao asked, looking puzzled.
Jet scratched the back of his neck. "He was an Alpha."
Bao barely reacted, shrugging slightly. "Alphas aren't that uncommon. Was he a noble? Did your mother think of marriage?"
Jet laughed nervously. "Not exactly. He seemed like a commoner, actually."
Bao's eyes widened. A commoner Alpha? she thought, intrigued. That's rare.
"He's a year older than us, taller than me, with eyes that… well, they have this quiet intensity," Jet said, his voice softening as he remembered. "His name is—"
"Han," came a familiar voice from behind Bao.
At the sound of the familiar voice, Jet froze, the name "Han" hanging in the air like a whisper from a dream. Bao turned around, her eyes widening as she took in the tall figure standing just behind her. Jet's pulse quickened as his gaze locked onto Han's.
Han bowed at Jet, his eyes holding that same mysterious intensity that he had just described.
"Han?" Jet managed, surprise mixed with something he couldn't quite name. "What are you doing here?"
"I was passing by and happened to hear my name," Han replied, his voice calm but carrying an undercurrent of warmth. He looked between Jet and Bao, as though assessing the situation. "I didn't mean to interrupt."
Bao raised her eyebrows, clearly amused, and nudged Jet playfully. "Seems like your friend has quite the timing," she teased, then gave Han a welcoming smile. "Well, you're just in time to join us."
Jet felt a rush of conflicting emotions. He hadn't expected to see Han outside the carefully watched confines of his home, yet here he was, so effortlessly appearing before him as though he'd been a part of Jet's life all along.
Han gave a nod and took a seat across from Jet, his eyes never leaving him. "I didn't expect to find you here, Jet. I thought you'd still be grounded."
Jet chuckled awkwardly, glancing at Bao, who seemed to be thoroughly enjoying this unexpected reunion. "Thanks to Bao, I was able to escape for a little while."
They settled into an easy conversation, with Han adding a quiet but steady presence to their lighthearted exchange for Jet. His heart lifted, and for the first time in days, he felt at ease. It was as if the weight of the last week had finally lifted, the freedom he'd craved lingering in every word exchanged between them.
After a while, Bao stood up, giving Jet a sly smile. "I'll leave you two to catch up. I have a few errands to run," she said, her gaze shifting knowingly between them.
Jet nodded, watching as Bao gave him a wink before disappearing down the path.
As silence settled around them, Jet glanced at Han, a curiosity sparking in his mind. "How did you really find me here?"
Han shrugged, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "I was passing by," he said, though Jet suspected otherwise.
Here, under the open sky with Han by his side, everything felt almost… normal. Autumn was coming to an end, and by the time spring arrived, Jet would be sent off to marry.
Looking up at the sky, Jet let his gaze drift back to Han. "You're 20, right?"
Han nodded.
"Are you not married yet? Have your parents not arranged a meeting with the matchmaker?"
Han's expression shifted, a bit surprised. "They did. They wanted me to find a good Omega. But the matchmaker said… I'm not a suitable husband for anyone."
"Oh." Jet paused, feeling a twinge of awkwardness. "I apologize for asking such a foolish question."
Han shook his head, a quiet warmth in his gaze. "It's not foolish at all."
A silence fell between them. Jet found himself glancing at Han, noticing small details he hadn't before—the relaxed way Han held himself, the quiet strength in his posture, and the way his eyes softened when they looked at him.
The sky shifted, clouds drifting lazily across the sun, casting shadows over the garden. Jet hesitated, a question forming in his mind.
"Do you... regret it?" he asked quietly, almost afraid of the answer. "Not having someone by your side, I mean."
Han thought for a moment, then shook his head. "I used to think about it, but now…" He paused, looking directly at Jet. "I don't feel the same way anymore. Maybe I just haven't met the right person yet."
Jet's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly looked away, trying to mask his reaction. "Right... well, you're still young. I'm sure you'll meet someone who'll see the real you."
Han smiled faintly, watching Jet's face with a hint of amusement. "And what about you?" he asked. "Do you want to marry?"
Jet's expression turned serious, his gaze lowering. "I don't really have a choice. By spring, I'll be sent to marry someone my family thinks is suitable. It's what they expect."
Han's face darkened slightly, though he quickly masked it. "And what if you had a choice?" he asked, voice barely above a whisper.
Jet's gaze met Han's once more, the air between them thick with unspoken words. "If I had a choice…" Jet began, his voice trailing off as he searched Han's eyes, sensing something important hanging between them—something neither dared put into words. After a pause, he shrugged lightly. "I'll think about it when it becomes real. Then, I'll have an answer."
Han nodded, his expression thoughtful. As he glanced around, he noticed the crowd had thinned, and the sun was dipping lower in the sky. Rising to his feet, he gave Jet a gentle nod. "I should be going."
Jet's curiosity got the better of him. 'Where is he headed?'