Liora hadn't planned to drag Xu Kai away from the hut, but once the quiet surrounded them and the wind carried only the rustle of trees, she couldn't help it. It was the first time since arriving here that she truly felt free—not leading, not managing, not bearing the weight of responsibilities. Just her. Just him. Just the forest.
"Let's go farther," she said, reaching out without thinking, grabbing his wrist with a light tug. "Just for a while… I want to look around."
He raised a brow, not saying anything, but didn't pull away. Instead, he crouched down and opened his personal space, pulling out a pair of brand-new black slippers. He held them out to her without a word. His eyes softened as he looked at her dirt-covered feet.
"They're big," she said with a small laugh, taking them.
"They're mine," he replied plainly, then added with a quiet smirk, "but you can borrow them."
