Glaze of Time

The morning alarm rang, and Ji Yuntong opened her eyes as sunlight filtered through the curtains into the room. She frowned slightly; her biological clock woke her up naturally. This was her daily routine—one she would never break. She lay still for a moment, gently stretching her body, feeling the natural desire to loosen up in the morning.

The room next to hers was her yoga studio. The white walls surrounded a neatly arranged space. To the right of the window stood a treadmill, and in the center of the floor lay two large black yoga mats. Above them, an aerial yoga hammock hung quietly, swaying slightly with the air currents. This was her morning ritual—a quiet space for herself, allowing her thoughts to clear from the remnants of the night's emotions. Though last night's feelings hadn't entirely subsided, she knew that yoga would help her regain inner balance.

After her routine stretches, Ji Yuntong pulled herself back to reality, completing the final stretch with ease. She felt energy returning to her body, and the lingering restlessness of the morning dissipated along with it.

Finishing her practice, she walked toward the kitchen to prepare her first meal of the day. The kitchen was a separate space with an electric stove facing the living room, and in front of the induction cooker stood a four-seater dining table.

She opened the refrigerator, took out some ingredients, and started preparing a simple breakfast. Just as she began chopping vegetables, she suddenly heard a soft "click" at the door—the sound of it unlocking.

Ji Yuntong froze. The knife in her hand halted mid-air, and her heart skipped a beat.

"You… how did you get in?" She turned around quickly, both surprised and flustered.

How did he enter so naturally? What if I was still asleep? Wouldn't he have seen everything? The thought made Ji Yuntong's face flush as red as boiling water, embarrassment flooding over her.

Bai Hennan paused slightly, clearly not expecting her to be up this early. He placed a breakfast box on the dining table, a slight smile appearing at the corners of his lips. "Did you forget? You gave me a key. I didn't expect you to be up so early. I thought I was already early enough."

Ji Yuntong blinked, then snapped back to her senses, returning his smile. "I didn't expect you to come so early either."

Bai Hennan waved dismissively, his eyes carrying a teasing warmth. "It's nothing, just my usual habit. I had something to do nearby today, so I thought I'd bring you breakfast while I was at it. You haven't finished preparing yours, right?"

Her heartbeat gradually steadied, but there was still a subtle sense of unease within her. She tried to maintain her composure, forcing herself to stay calm. "You really do have a way of catching people off guard."

Bai Hennan merely chuckled and took a seat at the table, watching her. "That's fine. Since I'm here today, you don't have to make your own breakfast."

Ji Yuntong couldn't help but laugh at his words, though she wasn't sure how to respond. That slight restlessness in her heart resurfaced, as if it had never truly faded.

She put down the knife and returned the ingredients to the fridge before turning to the breakfast box Bai Hennan had brought.

He took out a few delicate pastries from the bag and placed them gently on the table—steaming cheese croissants, rich hot chocolate, and an assortment of colorful macarons, each one exquisitely tempting.

"I know you like these." Bai Hennan's voice carried a barely noticeable tenderness. "I bought them especially for you."

Ji Yuntong looked at the familiar treats, warmth spreading in her chest. A small smile crept onto her lips as she sat down, reaching for a cheese croissant. She took a bite—the crispy outer layer giving way to a soft, cheesy interior, its rich aroma filling her senses. She couldn't help but close her eyes slightly, savoring the taste. The familiar flavor transported her back to the past—

She remembered that in her second year of university, every time she returned home, she would mysteriously find cheese pastries on the table, as if someone had prepared them just for her. Curious, she once asked her younger sister, Ji Jintang, "Where did you get the money? Why do we have so many cheese pastries? I don't need to eat this much."

At the time, Ji Jintang had merely grinned mischievously and said, "A secret benefactor. Someone with too much money and nowhere to spend it, so they use it all on snacks."

The memory surfaced, and Ji Yuntong suddenly stilled. She looked up at Bai Hennan, her eyes flickering. "…So, all those pastries back then… were from you?"

Bai Hennan met her gaze, his smile gentle. "Didn't think you'd finally figure it out after all this time."

Ji Yuntong was momentarily speechless. She looked down at the croissant in her hands, a complicated feeling rising within her. She had always assumed her sister had bought them on a whim. She never expected that the real 'secret benefactor' had been the man sitting before her all along.

"…Why?" she asked softly, her voice carrying a barely perceptible tremor.

Bai Hennan didn't answer immediately. He picked up his hot chocolate, gently blowing on it as if carefully considering his words. After a pause, he finally said, "Back then, you were so busy with university life. Your sister often said that she wanted to call you at night, but you'd fall asleep mid-conversation. Sometimes, you came home too exhausted to talk. I figured that at least having something you liked to eat might give you some energy."

Ji Yuntong lowered her gaze, her fingers lightly brushing against the edge of the paper bag holding the croissant. Her lips moved slightly, but she didn't immediately respond.

Of course, she remembered. During her second year, she had started running her personal brand—designing, crafting, taking orders, attending classes. The ceramics studio near campus had practically become her second home. She'd rush there after class, return home exhausted, and often lacked the energy to even chat with her family. But she never realized that someone had been silently watching over her all along, using this small gesture to offer her warmth.

"Why didn't you ever tell me?" Her voice was as light as the wind.

"If I had, would you have accepted it?" Bai Hennan smiled slightly, his tone half-joking yet sincere. "Back then, you would've probably said, 'You didn't have to go through the trouble,' and refused, right?"

Ji Yuntong hesitated—because he was right.

She had always been independent, accustomed to handling everything on her own. She instinctively rejected kindness from others, believing she could manage without relying on anyone. But now, knowing the source of this thoughtfulness, she found it difficult to brush it aside as she once would have.

The silence stretched between them, only broken by the rustling of leaves outside the window.

Finally, she took another bite of the croissant and murmured, "…Fine, I won't refuse this time."

Bai Hennan's smile deepened as he gently pushed another cup of hot chocolate toward her. "Then have this too."

Ji Yuntong stared at the cup for a moment before finally reaching out. The warmth from the ceramic seeped into her palms, spreading through her body.

—So, all this time, this warmth had been by her side.

Silence settled between them again, but it was a comfortable one.

Ji Yuntong lowered her head and took a small sip of hot chocolate. The warmth and sweetness melted on her tongue, softening her expression slightly. It was as if this fleeting warmth could dispel the weariness lingering in her heart.

Meanwhile, Bai Hennan quietly watched her, his gaze lingering on the subtle curve of her lips and the way her eyes reflected the soft glow of the light.

This scene—it was familiar, yet distant.

Certain memories began to surface, and before he realized it, his thoughts drifted back to the past—

That year, he was fifteen.

At that time, he was an outstanding student, always keeping to himself, indifferent to the world around him. Because of this, he often became a target for those who resented him.

That day, a few boys from his class cornered him.

Their reason was nothing new—his good grades, his cold demeanor, his indifference toward others. They had never liked him, and now they had found an excuse to "teach him a lesson."

Bai Hennan neither felt fear nor intended to back down. He knew that these people were all talk—when it came down to it, they might not actually have the guts to make a move.

But just as the situation was at a stalemate, a clear and confident voice suddenly rang out—

"What are you all doing surrounding him?"

The group parted slightly, revealing Ji Yuntong standing there. At that time, she was eighteen. Her brows were slightly furrowed, her gaze carrying a hint of impatience.

Her voice wasn't loud, yet there was an inexplicable authority to it.

The boys exchanged glances, clearly not expecting her sudden appearance, let alone her direct questioning. In the end, they muttered a few things under their breath before throwing out some empty threats and leaving.

Bai Hennan remained where he was, watching as Ji Yuntong walked toward him.

"Are you okay?" she asked calmly.

He hadn't replied yet when she frowned again. "You weren't seriously thinking about taking them all on by yourself, were you? Even if you practice Taekwondo, you're still at a disadvantage when you're outnumbered."

Bai Hennan stared at her, finding the situation oddly intriguing.

This person—she didn't see him as just a "smart but difficult-to-approach weirdo." Instead, she had unhesitatingly stepped forward to speak up for him.

"…Thanks," he said softly.

Ji Yuntong didn't say much in response. She simply nodded before turning to leave.

But as she walked away, Bai Hennan suddenly realized—

His gaze was following her.

That day, for the first time, he became aware—

There are some people whose existence makes you start to care, even changing the way you see the world.

From then on, he often found himself watching her. Whenever he had an excuse to visit her house, he would use Ji Jintang as a pretext, claiming he was there to see her instead. Over time, it even led Ji's parents to mistakenly believe that he liked Ji Jintang.

End of the memory.

Bai Hennan returned to the present and looked at Ji Yuntong before him. All these years had passed, and yet, she was still the one who made his heart waver.

"What is it?" Ji Yuntong noticed his gaze and looked at him with curiosity.

Bai Hennan smiled slightly, his tone calm. "Nothing, just remembering some things."

What he didn't say was the sentence buried deep in his heart for so many years—

From a long time ago, you have always been different to me.

Bai Hennan gazed at Ji Yuntong as the two of them quietly enjoyed this peaceful morning together. Ji Yuntong nibbled on her cheese croissant, occasionally sneaking glances at Bai Hennan, who was focused on his breakfast, as if savoring not just the food but also the tranquility of this moment.

A strange emotion welled up inside Ji Yuntong. Although their relationship wasn't particularly close, at this moment, she felt a sense of comfort and reliance.

She looked up and asked softly, "Do you have any plans for today?"

Bai Hennan set down his cup and looked at her with a small smile. "I have a few things to take care of, but it shouldn't be too busy. What about you?" His voice was gentle.

Ji Yuntong thought for a moment before replying, "I'll be working on some custom orders and preparing materials for my classes."

Bai Hennan smiled slightly, then gently placed the last bite of his cheese croissant on the table. His voice was soft as he said, "Actually, I just wanted to check on you—to make sure you're doing okay. When you're busy, it's easy to forget to take care of yourself."

A warmth spread through Ji Yuntong's heart. His words had unknowingly touched a soft spot inside her. She looked up at him, realizing that the distance between them seemed to have shortened once again. A faint, indescribable emotion surfaced within her.

"I'm fine, thank you," she replied gently, her voice carrying a touch of warmth. Between them, an unspoken understanding grew.

"Did you go home after returning?" Ji Yuntong couldn't help but ask, genuinely concerned.

"I did. I stayed for a day—then I came to see you," Bai Hennan replied casually, yet his tone held an unspoken meaning.

Ji Yuntong was momentarily stunned before reacting with slight exasperation. "What are you saying?!"

Bai Hennan glanced at her, a small, amused smile tugging at his lips. It seemed as if there was more he wanted to say, but in the end, he chose to remain silent. His eyes, however, were filled with a quiet warmth.

The two of them sat there in comfortable silence, the breakfast no longer the sole focus of their time together.

After finishing her meal, Ji Yuntong gently wiped the corner of her mouth before looking at Bai Hennan with a slight smile. "Thanks for breakfast."

Bai Hennan nodded, his gaze relaxed and warm. "You're welcome. As long as it made you happy, that's enough."

He stretched lazily before heading toward the door. "I'll leave you to it, then. You still have an hour before you open—get some rest."

Ji Yuntong nodded and walked him to the door. They exchanged one last look, and a quiet warmth settled in her heart. Though there was still some distance between them, his care made her feel incredibly at ease.

Bai Hennan stood outside, gazing at her deeply. There was something in his eyes, something unspoken. But in the end, he simply said, "Bye."

It wasn't until his figure disappeared around the corner of the hallway that Ji Yuntong snapped out of her daze. She realized she had been staring at the door the whole time.

Turning around, she walked back into the living room and began organizing her plans for the day.