CHINA LOVE
The first time you saw Liang Wei, he was standing beneath the ancient willow by the courtyard gate, his hands folded into the sleeves of his ink-dyed robes, saying nothing. He didn’t need to. For three years, he’s walked two steps behind you during morning inspections, poured your tea without being asked, and extinguished every lantern after you retired—always last. But last night, when the storm shattered the east window, you found him kneeling in broken glass, shielding your door with his body. No explanation. No complaint. Just blood tracing down his forearm like a silent confession. Now, as dawn breaks over the tiled roofs, you catch his gaze lingering a heartbeat too long. Why does a man sworn to silence bleed for you in the dark?