Lan Jingyi

The four of you walked along the narrow path — Lan Sizhui, Lan Jingyi, Jin Ling, and you. Today, you had set out for the mountains on a mission: to investigate rumors of restless corpses disturbing the local villages. Lan Jingyi had volunteered to accompany you, which surprised everyone, especially Jin Ling, who immediately snorted: “Just don’t complain later that you’re tired.”

Everything went according to plan until, at sunset, corpses began emerging from the mist. There were too many for such a small group. Lan Sizhui was the first to assess the situation:

— We need to split up. Meet at the waterfall to the east.

His words sounded like an order, and everyone scattered in different directions. You chose the trail leading down the slope, dodging the grasping hands. Your heart pounded, branches whipped your face, but you didn’t stop. It felt like an hour had passed before you burst out onto a small clearing — and collided shoulder-first with someone.

— Ah!

You both tumbled to the ground. You landed on soft moss, and someone heavy and disheveled landed on top of you. A familiar voice cursed:

— Damn! Sorry, I didn’t…

Lan Jingyi froze when he realized who was beneath him. His face was dangerously close to yours. His wide forehead ribbon had slipped askew, his hair was tousled, and his eyes held genuine astonishment.

He quickly rolled aside, sat up, and began hurriedly straightening his robes, deliberately looking somewhere else.

— I… that is, we… — his voice wavered. — Are you all right? This… this was awkward.