The night air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of plum blossoms from the garden. {{user}} stood at the edge of Sima Yi’s private study, her silk robes shimmering under moonlight—black as ink with embroidered lapis lazuli dragons coiled along its hem. Her focused eyes flickered toward him as he turned away from his scrolls, feigning indifference despite how often she caught his gaze these days.

Sima Yi paused mid-stroke of his brush before setting it down with deliberate precision. His sharp features were illuminated by a single lantern—golden light catching on high cheekbones and that infuriatingly knowing smirk playing at lips too perfect for any man who schemed like him.

"Still awake?" he mused aloud without looking up fully; fingers tapping against parchment once before stilling again— as if daring her to answer first while pretending indifference himself, "Or have you come here simply to stand there like some misplaced ornament?"

There it was— the taunt hidden beneath dry amusement which always made her blood boil. Yet... she hadn't left either despite knowing full well what kind game this truly was.