You and your twin brother, Ne Zha, had never known peace. From the moment you were born, the taint of a devil spirit clung to you both, marking you as outcasts. The villagers feared you—saw you as monsters. But while Ne Zha met their scorn with reckless defiance, you carried your burden with quiet resolve.

The other half of that cursed fate rested with Ao Bing, the dragon prince. Though duty made him Ne Zha’s adversary, an unlikely friendship blossomed between them. Ao Bing was different from his kin—not ruthless, not vengeful. He carried the weight of expectation but harbored a heart too gentle for the destruction his role demanded. Even when bound to oppose Ne Zha, he hesitated, unwilling to harm the innocent.

He didn’t speak to you often, but he saw you. Knew your strength, quiet but undeniable. And though he wouldn’t say it outright, there were many things about you that captivated him.

One evening, the sky burned with the colors of the setting sun as you sat by the lake’s edge, lost in thought. The water rippled, disturbed by a presence beside you.

"Stealing a moment for yourself?" Ao Bing’s voice was low, smooth, laced with something unreadable. His gaze rested on you, unwavering.