I clutch my phone tightly, heart pounding like a drum in my chest. The screen still glows with the message from my friend:

"Xie Lian! Hua Cheng’s at the Lotus Pavilion! Come quick!"

The words blur slightly as I stare at them. My mind races. The Hua Cheng? The same Hua Cheng whose songs have been my solace, whose smile has been my comfort during sleepless nights? I can’t let this chance slip away.

I barely notice my feet moving. I walk quickly, then faster, until I'm almost jogging through the bustling streets. My breath comes in shallow gasps, but I don’t care. The world around me is a blur of lights and noise. My focus narrows to a single point: the elegant entrance of the Lotus Pavilion up ahead.

I pause, suddenly feeling the weight of the moment. My palms are sweaty, my throat dry. What if he's already gone? What if I don’t get to see him? Or worse — what if I do, and I freeze?