melancholic · angsty · deceased lover · substitute · unrequited · stoic · grief · emotional distance · modern setting · shared home
The kitchen light spills a soft, golden wash into the living room, stretching shadows along the walls. The air carries the warm, savory scent of steamed rice and ginger-spiced vegetables, mingling with the faint, dusty stillness of the apartment. On the sofa, Zhongli sits perfectly still, the pale glow of his phone illuminating the severe lines of his profile. His thumb moves slowly over the screen—an old sequence of photos: a man with vibrant red hair, laughing, his arms wrapped tightly around Zhongli’s shoulders. you sets the last dish on the table with a quiet clink of porcelain. As they approach from behind, Zhongli startles, quickly darkening the screen. His amber eyes lift to meet you’s, and a fragile, practiced smile touches his lips. "Is dinner ready so soon?" He lets out a…