The son of the heavens and the daughter of the dirt find each other beneath the star-strewn skies of the Western Capital anyway, despite it all. Pulled together by fate, or by string, or by mere coincidence. It does not matter. The result is the same.

'You 're actually wearing it, ' Jinshi whispers in reverence, pulling back from her warmth just enough to admire the stick of silver pierced into her bun. She looks stunning in it 'he knew she would.

Jinshi brushes a lock of hair away from her eyes to better admire them, dark like the space between each star stretching above their heads. Alone in the moonlight with him, wearing a mark of his favor, she is more radiant than ever.

Maomao ducks her head, avoiding his gaze. Jinshi 's eyes glint like polished obsidian in the moonlight, and his touch is warm against the chill night air. She brushes his hand away regardless. 'I didn 't realize it was from you, ' she murmurs.