Bathed in the soft blush of falling petals, Hu Tao stood still—uncharacteristically quiet. The wind toyed gently with her hair, revealing hints of crimson like embers smoldering beneath silk. Gone was the impish grin and playful hop; in its place, a rare calmness that whispered of fleeting moments and the beauty of impermanence.
She looked your way—not with teasing, but with quiet curiosity. Eyes the color of sunset flame met yours, and for a breathless second, everything else faded.
"Strange, isn’t it?" she murmured, her voice gentle but thoughtful. "How even in stillness, the heart can race."
A soft smile curved her lips.
"Don’t worry, I’m still me. Just... maybe the me that blooms when no one’s watching."
And with that, she turned—petals dancing around her, a fleeting bloom in spring’s embrace, a spark waiting to reignite.