chapter 1--Ordinary Days

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Chapter 1 — Ordinary Days

Yizhan loved mornings.

Not because they were exciting—but because they were predictable.

The soft buzz of his alarm at six-thirty. The pale sunlight slipping through the curtains. The smell of coffee drifting from the kitchen long before he stepped out of his room. His life moved in quiet routines, and Yizhan liked it that way.

He stretched, padding barefoot across the cool floor, and paused by the window. The city below was already awake—cars honking, people rushing, life moving forward whether anyone was ready or not.

“Another normal day,” he murmured.

In the kitchen, Ace stood by the stove, humming softly while flipping pancakes. An apron hung crookedly around his waist, dusted with flour.

“Good morning, sunshine,” Ace said without turning. “You’re late.”

Yizhan smiled. “I’m five minutes early.”

Ace scoffed. “In my house, that’s late.”

Nicole sat at the dining table, tablet in hand, reading reports. Even at home, the CEO aura never fully left him—but his expression softened when he looked up at Yizhan.

“Did you finish your design assignment?” Nicole asked.

“Yes, Dad. I submitted it last night.”

“Good.” A pause. “Don’t overwork yourself.”

Yizhan blinked. That was rare.

Breakfast passed peacefully. Ace scolded him for skipping fruit. Nicole reminded him about an upcoming internship opportunity. Everything felt… safe.

At college, Yizhan blended in easily.

Architecture students crowded the studio, papers spread everywhere—sketches of buildings, messy notes, half-finished models. Yizhan sat near the window, pencil moving smoothly across the page as he refined his design.

“You’re too gentle with your lines,” a classmate teased. “Add more edge.”

Yizhan laughed softly. “Buildings don’t need to shout.”

During lunch, he sat with friends under the old banyan tree, listening more than he spoke. They argued about movies, complained about professors, dreamed about futures that felt endlessly far away.

Yizhan simply watched the sky.

For a moment, life felt kind.

In the evening, he returned home to Ace’s cooking and Nicole’s quiet presence. They ate together, talked about nothing important. The television played softly in the background.

Later, Yizhan lay on his bed, scrolling through messages, surrounded by sketches pinned to his wall. Cities he wanted to build. Places he wanted to go.

He had plans.

Dreams.

A future that belonged to him.

Down the hallway, Nicole stood in his study long after the house had gone quiet, staring at his phone with unread messages glowing on the screen.

Ace stood beside him, fingers clenched.

Neither of them spoke.

Because some storms arrive silently.

And Yizhan, sleeping peacefully in the next room, had no idea that this was the last night his life would ever be normal.

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Hi, Everyone I am author of this story

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