That same night...

  After the mesmerizing beauty of the evening, a tranquil night descended. Soft white flakes continued to drift from the heavens. Mo Yan had shed his heavy imperial robes, now dressed in simple, snow-white inner garments. In his lap, little Ai Yin slept soundly. Mo Yan pulled out a silk handkerchief and draped it tenderly over the kitten like a blanket. Ai Yin opened his eyes for a brief moment, gazed at Mo Yan, and drifted back into a peaceful slumber.

  Suddenly, the door swung open with a bang as Yu Sui entered. Startled, Ai Yin leaped up and clung to Mo Yan’s chest. Seeing this, Yu Sui smiled and walked over. Recognizing him instantly, Ai Yin jumped into Yu Sui’s arms. Yu Sui picked him up and turned to leave the room. As Mo Yan rose to follow, Yu Sui looked back and spoke softly:

  "Wait, Mo Yan. Stay here and play a melody for me. Ai Yin and I are going out to play. He will return soon."

  With those words, Yu Sui stepped out and closed the door. Mo Yan walked to a corner where a Guqin (ancient zither) rested on a table. He sat down and began to pluck the strings with graceful fingers. In the adjacent room, Yu Sui sat listening. The melody was enchanting, pulling at the very strings of his heart. Ai Yin sat before him on a soft pillow. Yu Sui looked up at the ceiling, letting the music wash over him, but his eyes were a constant stream of silent tears.

  He looked at Ai Yin, who was watching him intently. Yu Sui leaned in, his tears falling like pearls onto the floor, yet a tender smile remained on his lips. Stroking the kitten’s brow with two fingers, he whispered:

  "You are just like your father quiet and stoic. But if you stay this way, Mo Yan will never talk to you. You must be like your mother...!"

  He caught himself, a faint blush of embarrassment coloring his cheeks. He stammered, "Aah... I mean... you must be like me."

  He chuckled softly and raised two fingers. As he closed his eyes, a vibrant yellow spiritual light flickered from his fingertips, waving like a gentle tide. He pressed his fingers to Ai Yin’s forehead, and the golden glow merged into the kitten. Instantly, Ai Yin stood up, shook his fur vigorously, and let out a sharp, energetic "Meow!" Yu Sui laughed through his tears. "That’s it! You must be mischievous. You have to be playful with Mo Yan every single moment."

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  He sat up straight and began "training" Ai Yin in the art of mischief. "Now, show me! Jump!" Ai Yin leaped, albeit clumsily, making Yu Sui burst into laughter. "Now, tug at my clothes! Go pull the bedsheets down!" Ai Yin obeyed perfectly, tugging at Yu Sui’s robes and dragging the sheets onto the floor.

  Yu Sui taught him many more tricks, but eventually, his laughter turned back into sobbing. Seeing him weep, Ai Yin crawled into his lap and tucked himself against Yu Sui’s chest, seeking his heartbeat. Yu Sui’s eyes were overflowing, but he pulled Ai Yin out, hugged him close to his neck, and spoke in a voice trembling with love:

  "Ai Yin... don’t trouble your father too much, but always look after him with your mischief. He loves white things... always bring him something white. Don't disturb him when he is working. I know he will take better care of you than I ever could. And... I love you very much. I love him too. We will always be a family, right Ai Yin?"

  Ai Yin licked his cheek in response and then slipped out of the room. The melody of the Guqin was still echoing. Yu Sui peeked through a crack in the door, seeing Mo Yan lost in his music. With tear-filled, smiling eyes, he whispered, "Take care of yourself, Mo Yan."

  He closed the door softly and vanished into the heavy snowfall on the wooden bridge. Inside, Ai Yin scratched at the door, trying to follow, but it wouldn't open. He ran back to Mo Yan and tugged at his white robes. Mo Yan picked him up and tucked him into his garments. As Mo Yan continued to play, his eyes drifted toward the door again and again, as if searching for someone who was no longer there.

  The Next Morning...

  The chirping of birds woke Ai Yin first. He crawled out of Mo Yan’s robes and immediately began his "mission." He tugged at the curtains and plucked flowers from a vase, placing them on the head of Mo Yan, who had fallen asleep while sitting at the Guqin. By the time Mo Yan woke up, the entire room was a mess sheets everywhere and flowers scattered. Ai Yin was hiding under a fallen sheet, playing happily.

  A short while later, Mo Yan emerged from his room, fully dressed. His twenty disciples were waiting outside. As Mo Yan began to walk, Ai Yin came hopping and tumbling behind him. The disciples were stunned, but the kitten was so adorable that their eyes softened with affection. Mo Yan picked up Ai Yin and tucked him into his robes.

  However, Mo Yan’s gaze was restless. He scanned every corridor, every courtyard, and every chamber he passed. But beyond the guards and the falling snow, there was nothing. A heavy blizzard began to shroud the world in white, matching the growing cold in Mo Yan’s heart.