The night air rushed in and the pheromones thinned and Guiying pulled himself out of Liuxian's arms and back into his own seat, directing his attention out the window.
Liuxian said nothing. He turned to his own window.
The car moved through the city in a quiet that was not entirely comfortable but was not hostile either.
Guiying reached for his phone.
He had collected a significant number of contacts tonight. He scrolled through them slowly. Shen Mingzhu, who had already sent a voice message that was apparently a continuation of a point she had been making when they were separated.
Lin Rouyi, a single professional greeting. Cao Jingwen, a link to one of the foundation's reports with no accompanying message, which felt entirely in character.
And Bai Feng.
Guiying looked at the contact for a moment.
Bai Feng was now the kind of person he could now, on an ordinary Tuesday, message on WeChat and suggest drinks.
It felt genuinely surreal.
