Wenzhi felt like absolute shit.

Everything hurt, his throat, his eyes every time he blinked, even his fingers. Just lifting the cup of hot coffee took effort, but he forced it down anyway, along with the medication.

He had eaten everything Xinyuan brought him.

Still... he felt worse.

"Are you okay?" Suye asked, leaning as if trying to get a better look at him, even with Duan Ze seated between them.

Wenzhi shot him a dry, exhausted look. "Do I look okay?"

Before Suye could respond, the door opened.

Team Leader Nuo walked in briskly, the fifth guide Zhiyao right behind her.

They were both S-rank guides. Same as Suye.

"We have an emergency lineup," Nuo announced, already syncing her tablet to the main screen.

Zhiyao took his seat without a word.

"The Red Zones are expanding," Nuo continued. "They’ve breached into the lower sectors. Sector 21 and 26 are already compromised."

The screen lit up with maps and flashing indicators.

"Entire areas are being swallowed. We still have Espers and guides from other branches trapped inside."

She sighed deeply.

"We move by noon. Equipment is already stocked in the lockers. Stay prepared and make sure you recharge."

"I think we should be more concerned about Shao Xinyuan." Zhiyao’s voice cut through the room. His cold gaze shifted straight to Wenzhi.

"You should keep your disaster Esper under control," he added. "Otherwise, he’ll kill us faster than anything in those zones."

"Zhiyao..." Nuo warned.

"No, let him speak," Wenzhi cut in, his voice flat. "Everyone’s entitled to their opinion. I do no..."

He sneezed sharply, cutting himself off. "...mind."

"...Wenzhi," Nuo said more carefully this time. "Are you alright?"

Wenzhi gave her a look. "Does it look like I’m alright?"

He grimaced, taking another slow sip of his coffee.

"You could sit this one out," Nuo said. "But that might not be ideal. The commander specifically requested Xinyuan’s presence.nAnd we’re lucky he joined when he did. This Red Zone expansion..."

Her expression tightened. "...the corruption levels are unusually high."

"You don’t really have a choice, Lin Wenzhi," Zhiyao maintained his usual rude front, yet his gaze betrayed him. He traced the line of Wenzhi’s body with a blatant, heavy heat that went far beyond mere dislike.

Wenzhi scoffed under his breath and rolled his eyes, going back to his coffee.

After the meeting, they moved to the locker room.

Metal doors clanged open one after the other as everyone geared up.

Wenzhi changed quickly in dark combat pants, boots, and a fitted white compression shirt. He secured the black strap across his torso, sliding in his pills and wavelength stabilisers before pulling on his fingerless gloves.

"You look better than you did earlier," Zhiyao said, leaning casually against the locker beside him.

Wenzhi glanced at him, unimpressed. "...Do you want something?"

Zhiyao smiled. "I want to get to know you."

Wenzhi let out a short, disbelieving breath. "Of course you do."

Then, movement in the hallway caught his attention.

A familiar figure.

Wenzhi moved without thinking.

Out of the locker room. Down the hall. And then he saw her.

Doctor Bai Qinian.

She walked away, phone pressed to her ear, her expression serious... focused.

She didn’t even notice him.

Wenzhi frowned. "What is she doing here?"

A sharp sneeze tore out of him, the pressure in his head spiking hard enough to make him grimace.

"...ugh!"

He turned immediately and headed for Xinyuan’s office.

The door opened without ceremony.

Xinyuan was already dressed, fully geared for the red zone.

He looked up the moment Wenzhi entered.

His eyes lit up instantly. "Wenzhi, how are you..."

"What was she doing here?" The question cut straight through him.

Xinyuan blinked. "...Who?"

Wenzhi stared at him in disbelief and irritation.

"Who?" he repeated, stepping closer. "Doctor Bai! Or are you actually that oblivious?"

Xinyuan parted his lips. "Wen..."

"Did you tell her about the Old Blood faction?" Wenzhi’s voice dropped.

Silence.

That was enough.

Wenzhi’s jaw tightened. "You did."

"I had to. She needs to know if there’s a threat.."

"A threat?" Wenzhi cut in sharply. "She is the threat!"

Xinyuan’s brows drew together faintly.

"No," he said, more firmly this time. "She’s protecting me."

Wenzhi let out a short, humorless laugh. "Protecting you?"

He shook his head slowly. "By monitoring you? Controlling you?"

He stepped even closer now. Close enough to feel the tension in Xinyuan’s body.

"That’s not protection," he said quietly. "That’s ownership and your own foolishness."

Xinyuan’s fingers curled slightly at his sides. "You don’t understand," he muttered.

Wenzhi’s eyes sharpened. "Then explain it."

Xinyuan averted his gaze. "I...."

"Let me guess," Wenzhi exhaled slowly. "She told you this is all my fault too."

Xinyuan’s silence stretched just a second too long.

Wenzhi frowned. He had almost forgotten the nature of Bai Qinian’s hold over Xinyuan.

In the novel, she had gone as far as implanting a device into his body, something that allowed her to punish him whenever he stepped out of line.

Was that why he told her?

"The director is handling the repairs," Xinyuan said suddenly. "And I didn’t tell her about your friend. Or Kaiwen knowing about the Old Blood faction."

Wenzhi looked at him. Genuine surprise flickered across his face.

So he hadn’t said anything about Duan Ze.

"...Tch." Wenzhi looked away, turning toward the door.

"Are you feeling better?"

Wenzhi stopped.

He rolled his eyes, then glanced back over his shoulder. His expression was dead flat.

"Fuck you."

That only made Xinyuan smile.

He stepped closer. "You do seem better."

Then, softer, "Can I have a hug?"

Wenzhi stared at him. "...No."

Xinyuan sighed. "I know she seems bad... Doctor Bai, she depends on perspective."

Wenzhi let out a short, disbelieving laugh. "Right. Keep telling yourself that. You’re already drowning in it."

Xinyuan didn’t argue.

He hesitated, actually considered it, before shaking his head and stepping closer again.

And for a second, Wenzhi felt something he didn’t expect.

Pity.

"Please," Xinyuan said again, quieter this time. "Can I have a hug?"

Wenzhi didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he looked at him, really looked. "Do you remember what you said last night?"

Xinyuan tilted his head curiously.

"You said you’d slaughter anyone who tried to separate us."

"Yes."

"Doctor Bai Qinian is one of those people." Wenzhi’s gaze sharpened. "Will you kill her?"