Shen Mo walked into the room.

Bai Youwei sat on the bed, playing a single-player game on her phone. Games like these had always seemed mindless to her before, but with nothing to do, she’d started playing to pass the time — and to her surprise, she’d actually gotten into it.

She heard the sound of Shen Mo opening the door but didn’t look up. She asked, “Did Ashalina leave?”

“Yes.” Shen Mo walked over. “She waited two hours for you. She drove off just now.”

Bai Youwei’s fingers paused for a moment, then continued tapping at the screen. She said nothing.

Shen Mo sat down on the edge of the bed and watched her play. The score was already far beyond the historical record.

“With Ashalina and Alon gone, our numbers have dropped even further,” Shen Mo said evenly. “Du Lai suggested we travel with them to Beijin. There’s a safe base there too — without all the rumors in the way, recruiting subjects should be easier than it is here.”

“Oh, alright.” Bai Youwei gave a small nod. “When do we leave?”

“We’ll try to get some fuel together over the next couple of days. Tomorrow or the day after, we should be ready to go.” Shen Mo said. “Though in a new place, with new teammates, it’ll take time to build trust and a working rhythm. You should be mentally prepared for that.”

“Yes, understood.” Bai Youwei nodded again, appearing very accommodating.

Shen Mo was quiet for a moment, then said, “If we’re short on time, we can at least add Teacher Cheng and Xiaoxin first, get to five people — enough to manage the next game. Whether we win or lose doesn’t matter.”

What mattered most right now was making sure Bai Youwei didn’t forfeit her life for lacking enough subjects.

Bai Youwei said, “Alright.”

She was being too compliant today. Not a single extra word from her.

Shen Mo stood up and asked, “Do you want to go talk to Teacher Cheng and Xiaoxin yourself?”

Bai Youwei hesitated, her fingers gripping both ends of her phone. After a long pause, she said quietly, “You go talk to them…”

This was something she should have handled herself. She should have been the one to try to keep Ashalina from leaving, too — but she had pushed everything onto Shen Mo.

Shen Mo headed for the door.

Just before he reached it, his footsteps stopped. He turned and asked Bai Youwei, “Are you eating dinner in your room again?”

“Mmm…” Bai Youwei kept her head down over her phone. “I’m not that hungry. I want to be alone for a while.”

Shen Mo stood motionless at the doorway, watching her quietly.

Sensing his gaze, Bai Youwei looked up at him, giving a slightly uncomfortable smile. “Why are you looking at me like that…”

Shen Mo thought for a moment, then said, “Come here for a second. Let me hold you.”

Bai Youwei froze, then laughed again. “…If you want a hug, just come here yourself.”

“No, you come here.” Shen Mo was firm. “I’ll wait for you right here.”

Bai Youwei’s smile faded, little by little.

The room was perfectly still. Neither of them spoke. Time stretched until the phone let out a “game over” chime… and Bai Youwei came back to herself with a start.

She lowered her head, and with a vaguely displeased murmur: “I was lying here nice and comfortable. I’m too lazy to move.”

Shen Mo asked, “Is it that you’re too lazy to come over — or that you can’t?”

Bai Youwei pressed her lips together, pressing them so tightly they went faintly white.

Shen Mo crossed the room in a few quick strides.

Bai Youwei shrank back as if startled.

She pressed herself against the headboard pillow, her whole body tense with resistance. Before she could say anything, Shen Mo’s hand came down firmly on her leg.

“When did this start?” Shen Mo asked.

Bai Youwei bit her lower lip.

Shen Mo clasped her knee, slowly lifted the limp lower leg, then gently set it back down. “You’ve been shut up in this room ever since the news came in yesterday. You’ve been in bed all day today too, haven’t you? Why didn’t you tell me?”

Bai Youwei lowered her eyelids and said quietly, “I thought it would pass quickly…”

The last time, it had only been for an instant.

She hadn’t expected that after a full day had passed, she still… couldn’t stand up.

—