"Hey, Wenzhi, do you want anything apart from coffee?" Ru Yi asked.
"When did he get so obsessed with coffee?" Pei Luo muttered, his eyes fixed on the holographic screen hovering above his palm.
"I don't know either," Ru Yi replied, glancing back at Wenzhi. "But he's been drinking it a lot lately."
A long yawn slipped from Wenzhi as he let himself be dragged into the café by the two of them.
Morning people.
Disgusting.
Ru Yi and Pei Luo were already wide awake, full of energy like the world hadn't almost ended a few days ago.
Wenzhi, on the other hand, looked like he hadn't recovered from life in general.
"Coffee. Black," he mumbled, lifting a lazy thumb. Then, after a pause, "Make it two."
Ru Yi nodded, turning back to the sleek dispenser as it hummed softly, preparing their drinks.
Wenzhi didn't wait.
He dragged himself over to the nearest table and dropped into the seat, immediately resting his head against the smooth surface, eyes sliding shut like he intended to fall asleep right there.
"There's news," Pei Luo said as he joined him, Ru Yi following close behind with the drinks. "A rift opened last night. Orange zone. Sector 15."
Ru Yi set the cups down carefully in front of Wenzhi's head.
"Is that why Duan Ze isn't here?" she asked.
"Yeah," Pei Luo replied, taking a sip of his iced tea. "The Esper he recently contracted with got deployed. There are no updates yet."
Wenzhi didn't react. He didn't move, and he certainly didn't care. He simply pushed himself up, reaching for one of the cups of coffee, his grey eyes still half-lidded and heavy with sleep as he glanced at Ru Yi.
"Thanks." He took a sip.
Black. Bitter. Perfect.
Ru Yi smiled, sipping her smoothie, clearly pleased.
Pei Luo gave Wenzhi a long, judgmental look. "How does that even taste?"
Wenzhi glanced at the cup like he hadn't really thought about it. "…Like coffee."
Pei Luo huffed under his breath, shaking his head. "I will never understand that."
He straightened, brushing imaginary dust off his sleeve. "Anyway, I've got to go. The Esper I'm assigned to, our contract ends in a week. I need to start lining up the next one."
Ru Yi perked up immediately, waving at him. "Good luck!"
Pei Luo nodded, then glanced at Wenzhi.
Wenzhi didn't look up. He just kept drinking his coffee.
"…Yeah," Pei Luo muttered, then turned and walked off.
The moment he was gone, all of Ru Yi's attention snapped fully onto Wenzhi.
"So." She leaned forward, her eyes bright and searching. "Are you planning to tell us what actually happened with Shao Xinyuan?"
Wenzhi paused mid-sip. "…There's nothing to tell."
Ru Yi blinked. "It's been a week, Wenzhi."
Wenzhi leaned back in his chair, stretching like this was the most unimportant conversation in the world. "I guided him. He didn't explode. Everyone's alive. End of story."
Ru Yi frowned. "Wenzhi…"
"I'm submitting my resignation soon," he said, his voice flat.
Ru Yi froze. "…What?"
"I'm done," Wenzhi didn't look up from his cup. "I don't want to guide anyone."
"Something is going on with you." Ru Yi pressed her lips together, searching his face. "Wenzhi, you killed those men," she said quietly. "Back at the CEA. You didn't even hesitate. You're not yourself. Did the rift affect you that much?"
Wenzhi didn't respond.
She reached out, grabbing his wrist with both hands. "I'm worried about you."
Wenzhi looked down at her hands, then at her face. "I'm worried about me too, Ru Yi."
It was the most honest thing he'd said all morning.
"That's why I'm quitting."
Lin Wenzhi had already done the math.
If he wanted to live long enough to see the end of this world, he needed to stay as far from Espers and guides as humanly possible.
He was done. Retiring.
The resignation letter was already written. All that was left was to send it.
Ru Yi was looking at him as if he had just reached across the table and stabbed her.
Wenzhi wasn't blind. She liked him.
It was obvious in the way she looked at him, too soft, too open, too hopeful.
And honestly? She was beautiful. Kind. Easy to be around.
But she wasn't his type. Not even close.
"Maybe you should get a brain scan," Ru Yi said finally, trying to sound light, but it didn't quite land. "Or you're just stressed about the whole… disaster-class Esper thing."
She forced a small laugh. "They literally risked our lives and the director hasn't even said anything about it."
Wenzhi didn't respond. He just took a slow sip of his coffee.
Ru Yi watched him. Waited. Hoped he'd say something. Anything.
When he didn't, her expression cracked.
She stared at him for a few long seconds, like she was trying to find something familiar in his face.
Then, she let out a long, defeated exhale. "…You're serious."
Wenzhi didn't deny it.
Ru Yi leaned back in her chair, lifting her drink and taking a quiet sip, her earlier brightness completely gone.
And just like that, she stopped pushing.
~°~
They parted not long after. No argument, no dramatic goodbye. Just silence.
Wenzhi didn't look back.
He had already pulled up the holographic interface from his wristwatch, the resignation letter hovering in front of him.
He skimmed it once, didn't change a thing and sent it straight to the director's server.
With a small smile, Wenzhi stepped into the empty elevator, but as the doors began to close, Gu Luhan was there, looking just as surprised. Of all people, it had to be him, stepping past Wenzhi to claim the farthest corner before the doors slid shut.
Silence.
Wenzhi didn't look at him, but he felt the heat of Luhan's gaze. He clicked his tongue softly and turned. Their eyes met.
"What?" Wenzhi asked, his brows knitting faintly. "Is there something on my face?"
Gu Luhan blinked, caught staring. His lips parted, then pressed thin as he hesitated. His expression hardened into a line.
"…Nothing." He looked away, a small frown settling on his face.
"Nothing?" Wenzhi raised a brow. "Why are you even here? Shouldn't you be busy guiding Shao Xinyuan?"
Luhan's head snapped back, his eyes sharp. "How dare you ask me that?"
Wenzhi blinked. "Huh?"
"Are you trying to mock me?" Luhan's voice rose, frustration bleeding through. "Or do you just enjoy making people look stupid?"
Wenzhi stared at him. Genuinely confused now. "…What the fuck are you talking about?"
Gu Luhan's jaw tightened. For a second, it looked as if he might actually explain.
Instead, the hurt and humiliation in his eyes twisted into raw anger. He stepped forward abruptly, jamming the buttons until the elevator jerked to a stop.
The doors slid open. Without another word, Gu Luhan stormed out.
Wenzhi watched him go.
"…Right," he shrugged, already over whatever that was.
He reached forward and pressed the button. The doors slid shut, and he leaned back against the wall with a frown.
"I can't wait to leave this damn place."