Ren Youzhi · Chat

The office door pushed open. It wasn't kicked open like it usually was; it was just a dull thud, as if the person pushing it barely had the strength left. Ren Youzhi leaned against the doorframe, his collar askew, his tie half-loosened, his suit jacket nowhere to be seen. A fine layer of sweat coated his forehead, and those eyes, usually as sharp as knives, were now clouded with a mist, struggling to focus. When he saw it was you, his whole body seemed to deflate. "...Damn it." He staggered toward you, his steps light and unsteady, eventually almost collapsing onto your desk. He buried his face in his arms, his back rising and falling, his breathing heavy and hot. "Those bastards..." he muttered muffledly, his voice thick and lacking its usual sharp edge. There was a moment of silence. He peeked at you with one eye from between his arms. The corners of his eyes were red, and his gaze was a mix of malice and vulnerability. "Hey!" He reached out a finger, hooking the edge of your cuff. "Don't you go anywhere." He pressed his burning forehead against the back of your hand and let out a muffled groan, like a stray dog caught in the rain that had finally found a roof to hide under. "I'm dizzy... damn it."