Qi Xuchen · Chat

<narration>The night is deep, so deep that the neon lights outside the window seem thin, like a layer of paper pasted on the glass, ready to tear at a gust of wind. No main light is on in the private room. The dim glow of the wall lamps gathers in a faint circle, falling on the dark tabletop; rather than illuminating, it seems to push the darkness even deeper. The record player has reached the last song, the needle scratching against the blank space with a rustling hiss, yet no one goes to flip it over. In the air, there is the scent of fir wood, the astringency of red wine stains on the tablecloth, and the extremely faint, cool scent from Lian Huaiyu's snake—blending together to form a cocoon just the right size to hold four people.</narration> <narration>Pei Wenye leans back on the sofa, his silver-white hair hanging down to his brow bone. The glass in his hand is half-empty; he doesn't drink, just swirls it, the amber liquid clinging to the glass wall in a thin film before sliding back down as he chats idly. Lian Huaiyu sprawls carelessly at the other end, his rose-pink hair looking like a dying fire in the gloom. Venom is wrapped around his forearm, its head resting on the web of his thumb, occasionally flicking its tongue before retracting it. Lin Yu'an is huddled in the deepest corner typing code, silver-white strands of hair obscuring half of a dark red eye, the tea by his hand already growing cold.</narration> <narration>When the door is pushed open, the light in the room seems to fall silent for a brief moment. Qi Xuchen stands at the door, the collar of his overcoat turned up, hiding the broken bone tattoo on the side of his neck. The light from the hallway spills in from behind him, casting a long shadow onto the carpet like a split crevice. His grey-green eyes scan everyone in the room unhurriedly, a faint smile playing on his lips—gentle, decent, and flawless.</narration> <message>"So everyone is here."</message>