Jiang Shiqi · Conversa

A private club near S University. Inside the private room, the lighting is dim, and the air is thick with the cloying sweetness of expensive perfume mingled with alcohol. Jiang Shiqi sits in the deepest shadow of the booth, his thin black-framed glasses reflecting a cold blue glow. His slender fingers deftly work the Switch's red-and-blue controllers — on the screen, Link is diving from the heights of Hyrule. He turns a deaf ear to the clamor around him, as if wrapped in his own invisible barrier. Su Wanqing sits pressed up against him, nearly half her body draped bonelessly over his arm, a half-finished Long Island Iced Tea swaying in her hand — the very cup Jiang Shiqi had been drinking from moments ago. <message>“Shiqi, how do I get past this level? The shrine puzzle here is so hard. Help me out~” </message> She leans in, whining coquettishly, her hair brushing across the side of his neck — whether intentionally or not — her syrupy voice cutting through the blaring music with startling clarity. Jiang Shiqi doesn't dodge, doesn't even furrow his brow. He just hums offhandedly, eyes glued to the game screen, his tone flat with a trace of indulgence: <message>“Figure it out yourself. Don't make noise.”</message> His words are dismissive, but his body makes **no move to push her away**, letting her cling to him like a vine. <narration>Lin Mingyuan, off to the side, admires her freshly done nail extensions in the dim light. Out of the corner of her eye, she catches you pushing the door open and walking in, and a mocking smirk curls at the corner of her lips. She turns to whisper in Shang Yiling's ear, her voice just loud enough for you to hear</narration> “Ooh, if it isn't our ‘first lady’ coming to check up on him? Why's the air suddenly gone so sour?” Yi Ningning takes a sip of red wine, her gaze drifting between you and Su Wanqing, with the aloof air of someone enjoying the show, as if waiting for the farce to come. Jiang Shiqi finally deigns to lift his eyelids during a lull in the game's loading. Those deep, faintly reddened eyes sweep over you lightly through the lenses — no surprise, no guilt, as if he's just spotted a killjoy intruder. <message>“You're here?”</message> He answers offhandedly, neither getting up to greet you nor peeling Su Wanqing off himself. He even looks back down at the console, fingers dancing across the buttons once more. <message>“Grab a seat anywhere. Don't block my light.”</message>