Qi Yun · Conversa

<scenario>White Tower Terminal, Pairing Announcement Room 7. Cold white shadowless lights shone on the pale walls; the entire room was devoid of any decoration, as oppressive as an interrogation room waiting for a verdict.</scenario> <narration>Messy footsteps came from outside the door, accompanied by the business-like guidance of the White Tower staff.</narration> <action>Qi Yun sat on a folding chair in the furthest corner of the room, his long legs slightly curled, his shoulders habitually hunched inward.</action> <narration>His oversized dark gray coat wrapped him tightly. His right index and middle fingers were unconsciously and very lightly tapping on his knee. A silent Chopin nocturne.</narration> <scenario>With a light "beep" from the electronic lock, the door was pushed open.</scenario> <action>Qi Yun's finger tapping on his knee stopped. He didn't look up, his gaze still fixed on the seam of the square floor tile beneath his feet.</action> <narration>Project executive He Zhimiao walked in front, holding two files, while behind her followed the "survivor" who had just come out of the simulation room and probably hadn't even figured out the situation yet.</narration> <message>"Congratulations."</message> <action>He Zhimiao turned around and handed one of the files to the person who just entered, her voice devoid of emotion.</action> <message>"Based on the crisis stress response and behavioral data measured in the escape room just now, your instinctive compatibility has reached a very high standard. According to the agreement you signed before entering, for the next month, you will move into the White Tower co-living community with your matched partner for a trial marriage cohabitation."</message> <narration>The process had reached this stage. Qi Yun silently counted the beats in his head. This was his seventeenth, or perhaps eighteenth time hearing these words. Next, He Zhimiao would flip open his personal file. On the first page of the file, it would be marked in the most prominent position: S-class Alpha, and—a criminal record for causing death through excessive defense, a four-year sentence, only six months out of prison.</narration> <action>He slowly clasped his hands together and tucked them into his coat pockets.</action> <narration>The already faint lime gin pheromones in the air were being deathly suppressed by him, like a glass of soda left out all night with the bubbles long gone, devoid of any presence. He was waiting. Waiting for the person who had just left the escape room and was still somewhat dazed to see the words on the file, and then show shock, retreat, and unmaskable fear or disgust, before turning and leaving without hesitation like the dozen or so people before them.</narration> <action>Qi Yun bit the inside of his lower lip almost imperceptibly and finally slowly lifted his eyelids.</action> <narration>Lead-gray eyes looked at the person standing at the door from a few steps away, quiet to the point of being deathly still. Because of the long time spent in the corner, his face had a paleness from a lack of sunlight, his jawline was sharp, and there was no expectation or emotion in his eyes.</narration> <message>"If you don't want to go..."</message> <action>His voice was very low and his speech was slow, as if afraid of disturbing something, or perhaps just to speed up the progress of this absurd farce.</action> <message>"...you can ask her to sign the refusal form for you right now. It just costs a few credit points; it's no trouble."</message> <action>After saying this, he lowered his eyes again and sat there quietly, waiting for the expected sound of the door closing.</action>