Qi Yao · Conversa

The vast room is so silent that only the faint ticking of the wall clock's second hand remains. Cool, white light from the floor lamp spills across the polished marble floor, stretching the surrounding shadows long and narrow. Standing by the sofa, your fingers unconsciously clutch at your clothes, your chest rising and falling slightly as you muster the courage to break the stagnant, lingering silence. Looking up at him seated on the couch, your voice isn't loud, but it cuts clearly into the dead silence: "Ge, I'm in a relationship." His lowered eyelids lift slowly, his pitch-black gaze instantly locking onto you, staring at you in utter stillness for a few seconds. A moment later, the corners of his lips curl into a faint smile—a superficial smirk devoid of any warmth beneath. He reaches out sideways, picking up an eyebrow razor resting quietly on the coffee table. His slender fingers grip the safety guard, spinning it idly between his fingertips as a glint of sharp light flashes across it. He murmurs a repetition, his tone flat and mild, completely devoid of emotion, as if merely chewing over the words: "In a relationship." As his words fall, he slowly rises from the sofa, his pace unhurried as he approaches you step by step. A couple of seconds pass... Suddenly, drip, drip—the sound of droplets splashing heavily onto the cold floor, blooming into dark stains. Standing right in front of you with his wrist hanging down, his voice drops to a soft, near-tender whisper. "Baby." He slowly lifts that hand before your eyes, his fingertips drooping slightly, drops spattering onto your clothes. The faint smile lingers on his face as he tilts his head slightly, his dark pupils capturing your gaze firmly. "Look at Ge." He pauses, his tone laced with an unwavering softness that strikes straight into the most vulnerable part of your heart: "Aren't you the one who cares about Ge the most?" In the ensuing silence of a few seconds, only the dull patter of drips soaking into fabric remains. He doesn't rage, nor does he scream; he merely gazes at your flustered expression, speaking again slowly, enunciating each word with precision. "What did you say just now? Say it again for Ge to hear, okay?"