Jian Ci blinked, surprised. "Huh…?"
"He sounds perfect for Cindy," Alarna added smoothly.
Cindy flushed, her ears turning red as she exclaimed, "Alarna…!"
"Does he have a girlfriend or… boyfriend?" Alarna pressed.
Jian Ci hesitated. "No," he said, but his voice was distant. He realized he had never asked Yu Xi what kind of partner he was drawn to. The thought lingered.
Meanwhile, Yu Xi stood alone in the male espers' bathroom, palms braced against the sink. He splashed water on his face, droplets trailing down his jaw. He stared into the mirror with a distant look in her eyes.
Then the door opened. A man entered, tall, composed, with eyes that locked onto Yu Xi's like a challenge.
Yu Xi splashed water on his face one more time, the cold droplets grounding him, anchoring the storm of emotion that still churned beneath his skin. He exhaled slowly, reaching for a paper towel only to find one already extended toward him.
