Before I realized it, I found myself at a drinking party. I had gone back to QED thinking I was done for the day after the whole plane crash mess. Exhaustion had hit me hard, my hand wrapped up in a makeshift bandage, the last thing I wanted was to deal with more. But before I knew it, I was dragged here by the other reapers. Now, I was sitting in a private room of an izakaya in Japan, surrounded by the sound of laughter, clinking glasses, and a rising sense of chaos.

  Callum sat silently beside me, his gaze fixed on something distant, though his expression was hard to read. He didn’t seem to care about the noise around us. I, on the other hand, gripped my mug of beer tightly, feeling the anger bubbling in my chest. I had hoped the night would be quiet, but the moment I stepped into this place, it had turned into a mess.

  Sasaki and Seo-Jun were already flat-out drunk, barely able to sit straight, laughing louder than everyone else combined. It hadn’t even been 30 minutes since we arrived, and yet they were already in full party mode. The other reapers, unfamiliar faces to me, were either cheering them on or laughing at their antics. I couldn’t even remember who half of them were.

  Out of nowhere, a man stood up, clapping his hands together several times to get everyone’s attention. His movements were sharp, confident. He looked to be in his early thirties, and there was something familiar about the way he carried himself. Then I saw the subtle smile tugging at his lips as he glanced toward me.

  “Everyone, quiet down,” he called out, his voice cutting through the noise. The room fell silent as all eyes turned to him. He grinned, clearly used to commanding attention. “As you all know I’m Zhang Liang Wei and I will be your host again for today, so don’t worry about the bill because it’s all on me tonight!”

  As Liang Wei finished his introduction, the whole room cheered. I nodded slightly, still trying to gauge the situation. Liang Wei raised his hand slightly and gestured toward me. “Now, let’s give a round of applause to Xiao Li. I’m hearing a lot about how she handled herself today, stopping that whole mess and getting hurt in the process. Impressive for a newbie.”

  The reapers around the table slowly began clapping, some murmuring their congratulations, though most seemed a bit tipsy already. But Liang Wei wasn’t done just yet. He stepped forward, his eyes now focused solely on me.

  “You know," he started, tilting his head as he studied me, "I’ve been wondering—where are you from? You’ve got that... certain look about you. Chinese, maybe?”

  I paused for a moment, surprised by the question. He didn’t seem to know where I was from, but his tone was more curious than anything else. It wasn’t like he was trying to pry. There was a sort of warmth in his words, an interest.

  “I am,” I said, keeping my tone neutral. "Guangzhou."

  Liang Wei’s smile widened, and he let out a soft laugh, nodding knowingly. "Thought so. There's a certain vibe about you. Looks like we’re both from the same place. Guangzhou, huh? That’s pretty cool.”

  I gave him a small nod, unsure of what to say next. It felt odd, talking to someone who shared that connection but didn’t really know me. Still, I couldn’t deny that it was nice to hear something familiar in this strange, new world I was trying to navigate.

  “Well, whatever your background,” Liang Wei continued with a grin, “you’ve definitely earned my respect. For a newbie, you handled yourself pretty damn well back there.”

  I shrugged, trying to play it cool. “Just doing my job.”

  “Right. But still," he said, raising his glass in a casual salute. "Not bad for someone new to the team. Keep it up. I can already tell you're going places."

  The others around the table cheered, and I could feel myself relaxing a bit more. It seemed like this night might turn out okay after all. I wasn’t sure about Liang Wei just yet, but he didn’t seem like the type to be fake. He gave off a vibe that said he genuinely respected what I had done.

  As the conversation picked up around us, I felt the tension in my shoulders ease just a little. Maybe, just maybe, this wasn’t going to be the disaster I had expected.

  Before I realized it, I was getting pulled into another conversation with Liang Wei. His easy going manner made it easy to get lost in the flow of things, but as we were talking, something in my peripheral vision caught my attention.

  I caught the movement out of the corner of my eye. Callum was sitting there, but something about his posture was off—stiff, like he was trying to make himself as small as possible without drawing attention. A Norwegian girl was talking to him, and even though she wasn’t touching him, she was sitting just a little too close. Her body language was open, animated, like she was unaware of the space between them, while Callum’s body was angled away from her just slightly. His lips curved into a smile, but it was tight—more out of politeness than comfort.

  I could tell right away he wasn’t enjoying it. Liang Wei must’ve noticed me staring, because his voice broke through my thoughts. “What’s got you so distracted, Xiao Li?”

  I turned back to him quickly, not wanting to make it obvious I was watching Callum. “It’s nothing,” I muttered, glancing back at him. “It’s just Callum... That girl looks a little too close for him, but he’s pretending it’s fine.”

  Callum politely excused himself from the conversation with the girl, his calm smile in place as always. He stood up, offering a polite nod before turning toward the door and leaving without another word. The moment he slipped out of the room, the atmosphere seemed to shift just slightly.

  Liang Wei took a slow sip from his beer, his gaze flicking to the door where Callum had disappeared. His eyes lingered there for a moment before he turned back to me, his voice quieter now, almost reflective.

  “You know,” he began, “Callum does this a lot at parties. He’ll be there, always with that smile on his face, but the second someone gets too close, or the noise picks up, he just... slips away.”

  I raised an eyebrow, intrigued despite myself. “You mean he does this all the time?”

  Liang Wei nodded, leaning back in his chair slightly. His gaze shifted back to the door again, as if he were trying to gauge when Callum might reappear. “I’ve been here for three years now, and I've seen him at more than a few of these kinds of events. He’s solid when it comes to the job—no problem there. But when it comes to people... getting too close to him, or if it just gets too loud in the room—it’s like a switch flips. He just shuts down. It’s not something he does on purpose, but it’s definitely a pattern.” He paused, letting the words sink in, then smirked, a little wryly. “He won’t confront anyone, won’t make a scene. He just disappears. Quietly.”

  I let his words hang in the air for a moment, feeling a shift in my perception of Callum. I hadn’t noticed it before, but now that it was pointed out, it was becoming so clear. “So... he always leaves the room?” I asked, the question almost slipping out before I realized I was genuinely curious.

  “Yeah,” Liang Wei replied, his tone softening just a little. “It’s his way of coping. If the crowd’s too much, or someone gets a little too... friendly with him, he just... slips away. He won’t make a fuss. He just leaves.”

  I frowned, looking at the spot where Callum had been a moment ago. “Is he close with anyone then?” I asked, the question still lingering in my mind.

  Liang Wei sighed softly, his eyes still on the door. “Not really. He’s good at hiding behind that calm exterior, making everyone think he’s fine, but when he’s in a setting like this... you can tell it gets to him. He won’t admit it, though. He’s not one to talk about it.”

  I sat back, trying to absorb everything he was saying. It felt strange, thinking of Callum like this—someone who could blend in so effortlessly with a crowd, yet retreat at the slightest sign of discomfort.

  “So what do you do?” I asked, genuinely curious now. “How do you handle it?”

  Liang Wei gave me a sideways look, a small grin playing at the corner of his mouth. “I let him do his thing. He has his issues. We all do.”

  I couldn’t help but wonder what was really behind it all. Part of me wanted to press for more, to understand what made Callum tick, but something about Liang Wei’s casual tone told me that pushing wouldn’t get me anywhere.

  With a small sigh, I leaned back in my chair and took a swig of my beer. “So you’re saying he’s probably got some repressed form of trauma, or something, that makes him push people away?”

  Liang Wei chuckled softly, shaking his head. “Woah, you’re really stretching it there. Where’s this coming from?”

  “I don’t know, just speculating. You said he doesn’t like getting close to people, and he avoids physical contact... that usually points to something in the past, right?” I shrugged, unsure whether I was even close to the truth. “I’m not saying I know for sure, but it just feels like that’s the case.”

  Liang Wei stared at me for a moment, his eyes widening slightly before he burst out laughing. “What are you, a detective or something?”

  I raised an eyebrow and smirked. “Hmm, now that you mention it, maybe? I don’t fully remember my past life yet, so I can’t be sure, but it’s possible. For now, though, I’m just speculating.”

  Liang Wei chuckled again, shaking his head. “You shouldn’t worry about it too much. He’s not as bad as he looks. You’ll get used to it.” He paused, his expression turning more serious, his tone quieter. “But don’t expect him to open up. Not any time soon, at least.”

  I nodded slowly, understanding what he meant. Some things, no matter how much we wanted to, couldn’t be forced. Not unless Callum was ready to share them himself.

  Just as the conversation between Liang Wei and me began to settle, a loud burst of laughter echoed across the room. I glanced up to see Seo-Jun and Sasaki, who were now very drunk and practically leaning on each other for support. Sasaki, with her usual fiery energy, was attempting to lift a sake bottle to pour more into Seo-Jun’s glass, but her hand was shaking uncontrollably, causing most of it to spill.

  “I—I’m fine,” Seo-Jun slurred, trying to steady the bottle with his own hand, but only succeeding in knocking over the bottle entirely. “Don’t worry about me, Sasaki... I’m good!”

  “Liar!” Sasaki giggled, poking him in the chest, almost knocking him off his seat. “You can barely keep your eyes open, Seo-Jun!”

  “I’m just... holding it together,” he said, blinking rapidly. “Totally fine.”

  “Totally not fine!” Sasaki cackled, slapping the table and nearly making it tip over.

  I couldn't help but stare as the two of them continued to bumble around in a mix of confusion and amusement. Sasaki, now having given up on pouring the sake, grabbed a piece of grilled chicken off a plate in front of her and tried to feed it to Seo-Jun.

  “Eat this! It’ll sober you up!” she insisted, holding it up to his mouth like some kind of challenge.

  Seo-Jun eyed the chicken for a moment before reaching out and trying to take it, only for him to miss completely. His hand flopped to the side, and he knocked over his drink in the process.

  “I think... I think the chicken is rejecting me,” he muttered, his eyes crossed in confusion as the chicken remained out of reach.

  Sasaki burst into laughter again, snatching the chicken back and waving it in his face. “No, Seo-Jun! The chicken’s your savior, you just have to work for it!”

  I exchanged a look with Liang Wei, both of us stifling our own laughter at the sight. “Is this normal for them?” I asked, half-amused, half-baffled.

  Liang Wei chuckled, taking another sip from his beer. “Oh, absolutely. But they’ll be fine. Just give them a few hours and they’ll be the picture of elegance again.”

  “Right,” I said, rolling my eyes as Seo-Jun’s attempts to grab the chicken turned into a full-blown struggle. He managed to knock the plate off the table entirely, sending it crashing to the floor.

  "Oops," he said, his voice heavy with drunken guilt.

  “Oops?” Sasaki repeated, still laughing hysterically. “You knocked it all over, idiot! You owe me dinner!”

  Seo-Jun only responded with a half-hearted attempt to nod, slurring, “I got you... dinner... next time. Promise.”

  As I watched Seo-Jun and Sasaki continue their drunken antics, I couldn’t help but feel my face flush with embarrassment. I’d never seen them like this before—at least, not in this setting. Back at QED, they were always so composed, so professional. But here? They were an absolute disaster.

  Seo-Jun was still struggling with the chicken, having now knocked over his drink and the plate in the process. Sasaki, of course, was making a bigger mess of things, laughing so hard that she could barely catch her breath. She leaned into Seo-Jun, trying to steady him while he made another attempt at grabbing the chicken, only to miss again.

  I wasn’t sure what to do with myself. My friends were acting like complete fools—and I was pretty sure half of the room was watching them, some reapers snickering at their mess.

  I let out a frustrated sigh and buried my face in my hand for a second, trying to hide how embarrassed I was. Was this really the same Seo-Jun and Sasaki I’d been working with all this time? It was hard to reconcile the image of them as colleagues with the one of them as complete disasters in front of everyone else.

  "Sorry..." I muttered to Liang Wei, who was still looking between me and the chaos unfolding. "I didn’t expect them to be like this. They're... they’re usually so serious."

  Liang Wei laughed softly, clearly enjoying my discomfort. "Well, that's the thing about drinking. It strips everything down. They’re probably just letting loose. I think it’s nice, though."

  I glanced back at the two of them again, my face still warm with embarrassment. “Nice?” I repeated, incredulous. "They’re making a fool of themselves."

  “Hey,” Liang Wei said, nudging my elbow with his. "It’s all in good fun. You’re surprised, huh?"

  I just nodded, still watching as Sasaki somehow managed to shove the chicken into Seo-Jun’s mouth—though it wasn’t very graceful.

  “Yeah, I’m surprised. I didn’t think they’d be like this in a party setting," I said, my voice laced with a mix of disbelief and mild exasperation. "I mean, they’re the last people I would’ve expected to act like this. It's... embarrassing."

  Liang Wei raised his beer to me in a silent toast. "Well, don't worry. They’re not as rowdy in front of everyone as they are behind closed doors. Trust me, this is them unwinding."

  “I’m not sure how to handle this,” I admitted, feeling like I should do something about their mess but unsure how to stop them.

  “It’s easy,” he said with a smirk. “Just let them have their fun. They're good at keeping it together when they need to.”

  I shook my head, but there was a small smile tugging at the corner of my lips. “I guess that’s true.”

  The whole thing still felt a bit much, but watching Seo-Jun and Sasaki in their own chaotic, drunken world, I couldn’t help but soften a little.

  Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed the Norwegian girl walking toward me, looking uncertain. Her eyes flickered nervously to the door where Callum had just left, and she hesitated before speaking.

  “Hey,” she said, her voice a little quieter than before. “Are you... Callum’s partner? Is he going to come back?”

  I blinked, slightly taken aback by the question. I hadn’t expected her to come to me, but I answered her quickly.

  “No, I’m not his partner,” I said, shaking my head. “We’re just colleagues.”

  She nodded, but still seemed a bit unsure. “Oh, okay...” Her gaze returned to the door again, as if she were waiting for Callum to reappear. “Do you think he’ll come back?”

  Before I could say anything, Liang Wei, who had been watching the exchange with mild interest, let out a soft sigh. He leaned in a little, speaking in a tone that was casual, but with just enough of a knowing edge to it.

  "Callum... doesn't really like being touched," Liang Wei said, his voice quiet but steady. "He’s good at keeping up appearances, but physical contact can make him uncomfortable—especially if it’s too sudden."

  The girl looked a little confused at first, as if trying to understand what he meant, but he continued, his gaze flicking to the door where Callum had disappeared.

  “Sometimes, when things get too... personal or too close for comfort, he’ll slip away. It’s his way of dealing with it. It’s not about you, really,” Liang Wei added with a small smile, “It’s just how he manages.”

  I glanced at Liang Wei, surprised by how easily he put it out there without making it feel awkward. He was right, though.

  The Norwegian girl nodded slowly, a faint blush creeping up her neck as she processed his words. “I... I didn’t mean to make him uncomfortable,” she muttered, almost to herself.

  Liang Wei gave a small shrug, as if dismissing the situation entirely. “It’s not a big deal. He won’t hold it against you. He just needs his space, that’s all.”

  I watched her retreat back to her seat, still feeling a bit awkward about the whole interaction. Liang Wei caught my eye and gave me a small, wry grin.

  “I didn’t want to make it too obvious, but yeah. That’s why he stepped out,” Liang Wei said, almost as if he were letting me in on a little secret.

  I nodded, understanding now. “So, it’s nothing personal.”

  “Exactly,” Liang Wei replied. “Callum’s good at hiding it, but he’s just... not great with close contact. Most people don’t notice, but he’s a lot more sensitive about it than he lets on.”

  I sighed, glancing toward the door where he had disappeared. “I guess she’ll just have to give him some time, huh?”

  Liang Wei nodded. “She’ll get used to it. He’ll come back when he’s ready.” He smiled again, a bit more relaxed now. “He’s not that hard to figure out once you get the hang of it.”

  As I sat there, contemplating what Liang Wei had said, a nagging thought started to creep into my mind. His casual mention of Callum’s discomfort, the way he described his tendency to slip away from situations, made me pause. It was almost like Liang Wei knew a bit too much about him—like he had observed Callum’s behavior in a way that went beyond just casual acquaintance.

  I leaned forward slightly, narrowing my eyes at him.

  “You seem to know a lot about Callum," I said, my tone more curious than confrontational. "How long have you known him?”

  Liang Wei raised an eyebrow, taking another sip of his drink. He didn’t seem at all surprised by my question. “Long enough to have noticed a few patterns. Been working here for three years now, remember?”

  I couldn’t help but feel like there was more to it. The way he said it—like he understood Callum on a deeper level—felt off to me. Was there something he wasn’t saying?

  I continued, a little more cautiously this time, “I get that you’ve been around for a while, but... you know a lot about his personal stuff. His behavior, his reactions, the way he handles things. It’s kind of... like you’ve been watching him closely.”

  Liang Wei chuckled lightly, but I could see a flicker of something in his eyes. He set his drink down, looking at me more seriously now.

  “Callum’s not exactly an open book, Xiao Li,” he said, the smile from before fading. “People like him... they don’t give much away. But if you pay attention, you notice things. You learn to read between the lines. That’s how you figure out what’s really going on with him.”

  I frowned, still not entirely satisfied with his answer. I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to their relationship than Liang Wei was letting on. They worked together, sure—but the way Liang Wei spoke about Callum felt... different. Almost like they were more than just colleagues.

  “What do you mean by ‘pay attention’?” I pressed, my eyes narrowing slightly. “I’ve only worked with Callum for a few days, and even I’ve noticed that something’s off about him. But you seem to have him all figured out.”

  Liang Wei’s gaze flickered to the door again, but this time, he didn’t look away immediately. He took a moment, as if weighing how much to say, before answering.

  “People like Callum don’t show you everything,” he said, his voice quieter now, like he was sharing something he didn’t talk about often. “But if you’ve been around long enough, you start to see the patterns. You learn to read the signs, the way he reacts to certain things, the way he handles people. It’s not about figuring him out, really. It’s just... knowing what to look for.”

  I sat back in my chair, processing his words. I wasn’t sure if that made me feel more like I understood Callum or even more confused. Liang Wei’s words made it seem like there was so much more to Callum than what I had seen so far—maybe even more than what I had realized I was paying attention to.

  “So, you’ve been here three years. You must have seen a lot,” I said, trying to grasp at something solid in the shifting conversation. “I’ve only been here a few days, and I feel like there’s a lot I’m missing about him.”

  Liang Wei’s lips curled into a small, amused smile. “Oh, you’re not missing much. Callum keeps things close to the chest. He’s good at that. He can fool most people into thinking he’s just fine, but there’s always more beneath the surface. The key is knowing when to leave him alone and when to give him space.”

  I couldn’t help but frown, still not entirely satisfied with his answer. There was something about the way he said it—like he had been on the other side of that “space” more times than I could count. It almost sounded like Liang Wei knew exactly how Callum worked... maybe even better than he should.

  “So... you’ve seen him like this a lot, huh?” I asked, pressing a bit further. “I mean, not just today. I’m guessing he does this often at parties?”

  Liang Wei nodded slowly, eyes glinting with a mixture of understanding and something else, something a bit harder to pinpoint. “Yep. He’s good at handling the job—doesn’t flinch at the work we do. But when it comes to people... well, that’s a different story. He shuts down when it gets too close. He’s never been great at handling crowds or people getting too friendly. It’s just how he is.”

  I let out a quiet breath, realizing just how much more there was to Callum that I still hadn’t figured out. “So you think he... avoids getting close to people on purpose?”

  Liang Wei didn’t answer right away. Instead, he just gave me a look, like he was deciding whether to share more. Finally, he shrugged slightly.

  “Some people deal with things by pushing others away. He’s one of those people. Doesn’t make him a bad guy, though,” he said with a soft chuckle. “It’s just how he’s learned to cope.”

  I nodded slowly, still processing everything. There was a lot more going on with Callum than I’d originally thought, but at least I had a little more insight. I wasn’t sure if it made me feel any closer to understanding him—but I at least felt like I could start to respect his boundaries a little more.

  The quiet between us lingered for a moment before I leaned back, trying to shake off the feeling that there was still something I wasn’t seeing.

  “Well,” I said, trying to lighten the mood, “I guess I’ve got a lot more to learn about this place—and about Callum, apparently.”

  Liang Wei gave me a smirk. “Oh, you’re just getting started, Xiao Li. Trust me. Stick around long enough, and you’ll see all kinds of things you never expected.”

  I wasn’t sure if that made me feel better or worse. But one thing was for sure—I wasn’t going to stop watching, trying to figure out all the little things that Callum and others kept hidden. Maybe I didn’t need all the answers right away, but it felt like there was more to this place—and the people in it—than I could ever have imagined.

  Liang Wei leaned in slightly, his voice lowering as if he were about to share something more personal. There was a hint of mischief in his eyes, but also something that looked like genuine concern.

  "Just so you know," he said quietly, "Callum's not the only one who knows how to keep things hidden around here. There’s a lot more going on in QED than what meets the eye. People here have... secrets. Some are bigger than others."

  I raised an eyebrow, a bit thrown off by his tone. "What do you mean by that?"

  He straightened up a little, wiping a small grin off his face. "Nothing to worry about. Just keep your eyes open. Not everyone’s as straightforward as they seem." His eyes flickered briefly toward the door where Callum had disappeared, but then he was back to his usual easy going demeanor.

  I couldn’t help but feel a bit unsettled by what he said. It was as though he was hinting at something, but wasn’t ready—or willing—to elaborate.

  "So you're saying this place is full of secrets?" I asked, my voice a little more cautious now.

  "Let’s just say, you might not always get the full story. But that's part of the fun, isn’t it, Miss Detective?" Liang Wei grinned, his eyes glinting with a mix of mischief and something harder to place.

  I raised an eyebrow at him, a little taken aback by the nickname. "Miss Detective?"

  He shrugged casually, clearly enjoying the fact that I seemed intrigued by his choice of words. "You’ve got that look, you know? The one that says you’re always piecing things together, even if you don’t quite have all the pieces yet."

  I wasn’t sure whether to be flattered or unsettled by his assessment. I had been trying to figure Callum out, but the more I did, the more questions piled up—questions I wasn’t sure I was ready to answer. Still, Liang Wei’s comment lingered with me, like a puzzle that wasn’t quite complete.

  "Maybe," I muttered, not fully convinced. "But I’m starting to think you know a lot more than you’re letting on."

  Liang Wei chuckled softly, leaning back in his chair. "That’s the thing, Miss Detective. Sometimes, it’s better to let the story unfold on its own. The less you know, the more fun it is to watch." He winked playfully before turning his attention back to the chaos brewing with Seo-Jun and Sasaki.

  I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to his words, but with the commotion growing louder, it seemed like the moment for deeper conversation had passed.

  I stepped outside of the izakaya for some air, the noise and chaos of the izakaya still ringing in my ears. I just needed a moment to breathe, away from the laughter, the clinking of glasses, and the too-loud conversations. My mind was still a bit foggy from the night's events, and I figured the cool night air would help clear things up.

  But then, as I walked toward the edge of the bar, I saw the small smoking room. The door was cracked open, and a thin wisp of smoke curled out, tickling my senses in a way I wasn’t expecting. Something inside me stirred—an odd feeling, like a memory flickering to life.

  I didn’t even question it; I just walked toward the door. It was as if my body already knew what I needed before I even realized it.

  When I stepped inside, I froze for a split second, my eyes landing on Callum, who was leaning against the wall near the window, a cigarette dangling between his fingers.

  Callum looked up at the sound of the door opening and blinked, his surprise barely registering as he took another drag. Then, with a small chuckle, he spoke.

  “I wasn’t expecting to see you here. So, you smoke too?” His voice was steady, but there was a hint of curiosity in his tone.

  I blinked, my mind struggling to process the sight. Callum—of all people—smoking? It didn’t quite fit with the image I had of him. He was always so composed, so put-together. I couldn’t imagine him picking up such a habit. My surprise must've shown on my face because Callum met my gaze with that calm, almost unreadable expression he always wore.

  “You smoke?” I asked, unable to hide the surprise in my voice.

  He raised an eyebrow, taking a slow drag from his cigarette. “I don’t make a habit of advertising it,” he replied, his tone steady, like this was an ordinary thing. “But, yeah. Sometimes.”

  I took another moment to take in the sight. It was strange, seeing him like this—almost vulnerable in the quiet of the small room, a cigarette in hand, smoke curling around him. It wasn’t just the act itself that surprised me, but the fact that he’d kept it hidden from everyone.

  I shook my head slightly, still processing, and then without thinking much about it, I walked toward the small table where Callum stood. It was odd, but I felt an almost instinctual pull to the smoke, like it was calling me.

  "Guess I could use one too, gimme one" I muttered more to myself than him. Callum picked up on what I said and placed his pack of cigarettes on the table. There was luckily only one cigarette left.

  Callum watched me with quiet curiosity as I grabbed one, bringing it to my lips. I hesitated for a moment before lighting it, the familiar warmth of the smoke easing into my lungs.

  “It’s been a while,” I murmured, mostly to myself. There was a strange sense of comfort in it, though I couldn’t explain why. It felt oddly natural, like I had done this before.

  He didn’t respond right away, but I could feel his eyes on me, studying me with a hint of intrigue. “You don’t seem like the smoking type,” he commented lightly.

  The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

  I glanced up at him, surprised by the remark. “And you seem like you don’t smoke at all,” I shot back, giving him a wry smile.

  He smirked slightly but didn’t say anything more. The silence between us settled comfortably as we both stood there, quietly smoking.

  After a few moments, Callum exhaled a cloud of smoke, his gaze distant. “Sometimes it’s just easier to think in the silence, away from everyone.”

  I nodded, understanding the sentiment more than I expected to. “Yeah, I get that.”

  The room felt quieter now, as though the noise of the bar and the people outside had melted away. It was just the two of us, the soft glow of the cigarettes, and the silence that felt more connected than anything else. I wasn’t sure how long we stayed like that, but when I finally finished my cigarette, I flicked the cigarette’s ashes into the ashtray and looked at Callum.

  “Thanks,” I said, surprised at how comfortable the moment had been. “I needed that.”

  He gave a small nod, his usual calm demeanor slipping back into place. “Anytime.”

  After a few moments, I flicked the cigarette into the ashtray, the embers fading away. But instead of walking out, I stood there for a moment longer, my gaze lingering on Callum. There was something about him I still couldn’t quite place. And tonight, something felt different—more open, maybe.

  “So...” I started, my voice hesitant. I was still thinking about the earlier interaction. “The Norwegian girl… What’s the deal with her?”

  Callum’s expression didn’t change, but there was a slight tension in the air. He exhaled, the smoke flowing out of his mouth in a long, steady stream.

  “Why do you ask?” His voice was calm, but I could hear a small shift in his tone, almost guarded.

  I leaned against the wall, my arms crossed as I met his gaze. “She was... kind of close to you earlier. You looked uncomfortable, and then you left. Is there something I should know?” I raised an eyebrow, watching his reaction closely.

  For a brief moment, Callum didn’t say anything. He just stared at me, his eyes flicking away for a moment before he took another drag from his cigarette.

  “I don’t know what you saw,” he said, the words coming out carefully, “but it’s not a big deal.”

  I frowned, feeling like there was more to it than that. “But you left. Every time. Is this something that happens often? Is that why you keep... slipping away when people get too close?”

  His eyes met mine again, and this time, there was a flicker of something—a deeper, almost unspoken tension in his gaze. But he didn’t respond immediately. He just stood there, silent, like he was trying to decide how much to say.

  After a beat, he shrugged. “Some people have their ways of coping. I don’t like getting too close to people. Never have.”

  The words hung in the air between us. I wasn’t sure how to react. Was that it? Was that all there was to it?

  “Well,” I said slowly, “I guess we all have our things, don’t we?”

  Callum didn’t answer right away. He just took another long drag, letting the smoke curl in the air before exhaling it out into the quiet room.

  I stood there in the smoking room, feeling the faint burn of the cigarette between my fingers. I’d already asked about the Norwegian girl, but the air between us still felt tense. Something about Callum had shifted since the party, and I didn’t know exactly how to read it. His calm, cool demeanor always seemed so in control, but now… it felt like there was something beneath the surface I hadn’t seen before.

  I glanced at him, noticing how he stared out of the window, watching the night lights flicker. He wasn’t saying anything, so I decided to break the silence.

  “Are you going to go back inside?” I asked, my voice steady, but I couldn’t help the curiosity that slipped through. “Or are you planning on staying out here?”

  Callum took another drag from his cigarette, the smoke curling up into the air. For a moment, he didn’t answer. He just looked at the tip of his cigarette like it held the answer to some deep, unspoken question.

  “I don’t know,” he said, his voice soft. “Maybe I’ll just stay out here for a while.”

  I could feel a small frown tugging at my lips. I’d known him for only a short time, but it was clear that something about the crowd, or maybe the girl, had unsettled him more than he let on. It seemed like this was his usual response—quiet retreat. But I wasn’t going to let it slide so easily.

  “You know,” I said, taking a final drag of my own cigarette before flicking the ash into the tray, “if you’re not planning on going back in, then I’ll just leave. No sense in sticking around.”

  His eyes met mine for the first time in a while, and for a split second, there was a flicker of something—surprise, maybe, or just recognition of my straightforwardness.

  “You’re going to leave?” His tone was almost incredulous. “You don’t have to. It’s not a big deal.”

  I raised an eyebrow. “I don’t really see the point of hanging around if you’re not going back in. You’ve made it pretty clear you don’t like the party scene anyway.”

  I watched him for a moment as he flicked the ash from his cigarette and took a slow drag, his fingers tapping the side of the cigarette, like he was pondering whether to say more. It didn’t take long before he exhaled the smoke and looked back at me, his expression almost resigned.

  “I guess we’re both in the same boat, then,” he said, shrugging. “It’s fine. Stay if you want. But don’t feel like you have to stick around just because I’m out here.”

  I shook my head, a little amused by his insistence on doing things his own way. “I’m not gonna stay just because of you, Callum,” I said, crossing my arms. “But I’m also not just gonna leave a random party for no reason.”

  There was a brief pause before he let out a small, almost humorless laugh, and I could see some of the tension in his shoulders ease. It was the first time I’d seen him relax since we’d come into the room.

  I watched Callum flick the last of his cigarette to the ground, his face still unreadable as he looked at the door. I couldn’t help but ask what had been on my mind since earlier.

  “Why don’t you just ditch the party completely, then?” I said, tilting my head slightly. “If you don’t like it, why bother with all the crowds, the noise, and the... people?”

  He paused, his fingers still tapping on the side of his cigarette as he stared at the door. It was like he was caught in two worlds—one that he wanted to escape, and one he felt tied to. Finally, he exhaled a breath, his shoulders slumping a little as if he'd been carrying a weight for longer than I realized.

  “Because I want to interact with people,” he said quietly, his voice betraying the exhaustion behind his words. “I’m here to see if anything about my past life comes back. That’s been my goal in QED this whole time.”

  I blinked, surprised by his response. It wasn’t what I expected at all.

  “You’re trying to remember your past life?” I asked, more out of curiosity than anything else. “But... you’ve already been given the chance for reincarnation, right?”

  Callum nodded slowly, a bitter smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “Yeah, I’m technically up for reincarnation, but... that’s not the point. I want to know about who I was, why I ended up here. I want to remember something—anything.” He paused, and I could see the frustration building in his eyes. “But I haven’t remembered a single thing. No flashes, no images, nothing. It's like it's all just gone.”

  I could see it now, the quiet desperation behind his calm, collected demeanor. It made sense, in a way. Callum wasn’t just avoiding the party because of the crowd or the social pressure. He was searching for something deeper, something personal, and the uncertainty of not remembering anything about his past life must have been eating at him in ways I couldn’t quite understand.

  “Does it ever get frustrating?” I asked, now feeling a little more sympathetic to his situation.

  He shrugged, but there was an edge to his voice now. “All the time. It feels like I’m just going through the motions, trying to piece together a puzzle that doesn’t even have all the pieces. But... I can’t just let it go. If I don’t try, I’ll never know, right?”

  I couldn’t help but admire the resolve in his words, even if it was tinged with frustration. It was hard to keep pushing for answers when the answers themselves remained elusive.

  “So... coming to things like this, trying to interact with people, you think that’ll help you remember?” I asked, my tone softer now.

  “I don’t know,” he admitted, his eyes distant. “But that's all I’ve got left. And if I can’t remember... then what was the point of it all?”

  His voice was quieter now, almost lost in the background noise of the bar. I felt a pang of understanding for him, the kind of feeling that crept up on you when you realized that someone’s inner struggle wasn’t as simple as it seemed on the surface.

  For a moment, we both stood there, the smoke swirling around us. It was clear that Callum was still trying to find his way, and I had no idea how he would ever come to terms with the uncertainty of his past.

  I took another drag from my cigarette, the smoke filling my lungs as I tried to make sense of Callum's words. The more he talked, the more I couldn't help but feel there was something more going on beneath the surface, something he wasn’t quite ready to admit to anyone—even himself.

  “Why are you so desperate to remember, though?” I asked, my voice calm but probing. “Most reapers, once they’ve done enough work and earned their reincarnation, they’re fine with that. They just want the peace of knowing their next life will be better. But you...” I let the question hang in the air, my eyes narrowing slightly as I studied him. “Why do you feel like you need to remember so badly?”

  Callum didn’t look at me at first. His gaze lingered on the ground, his fingers rubbing against the edge of his empty cigarette pack, as though trying to find something in the motion. Then, he let out a soft sigh, almost like he was resigned to the fact that I had asked the one question he couldn’t easily answer.

  “I don’t know,” he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. “I just... feel like I need to remember. There’s this feeling deep down that something’s missing, like there’s a part of me that should be there but isn’t. I can’t explain it.” His eyes finally met mine, an intensity behind them that almost startled me. “I just can’t let go of the idea that whatever happened in my past life... it’s important. That it’s necessary.”

  I frowned slightly, taking in his words, trying to make sense of them. He wasn’t just talking about curiosity or wanting closure. No, there was a need to understand—a need that ran deeper than most people could fathom.

  “I guess I understand what you mean,” I said slowly. “But maybe that’s why you haven’t remembered anything. Maybe the reason nothing’s come back to you is because you shouldn’t remember.” I watched his face for a reaction as the words left my mouth, unsure if I had hit a nerve.

  “What do you mean?” Callum asked, his brows furrowing slightly. I could tell I’d gotten his attention.

  I exhaled, the smoke curling up between us. “Maybe your past life was so bad, so damaging, that QED doesn’t want you to regain those memories. Ever think of that? Maybe it's not just about reincarnation or the passage of time. Maybe your past life is something that should stay buried, for your own sake. Maybe you’re better off not remembering.”

  Callum’s eyes widened at my suggestion, and for a moment, I thought I saw a flash of something in his expression—surprise, maybe even fear—but it was gone before I could tell for sure. He looked away quickly, as though trying to push my words aside.

  “Don’t be ridiculous,” he muttered, more to himself than to me. But I could see the hesitation in his face, the brief flicker of doubt before he composed himself again. “I’m not afraid of my past. I just... need to understand it. I need to know why it still matters.”

  I could tell that, deep down, there was a part of him that feared what I had said might be true. It made sense, in a way. The more he sought answers, the more the possibility of a painful past became real to him.

  I watched him carefully, my own thoughts weighing heavily in the silence between us. “Maybe you’re right. Maybe your past life isn’t something you want to remember,” I said, my voice softer now. “But whatever it is, it’s part of who you are. You don’t have to uncover it all at once. It’s okay to let some things stay forgotten.”

  He didn’t respond right away. Instead, he stared at the cigarette burning between his fingers, watching it burn down to its last ember. The smoke wisped up in the still air, as though it held all the things he wasn’t saying.

  Finally, he nodded, though it seemed like the answer didn’t bring him any real comfort. “Maybe you’re right,” he said quietly. “Maybe I don’t need to remember it all. But that doesn’t stop the feeling that I’m missing something. I don’t know how to let that go.”

  There was a long pause as we both stood there, the weight of our words hanging in the air. I didn’t know if anything I said would help him find the answers he was looking for, or if he’d ever be able to make peace with whatever happened in his past life. But for now, I understood that some things—some truths—were just too difficult to face.

  “Well,” I said, breaking the silence with a small sigh. “You’re not alone in this, Callum. Whatever happens, we’re all here. You don’t have to figure it out by yourself.”

  He glanced at me, a flicker of something like appreciation in his eyes before it was quickly masked by his usual calm. “Thanks, Xiao Li.”

  I offered him a small, understanding smile, before we both turned our attention back to the world outside the smoke-filled room.

  We stepped back into the izakaya, and immediately, the sounds of laughter, shouting, and clinking glasses hit us. The noise was deafening, and the atmosphere had somehow escalated from rowdy to full-on chaotic. It was clear that Sasaki and Seo-Jun had taken the party to another level.

  I glanced at Callum, who gave a soft, resigned sigh, already bracing himself for whatever was about to unfold. We walked back into the room, where Sasaki and Seo-Jun were in the middle of a heated game of some kind—possibly a drinking game, though it was hard to tell with how much they were slurring their words.

  Sasaki was practically on top of Seo-Jun, both of them laughing uncontrollably, while another reaper I didn’t recognize was attempting to stop them from knocking over the entire table of drinks.

  “Sasaki!” I heard Seo-Jun yell through a fit of laughter, his words barely intelligible. “I swear, you’ve been drinking more than me!”

  “Because I’m stronger than you!” Sasaki shot back, her voice high-pitched and slightly tipsy. “You can’t keep up with me!”

  I couldn’t help but stare at them both. They were completely out of control—Sasaki, usually so neat and had a cutesy vibe to her, was now stumbling over her words and leaning too heavily on Seo-Jun, who was no better off.

  “This is what you get when you let them drink too much,” I muttered under my breath, though it didn’t seem to do anything to dampen the noise.

  Callum chuckled softly beside me, clearly amused despite the chaos around us. “Guess we missed the real fun,” he said, glancing at me.

  I looked back at him, a little incredulous. “You call this fun? I thought you came out here to get a break from all this. Now we have to go back in there to babysit them.”

  He raised an eyebrow, a wry smile tugging at his lips. “You’re the one who decided to take a breather.”

  Before I could respond, Seo-Jun suddenly lurched forward, nearly knocking over a drink as he tried to reach Sasaki. “You’re cheating!” he accused, his voice loud and slurred.

  Sasaki, barely able to sit up straight, scoffed. “I am not cheating, you’re just bad at this!”

  I shook my head, resisting the urge to facepalm. This was going to be a long night.

  “Well,” Callum said, his tone dry, “we better get in there before they break something. Or themselves.”

  I hesitated for a moment, casting one last glance at the chaos. Sasaki and Seo-Jun were now attempting to hug each other, which, given their states, seemed more dangerous than affectionate.

  “Yeah,” I said, chuckling softly despite myself. “We should probably intervene before they end up doing more damage than the drinks.”

  Callum didn’t say anything else. We both knew this was going to be another round of trying to keep them from completely wrecking the place. I took one last drag of my cigarette, flicking it away before heading back toward the storm brewing inside.

  Sasaki and Seo-Jun were about to create their own brand of chaos. And for some reason, I was starting to wonder if maybe chaos was exactly what we needed tonight.

  As I stood there, still processing what had just happened, I noticed Liang Wei approach us with a knowing grin.

  "Miss Detective," he greeted me, his voice calm but laced with amusement. "Looks like you've missed all the fun. The party’s been quite the spectacle."

  I shrugged, trying to stay detached. "I didn’t miss much. Just... a lot of noise."

  Liang Wei nodded, his eyes flicking to the chaos inside. "Fair enough," he said. "But you’ve been here a few days, so I’m starting to think you’re getting used to it."

  I gave him a dry look while smirking a bit. "Used to it, sure. Doesn't mean I enjoy it."

  As Liang Wei joined us, Callum, who had been standing a bit away from the conversation, stepped forward. His eyes flicked between me and Liang Wei, narrowing slightly as he registered the situation.

  "Hold on," Callum said, a slight edge to his voice. "What’s this? You two have barely been talking for a few minutes, and now you're this... comfortable with each other?"

  I raised an eyebrow, caught off guard by the sudden intensity in his tone. "What’s your point?" I asked, trying to sound casual.

  Liang Wei, unfazed, chuckled a little at Callum’s reaction. "What’s the problem? It’s not like we’re strangers. I’m just talking to Miss Detective here. She’s more amusing than I expected." He leaned a little closer to me, his hand resting lightly on my shoulder, giving Callum a knowing glance.

  "Yeah," Liang Wei continued, "she’s pretty fun to talk to. And, well... she doesn't mind when I touch her." He smirked, clearly enjoying Callum’s reaction.

  Callum’s eyes snapped to Liang Wei, and I could see the annoyance quickly flicker across his face. "What the hell’s that supposed to mean?" Callum asked, his voice a little more clipped now, clearly unsettled by Liang Wei’s proximity to me.

  Liang Wei’s grin only widened, his posture relaxed. "Oh, I’m just saying, unlike someone I know, she doesn’t mind a little touch now and then." He leaned in a little more, just enough to make Callum tense up. "No need to be so possessive, Callum. You’ve been here five minutes, and you’re already worried about me giving her a nickname." He turned back to me, his tone shifting to something softer. "Don’t mind him. He’s always like this."

  I glanced between the two, unsure whether I should intervene or let them handle their weird dynamic. Callum, still looking slightly irritated, crossed his arms, clearly trying to keep his composure.

  "You’re really giving her a nickname already?" Callum asked, his tone still laced with confusion, though there was a small undercurrent of something else—protectiveness? I couldn’t quite tell.

  Liang Wei shrugged casually, unfazed by Callum’s frustration. "It suits her. She’s clever, and she’s fun to talk to. Why wouldn’t I give her a nickname?"

  I rolled my eyes but couldn’t help but smile a little. "It’s not a big deal. I don’t mind it," I said, looking at Callum with a raised brow. "It’s just a nickname."

  Callum, still trying to process the situation, sighed, his shoulders relaxing just slightly. "I just didn’t expect you two to get so... familiar so fast."

  Liang Wei laughed softly, clearly enjoying the rare glimpse into Callum’s discomfort. "Well, Miss Detective here is interesting. What can I say?" He leaned in a bit more, subtly pressing against my shoulder as if to mock Callum’s obvious discomfort. "Not everyone’s as uptight about these things."

  Callum’s gaze sharpened, and there was a flicker of tension in his jaw. "I’m not uptight," he muttered, though it was clear he was caught between his usual calm and something else bubbling just beneath the surface. "I just... don’t get it."

  Liang Wei glanced at Callum, his expression softening slightly as he realized his teasing was hitting a nerve. "Alright, alright, I’ll back off," he said with a light chuckle. "No need to get all tense over it."

  As Liang Wei took a step back, Callum gave a small sigh, his irritation slowly dissipating. "I just wasn’t expecting it, okay? You and her, so quickly. I don’t know, it’s just strange."

  I tilted my head, trying to understand the source of Callum’s discomfort. "It’s not that strange, is it? I’m just talking to him. You don’t have to worry about it."

  Callum paused, looking at me for a moment. He didn’t answer immediately, but I could see the thoughts flickering behind his eyes, a brief flash of something—frustration, maybe? Or doubt? I wasn’t sure.

  "Yeah, I’ll get used to it," Callum muttered finally, offering me a tight smile, but it seemed forced. "I just... didn’t expect things to shift so fast."

  Liang Wei, sensing the tension still lingering between us, gave me a small nod and turned to walk away. "Alright, I’ll leave you two to it. Have fun, Miss Detective." He threw Callum a quick glance before disappearing into the crowd.

  I looked back at Callum, who seemed lost in thought for a moment before returning his gaze to me. "So," I said, trying to cut through the silence, "are we good?"

  Callum seemed to snap back to the present, his smile returning, though it still felt a little strained. "Yeah, we’re good. I’m fine. Just... give me a minute to adjust."

  I nodded, sensing that there was more he wasn’t saying. But I didn’t push it. For now, he’d say what he wanted to say when he was ready.

  The party had hit its peak—well, its loud peak. Sasaki and Seo-Jun were both ridiculously drunk, and I was starting to wonder if either of them knew how to walk straight anymore. Seo-Jun was swaying like a ship in a storm, and Sasaki, in her infinite wisdom, was trying to drag him into some kind of impromptu dance. She ended up in a very impressive, if unintentional, faceplant.

  I shot Callum a look. "We need to get them home."

  Callum glanced at the scene, expression unreadable. "I’m not exactly... good with this kind of thing," he said, pulling back slightly from the madness.

  I sighed. "You’re really going to let me do this alone?"

  He raised an eyebrow. "You think I’m going to pick them up like some... fragile pieces of glass?"

  "That’s not exactly what I meant, but yeah. Help?" I gave him an almost pleading look.

  "I’ll watch," he replied nonchalantly, his hands in his pockets. "You can handle this, right? I’m good with... observation."

  I shot him a dry look, clearly not amused. "Of course you are."

  At that moment, Liang Wei appeared, stepping through the door like he was walking into a sports event, grinning like he’d already won. "Well, well, looks like you two need a little... assistance," he said, eyeing the chaos in front of him with no small amount of amusement.

  I almost sighed in relief. "Thank God you're here."

  Liang Wei chuckled as he took one look at Seo-Jun trying to perform the worm while Sasaki, her arms flailing about, tried to "dance" like an over-caffeinated octopus. "Yeah, this definitely isn’t your average Tuesday night," he said, stepping over to where Seo-Jun was slowly inching toward disaster.

  Callum raised an eyebrow, still standing off to the side, clearly not prepared to get involved. "Are you really just going to... help them?"

  Liang Wei smirked. "Yeah, I’m just going to drag them back to their place and be done with it. You should try it sometime, Callum. It’s fun to get your hands dirty."

  Callum gave him a deadpan look. "I’m good, thanks."

  I gave Liang Wei a half-smile. "You’re a lifesaver, seriously."

  "No problem," Liang Wei said, grinning as he helped Seo-Jun straighten up and hoist him back into something resembling an upright position. "Just don’t mind me if I have to carry them like some human-sized backpacks."

  I glanced at Callum again, shaking my head. "Come on, we can’t just leave them here to become a public spectacle."

  "I never said I was leaving," Callum responded, still standing at a distance like he was watching a reality TV show unfold. "I just don’t think I should be the one to handle them."

  Liang Wei, seeing our dilemma, just shook his head with a chuckle. "You guys are something else. Alright, let’s get these two home, and I’ll let you off the hook for the rest of the night."

  Sasaki, having recovered from her brief tango with the floor, wrapped her arms around Liang Wei’s neck, muttering something about karaoke as if it were the most important thing in the world right now. "You should see me sing! I’m amazing!" she insisted, nearly knocking him off-balance as she tried to pull him along.

  "Yeah, I’m sure you are," Liang Wei said, not even breaking a sweat. "But first, let’s get you into a cab before you try to sign a record deal in your condition."

  Meanwhile, Seo-Jun was still trying to do something that vaguely resembled the moonwalk, but it ended up with him falling face-first into a bush. "I’m fine! Totally fine!" he yelled from the ground, as though the bush were the most comfortable place on earth.

  I laughed despite myself. "This is a disaster."

  Callum, watching all this with a slight smirk, finally gave in. "Alright, alright. I'll help with the moral support," he said, clearly too awkward to do anything else.

  "You and moral support," I teased, feeling a bit better now that the situation was under control. "Fine, stand there and look calm. You’re good at that."

  "I can do that," Callum replied, his usual calm demeanor slipping back into place as he observed us in action, still managing to look like the most unconcerned person in the room.

  Liang Wei gave him a grin as he steadied Sasaki. "I think the ‘moral support’ thing is just code for I’m gonna watch and pretend to be useful."

  Callum rolled his eyes. "Whatever, at least I’m not the one carrying them."

  "I think we can all agree, no one is winning tonight," I said with a laugh, nudging Liang Wei as we finally got everyone to the door.

  "Speak for yourself," Liang Wei said, his voice laced with amusement. "I’m getting a workout in."

  After finally managing to get Seo-Jun and Sasaki into the cab, we gave the driver the address for the nearest hotel with an elevator—thankfully, not too far from where the party had been held. With the two of them slumped in the backseat, mumbling incoherently about being "the karaoke champions" and "just one more round," I glanced over at Callum, who wore his usual expression of resigned calm. But I could see the wheels turning in his head, calculating just how much more of this madness he could handle.

  “You know, I still don’t get how we ended up as the designated drivers for the drunk brigade,” I muttered as I slid into the cab beside him, watching the two in the backseat giggling uncontrollably.

  Callum didn’t answer right away but gave a slight, almost imperceptible shrug. “Would you have preferred to just leave them behind?”

  I raised an eyebrow. “No, but it’s not like either of us is super experienced at this.”

  His lips quirked up slightly. “And yet, here we are.”

  Once we arrived at the hotel, we managed to drag the two drunk idiots into the elevator without too much hassle—though it was more like Sasaki leaning heavily on me and Seo-Jun hanging off Callum, slurring things that didn’t make much sense.

  “This is such a disaster,” I muttered, looking at Callum, who was trying to hold Seo-Jun upright while also not looking too displeased about it.

  Liang Wei, who’d been following behind, chuckled. "You guys look like a pair of overworked parents," he said, grinning as he leaned against the elevator wall.

  I shot him a look, feeling the weight of his words. "Don’t make this worse, Wei."

  He just shrugged with that smirk of his. "Just trying to lighten the mood. You’re welcome."

  As we all gathered in the elevator, a sense of quiet finally settled in after the chaos of the night. Seo-Jun and Sasaki were still far too out of it to even think about coming back out, so we had a moment to catch our breath. I leaned back against the wall, crossing my arms as the elevator slowly descended.

  Liang Wei, clearly still amused by the whole situation, flashed me a grin. “Not bad, Miss Detective. You handled that better than I thought.”

  I shot him a sideways glance, a faint smile tugging at my lips despite myself. "Well, I didn’t expect to spend my night wrangling a drunk karaoke duo," I replied, rolling my eyes. "But hey, you didn’t exactly make it easier either."

  Liang Wei chuckled lightly. “Hey, I was just enjoying the show.”

  I shook my head, amused by his unflappable attitude. “You’re a real piece of work, you know that?”

  He leaned in slightly, raising an eyebrow. “What, you think I’m just all talk and no action?”

  I met his gaze for a moment, before glancing away with a smirk. “Nah, I think I’ll call you something else from now on.”

  Liang Wei raised an eyebrow. "Oh? What do you have in mind?"

  I gave him a once-over, my smirk widening. “How about... ‘The Showman’? You seem to enjoy playing to the crowd.”

  Liang Wei’s lips curled into a grin, clearly pleased with the new nickname. "Not bad," he said with a satisfied nod. "I’ll take it."

  Callum, who had been silently observing our exchange from the corner of the elevator, suddenly looked between us, his eyebrows furrowing in surprise. “The Showman?” he repeated, his tone a bit dry, though his eyes were flicking between me and Liang Wei.

  I shrugged nonchalantly, still amused by how effortlessly we’d slipped into this playful dynamic. "He seems to like the attention."

  Liang Wei smirked, his hands in his pockets. “Hey, I’m just here for the entertainment. You two don’t mind, do you?”

  I gave a small laugh, shaking my head. “Not at all. You’re a bit of a character, Wei.”

  Callum shifted uncomfortably, as if he were processing the sudden shift in our interactions. His gaze lingered on Liang Wei and me, his brow furrowing slightly. “You two are... really getting along, huh?”

  I gave him a quick glance. “What’s the surprise? We’re just talking.”

  Callum’s eyes flickered briefly to me and then back to Liang Wei, as though trying to reconcile the ease with which we’d fallen into this new, unexpected camaraderie. “I just wasn’t expecting this... this quickly.”

  Liang Wei shrugged, leaning casually against the elevator wall. “Well, I did think she was pretty at first, but then I realized she’s pretty amusing too.”

  I rolled my eyes, but the smile on my face was hard to hide. “You have a way with words, don’t you?”

  Callum, still a little thrown by the sudden familiarity between us, shook his head, clearly baffled. “I guess so. Just... didn’t think you’d both hit it off so fast.”

  Liang Wei’s grin widened. “What can I say? I’m just a likable guy.” He gave me a side glance, enjoying the confusion in Callum’s expression. “Plus, Miss Detective here’s got good instincts. Makes it easy.”

  Callum’s gaze flickered to me, his expression unreadable. “Miss Detective, huh?” he muttered under his breath, before looking away, clearly still processing the shift.

  I gave a small shrug, finding myself oddly amused by the tension in the air. “Guess it suits me.”

  Liang Wei gave me a wink, his smirk only widening. "Good to know."

  The elevator finally dinged as we reached the lobby, and we all stepped out, the surrealness of the evening settling in. Callum glanced at us one more time, still seeming slightly off-balance by the unexpected closeness that had developed between Liang Wei and me.

  “Alright, well... I guess that’s that,” Callum muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. “Let’s just make sure we get back to the rooms without anyone deciding to start another karaoke contest.”

  I snickered, nodding. “Yeah, that’s the last thing I need tonight.”

  Liang Wei, ever the one to enjoy a joke, smirked at Callum. “Don’t worry. If anyone’s going to do karaoke, it’ll be him,” he said, gesturing at Seo-Jun, who was likely still humming some tune in his sleep.

  Callum shot him a look, but didn’t respond, and as we made our way back to our respective rooms, I couldn’t help but feel a little lighter—despite the chaos. Liang Wei’s new nickname was definitely growing on me, and I was starting to think the night wasn’t as bad as it could’ve been.

  Callum, on the other hand, looked like he was still trying to wrap his mind around the fact that I was now apparently part of Liang Wei's inner circle.

  We finally made it back to the QED hotel lobby, the night dragging on longer than I had expected. Sasaki and Seo-Jun were still very much in the land of the drunk, and getting them to their rooms was going to take some careful coordination.

  Liang Wei, ever the one to take charge, was already slinging Seo-Jun’s arm over his shoulder, guiding him toward the elevator. I, on the other hand, found myself standing awkwardly next to Sasaki, who had somehow decided that Callum was the perfect human crutch. She was practically leaning into him, her body half-hanging off of him like he was the most comfortable thing in the world.

  Callum’s expression was one of pure discomfort. His eyes widened, and his shoulders stiffened, as if he’d been asked to hold a live wire.

  “I’m not doing this,” Callum muttered, stepping back with a visible grimace. “She’s not going to collapse on me, is she?”

  Liang Wei, clearly amused, shot a glance at Callum, eyebrow raised. “What? You can’t handle a little touch? I thought you were all tough and stoic.” He barely managed to suppress a laugh at Callum’s reaction.

  Callum didn’t even flinch. He just exhaled sharply, his tone flat. “I’m not carrying her. You two can handle this.” He gestured toward Liang Wei and me. “I’ll supervise.”

  I glanced at Liang Wei, who was already moving Seo-Jun toward the elevator without breaking a sweat. “Great, thanks, Callum. Really appreciate it.”

  Liang Wei and I exchanged a brief nod, and he continued helping Seo-Jun down the hallway. I was left with Sasaki, whose legs were now more interested in turning into noodles than holding her up.

  “Alright, Sasaki. Bedtime,” I said, trying to ignore the slight laugh bubbling in my chest at her state.

  She squinted up at me, looking far too confused for someone who was clearly not in her right mind. “Are we... sure we’re going the right way? I was just... wasn’t I just... here?”

  I fought back a smile. “Yes, you were, but we’re not going in circles. Just trust me, and let’s get you back to your room. ”

  Once we finally got Sasaki settled into her room, I turned to leave, only to see Liang Wei standing outside Seo-Jun’s door, making sure he was tucked in properly.

  “You good?” I asked, giving him a look of approval.

  He nodded, a nonchalant grin on his face. “Yeah. All good for now. You two heading back to your rooms?”

  I felt the exhaustion hit me all at once. “Yeah, let’s go. We’ve survived the night. I think we all deserve a little peace after... whatever that was.”

  We exchanged a glance and headed to the elevator again. One more trip before we were done for the night. The chaos of the evening had finally settled, but there was a quiet satisfaction in knowing we’d handled it without totally losing our minds.

  The elevator doors opened, and we stepped inside. The trip to our rooms was quieter than before, with just the occasional shuffle of feet and the soft hum of the elevator as the only sounds. As we stepped out and parted ways to our rooms, I caught Callum’s eye. For the first time that night, there was a small, almost imperceptible hint of amusement in his gaze. But whatever it was, I didn’t press it. Not tonight.

  The elevator doors opened on our floor, and I stepped out, expecting the usual quiet of late-night hallway traffic. But to my surprise, Liang Wei followed us, stepping out of the elevator with a grin plastered on his face. I paused, looking over at him in surprise.

  “Wait, you’re on this floor too?” I asked, blinking at him in disbelief.

  He gave a little shrug, clearly unbothered by the coincidence. “Guess we’ll be seeing a lot more of each other now, huh?”

  I raised an eyebrow, still surprised. “I didn’t expect that.”

  “Yeah, well,” Liang Wei said with a grin that was almost teasing. “Life’s full of surprises. Anyway, since it looks like we’re gonna be good friends, I think I’ll need your contact info.” His eyes sparkled with mischief, like this was some kind of unspoken agreement that was already set in stone.

  I stared at him for a moment, unsure if he was joking or being completely serious. But then, his smile was too genuine for me to dismiss it.

  “You’re serious?” I asked, feeling the corner of my mouth twitch upward. “I’ve only known you for a few hours, and already you’re asking for my number?”

  Liang Wei raised an eyebrow, a faint chuckle escaping him. “Why not? We’ve got a good vibe, don’t we? Besides, you’re the ‘Miss Detective,’ so you know, I think I’ll need someone like you around.” He made a mock-serious face, like he was contemplating something important, but then his grin returned.

  I shook my head in disbelief but found myself reaching into my pocket for my phone. “Alright, alright. You’re persistent, I’ll give you that.” I handed him my phone, and he quickly typed in his number, then handed it back with a wink.

  “See? Told you we were going to be good friends,” Liang Wei said, giving me a playful nudge before turning to head toward his room.

  As I watched him walk away, I couldn’t help but feel a little bemused. Of all the people I’d met, Liang Wei was definitely the most... unpredictable. But something about his easy confidence made me think that maybe, just maybe, he wasn’t the worst neighbor to have after all.

  I glanced over at Callum, who had been silent the entire time, watching us from a few steps behind. There was a strange tension in the air, but it wasn’t the kind that felt too heavy. Callum just seemed... distant, like he wasn’t quite sure what to make of the sudden closeness between me and Liang Wei.

  “So, that’s your new best friend, huh?” Callum asked, breaking the silence.

  I couldn’t help but laugh, shaking my head. “I wouldn’t go that far, but I guess we’ll see.”

  Callum’s lips quivered, but he didn’t respond. Instead, he turned and started walking toward his room, his movements as composed as ever.

  As I made my way to my room, I couldn’t help but feel like the night had taken a strange turn. Between dealing with the chaos of the drunk reapers, getting a crash course in Liang Wei’s unrelenting charm, and watching Callum try not to show much of anything at all, I couldn’t help but think this was just the beginning of something... interesting.