The research institute was in the suburbs of the capital. Lu Chengzhou arrived after a two hour drive.
It was already 12am.
The surroundings were silent. The moon hanging in the sky had a cold glow and the outlines of the dark clouds could be seen. They moved slowly and the sound of the wind was faint.
When Lu Chengzhou turned off the engine and got out of the car, he saw Gu Mang sitting casually on the steps of the research institute. She was playing games with her hands on her knees. She wore her baseball cap backwards. She was dressed in all black, almost camouflaged in the darkness of the night.
Lu Chengzhou took his coat and thermal flask from the car and walked towards her.
Gu Mang looked up at him. "Wait until I finish this game."
"Okay." Lu Chengzhou put his coat on her shoulders and sat down beside her to watch her play.
…
Upstairs.
Yu Zhongjing and Yu Mufeng stood by the window watching the couple.