I glared at him and finished the juice, setting the glass down with more force than necessary. The quiet pressure of my bond with Lu Jingzhi steadied me, even as my instincts bristled at the tension in the air. "Please enjoy your dinner alone. I've got to leave. There's something I need to attend to."
He gave me a look of discontent, his voice sharp with irritation. "I came all the way here, and you're all leaving me by myself? Why can't you stay and accompany me around J City?"
"You're already familiar with this place," I replied calmly. "If you need a car, I'll lend you mine. I really have to go." I placed my keys in his hand, turned away, and stepped out of the café, the bond behind me tightening faintly as I walked toward the yoga studio.
My body had always leaned toward comfort, avoiding discipline, but today felt different. The routine grounded me, yet after half an hour, my limbs were heavy, my breath uneven, and exhaustion settled deep in my muscles.
