The Halo Guiding Center was a private organization. It was small, independent, and fiercely separate from the government.
Guides, despite being essential, were never treated like it. Not really. They were needed, yes, but rarely respected. Compared to Espers, they were still seen as fragile, expendable.
Even S-rank guides weren't exempt from that treatment.
Which was exactly why places like Halo existed for those who refused to be controlled. Or used.
Lin Wenzhi leaned slightly closer to the mirror, water still clinging to his skin as steam fogged the edges of the glass.
Lin Wenzhi had only spent five months in the organisation.
"…Five months and you got yourself killed," His gaze lingered on his reflection.
A towel hung loosely around his waist, water trailing down a toned frame that didn't belong to him, but felt more natural by the minute. His skin was pale, marked lightly with freckles that scattered across his shoulders, collarbone, and face.
His hair was still damp, dark strands falling messily over his grey eyes.
He stared at himself and raised a hand, brushing his fingers lightly over his cheek.
"…Yeah," he murmured. "Still cute."
A sharp knock hit the door.
"Wenzhi. The director. Don't tell me you forgot." Pei Luo's voice.
Wenzhi clicked his tongue softly and dragged a hand through his damp hair, pushing it back before stepping toward the door.
It slid open automatically.
He stepped out into the dorm.
"Seriously," Pei Luo said, already turning to walk ahead. "Everyone's already in the meeting room. You're the only one missing."
Wenzhi gave him a slow once-over. "…You look better without your glasses."
Pei Luo stopped mid-step.
Wenzhi walked past him like he hadn't just said anything strange, grabbing a shirt and pulling it on casually.
Behind him, Pei Luo didn't move immediately. He just stood there for a second longer than necessary, watching Wenzhi's back.
"…You're acting weird," he said finally.
Wenzhi didn't even turn around.
"Trauma," he replied easily. "Very fashionable these days. Try to keep up."
Pei Luo gave him a long look. "Did you hit your head when the monsters were trying to eat you or something?"
Lin Wenzhi glanced back at him, lips pressing together thoughtfully.
From what he could tell, Lin Wenzhi had been… easygoing. Friendly. The type that smiled too easily.
Shen Ran? …Not so much.
He was an asshole. But a good asshole. Perhaps somewhere in the middle.
Pei Luo blinked. "…Wenzhi?"
"Yeah," Wenzhi replied simply.
Pei Luo stared at him for a second longer, then sighed, pushing it aside. "…That explains some things."
He moved to his table, picking up his glasses and sliding them on, his expression settling back into its usual calm.
"It's still strange," he continued. "Jing'an City turning into a red zone like that. It shouldn't happen. Yet it did."
Wenzhi didn't respond. He just walked past, pulling on his boots as he followed after Pei Luo.
They stepped out of the dorm, moving toward the elevator in silence.
The doors slid open. They stepped in. It closed.
Wenzhi leaned back, his eyes flicking to the corner. "Do you have a cigarette?"
Pei Luo blinked. "…What?"
Wenzhi opened his mouth to repeat himself but stopped.
Right. Wrong habits.
He clicked his tongue softly and waved it off. "…Never mind."
Pei Luo stared at him like he'd just said something completely unhinged.
Wenzhi ignored it.
The elevator doors slid open again.
They stepped out into the main hall.
People were already gathered and the atmosphere was so heavy.
Wenzhi felt it before he even processed it.
They moved toward their group, stopping beside Duan Ze and Ru Yi.
At the front stood a composed Director Wei Kang. But there was tension in the set of his shoulders, in the slight tightness around his eyes.
His assistant stood beside him, equally silent.
Wei Kang's gaze swept across the room before he spoke. "We have suffered a loss."
His voice wasn't loud, but it carried effortlessly, silencing the murmurs in the hall. "Eight of our own were taken by the chaos. They will not be forgotten."
Around them, a few guides lowered their heads. Some wiped their eyes. Others didn't bother hiding it. They just cried.
"We have received a call from the CMA," Director Wei Kang suddenly said.
Lin Wenzhi's brow lifted.
…Right. This part.
"The CMA?" someone asked.
Wenzhi tilted his head toward the voice and paused. "Found you."
It was Gu Luhan.
Brown hair. Clear skin. Features refined in a way that didn't feel artificial. His eyes were dark, calm, but there was something bright beneath them.
He even looked every bit the protagonist he was.
"Central Esper Authority," Wenzhi answered lazily.
Gu Luhan's gaze shifted to him immediately, faint surprise flickering across his face.
Wenzhi gave him an asshole smile.
"I know what it means," Gu Luhan frowned. "I'm asking why they would contact us. They have their own guides."
Wenzhi looked away like he'd already lost interest.
Because honestly? He had.
"They simply expressed their urgency and promised protection," Director Wei Kang said, his tone heavier now. "They are requesting our top five guides. Immediately."
Uneasy murmurs spread through the room.
Wenzhi didn't react because he already knew where this was going.
The large screen behind the director flickered to life.
Names began to load.
Wenzhi's eyes lifted lazily and narrowed.
Number one. Gu Luhan.
…Correct.
Number two. Ru Yi.
Number three. Duan Ze.
Number four. Tai Fu.
Number five. Lin Wenzhi???
"Huh?" Wenzhi stared at the screen a second longer. "…That's new."
Because that wasn't how it went.
Lin Wenzhi was supposed to be dead. Even if he weren't, his name shouldn't be on that list. It wasn't in the novel.
Ru Yi shivered slightly beside him. "Why does this feel exciting and terrifying at the same time…?"
Wenzhi nodded slowly, his eyes staying on the screen. "It really does, doesn't it?"