Beneath the night's glow

"Sir Law Enforcer, I'm a student at Shrek. I have identification."

With that, she stepped forward.

Yuanen Yehui's steps were steady. Her red hair hung behind her ears, swaying gently as she walked, its ends brushing the shoulders of her dark jacket. She held her back straight, but her right hand remained at her side, her fingertips slightly curled, as though ready to clench around something at any moment. She stopped before the Law Enforcer, took something out of her pocket, and offered it with both hands. Her movements were proper, with no unnecessary words. Her dark eyes met his calmly, neither flinching nor looking away.

Tang Wulin took the opportunity to move beside Xie Xie.

He moved naturally. Two square tables and a narrow aisle separated his table from Xie Xie's seat.

As he stood, he picked up his bowl as though he were going to get more soup. A turn of his feet brought him to Xie Xie's side. He set the bowl on the corner of Xie Xie's table, its porcelain base landing on the plastic tablecloth with a faint tap. His shoulder touched Xie Xie's, and as his arm dropped, his fingers lightly brushed Xie Xie's cuff. Just once, as though making sure he was still there.

"All right."

After examining Yuanen Yehui's identification, the Law Enforcer turned the card over for another look, then returned it to her. His gaze passed over her shoulder and settled on Yue Zhengyu. His shoulders sank slightly beneath his gray uniform.

"She is indeed a student at Shrek. Everything is in order."

"But..."

"There are no buts. Your actions were excessively aggressive. Since this is your first offense, I'll let it pass. If it happens again, you'll be punished for both."

His voice was flat, as though he were