At five in the morning, in the third-floor corridor of Dormitory Zone 1, a young man and woman were talking furtively.
"Fingel's still asleep. He won't cause trouble. What about your end?"
"Selma's asleep too."
"Let me drive this time."
"Okay."
"Let's leave now. The same Peninsula Suite as last time."
"Whatever you say."
Zero placed the Tesla's car key in Lu Mingfei's palm. The two were about to slip away quietly to avoid disturbing their two gossipy roommates.
"What are you doing?" The door to Dormitory 304 opened, and Nono stepped out, demanding an answer in a low voice.
Last time it was at night, and now you're going to spend the whole day at it? Got a taste and can't get enough, huh, you shameless pair!
"Do you get up this early every day?" Zero looked up at her and asked flatly.
"I had a nightmare! I dreamed there were people talking next door, but I couldn't make out what they were saying." Nono pointed angrily at Zero, but her bluster quickly faded. She withdrew her hand and asked quietly, "Where are you going this early?"
"Chicago."
"Staying at a hotel?"
"It's not what you think," Lu Mingfei explained. "We just need to use a hotel room."
"Will you be back tonight?"
"Yes," Lu Mingfei said. "We're not going there to do that sort of thing."
"What sort of thing?" Nono asked. "What do you have to sneak off to a hotel for? Why do you have to leave campus?"
"Sex." Zero calmly drove the knife into Nono's heart.
Lu Mingfei looked at Nono. She still had dark circles under her eyes; clearly, she hadn't slept well these past few days. Making and eating cake together last time had been lively, but after that day, Nono instead acted