The fourteen prep students spent an entire day touring the campus. At dusk, the college's final ball of the semester officially began. The lights inside and outside the auditorium came on one after another, and students in formal wear streamed down the tree-lined paths from the dormitories.
Lu Mingfei was in Zero's dorm room, wearing a black evening suit. Zero had ordered him another outfit. She knew his measurements even better now, and this suit fit him more closely than the last.
Beside him, Nono was arguing with Zero over who got him tonight. "Fine, you can have the first dance, but surely the second should be mine?"
"No," Zero said.
"You're planning to keep him by your side all night?"
"Yes."
"I was asking Lu Mingfei." Nono stepped around Zero and looked at him. "You've never danced with me before. Would you like to give me your second dance tonight?"
"Could I just not dance at all?" Lu Mingfei tried to propose a third option.
"No," they both said at once.
"Don't damage interdepartmental friendships over me." Lu Mingfei urged everyone to keep the bigger picture in mind and avoid infighting within the organization.
"Director Chen," Zero's tone suddenly turned formal, "the Fourth Children's condition is my responsibility."
"First Children," Nono adopted a businesslike tone as well, "as I've said before, your personal relationship with the subject of evaluation has compromised your independence. As project director, I have the authority to conduct additional observations of the Fourth Children."
"Your request for my recusal has not been approved by our superiors."
"The lack of approval doesn't mean the conflict of interest doesn't exist."
"You have a conflict of interest yourself."
"Which is why I haven't asked to take sole responsibility, only to conduct additional observations," Nono said. "Dancing with him