Lu stayed.
Even after Ren went back to those girls… he didn't leave.
He stood near the bar, watching without meaning to.
Ren was laughing again. Talking easily. Someone handed him a drink. Another girl leaned closer to him.
He didn't push them away.
Lu's grip on his glass tightened slightly.
He didn't like it.
And that annoyed him even more.
"Why do I care…" he muttered under his breath.
After a few minutes, he put the glass down.
Enough.
He turned and walked toward the exit.
But before he reached the door—
"Leaving again?"
Lu stopped.
Of course.
He turned back slowly.
Ren was there again.
This time alone.
"You move fast," Lu said calmly.
Ren shrugged. "I got bored."
Lu raised an eyebrow. "With them?"
Ren looked at him for a second, then smiled faintly.
"Yeah."
There was a short silence.
Then Ren stepped a little closer.
"Or maybe I just didn't feel like staying there," he added.
Lu looked at him, trying to read his expression.
"Then why come here at all?"
Ren tilted his head slightly.
"Same reason as you, maybe."
Lu didn't respond.
Ren studied him for a moment.
Then his eyes dropped briefly—
to Lu's lips.
Just for a second.
But Lu noticed.
"Still staring?" Lu said coldly.
Ren smiled.
"I think you started it."
Lu let out a quiet breath.
"This is pointless."
He turned to leave again.
But this time—
Ren caught his wrist.
Not tight.
Just enough to stop him.
Lu froze.
For a second, neither of them spoke.
"Don't go yet," Ren said quietly.
His voice was softer now.
Not teasing.
Not joking.
Just… calm.
Lu looked down at his hand.
Then back at Ren.
"Why?"
Ren didn't answer immediately.
He just looked at him.
Then said,
"You came here."
A pause.
"So stay a little longer."
Lu stared at him.
Something about the way Ren said it—
simple, direct—
made it harder to refuse.
After a moment, Lu pulled his hand back.
But he didn't leave.
"…Five minutes," he said.
Ren smiled.
"Deal."
They stood there for a moment.
Not too close.
Not too far.
Then Ren spoke again,
"Your son."
Lu looked at him.
"What about him?"
"How old is he?"
"Five."
Ren nodded slowly.
"You don't look like someone with a five-year-old."
Lu frowned slightly. "What does that mean?"
Ren smiled a little.
"It means… you don't seem like the type who lets people get close."
Lu didn't answer.
Because for once—
he didn't know what to say.
Ren looked at him for a second longer.
Then he said quietly,
"See you tomorrow, Mr. Lu."
Lu blinked slightly.
"Tomorrow?"
Ren smiled.
"First tutoring session."
Lu almost forgot.
"…Right."
Ren stepped back.
"Don't be late."
Lu scoffed lightly.
"I'm not a student."
Ren turned away, already walking back into the crowd.
"But you still listen," he said without looking back.
Lu stood there.
Watching him disappear into the lights again.
And this time—
he didn't try to leave immediately
To be continued...