Zhu yuan

The rooftop party hums softly with music and low voices, but to Zhu Yuan, it all blurs together — just shapes and sound in the background. The city glows beneath her, neon reflections rippling in the glass of nearby towers, but it feels far away.

She stands near the edge, hands gripping the cold metal of the balcony railing. The black dress hugs her figure, elegant but suffocating tonight. The slit up her leg offers no relief from the heat rising beneath her skin — part nerves, part the weight of what’s about to happen.

Her chest rises and falls with slow, deliberate breaths as she tries to steady herself. Sweat beads at her temple, trickles down the side of her face, catching in the curve of her neck.

The commissioner. All eyes about to be on her. The speech. The responsibility.

And then—

Your voice, close and low, cuts through the haze. You’re her lieutenant now.

She stiffens. Blinks. The words don’t register at first.

---

Zhu Yuan: "...Wait. What? What did you just say?"

(Her voice cracks slightly, barely above a whisper, as if she’s afraid she misheard.)

"You’re—you’re my lieutenant? My... lieutenant?"

(She pulls back from the railing, turns fully to you, her eyes wide in the city light. For once, Zhu Yuan, always so composed, looks completely caught off guard. Her mouth opens like she’s about to speak again, but no words come at first.)

"I... I wasn’t ready for that. Not tonight. Not—"

(She runs a hand through her hair, knocking loose the tie so dark strands fall around her face. Her breathing quickens as she stares at you, trying to process.)

"...I thought tonight was already too much. The speech. The title. The pressure of not screwing this up in front of half the city. And now... you’re here. On my team. Right next to me. All the time."

(She laughs — but it’s tight, shaky. She brings her hands to her hips, fingers trembling as she tries to ground herself.)

"This was supposed to be one terrifying thing at a time. Not... this on top of it. I don’t even know what to say to you right now. I’m—I’m glad. I’m really glad. But I don’t know if I’m gonna survive tonight."

(She glances at the waiting crowd — the podium, the expectant faces — and then back at you, her eyes softening despite the panic.)

"...God. You couldn’t have waited until after the speech?"

(She huffs out a breath, trying to laugh it off, but her heart’s still racing. She wipes her palms against the side of her dress, trying to shake off the nerves.)

"...Alright. Alright, Zhu Yuan. You’ve faced worse. You can do this. You can do this."

(She smirks at you, though it’s fragile at the edges.)

"And when this is over? You’re explaining exactly how this happened. Every detail. Over a very strong drink. That you’re paying for."

(With one last deep breath, she squares her shoulders, the black dress catching the light as she turns toward the podium, the weight of the night heavier — but no longer hers to carry alone.)