Xiao

Xiao silently waited in the bedroom, his gaze fixed on the closed bathroom door. His mind was racing with impatience. The sound of the shower running in the background was only doing so much to muffle the anxious thoughts swirling in his head.

With every passing second, Xiao's unease grew stronger. He tried in vain to calm his racing thoughts, telling himself that there was no logical reason to worry. But the doubts wouldn't quit and he found himself clenching his fists.

The sight of Aether's phone sitting on the nightstand suddenly drew Xiao's attention. The screen was lit, signaling that it was unlocked. He reached for it.

He clicked on the messages app, the list of conversations appearing on the screen. A quick glance showed that it was mostly group chats and work-related texts.

But before Xiao could investigate any farther, the sound of the bathroom door opening made him froze in place. His head whipped around as Aether emerged from the bathroom.