Lu Yuze stepped into position beside her, not abruptly or aggressively, but with absolute certainty. His presence altered the immediate space around them, reshaping the dynamics as effectively as a physical barrier.
Gu Han's gaze shifted to him, studying Lu Yuze with the same deliberate scrutiny he had applied to Shuyin earlier. There was no visible surprise in his expression, only cool recognition.
"So it has," Gu Han replied after a measured pause, his voice unchanged. "But the evening is still young."
Lu Yuze met his eyes directly, unflinching. "And some things do not repeat."
The two men held each other's gaze across the narrow space. No raised voices. No overt hostility. Yet the tension between them crackled, measured, controlled, and razor-sharp.
