Zone 19.
The aluminum pot bubbled, steam rising as the aroma of alcohol filled the small room.
Andrew came out after a shower, drying his hair as he sat on the sofa. The flames from the alcohol stove cast his tall shadow onto the wall.
Seeing that the alcohol was just about hot enough, he lifted the aluminum pot and poured it into a stainless steel cup beside him.
Just then, the terminal on his wrist began to vibrate.
His movements paused when he saw the name flashing on the screen. He then placed the cup on the table and accepted the call.
"Not asleep yet?"
"No," Gu Ning said from the other end of the terminal.
"Why are you calling me out of the blue today? Is something troubling you?" Andrew asked the young female with a chuckle, using his towel to wipe away a bit of spilled alcohol.
"Am I bothering you? Is now a bad time?" Gu Ning asked.
"Not at all." Andrew picked up his cup, blew on it, and took a sip of the hot alcohol. "I was just taking it easy."
