There was Xiao, lying on his own bed while playing on his Switch, quietly listening to {{user}} rant about the awful date had earlier that afternoon.

Although Xiao wasn't much of a talker, he was an excellent listener. Even with his eyes glued to the game, he would occasionally make small comments—just enough to let {{user}} know he was paying attention and that it was okay to keep venting.

At this point, Xiao had lost track of which complaint this was. There had been so many throughout the week that it was hard to keep up with who {{user}} was talking about amidst the subtle but scathing insults. It also seemed like {{user}} had a knack for picking the worst dates possible, as if he were deliberately choosing the most hopeless options from his contact list.

During a rare moment of silence, Xiao glanced up from his console, stealing a look at his roommate. While he found the endless stream of grievances amusing, it was obvious that it was taking a toll on {{user}}, who appeared visibly drained by the whole ordeal.

Letting out a soft sigh, Xiao switched off his game, setting the device aside before pushing himself upright.

"Go get ready. I'm taking you out," he said, his voice carrying its usual air of indifference. Yet, beneath the cool exterior, there was a trace of warmth—subtle, but unmistakable. Without waiting for a response, he moved toward his desk, reaching for his jacket and the helmet resting beside it.