The room had begun to loosen its tight grip as Daryl walked beside Lian Yue, her presence grounding him while they stayed neither too close nor too distant, moving along the edges of the crowd together.
The chatter, clinking glasses, and low hum of soft music washed over him without panic now, and while he was not invisible anymore, he also was not fully part of the scene unfolding around them.
He glanced at her and noticed her subtle, quiet smile, real in a way that made him aware she saw him noticing the details in how she moved and how she responded to greetings with practiced ease.
She told him softly that he had changed but that some things had not, and he smirked slightly as he replied that it depended on who one asked.
She laughed and brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, teasing that he was still sarcastic, while he corrected her by calling it observation, falling easily into their familiar rhythm.
They drifted toward a small group near the back where faces from lectures, seminars, and late-night study sessions surfaced, and short introductions followed as Daryl nodded politely and corrected names with faint embarrassment.
The conversation moved quickly through careers, achievements, and small victories, and though the polished air sat between their words, Daryl did not flinch as he listened more than he spoke.
When he spoke, his voice stayed measured and quiet, smiling faintly at jokes about Professor Wu and shared academic struggles that softened the exchange without drawing attention.
Kang Wei lingered nearby as a quiet presence, offering subtle nods and timely comments that redirected conversations and eased Daryl through awkward moments without making it obvious.
Daryl noticed the high-status trio again - Mei An, Zhou Chen, and Lin Haoran - moving like separate planets with gravity of their own, untouched and uninterrupted.
That old outsider tension crept back as he watched them fit so naturally into the room, while he still hovered somewhere just outside its center.
Lian Yue caught his gaze and teased that he was watching everyone like a hawk again, and he replied with a faint smirk that old habits died hard, making her laugh without mockery.
The room continued to move as someone raised a glass for a toast, and voices called out to the years gone by and the memories made, prompting Daryl to lift his glass deliberately.
He caught Lian Yue's eyes across the rim and shared a small, quiet smile that was brief but enough to steady him.
Photos followed, and though Daryl stiffened when positioned near the edge, Lian Yue whispered for him to relax and breathe, which he did as the shutter clicked again and again.
Their smiles were awkward but genuine, and afterward trivia about old classes surfaced, drawing laughter as Daryl added light remarks that kept the mood warm.
For a moment he forgot the room's hierarchy, until the trio moved toward the center again, drawing whispers and attention with practiced ease.
Mei An laughed softly, Zhou Chen spoke with precise calm, and Lin Haoran charmed a small group with stories, and Daryl observed without envy, only noting the distance.
The conversation drifted back to Lian Yue as they spoke of library schedules, side business logistics, and quiet reflections that felt grounding rather than impressive.
She told him she was glad he came, genuinely, and he admitted he was glad too, unsure before tonight, but anchored by the sincerity in her voice.
A gentle sense of belonging settled in him, not complete or unquestioned, but real enough to ease the weight he had carried.
Kang Wei stepped closer briefly and gave a small nod of support without words, and Daryl understood that nothing more was needed.
As the crowd thinned and glasses emptied, the room's pulse slowed, and Daryl and Lian Yue lingered while others filtered out.
She asked if he had enjoyed the night, and he admitted he had more than expected, while she tilted her head and softly agreed.
He noticed the trio still speaking quietly near the center and caught sight of a red leather folder left at the edge of a table, slightly worn and unattended.
Some instinct stirred as he filed the detail away for later, sensing a potential lead rather than acting on it immediately.
Lian Yue leaned closer and remarked that he survived in a way he had not expected, and he laughed softly, agreeing with her assessment.
They walked toward the exit together as cool air and city lights greeted them, pausing at the curb to agree tentatively on a next meeting.
The handshake became a brief, comfortable hug, unhurried and unhesitant, before Daryl stepped back and breathed out.
He checked his phone and saw one new subscriber, small but meaningful tonight, and then walked back to his hotel.
The room was functional and quiet as he set his gear neatly, turned on the TV for background noise, and sat on the edge of the bed to reflect.
The reunion had not been perfect, but it had gone well enough, as he had seen her, spoken, and been seen in a way that counted.
His phone buzzed with a short message from Kang Wei wishing him good rest, and Daryl smiled faintly before setting the phone aside.
The TV flickered softly as the city moved on outside, and Daryl lay back, feeling the faint weight of belonging settle on his chest.
He had survived and belonged, somehow, just not in the way he once imagined, and tomorrow would bring work and unanswered threads.
For now, the night held him in quiet calm, and he closed his eyes as the soft hum lulled him into sleep.
The reunion had ended, but its echoes lingered, and Daryl felt ready for whatever came next.