Slipping out of the base without telling anyone, Wenzhi wandered through the underground city with his hands tucked deep into his pockets.
He was still heavily bundled up in layers, thick socks inside his boots, gloves covering his hands, and a large, fur-lined coat wrapped around him with the hood pulled low over his head.
Even then... he was still freezing.
The city, however, was thriving. Although construction crews were still busy in a few districts, cars rolled steadily through the streets, and people laughed as they passed one another.
Children ran between patches of grass while enormous, young trees grew naturally among the carefully planned buildings, blending seamlessly into the modern infrastructure.
It looked... like home.
Wenzhi was grateful he hadn't run into anyone while sneaking out. He wanted to be alone... alone with the one person who wasn't here.
