As a general rule, Lan Wangji avoids the café unless he has a prearranged meeting for discussion of Jane Austen, but he, too, is running low on tea and wondering if he might find any there. He is restless on the whole in a way that is unusual for him. There are too many things weighing on his mind, nebulous mysteries and dangers.

He sees Susan and stops. They have barely spoken, but he knows what she is doing for the residents who drink alcohol regularly and, unlike Wei Ying, are not so fortunate as to have golden cores to carry them through the month. He arranges himself into a polite bow.