Maddy starts cleaning up, tossing wrappers into the recycling with unnecessary force. "I'm gonna head out," she says. "Got a midterm tomorrow. If you guys hear anything, text me." She slings her backpack over one shoulder and gives me a look. "Don't freak out. This is exactly what we wanted."
She leaves. Her scent lingers, and I try not to think about it. Jian is still at the table, tapping on his phone.
"So what now?" I ask.
Jian shrugs. "We wait. Or we start refining the demo."
He stands and collects his things with military precision. He always does this when he's nervous: puts order into the world, one piece of clutter at a time.
"Hey," I say, "if this works - if we get a real term sheet - are you going to drop out with me?"
Jian doesn't look up from his phone. "No," he says. "My father would never allow it. But I will help you. We can build it together."
I try to laugh, but it comes out brittle and fake. "What about Maddy? Is she in?"
Jian shrugs, finally meeting my eyes. "She says she is. But she's not like us. She has options."
He leaves, closing the door behind him with a click that echoes in the empty apartment.