Reflexively, my lips curled into a smile as I saw him, through the glass walls of the bureau, alight from his car and saunter toward the entrance of the Civil Affairs Bureau.

I had arrived here about five minutes ago and had half expected to wait a long time before he got here. But there he was, waltzing into the bureau just like we agreed.

He spotted me quickly. Then he turned and walked toward me.

"Well, hello."

He nodded and stuffed his hands into his pockets. "Hey."

"I didn't expect you to be this early," I said as I stood, hanging my bag on my shoulder.

His shoulders did...