Ying Ru Shi was momentarily at a loss for words. She stammered, unsure how to answer, until she caught Yan Qing snickering. Her face flushed with embarrassment and anger:
"Don't ask!"
She paused, then said in a dejected voice, "Do you know what I dreamed about last night? I dreamed about today's meeting, but the main topic wasn't discussing the mission. It was about you, Black Wolf, and Red Snake... You were all in the hall. You were sitting on the stone table, Black Wolf was holding you from the side, and Red Snake was kneeling below... Do you know what that means?"
"You put it so vaguely that it's hard for me to judge. Could you be more specific?" Yan Qing said solemnly. "This is the first time I've heard a story with me as the protagonist. Would you be interested in writing a book? I'd like to preserve your masterpiece properly. It would be a great loss to the literary world if you didn't write."
"Stop fooling around. I'm being serious!"
"I'm serious too. I even put up the Defense Barrier." Yan Qing shrugged. "Didn't we agree? You don't have to hold back. Do whatever you want."
"Whether it's an illusion or reality, good or bad, I'll bear everything from you."
He pressed his right hand over his heart, as if performing some sort of oath-taking ritual. "I won't lose, you know. Bring it on. Don't secretly make yourself sad."
Ying Ru Shi watched Yan Qing try so hard to make her laugh. Her nose stung faintly, and she turned her gaze away, muttering, "I wasn't sad in the first place..."
"Why do you have to pretend we aren't very familiar with each other?" Yan Qing asked. "Deception is a bad behavior, you know."
"Who do you think