"Whoa, what are you doing? Making breakfast?" Chromie's voice came from midair. Deren was so startled he nearly knocked over the prep counter, while the Sunwell covered her mouth and ran out of the kitchen.
"Chromie, what are you doing? You scared me to death." Deren steadied himself before protesting.
"Ahaha, sorry, sorry. I really came at a bad time." Lezi Long's apology did not contain the slightest sincerity.
Deren looked at the ruined breakfast. Most of it had been spilled. It seemed he would have to make it all over again.
He sighed in dejection, thinking Chromie had been trying to prank him.
"Though I didn't want to disturb you, I really did come to you for something." Lezi Long was unusually serious.
Deren asked in confusion, "You came to me for something? Shouldn't you be looking for Vereesa or Ony? What can I help you with?"
"Vereesa?" Lezi Long folded her arms, slanted her eyes, and gave a faint cold sneer. "The secret between you and her, and the secret between you and the other one—do you need me to keep them for you?"
"Ah!" Deren was deeply embarrassed. Before a Bronze Dragon, his secrets had nowhere to hide. He put on an amiable smile. "Ah, my dear Chromie, your business is my business. Who are we to each other? Our relationship is so good we're practically together."
Seeing that her threat had worked, she crooked a finger at Deren. "Come here. I'll take you to my office."
"Your office?" Deren was startled too. He had never heard that she had her own private office.
"Hurry up and come over." Lezi Long impatiently stepped forward and grabbed his hand, preparing to return through the Time Rift.
"Wait, wait, breakfast isn't done yet. And if I'm leaving, I should