Just as those tempting lips were about to touch his, Carlos suddenly raised a hand and gently placed one finger between them.
Funai Er stopped. A flicker of displeasure crossed her eyes as her deep gaze fixed on Carlos's smiling face.
Under her gaze, Carlos chuckled softly. His voice dropped lower, tinged with amusement. "Madam, don't forget—my companion is still here. He could come down at any moment. I imagine you wouldn't want anyone to see us, either, would you?"
At that, Funai Er leisurely moved Carlos's finger aside.
Her voice suddenly turned toward the empty space beside the door. Calmly, she said, "Masha, close the door. If Mr. Yu Xing comes down... just tell him what's happening in here."
She added with playful confidence, "I'm sure Mr. Yu Xing won't choose to interrupt us."
As soon as Funai Er finished speaking, Masha's figure appeared soundlessly by the door.
Her face showed no unnecessary emotion. She simply bowed slightly toward Funai Er and replied steadily, "Of course, Mistress."
Then she stepped back, took hold of the heavy oak doorknob, and gently pulled.
"Click."
With a soft sound, the sitting room door shut snugly, cutting off the room from the outside completely.
In the guest room where Sarah was resting in bed, the phantom tentacle slowly withdrew from her brow. Like a receding tide, it finally vanished completely behind Yu Xing.
The mental connection broke. A momentary blankness appeared on Sarah's face, as if she had just escaped from a deep and dreadful dream.
Then the blankness gave way to a clearer, bone-deep fear. She instinctively raised a hand to her forehead, her body trembling slightly.
Yu Xing sat quietly beside the bed, digesting everything he had just learned. The fragmented images, the despairing emotions, the foul aura—they gradually became