Casper and Aveline were heading for the door when the former suddenly turned back to look at the three of them. "Then who are you?"
Chen Xi thought for a moment, then raised a finger to her lips. "Let's keep it a secret for now. I'm not fond of drawing attention to myself, you know."
"Of course." Casper nodded solemnly.
Watching Casper hurry away, Chen Xi wasn't worried he'd cause any trouble.
After all, Duke Red Dragon was a name held in high regard throughout the North Wind Territory.
"Wow, boss, you're really amazing." Just then, Gu Yu's utterly insincere flattery rang out beside her.
"Could you act normal for once?" Chen Xi glared at her.
"What? I am acting normal. Keep slandering me and I'll jump out the window."
"Then go ahead."
After trading barbs with Gu Yu, Chen Xi turned to Lin Yue, who was still stroking Kossarius's scales.
"What's wrong?" she asked with concern.
"What?" Lin Yue paused, her eyes lowering slightly.
Sensing something was off, Kossarius fled through the window.
"I'm going back to sleep."
Gu Yu keenly picked up on the unease lingering in the air. After saying goodbye, she left the meeting room too.
"I'm asking what's wrong with you." Chen Xi took Lin Yue's hands.
Lin Yue raised her eyes to meet hers, expressionless. "What's gotten into you? Did you take the wrong medicine today?"
Seeing her still wearing that indifferent expression, Chen Xi's voice rose without her meaning to. "You're the one acting weird, okay?"
"You're holding too..." Lin Yue reminded her coldly. Only then did Chen Xi realize she'd been gripping the blonde girl's wrists so tightly that they had reddened.
"What's wrong with you? Can't you just tell me?"
Chen Xi let go and took a deep breath, trying to