The doors of the Papal Hall had barely opened when Bai Jin caught the smell of ink.
Bibi Dong sat behind a long table, her left hand resting on a stack of files. Hearing footsteps, she did not look up. She merely set her brush beside the inkstone.
"You've just broken through, and you're already here to ask me for time off?"
Bai Jin stopped short.
"You think far too highly of my work ethic. I can't even be bothered to write a leave request."
Beside him, Qian Renxue pinched his hand.
Bibi Dong's gaze fell on their clasped hands and lingered there.
Two Deacons were still in the hall. One was about to hand over a ledger, but his hand froze in midair. Bibi Dong took it, told them to return the next morning, and waited until their footsteps had faded before looking at Qian Renxue.
"What is it?"
"We're together."
Qian Renxue's voice was steady.
On the way here, she had thought of so many things to say. Once she arrived, she needed only that one sentence.
Bibi Dong looked at her, her expression unchanged. A gust blew in through the window, lifting the corners of several thin sheets on the table. Qian Renxue recognized the Compensation Register among them.
The people who had died in the battle at Dragon Mountain were still being sent home.
Her mother was clearly busy today.
"Did you pass your trial?" Bibi Dong asked.
"Rank 88."
"Acceptable progress."
With those four words, she picked up her brush again.
Qian Renxue's fingers tightened slightly.
Bai Jin suddenly leaned forward, trying to see the documents on the table.
Bibi Dong laid her brush across the edge of the paper.
"Stand properly."
"I'm checking whether my name's in there. With that look on your face,