On the drive from the manor to the city, Lu Qi Zhen could no longer think about anything else.
One moment kept flashing through her mind: Hesta glanced at her from within the crowd, then walked toward her.
Things were starting to become complicated... complicated, yet clear.
She felt a new cage descending from the sky.
"Qi Zhen? Lu Qi Zhen?" Zoe looked at her through the rearview mirror, her voice tinged with displeasure. "What do you think? Is that okay?"
Lu Qi Zhen looked up blankly. "What?"
"We're not going to a hotel tonight. Ende found several cinemas with midnight and early-morning screenings. After we watch Dagger and Sheath, we can go straight on to other movies. We'll keep watching until tomorrow morning, then drive back." Zoe repeated herself. "Can you handle that? If not, Ende can go back with you. I'll take Jahadorei and Chloe."
"...Ah, I can go to the hotel by myself." Lu Qi Zhen answered belatedly. "We can meet up again tomorrow—"
Before Lu Qi Zhen could finish, Zoe let out an irritated sharp breath.
"Zoe already explained it," Ende hurriedly said, turning around. "Hesta said that throughout this whole process, the two of us can't let any of you be alone. So if you go to the hotel, I have to go with you—but why not come watch movies with us? I haven't bought the tickets yet. You can pick some screenings you like."
"...I'm getting old." Lu Qi Zhen muttered awkwardly. "I can't stay up all night anymore."
"Huh?" Zoe frowned. "How old are you?"
"Twenty-six." Before Lu Qi Zhen could answer, Jahadorei burst out laughing and gave the answer for her. "But you totally can't tell, right?"
"Twenty-six isn't old!" Zoe said. "And besides—"
A rustling sound came from the duffel bag.