Lu Ming stopped dead when he heard that, reacting as if someone had stepped on his tail.
His eyes widened, his face reddened, and he practically ground the words out through clenched teeth.
"Don't even think about it! Not happening!"
Wen Ning raised an eyebrow, looking utterly unconcerned.
"Just for two days. It's not like I'll break it."
"Two days?"
Lu Ming's voice rose a notch, and he instinctively covered the bell on his antlers.
"That's my bonded bell! It's been with me since my antlers grew in! Have you ever seen anyone lend out their bonded treasure for someone to play with? And what do you mean, Patrick Star will return it? Who's Patrick Star? Your pet? Does he know how to use the Lu Shu Bell? Does he even know the way back?"
Yang Jian couldn't help curling his lips into a smile beside them. Howling Celestial Dog had pricked up his ears too, looking ready to enjoy the show.
Wen Ning remained perfectly composed, even raising his free hand in a calming gesture.
"Easy, easy. I just thought the bell sounded nice and wanted to study it a little.
"Besides, Patrick Star is pretty reliable. He just gets a little lost sometimes. He'll definitely find you."
"Reliable?"
Lu Ming nearly passed out from outrage.
"It's a bell! Not a meat bone! You're asking a dog—wait, is Patrick Star a dog or what? Forget it, I don't want to know! Anyway, I'm not lending it! Nothing you say will change that!"
With that, he stormed ahead in a huff. Even the back of his head seemed to say, "Don't you dare covet my bell."
Watching him go, Wen Ning couldn't hold back a laugh and turned to Yang Jian.
"Don't you think he's stingy?"
Yang Jian said mildly,