Yue Chen walked slowly through the Alt Conglomerate's vibrant Botanical Garden, each step landing on the carefully laid Stone-Paved Path. Beautiful as it was, she had no desire to admire it. Her gaze kept shifting, her heart full of wariness toward Jonas. Sunlight streamed through the glass dome and fell over her, softening the outline of her figure, but her thoughts were far less peaceful than the scenery.
She thought as she walked, replaying her conversation with Jonas over and over. His proposal had been too sudden, too inscrutable. Yue Chen knew well that in this complicated world, still waters often concealed dangerous currents.
He couldn't have told me all that without some other motive.
"Does he really think I'll take the bait that easily?" Yue Chen muttered to herself, a trace of mockery mingling with the caution in her voice.
"The Alt Conglomerate definitely has... ulterior motives toward Dragon City."
She shook her head slightly, her eyes fixed on the path ahead. She knew Jonas's invitation had not been an act of goodwill. There had to be some deeper purpose behind it. She felt as though she were walking through an enormous spiderweb, where every step might trigger some unknown danger.
District 25 was far too dangerous. She really wanted to go back to Dragon City and have some malatang!
Fried skewers would do, too!
"Dragon City is already a mess. This Jonas... what exactly is he trying to gain from it?" she continued muttering, quickening her steps a little, eager to leave this place full of schemes.
Yue Chen was almost out of the Botanical Garden. The sunlight cast a long shadow behind her, but her spirits remained heavy. She had no attention to spare for anything else.
"I'm absolutely not getting involved in Jonas's scheme."
Yue Chen