Searching for the key
Qiao Wei and Luo Chen journeyed for three whole days before finally reaching the mountaintop. Along the way, their silence gradually gave way to bickering and laughter.
As they arrived at the summit, Qiao Wei clutched Luo Chen’s arm in excitement, shouting, “Luo Chen, Luo Chen, we finally made it!”
Luo Chen grumbled indignantly, “Every time we came across a tough spot, it was me who had to carry you, wasn’t it?”
Qiao Wei stuck out her tongue mischievously and asked, “Luo Chen, where do we go now?”
Luo Chen shot her a disdainful look. “Qiao Wei, has something gone wrong with your brain? Get the map out.”
Hardly had Luo Chen finished speaking when he noticed Qiao Wei staring at him with a strange, almost unfamiliar expression. He pinched her cheek and shouted, “You little rascal, why are you looking at me like that?”
Qiao Wei pushed away Luo Chen’s slender, defined hand, rubbed her now-reddened cheek, and said incredulously, “Luo Chen, this is the first time you’ve called me by my name in the half month I’ve known you.”
Luo Chen froze for a moment, a faint blush creeping across his face. Qiao Wei, however, reached up on tiptoe to touch his forehead, murmuring, “Are you running a fever?”
Luo Chen shook off her hand and bellowed, “You little rascal! Hurry up and get the map!”
Qiao Wei sheepishly pulled out the map, sneaking glances at Luo Chen’s expression. As his irritation gradually faded, he studied the map carefully, then folded it up and said crossly, “You little rascal, follow me.”
Trailing behind Luo Chen, Qiao Wei made faces at his back, but was caught off guard when he suddenly spun around and rapped her on the forehead. “We’re here. Quickly, sense which cave to enter.”
Qiao Wei gazed at the row of mountain caves ahead, clutching her forehead. “How am I supposed to sense that? I’m not some deity!”
Luo Chen knocked her on the head again. “Hopeless. Focus your mind, think about what you need to do, and the pendant will guide you.”
Qiao Wei glared at him, then closed her eyes to concentrate.
“That one,” she finally said, pointing to the cave in the very center.
“You wait here. I’ll go get it.” Luo Chen set his things down and spoke to Qiao Wei.
“I want to come too,” Qiao Wei blurted out without thinking.
“You’ll just be a burden!” Luo Chen frowned.
“I’m going,” Qiao Wei insisted. “We’re friends—we should share dangers together.”
“Who said I’m your friend? Fine, come if you want! But if you’re about to die, don’t expect me to save you!” With that, Luo Chen strode toward the cave, and Qiao Wei hurried to follow.
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The lazybones Yu Ning is back! So many lovely readers have left comments for me, and I’m truly delighted. If you want to become good friends with me, you can add my QQ—the number’s in the ramblings of Chapter One, so I won’t repeat it here. As for replying to comments, I have classes during the day and can only respond at night, so I hope you all understand~ (P.S.: I do tend to ramble on…)