Chapter 38: Trapped in a Dream, Waking Up to Farewell.

"What should I call this move?" Chu Qingqing eagerly asked as they returned to the safe house after killing four demons.

"Wasn't it supposed to be called 'Thorn Bomb'?" Cheng Jinyang asked.

"No, it has to be three words," Miss Qingqing insisted.

"Three words do seem more suitable," Xing Yuanzhi agreed. "Two words are too short and easily confused with other terms; four words are too long. How about 'Iron Thorn Bomb'?"

"It's passable," Chu Qingqing pondered. "We have 'iron' and 'thorn,' but we're missing the 'explosion' aspect. Explosion! That's the essence of my move!"

"In that case, how about 'Explosive Iron Thorn'?" Cheng Jinyang suggested.

Xing Yuanzhi: ???

Chu Qingqing: ...

"That sounds awful," both girls said simultaneously.

"Fine, fine, I'll admit I'm not good at naming," Cheng Jinyang said in self-deprecation, then he headed towards the bedroom. "You can call me when you're ready to leave."

"Wanrou," Chu Qingqing sighed, noticing Wang Wanrou reading notes on the sofa. "What do you think we should call it?"

"Thunderclap," Wang Wanrou replied without looking up.

"Okay," Xing Yuanzhi remembered, "that thing was a weapon designed by Sima Yi during the late Eastern Han Dynasty, the era of the Three Kingdoms' split. It's fired like a cannon, explodes upon impact, and spews out highly lethal iron shards. It has all three elements: 'iron,' 'thorn,' and 'explosion.'"

"Not bad," Chu Qingqing tasted it, making a decision. "Let's call it 'Thunderclap.'"

"I'm going to take a shower," Xing Yuanzhi said.

"In that case, I'll..." Chu Qingqing almost said, "I'll cook some supper," but then remembered this was a dream! What's the point of cooking in a dream? It's all fake anyway. Wait, isn't taking a shower pointless too?

In the bedroom, Cheng Jinyang walked in and saw Su Lili curled up on the bed, her eyes red as if she had been crying.

"Xiaoli, what's wrong?" He quickly sat beside her, embracing her tenderly.

"Jinyang," Su Lili nestled into his arms, whimpering, "I'm fine."

What's with this tearful "I'm fine"?

So Cheng Jinyang gently asked, "Do you miss me?"

"Mm-hmm," Su Lili nuzzled against him, smiling bitterly. "Really, it's nothing. It's just that I realize I'm already dead and can't be with you in that world, so... it's just some emotional triggers."

Emotional triggers? Meaning someone touched her heartstrings?

Cheng Jinyang's first suspicion naturally went to Wang Wanrou, who had stayed behind in the safe house. Who else could it be during our absence?

But then he thought, with Wang Wanrou's prideful nature, would she bother with Su Lili, a lonely girl? Moreover, they couldn't communicate directly...

Then he thought again, with Wang Wanrou's extraordinary intelligence, finding a way to indirectly communicate with Su Lili wouldn't be difficult, would it? Besides, if she did say something hurtful, she probably wouldn't care.

"Cough, Xiaoli," Cheng Jinyang asked softly, "have you communicated with Wang Wanrou?"

"Jinyang," Su Lili didn't answer directly, just clung to his neck, her voice choked, "I miss you."

"Sigh, I miss you so much..."

.....

Early Morning.

Cheng Jinyang got up from bed, groggily heading to the bathroom to brush his teeth.

It was already July, and the weather was getting hotter. He stared at himself in the mirror, toothbrush in his mouth, lost in thought.

Xiaoli, sigh...

Is she really just a beautiful illusion in my heart?

He didn't know how long he stood there until Xing Yuanzhi's knock came from behind the door:

"Jinyang, are you done?"

"Almost," Cheng Jinyang quickly spat out the toothpaste foam and began rinsing his mouth.

Xing Yuanzhi then came in, picking up the showerhead to rinse the bathtub before filling it with water.

"It'll take a while to fill it like this, right?" Cheng Jinyang casually said, "How about I help you fill it every morning?"

"Sure," Xing Yuanzhi nodded, smiling, "By the way, if you need to use my bathtub when you shower, feel free. Just remember to clean it afterward."

Cheng Jinyang: ???

Wait, isn't the bathtub your private throne? The precious item no one touches? How come you suddenly allow me to use it?

He quickly realized that Xing Yuanzhi was trying to get closer to him, so he understood and smiled gently:

"I get it. So, when can we shower together..."

"Get out!"

Pushing Cheng Jinyang out of the bathroom and locking the door, Xing Yuanzhi huffed:

"Don't even think about it before we get married!"

"Then after we're married..." Cheng Jinyang immediately tested, separated by the door.

"Say that again!"

Okay. Cheng Jinyang stretched lazily and then sat on the sofa, only to see Chu Qingqing coming out of the bedroom drowsily.

"Ah!" She walked to the bathroom door and realized Xing Yuanzhi was already inside, feeling annoyed as she rubbed her hair.

Everyone knows it takes at least half an hour for Xing Yuanzhi to shower, so the bathroom couldn't be used for a short time.

So Miss Qingqing sat down beside Cheng Jinyang, picked up a glass of water from the coffee table, took a sip, then tilted her neck back and gurgled, pretending to gargle.

As she raised her fair and smooth neck, the collar of her pajamas slipped down, revealing delicate collarbones and a slowly rising taboo area. Cheng Jinyang lowered his head to play with his phone, casually saying:

"Qingqing, you're exposing yourself, be careful."

"Oh." Chu Qingqing swallowed the water in her mouth, then casually pulled up the collar of her pajamas.

After a moment, she couldn't help but turn her head and ask:

"Hey, Jinyang. Why did you remind me if I was exposing myself? Why didn't you take the opportunity to take a few more glances?"

"Do you have a problem with your head? How could you say that," Cheng Jinyang replied absentmindedly, tapping on his phone.

"I didn't mean that." Chu Qingqing clenched her fists, then slowly relaxed them. "It's a good thing that you don't take advantage of me, but if it's because you don't find me attractive, that's another matter."

"Since you brought it up," Cheng Jinyang sighed, "there's really nothing good to see. Let's talk about it in a few years."

Before he finished speaking, Chu Qingqing let out a frustrated cry and pounced on him fiercely.

"I'll bite you to death!"

"Let go! Are you a dog?" Cheng Jinyang struggled under her.

The two wrestled on the sofa. In the bedroom, Wang Wanrou, yawning, walked out and saw Cheng Jinyang pinned down by Miss Qingqing. He reached out to her for help, calling out desperately:

"Miss Wang, quickly use the Mind Steel Seal to stop her!" (Referring to the Mind Imprint)

Ignoring his plea, Wang Wanrou walked past him and headed to the study.