The Last Laugh

A moment later, the call went through. She heard Lu Yi's husky, slightly hoarse voice from the other end of the line, and wondered whether he had been asleep.

She had guessed correctly—Lu Yi and Little Bean had been asleep, but Lu Yi immediately sat up in bed, awake and alert. Little Bean, on the other hand, had been caught off-guard by Lu Yi's sudden movement. She rolled off of him and onto the floor, but quickly jumped back onto the bed and nestled herself next to him. She was no longer content with sleeping on the sofa outside; she preferred Lu Yi's blanket now.

"Lu Yi, it's me, Yan Huan."

Yan Huan steadied the gold crown on her head. She wished it were made of real gold—she would destroy it at once and pawn it off for money.

"I know." Lu Yi opened his eyes; his gaze was clear, without a single trace of groggy confusion. He was wide awake now.

"Um…" Yan Huan kicked a pebble near her feet. "Thanks for helping me out."