That kind of answer...
Really does make a person feel both happy and disappointed.
Lance Quinn closed his eyes, steadying his emotions.
Although it was still some distance from what he truly wanted, it was better than being brushed off or outright refused. Lance Quinn wasn't entirely satisfied, but he wasn't too disappointed either.
For now, this will have to do. If he scared Serena Feng off, it would be a loss outweighing any gain.
Lance Quinn, trust Serena Feng. Even if she’s hiding a secret as vast as heaven and earth, try to believe in her—after all, who in this world doesn’t have secrets?
There was still a bit of discomfort in his heart, but it was much better than during the day.
"Serena Feng, remember what you said today." When he opened his eyes again, Lance Quinn’s dark gaze was bottomless; Serena could no longer read his emotions.
This man’s self-control was frightening.
"Don’t worry, I’ll remember my words. Now, can you tell me what you actually came for tonight?" Serena thought, 'No one visits the Three Treasures Hall for nothing'—every time Lance Quinn shows up, it’s either because he needs something, or because she’s about to have a run of bad luck.
She and Lance Quinn really were a pair of trouble magnets—two people who never seemed to catch a break.
"You think I only come to you when I need help?" Lance Quinn looked up at the sky, remembering how Serena Feng always greeted him with, "Lance Quinn, is it you who’s hurt this time, or one of your friends?" That thought made him even more depressed.
Did he really only ever come to Serena Feng when something was wrong? Was it always because he was injured? Couldn’t he come to see her for no reason at all?
Ahem, Lance Quinn seemed to forget that every time he came to Serena Feng, it was either because he had a problem or she did. This was his first time visiting just to 'chat,' so he couldn’t really blame Serena for overthinking it. "If you’re not here for help, then why are you here? Judging by how busy you look, I’d think you’d have no time to spare."
Whenever Lance Quinn was injured, he never seemed able to rest properly. Serena could tell he was not the type to sit around doing nothing—unlike her, a mere doctor, he was clearly someone destined for bigger things.
"I am very busy," Lance Quinn admitted. "But it’s not like I have something to do every single day—at least, not today."
Actually, he was quite busy tonight—he just couldn’t focus on any of it, because his mind was filled with thoughts of Serena Feng. It was seriously affecting his work.
He was always decisive in his actions. Since Serena Feng was distracting him, he’d come to deal with it—hence, this rare 'casual chat.'
"That’s good. You should know I’m really busy lately, too. I honestly don’t have much time to help you save anyone." Serena let out a breath of relief; she was worried she might be swamped from both sides and end up half dead from exhaustion.
"You mean the contest with Wendy Summers?" Lance Quinn knew exactly which 'big events' had been keeping Serena busy lately.
"Yeah, what else could possibly keep me this busy?" If she had the choice, she’d rather do the most complicated brain surgery than compete with Wendy Summers. It was a total waste of time and energy, and most importantly...
After all that time and effort, she still might not win.
Sure, saying this might boost others’ confidence and kill her own momentum, but facts were facts—there was no denying it.
"Do you have any strategy for the contest with Wendy Summers?" Now that he’d gotten the answer he wanted, Lance Quinn had time to care about these side matters. He remembered Serena Feng telling those two maids earlier that she had a plan.
"Nope. I don’t know the first thing about zither, chess, calligraphy, or painting. You can’t learn those in a day or two, and even if I did, I’d never be able to compete with someone like Wendy Summers, who’s been training for decades. Honestly, my odds of winning this time are pretty slim." Serena knew exactly where she stood—aside from her talent in medicine, she was hopeless at everything else.
"Then don’t compete. I’ll take you away." Lance Quinn didn’t even hesitate—he just threw out a bombshell.
Serena Feng was so startled she jumped out of her chair. "You’re kidding, right?"
"I’m serious." Even if he hadn’t thought it through, it was still a pretty good solution. If Serena trusted and relied on him, she’d have no other choice.
He could completely pull Serena Feng into his world.
Serious, my ass.
Serena Feng glared fiercely at Lance Quinn, her voice icy: "Lance Quinn, if you’re really my friend, don’t sabotage me. You know perfectly well that if I run away now, I’ll be branded a coward for life, forever carrying the shame of fleeing before the battle, losing without a fight.
I won’t run, not even if I’m sure to lose. There’s nothing shameful about lacking the skill to beat Wendy Summers—but if I don’t even have the courage to face her, then I’m not Serena Feng anymore."
Just one Wendy Summers, and she’d be forced to run away like a stray dog? That would be giving Wendy way too much credit.
"I was wrong." Faced with Serena Feng’s determination, Lance Quinn admitted his mistake without hesitation.
He’d forgotten just how proud Serena Feng was. Back at the city gates, even when everyone was criticizing her and the future was uncertain, she’d had the courage to enter the city and the palace—so why would she run away now?
"Forget it, it’s not your fault. The gap between me and Wendy Summers in the four arts is just a fact." Serena Feng waved it off; Lance Quinn’s apology was enough.
Everyone has their specialty, and hers wasn’t the four arts. Serena Feng didn’t look down on herself for it. Mastering those arts was just a way to cultivate one’s mood—her medical skills, at least, could save lives and support herself.
Seeing Serena Feng calm down, Lance Quinn relaxed too. He didn’t push the topic any further, turning his head just in time to spot the zither Serena had stashed in the corner. Surprised, he asked, "The Empress gave you the Ice-String Zither?"
"The Ice-String Zither? You mean that one?" Serena Feng didn’t want to keep talking about the contest, so when Lance Quinn asked about the zither in the corner, she got up, brought it over, and set it on the table.
"It really is the Ice-String Zither. The Crown Prince spent three years having master craftsmen make it as a birthday tribute for the Emperor last year. Why would the Empress give it to you? Did you ask for it yourself?"
A flicker of doubt crossed Lance Quinn’s eyes. There were plenty of fine zithers in the palace; the Ice-String Zither wasn’t even the best of them. No one would believe the Empress gave it to Serena Feng without a reason.
"No. When the Empress asked what I wanted, I hadn’t even answered before the Imperial Noble Consort arrived. She tossed the question back to the Empress, and only today did the Empress send down this zither and a few things for the contest." Serena had thought it was just an ordinary instrument, but now, hearing Lance Quinn talk, she realized it was anything but.
If Lance Quinn hadn’t asked, no one would have known that the zither the Empress gave Serena Feng was actually the Crown Prince’s birthday tribute to the Emperor.
When the Empress handed out these items today, there hadn’t been anyone else around. With the contest coming up, no one had bothered her, either. If Lance Quinn hadn’t shown up, probably no one would know what the Empress had given her.
Lance Quinn’s eyes darkened thoughtfully. "Serena Feng, if the Empress claims you picked this zither yourself, no one would question it."
If something happened, the Empress would never admit she’d chosen the zither especially for Serena Feng—and she’d have plenty of reasons to deny it.
"You think there’s something wrong with this zither?" Once Serena Feng realized the instrument was the Crown Prince’s tribute to the Emperor, she knew things weren’t simple. The Empress must have some scheme, and unfortunately, Serena had been chosen as the pawn...