The hot spring was hidden deep in the dense forest. The faint sound of water had echoed all night.
Yu An's throat was so hoarse she didn't want to speak. Her body was limp and weak; even her attempts to hit him felt more like tickling.
Lan Ying coaxed her into drinking several glasses of water. After Yu An felt a little better, the first thing she did was pinch Lan Ying hard.
"An'an," Lan Ying gasped. "That hurts."
Yu An huffed, "I'm hurting too. My heart hurts. So many pretty pearls, all fallen into the water."
They could be fished out, of course, but there was no way they'd find all of them.
Lan Ying sounded rather resentful. "That's it?"
"I have plenty more. How about we make some more? I promise they won't fall into the water this time."
Yu An shot him a look. "In your dreams. Let's go. Time to change and head back to the stronghold."
