One moment, Li Yang was seeing Taiga and Narissa argue and contest about little details that he didn't think mattered that much—some guesses as to how Taiga and Li Yang got involved or who did it better.

But then something else happened.

"I really don't know what you see in her." Narissa threw a look at him. Her gaze was both discriminating and yet curious. "Is it because she's like some sunshine in your life? The fire to your icy demeanor or something ridiculous like that?"

"That's because Taiga's probably better in bed than you," Taiga flicked her wrist.

"What did you just say?"

Right before he could intercede on their behalf, like glittering smoke of silk and dreams.. a woman appeared in front of him. Vapours and mists of purple lilacs and a night twinkling sky was streaked across her skin and there was a shimmering smile on her face.

Alluring and beautiful, despite her lower half being nothing but mists—she caught the eye..

"One Whiskey Smash for a certain man on this table. Refreshing peppermint and with a lemon for that extra zing—you must be the one who's receiving this."

"This is for me?" Li Yang stared at the mixed bourbon and at the djinn serving it to him. He never encountered one before but there was a certain phantasmal nature to her that made him stare a little—until he snapped out of it.historical

There was no toying with his mind like Narissa or the High Priestesses had done before—her very nature was just striking.

The djinn grinned at him mischievously and nodded. "Yes, it's all for you."

She leaned towards him and blocked the viewpoint of both Narissa and Taiga. There was something tucked in her chest almost as if she wanted him to take a peek at it—she pulled out a piece of paper and showed it to him.

A message was written on it.

'Would you like to have some boba with me?'

Bo Lifen

Li Yang stared at the woman in surprise—almost misread the note and thought he saw 'boobs', but then nodded slowly. "Okay, thank you for the drink."

He accepted the small glass and sipped the alcohol down. The method of Bo Lifen for conveying the message was weird and yet particular.

Did she have any idea that this messenger stored it in her breasts?

Both Taiga and Narissa thought that the djinn girl was flirting it up with Li Yang and weren't taking it too kindly. Compared to Taiga and Narissa—this girl was pretty much of a shapeshifter of smoke and dreams. She could transform into anything that she or he desired.

"Is he into that—" Narissa muttered to herself.

Contesting on who was better in sex wasn't going to be a fair competition if they were going to be up against a shapeshifter.

Taiga fiddled with her thumbs and then clamored for attention. She leaned sideways and waved her arm animatedly. "Bossman, are we not going to leave yet? Or miss—how about you getting my orders too?"

A plate of fries and a burger appeared on the table.

Courtesy of the djinn.

"Oh, this is good." Taiga immediately reached out for the burger. If she wasn't going to get his piece of meat—she might as well sink into another one. The thrill and joy of eating fast food after staying in Shou Temple and only eating boiled root crops and grass was evident in her face.

Narissa wrinkled her nose at the gluttonous spirit and tried not to make a face. Whatever was interesting or even satisfying about an oily and fatty meal was something that the Mermaid was never going to understand.

Li Yang finished his drink in one go and then leaned back a little. While he wasn't a heavy drinker—that one wasn't too terrible either. He looked at both Taiga and Narissa—wondering if the two would mind it if he excused himself and leave them alone.

.. But then, that was another question in and of itself.

Why should he leave the two of them and approach Bo Lifen immediately? Surely, the two were acquaintances and friends at most. He might have slept with all of them—but that wasn't important either. He thought that the djinn threw her hair back at him and sashayed her hips before leaving.. and that was also something else.

Albeit, the djinn might have just been teasing him and didn't want to do anything with him. But yeah, he wanted to meet up with Bo Lifen to just catch up a little. The minty and slightly sour bourbon was good, but something a little sweet wasn't too bad either.

"Is something the matter, Yang?" Narissa asked.

Li Yang said. "No, not at all. But I do think I cannot stay here too long, I have to get going."

"Huh, where are we going?" Taiga managed to say in between her bites of her meal. She scarfed down her food and tossed Narissa a look. It was time to say goodbye to this fishy woman? She was relieved.

"Well—that's where I have some tiny problems." Li Yang began.

His tone caught Taiga off guard and she looked at him. While Taiga didn't want to ask it right in front of Narissa. "Um, are you not going to need Taiga?"

"I'd like to be with you—but I think I need to do something alone. But before that, I really need to know what I should focus on first." Li Yang replied with a tired smile. He wanted to be considerate.. but could he just tell them that he wanted to have some alone time with Bo Lifen?

That was bound for some serious consequences—and he wasn't even actually in a full and proper relationship with anyone yet at this point. Li Yang stayed in his seat and considered the circumstances.

.. and kind of hated his situation a little bit more. Perhaps some other guy wouldn't have thought about this at all and just spent with whoever they wanted to—or if they only had one person in their life then their time could be split between work, responsibilities and then their partner.

However, it wasn't all that crystal clear to him.