"So... you drugged me?"
"Oh, don't make it sound so unpleasant," Liu Qingying blinked, placing her slender forefinger against her lips before slowly lowering it again. "It was just a small dose, stirred lightly into your plum soup. But that only lasts for 24 hours at most, which is why I had to visit you tonight. If I were to mix in a drop of my blood, however, the connection could last for more than a week."
It seemed she was indeed showing some sincerity, revealing part of her hand.
Gao Yang hesitated for a moment before asking, "The dream within a dream... was that your doing too?"
"No, that was simply a side effect of the initial intrusion by [Sweet Dream]. Next time... assuming there is a next time, you won't have nightmares anymore."
"I must admit," Liu Qingying's lips parted slightly, her gaze flickering with an unusual intensity, "your dreams are quite... delicious."
Gao Yang felt offended but chose to remain silent.
"Don't misunderstand," Liu Qingying tilted her head, still smiling, "I'm not mocking you. Dreams, although illusory, are an extension of the dreamer’s memories, knowledge, emotions, and soul—crafted from a web of subconscious thoughts and experiences."
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"Even if they often appear absurd, dreams carry an underlying logic. In some cases, what happens in dreams may be correct, a warning, or even a prophecy."
Gao Yang's heart sank.
Liu Qingying continued, "For instance, your talent record truly is on the desk, and your sister really might return home suddenly and come to your room, and most likely... she is a beast..."
"Stop." Gao Yang frowned.
Liu Qingying gazed at him with admiration. "From a person's dreams, I can tell whether they are dull and boring, or rich in emotions and intelligence. Your dreams are vivid because you possess deep emotions, remarkable deductive abilities, boundless creativity, and a cohesive, logical mind. Among all the nightmares I've tasted, yours ranks in the top three."
Her eyes gleamed with indulgence as she went on, "A Beast of Delusion... ha, I've never encountered one before. Perhaps they are just as you dreamt them to be. I even sensed complex emotions and behavioral logic in it. Honestly, we Awakened spend every day fighting beasts, yet we barely understand them. Most Awakened don’t even want to—just fighting and killing endlessly, it's so tedious. But you’re different. You managed to deduce so much within a single dream. You're truly remarkable."
"Thank you."
Gao Yang wasn’t genuinely grateful; he simply didn’t know what else to say.
"You’re welcome." Liu Qingying leaned forward slightly, clasping her hands on her knees. "Now that we’ve had plenty of small talk, let's get to the point. After all, I can't guarantee when you'll wake up."
"Go ahead," Gao Yang's body and mind shifted into a defensive stance, prepared for the worst should negotiations fail.
"I came to see you because I want to be your friend."