Summer's Late-Blooming Flowers

When Xiuru entered the bedroom again to check Huang Yuan's injuries, he saw this scene. The Scale King had one arm around Ao Qiansui, who was leaning against him, and held a bowl of medicine in the other. It should have gone cold by now, yet steam still rose from it. His face was so dark it could hardly get any darker. Blind, Ao Qiansui recklessly kept pushing the Scale King's limits, doing everything he could to make the king kill him. Their way of getting along reminded Xiuru of Qiao Rulai and Yan Wang. Qiao Rulai, who looked gentle and easy to bully, followed close behind the imposing Yan Wang, speaking softly and carefully. Yan Wang walked ahead, listening without a word and not even sparing Qiao Rulai a glance. Yet he never shook off Qiao Rulai, whose power was far inferior to his own. "Drink the medicine!" The Scale King's distinctive voice carried a note of command. "I'm not drinking it!" Ao Qiansui answered without a second thought. If the Scale King hadn't threatened him with the lives of Qian and Shen Hongni, he would have been well and truly dead by now. "..." The Scale King's face darkened another shade. They had already had this exchange more than ten times. "..." Feeling the pressure behind him grow heavier, Ao Qiansui paused, then hesitantly said, "...It's bitter!" Theme: