"Then what do you want?"
Rouxi's question remained between them while Zhenlan tried to find an answer that didn't sound like another plan.
He had spent years turning every desire into something practical. Wanting people safe became stronger walls. Wanting control became patrols and radios. Wanting Rouxi protected became maps, supplies, and buildings she had never asked him to create.
He didn't want to answer her with another list.
Across the room, Chenghai looked equally unwilling to speak first. He stood close to Rouxi with his hands empty for once. There was no radio clipped to his belt, no notebook waiting nearby, and no problem outside the mansion pulling at his attention.
Lingyun watched them from the couch with open amusement. "This is painful."
Rouxi glanced toward him. "No one asked you."
"You asked them what they wanted, and now they're both staring at you like the answer is complicated."
"It might be."
"It isn't."
