Xena entered the room and immediately began inspecting every corner.
Fyren couldn't stop her.
"Big sister, what are you doing?"
"I'm checking if you've hidden any women here!"
"I don't need to hide anyone! Why would I need you to catch them for me?"
"Fyren, what exactly are you trying to do to me?"
"Best friend!" Fyren said. "Big sister, stop being so crazy. You've been causing too much trouble lately. We're just good friends, okay? Don't complicate things. You can find your own boyfriend, and I'll find my own girlfriend. We'll help each other when needed, and leave each other alone otherwise. Isn't that better?"
Xena gave him a quick glance and said, "Your breathing is uneven... looks like you just had sex..."
"Stop, stop, stop, stop!"
Fyren said, "I... was practicing martial arts. Is that okay?"
Xena giggled and blushed. "Hey, if you have a girlfriend, why would you need to... take care of yourself like that?"
"What girlfriend? Big sister, stop being ridiculous. Just tell me what you want."
"Why are you always so impatient with me?"
"My dear sister, please sit down. What would you like to drink? Fyren will serve you."
"Ha ha, that's more like it."
Xena said casually, as if it were the most natural thing: "I had a fight with my dad. Now I've got nowhere to stay. I'll be living here with you for a few days."
Fyren stopped pouring juice and turned to stare at her.
"Seriously? Living here? You're sure about this?"
"Yes, is there a problem?"
Fyren put down the juice, picked up the cup and placed it in front of her.
"Xena, don't push your luck. Let me make this clear - I, Fyren, am not someone to mess with!"
"Oh?"
"I'm the worst of the worst, the weirdest of the weird."
"Is that so?"
"And I'm crazy. If you stay here, I'll strip you naked, tie you up and whip you."
Xena blushed and said, "Ugh, you're disgusting."
"You think I'm joking?" Fyren snapped. "How many houses does the Xu family's young lady own? Why would she need to come to me for anything?"
Xena smiled cutely: "She likes being tied up and spanked."
Fyren was furious to the point of near collapse.
[This trick won't work on her. This idiot girl is completely insane - nothing scares her.]
Fyren took a deep breath:
"Hey! Do you know why I haven't been with any women lately?"
Xena shook her head: "No idea."
"It's because... I'm sick."
"Really?"
"Yes, a very... delicate condition."
"That serious?"
"Well, whether it's serious or not..." Fyren said: "Have you heard of HIV?"
"Yes, I've heard of it."
"I have it."
"Oh."
"Scared now?"
Xena laughed: "Fyren, did you forget I'm a divine healer? I can cure diseases! Especially this one - it's my specialty. First we'll preserve your condition, then test your erectile function, and then..."
"Can I still get erect after being preserved?!"
Fyren was utterly exasperated.
"Let me make this clear - you're not staying in my house. How about a hotel? My treat."
"Do I look like I need money?"
"Do I look like I have money to spare?"
"Then I'll find you a luxury apartment or villa. Free of charge. I'll give you the property!"
"Don't I have my own homes?"
"You've got everything! Why come to my place?"
"Haha! For fun!"
Xena grabbed her bag and bounded toward the bedroom.
"Hey, you—"
Xena burst into the bedroom. "Ah! Your room's a mess! Hmm? Why do I smell women's perfume? Fyren, have you been sneaking treats behind my back?"
Fyren chased after her. "If I wanted to sneak treats, why would I hide it from you? Wait—no! I haven't been sneaking anything! And it wouldn't be 'sneaking' anyway!"
"I'm warning you - last chance! If I catch you again, you're dead!"
"Oh." Fyren suddenly exploded: "Why?!"
Xena's nose twitched. "Is that Chloe?"
Fyren froze. "Since when did you become a bloodhound?"
Xena whirled around, glaring. "I recognize her scent! Fyren, you monster! Poor Chloe gave herself to you for her mother's sake. How could you?"
"So cure her mother tomorrow. Problem solved. My thanks to the whole family."
Xena sniffed again. "No... this isn't Chloe. She couldn't afford this perfume. Too expensive."
Fyren thought to himself:
[You should've been a police K-9.]
"Stop imagining things! I'm alone here!"
Xena held up a thong. "Is this yours too?"
Fyren nearly collapsed. "Big sis, I surrender! You're my ancestor! My great-great-grandma! Please go home! I'm begging you! You'll drive saints insane!"
"You took advantage of me before. Now you want to ditch me? No way!"
"Big sis, be reasonable! Every time you forced your way into my life, trouble followed!"
"Oh? So it's my fault now?"
"Whose else would it be?!"
"Fine! Sorry! Happy now?"
Fyren's eyes bulged. "What kind of divine logic is this? I'm losing my mind!"
Xena suddenly adopted a pitiful expression. "I fought with my family because of you."
"Me?"
"Anyway, you have to take responsibility."
"I did nothing! What responsibility?"
Fyren paced furiously, stomping his feet. "I'm innocent! Completely innocent!"
Xena removed her coat, slipped a shoulder strap down to reveal cleavage, and struck a seductive pose. "After tonight, you won't be innocent anymore."
"You...what are you planning?"
"I'm going to corrupt you."
Fyren was desperate. "Sis, have mercy! We can't get involved. You're a walking calamity. Associating with you brings chaos to entire bloodlines!"
Xena turned, showcasing her curvaceous hips, biting her finger coquettishly over her shoulder. "Didn't you say sneaking around behind my back was thrilling?"
Fyren's face burned. "Don't you get it? It's none of your business. Stop this nonsense."
To keep Xena calm, Fyren had no choice but to let her sleep in the guest bedroom.
He covered Chloe with a blanket and quietly slipped back to his own room, seething with frustration.
Xena, that damned goody-two-shoes!
Chloe had been having such a good time! Who needed her interference?
If she hadn't shown up, Chloe would have been completely his tonight.
Suppressing the burning anger in his chest, he tried to convince himself to sleep.
Just sleep, boss. No chance tonight. Don't even think about it.
Tomorrow's business is more important anyway. Hmm?
Fyren's ears suddenly perked up.
Someone was here!
His bedroom door was being quietly opened, and a stealthy figure crept inside.
Xena stood there wearing sexy lingerie and holding her high heels, smiling as she approached the bed. "Fyren? Xena came to tell you a bedtime story!"
Fyren flipped on the light and stood behind Xena with utter despair on his face. "Big sister..."
Xena jumped in surprise and turned around. "What are you doing?"
Fyren rubbed his forehead. "Big sister, what is this? Just go to sleep!"
"I... I'm scared to sleep alone!"
"So you dressed like this to sneak into a man's room?"
"I... I wanted to! You can't stop me!"
Fyren sighed. "Fine, you sleep here. I'll take the guest room."
"Hey! Don't you dare!"
Xena stood frozen, then suddenly burst into tears.
Fyren smirked. "Big sister, your acting is impressive. Those tears come on command. You shouldn't be VP at Houde Group - you should go to Japan and star in dramas. You'd be famous overnight."
Xena said nothing, tears rolling down her cheeks like transparent crystal beads.
Fyren's smile faded, looking slightly guilty now. "Alright, alright. Sleep here. But just sleep, understand? No... funny business."
Xena immediately brightened and clung to Fyren. "I knew it! You do care about me! Ha! You're such a softie!"
Fyren truly couldn't understand this girl.
She blurred the lines between real sadness and performance art.
Curled up against Fyren in bed, Xena whispered, "Fyren."
"Hm." Fyren kept his eyes closed.
"Your heart is beating so fast."
"Sleep."
A moment later.
"Fyren."
"Hm."
"Are you asleep?"
"Yes."
"Liar, you're talking in your sleep?"
"Sleep-talking."
Another pause.
"Fyren."
Fyren suddenly rolled over, pinning Xena beneath him with gritted teeth. "I'm warning you! Not another sound! I'm not a saint! Keep teasing me and I won't be responsible for what happens!"
Xena stared up at him, her breathing growing heavy, chest rising and falling dramatically.
"Really?" Xena's voice dripped with allure. "Xena's kind of hoping you won't be..."
Fyren leaned down and kissed her.
Something in Fyren snapped.
He pulled Xena close, hands roaming as he kissed her passionately.
Xena suddenly turned shy and demure - but didn't resist. Instead, she responded eagerly.
After fumbling around the sheets for a while, Fyren reached down and tossed Xena's shorts aside... only for someone to catch them mid-air.
Xena, lost in the moment, suddenly noticed the figure behind them and urgently slapped Fyren's back. "Fyren! Fyren! FYREN!"
Fyren panted heavily: "So soon? I haven't even done anything yet!"
"No! Behind you!"
"First time shouldn't be from behind!"
"Not behind me - behind you!"
"Damn! You're too kinky!"
"Look behind you!"
"What?"
Fyren turned around to see a figure standing motionless behind him like a statue.
"Ahh! Ahh! Ahh!"
The passion from moments ago turned to panic in an instant!
Fyren fumbled for the bedside lamp and switched it on.
What he saw made him collapse back onto the bed in shock.