Abruptly, Xia Tian interjected, "Have the Green Snake Gang reached a decision yet?" His memory of them hadn't faded.
Xia Chen's expression shifted subtly, hiding the ugly emotions beneath, and he responded, "Not yet."
"Make sure they don't take forever. Don't want to be known as the incompetent brother, do you?" Xia Tian taunted, offering a nod. Just then, a small pink fox darted in from another entrance, leaping gracefully to settle on his shoulder.
A sidelong glance from the fox to Xia Chen conveyed more than words ever could. Without further ado, Xia Tian pivoted and exited the scene, leaving his presence to disperse.
'That familiar smirk,' Xia Chen mused, a memory stirred of the last time Xia Tian had worn such a smile—when he had metaphorically trampled all over him.
As for the fox, it struck Xia Chen as rather ordinary, barring the distinct pink fur that set it apart as uniquely intriguing.
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