Sabrina's torn skirt barely covered the shorts beneath. Her hair cascaded wildly like that of a lustful woman gone unrestrained, her eyes mesmerizing and dazzling...
Xena countered by showcasing her own seductive skills—removing one stocking to bind her wrists, then kneeling before Fyren with bitten lips and suggestive eyes...
Not to be outdone, Sabrina straddled Fyren's lap, whispering sweet nothings in his ear.
Xena clung to Fyren's thighs, crying "Daddy" and "Good Daddy" in a breathy voice.
Sabrina writhed provocatively in Fyren's arms, murmuring tantalizing words...
...
Fyren was utterly intoxicated.
Then—the door burst open.
Cora stood frozen, eyes wide, unable to speak at the scene before her.
The trio inside went equally still.
Fyren looked down at the women. They looked up at him.
All three scrambled to adjust their clothing.
When Fyren stood, he realized with horror—his suit pants tented prominently at the front. He tried calming himself, but biology refused to cooperate quickly.
In frustration, he punched his own crotch. "Calm down! Damn it, calm down!"
"Ahem..." Fyren forced an awkward laugh. "This isn't what it looks like. I mean..."
Xena and Sabrina bolted separately into bathrooms to compose themselves.
Fyren continued stammering, "Just now, well..."
"Why are you here?" Cora demanded.
Fyren blanked.
Right—why was he here? The memory had vaporized.
"I'm... here to..." He rubbed his temples. "Too much happened. My brain's still catching up..."
Xena emerged then, face flushed. She glanced at Cora and whispered to Fyren, "Untie me."
"Oh." Fyren fumbled with the knotted stocking. "How'd you tie this so tight?"
"How should I know? You're the one who tied me!"
"Me? You told me to do it and said 'tighter!'"
"And you nearly cut off circulation! Look—my wrists are bleeding!"
"You were arching your back and glaring at me! I was engorged with blood—no idea how much strength I used..."
"Ow! That hurts!"
"Endure it!"
"Next time tie it gently. This is seduction, not bondage!"
"I know! Just... hold still. There."
Freed, Xena fled back to the bathroom.
Fyren stood rooted, mortified. "Just... don't judge. They started... I don't even know how... I swear I'm not a pervert."
Junli Hotel belonged to the Chen family.
Since rekindling her feelings for Fyren, Cora had ordered all Chen properties to notify her immediately of his presence.
When Cora heard Fyren had brought two beauties to the hotel room, she dropped everything and rushed over immediately.
Sure enough—caught red-handed.
Cora stared at Fyren with tear-glazed eyes.
A tsunami of resentment and indignation surged violently within her.
"So... you don't like me because I... can't do those kinds of things, right?"
Fyren met her gaze. "Don't be ridiculous—you can't do anything! We were pure as ordinary friends back then—we never did normal things, let alone abnormal ones! Wait, no—today isn't abnormal either, but—"
"So you do think this is normal?!"
"That's not—just let me explain!"
Fyren waved his hands frantically. "You've got me all wrong! This isn't what it looks like!"
"Then why are you at Junli Hotel?!"
"It wasn't my idea—they booked it! And I'm not here for that!"
"Then what exactly are you here for?!"
"I—right! I'm here to save Eliza!"
Cora's eyes narrowed. "Do I look three years old to you? Eliza isn't even here."
"Cora, you're seriously misunderstanding—I'm absolutely not that kind of person! Well... okay, I am that kind of person, but today? Definitely not!"
Fyren took a deep breath. "Let me put it this way—I'm the kind who... emerges unstained from filth, stays virtuous among demons! Pure, sunshine-loving, into sports and reading! Polite and warm to others, highly moral with solid principles! My values are so positive they glow! The self-sacrificing type who burns to light others' paths!"
Just then, Sabrina reappeared.
Having changed into fresh clothes, she sauntered up and planted a kiss on Fyren's cheek:
"I'll never forget what you did today. You're the most knowledgeable, wild, slutty handsome man I've ever met."
Cora's gaze could have frozen lava. "What kind of man are you?"
"Oh Cora, you two chat—I'll head out first~"
Like a teasing breeze, Sabrina vanished after dropping those ambiguous words.
"Hey! Get back here!"
Cora slammed her palm against the doorframe, blocking Fyren's path. "You're chasing after her NOW!?" she shrieked, on the verge of hysterics.
Fyren met her glare. "I need to catch her for something important!"
"So in your eyes," Cora screamed, "every woman is attractive except me—just some nerdy, conservative, boring idiot, IS THAT IT?!*"
"I never said that!" Fyren was ready to tear his hair out. "And why am I even explaining myself? We're broken up! You dumped me!"
"Breaking up takes two people—you don't get to decide alone!"
Fyren's eyes bulged. "You broke up with me! Jesus, Cora—get your head straight! Even if I was involved with them, it's none of your business!"
Cora stared at Fyren, shocked beyond belief, teardrops rolling down her cheeks. "So this is how you see our relationship?"
"What feelings I have for you, I—"
Fyren grabbed Cora's shoulders. "Are you even listening to me? Do you have the slightest shred of common sense? Me! And you! We! Already! Broke up! Split apart! Over three years ago! Now you're you and I'm me! Don't come barging into my room again—we're practically strangers, understand?"
Cora said nothing, but the tears kept flowing.
Fyren felt like he was about to snap.
"I— damn it!" Fyren sighed. "Fine, I was wrong. Stop crying, alright? I admit it, I was wrong."
Just then, Xena burst in again. "Fyren!"
"What now?"
"My clothes are torn to shreds—I can't go out like this! That fox has spare outfits, but I don't!"
"Whose fault is that for ripping them in the first place? Not my problem!"
"Are you serious? I did it to defend your honor!"
"For me?"
"You were completely spellbound back then! And now you're acting all high and mighty—real manly of you!"
Fyren glanced at Cora. "Find her a dress. Hers is... torn. She did it to herself—I never asked her to."
Cora studied Xena. "Do you really like him that much? Enough to go this far?"
"Ugh!" Xena flushed with embarrassment. "It's not what you think! I was just scrapping with that woman. And I swear, if it were you, you'd have been desperate too—you'd never willingly lose to her!"
"I'm not as childish as you two!"
Sensing trouble, Fyren quickly seized Cora's hand, yanked her into the room, and slammed the door shut.
Cora fumed. "What's your problem? I would never stoop to such behavior!"
Fyren clamped a hand over her mouth as Xena whispered urgently, "The Copper King's here—they're staying at this hotel too!"
Cora pried Fyren's hand away. "The Copper King?"
"Shh! He's the Iron King's brother—or mentor, or... whatever. Point is, they're together, and they're coming for Fyren. We can't let them gang up on him! This is critical! Right now, Fyren is Otto—remember that!"
Cora frowned. "They're still after you?"
Fyren pulled her deeper into the room, his voice deadly serious. "This is life or death. Whether I survive depends on you two. Cora, I need your help now."
Cora arched an eyebrow. "And what am I to you? Why should I help?"
Behind Cora's back, Xena made a gagging face, then mouthed to Fyren: Handle her.
Fyren shot Xena a look: How? She's impossible!
Xena rolled her eyes and shook her head: Not my problem. Fail this, and the Copper King finishes you.
Fyren pulled Cora to the window and flashed her his most charming smile.
"Hey, hey, hey, Cora—wow, your outfit looks amazing today! Seriously, out of all the women I've ever seen, you have the best figure!"
Cora remained unimpressed. "Cut the crap. Didn't you openly declare that out of all the women in the world, only Eliza deserves to be called a real woman, and that everyone else is just defective? I'm one of those defective products—one you threw away three years ago."
Fyren coaxed, "I was chasing her back then! Of course I had to flatter her. It didn't mean anything!"
"Oh? Then what does this mean now? Complimenting me—are you chasing me?"
Fyren froze.
Just then, a knock came from outside the door.
"Subordinate Copper King, requesting an audience with the young lord!"
Fyren panicked. "Cora, seriously, this isn't the time for jokes. You really have to help me!"
Cora crossed her arms, unmoved. "And what am I to you? You've got Xena throwing herself at you, Eliza keeping you on your toes, and that slut from earlier. Me? Oh, right—I don't even understand human language, and I need you, Fyren, to keep reminding me that we're already broken up."
Outside, the Copper King rang the doorbell again.
"Subordinate Copper King, requesting to see the young lord!"
Fyren was desperate. If he opened the door now with Cora acting like this, everything would be ruined.
Xena bit her lip, walked to the door, and called out, "Wait!"
"Yes!"
Then she dragged Fyren deeper into the room.
"Fyren, handling Cora is a thousand times more urgent right now."
"The problem is this stubborn girl doesn't get how serious this is! She's still throwing a tantrum!"
"Fix it!"
"How?"
"Idiot! She's just being petty—she obviously still likes you! Just tell her you still love her, that she's the only one who matters!"
"Wait, if she's the 'only one,' there's no 'most.' And if she's the 'most,' that means there are others!"
"You're hopeless! Once you say it, she won't overthink it!"
"Really?"
"Kiss her, and her mind will go blank. She won't remember a thing!"
"That's impossible!"
"Or strip her naked and take her right here—"
"Whoa, okay, okay! A kiss is enough, no need for extreme measures!"
Xena grinned. "Just this once! I'll give you special permission. Go on—fix this!"
"That's what you said about me…"
"That's how you got me, remember?"
Fyren scowled. "When did I 'fix' you?"
"Don't play dumb! You took my first kiss!"
"First kiss… my first kiss… me…"
"Go! Fix her!" Xena shoved him forward. "I've got your back!"