"Fuck…" Han Yu covered his mouth, but it was too late.
"A-HA!"
Li Mei reappeared at the well's edge, eyes glowing like a fox spirit who just caught the last dumpling at the banquet.
"Got you now." She smiled with the pure, unfiltered joy of a small child about to perform a highly unethical experiment.
Han Yu blinked up at her, utterly defeated.
"Of all times, I had to sneeze now," he muttered, cursing his traitorous nose.
"Come on out," Li Mei chirped. "There's no way out unless you want to drown and reincarnate with foot fungus."
Han Yu stared up from the depths of the well, soaked to the soul and clinging to the mossy stones like a sad, shivering frog.
He could barely see her through the water dripping into his eyes, but he could hear the smile in her voice.
"I'll make you a deal," Li Mei purred.
Han Yu groaned. Oh no. Deals with mad alchemists never ended well.
