Xian waited for the punchline. When nothing came, he could only confirm, “You?”
“Me,” Lance repeated.
For some time, they were at a standstill.
“Ummm…” broke in the same young woman who’d come earlier, this time addressing Xian. “We need to get you ready now.”
Xian acknowledged her and then looked back at Lance, who returned an expression that said, “Well? It’s up to you.”
Faced with a time-sensitive problem, Xian was forced to make a snap decision.
He told the young woman sheepishly, “Thank you, but can I go over in a bit? I’ll find my own way.”
Though weirded out by this break in protocol, she nodded and headed backstage by herself.
It couldn’t be helped. Some things had to be clarified first before anything else.
“First of all, is this even allowed?” Xian asked Lance in an urge
