Hours. Yeah, hours had evaporated into the ether as XueLing and HuanHuan, two grown adults, decided to channel their inner toddlers and engage in a full-blown insult-slinging, hair-pulling extravaganza. XiShi, meanwhile, was over there with popcorn―figuratively speaking, of course―observing the glorious train wreck. Anything productive? Nope. Negotiations? Not even close. Everyone was running on fumes of pure, unadulterated exasperation.

XiShi, bless her cynical heart, was practically itching to jump into the fray. Not to mediate, mind you, but to contribute her own brand of cutting commentary. But, alas, she had no solid good points to make, plus, getting involved in this drama would be like diving into a pool of lukewarm dishwater―unpleasant and ultimately pointless. So, she stayed put, a silent spectator, wondering just how far these two would go before they realized they were basically wasting oxygen.

It was bizarre, frankly, to watch XueLing, the epitome of dignified rage, grapple with HuanHuan, the woman who, in the novel, was the object of some dude's undying affection. But, whatever, right? XiShi wasn't losing any sleep over it. She had the guy, and she was going to hold onto him like a precious discount item from a flash sale. And HuanHuan in the novel? She only had eyes for BaiDi, her first mate from that novel.

Speaking of the devil, as if summoned by a poorly-written plot device, BaiDi materialized, trying to be all peacemaker and cooing, "HuanHuan, calm down."

HuanHuan, clearly reaching the end of her rope, threw her hands up and declared, "You know what? Fine! I'll do it!"

Ah, solutions. Finally.

Apparently, XiShi's presence had somehow cranked the plot up to eleven, because this whole HuanHuan helps the feather tribe with their infertility thing was supposed to be a late-game development. But, no. Here they were, careening towards resolution at warp speed. Honestly, if these two weren't so dramatic and petty, this could have been resolved over a cup of tea and not hours of toddler antics.

"Are you sure?" XueLing asked, eyes narrowed, "Because, if you're joking with me, I'll burn this mountain to the ground." Talk about a measured response.

HuanHuan, rolling her eyes as hard as humanly possible, spat back, "Are you that petty? I said I'd do it!"

BaiDi, jumping on the bandwagon, decided to prod the metaphorical bear, "Would you really?" Everyone, sans HuanHuan and BaiDi, swiveled their heads to stare at XueLing.

"Yes, I would," XueLing admitted with a sigh that could launch a small sailboat.

The sheer drama of it all was almost enough to make XiShi reach for another bowl of imaginary popcorn. Almost.

Except she feels like smacking XueLing and getting this over with.

That's it ,

He's not getting any sex tonight, marks reduced for this nonsense.