A Salty, Bitter Yet Worthwhile Kiss.

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March 17th, 20xx — 05:17 AM

Zone 3A-Δ – Base: Jiang Roulan's apartment

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The potion hit my tongue like molten stone.

Thick. Metallic. Sweet at the edges—but bitter, too. Not a flavour I could name, just something primal. Like old roots crushed under pressure, or earth that hadn't tasted sunlight in centuries.

I held it there, let it coat my tongue. It hummed in my mouth like it was alive, and the moment I bent low, bringing my lips to hers, I felt it shift.

Jiang Roulan was still limp—breathing, barely, but when I kissed her, her lips reacted faintly. A twitch. A pulse of warmth, faint as a dying ember.

'Sorry, Qinglan…'

My lips parted hers gently, tilting her head with my palm. Her mouth was soft and dry, the taste of blood faint on her lower lip.

I exhaled into her.

Pushed the liquid between our mouths—slow, steady.

She swallowed once.

Then spit it back.