Audrey Miller has never had a boyfriend, so she absolutely can't let herself be deceived by someone she's never even met.

"Meaning?" Audrey Miller thought seriously for a moment. "First of all, it's about emotional value. Okay, I know you don't understand what emotional value is. Humans are social animals; we need to communicate. There are some things, some feelings, that I definitely wouldn't talk about with people in the village, and I couldn't possibly tell you either. I need a more private outlet, and pen pals whom I'll never meet are perfect for that. Secondly, don't underestimate my pen pals. Several of them are really impressive, and some are especially knowledgeable. For example, this battery-powered lamp was a gift from one of my pen pals. Kerosene lamps and candles are too bad for the eyes—not suitable for writing at night..."

Before Logan Smith could ask more, Audrey Miller raised her left hand and waved it behind her:

"Go to bed, my drunkard brother!

"Good night!"

"Alright, good night." Although Logan Smith was reluctant, he didn't press further.

Audrey Miller immediately added, "Remember to close the door for me. With the door open and the window open, it's a bit cold."

Logan Smith slowly closed the brown wooden door.

He walked step by step back to his own room, took off his shoes, and sat on the bed.

In the dim darkness of the night, the wooden desk pressed against the window, the chair set at an angle, the small bookshelf against the side wall, and the wardrobe on the other side—all came into Logan Smith's view.

He sat quietly, lost in thought.

He had always known that Audrey Miller had her own secrets, that there were many things she hadn't told him. He wasn't surprised by this at all. He was just worried that these secrets, these matters, might bring danger to Audrey Miller.

And if something really did happen, there was only so much he could do.

He was just an ordinary person—physically strong and reasonably quick-witted, but nothing more.

One thought after another surfaced and faded away. Logan Smith let out a gentle sigh, got up from the bed, and went to the washroom to freshen up a bit.

Then, he took off his brown jacket and threw himself into the still-cold bed.

On the mountain at the end of March and the beginning of April, the weather was still a bit chilly.

……

In a daze, Logan Smith seemed to see a patch of gray mist.

It spread all around, making distant things disappear completely.

Logan Smith walked on in a haze, but no matter which direction he went, no matter how far he walked in the gray fog, he always ended up back in the same place:

His bedroom.

A bedroom made up of a bed with white sheets, a wooden desk and chair set in front of the window, a bookshelf, a wardrobe, and so on.

……

Hoo—Logan Smith opened his eyes.

The morning sunlight shone through the not-so-thick blue curtains, illuminating half the bedroom.

Logan Smith sat up, staring blankly at the scene, feeling as if he were still dreaming.

He'd had that dream again.

He dreamed of that never-dissipating gray mist.

He raised his hands to rub his temples and muttered silently, "It's getting more and more frequent lately—almost every day..."

If this dream had brought any negative effects, Logan Smith definitely wouldn't be as calm as he was now.

Of course, it hadn't brought any positive effects either.

"I really wish there was some hidden adventure in this..." Logan Smith muttered, then got out of bed.

As soon as he opened his door and stepped into the hallway, he heard sounds coming from Audrey Miller's room.

What a coincidence... A faint smile appeared on Logan Smith's face.

Suddenly, a thought struck him. He took a step back and stood at the edge of his door.

When Audrey Miller's bedroom door opened, Logan Smith quickly raised his right hand, pinched his temple, and put on a slightly pained expression.

"What's wrong?" Audrey Miller noticed this scene.

Success! Logan Smith cheered inwardly, pretending to steady himself.

"I had that dream again," he answered in a low voice.

Audrey Miller's golden hair hung loosely, and a trace of worry gradually appeared between her brows.

"The last solution didn't work..."

She thought for a moment and said, "Maybe... I should find you a hypnotist—a real hypnotist—to see what the real cause is."

"The kind with magical powers?" Logan Smith asked deliberately.

Audrey Miller nodded lightly in response.

"One of your pen pals?" Logan Smith couldn't help but ask.

"Why do you care about that? Just focus on how to solve your own problem!" Audrey Miller didn't answer directly.

Aren't I thinking about it? Logan Smith grumbled inwardly.

He went along and said,

"Audrey Miller, if I became a wizard, someone with extraordinary powers, I should be able to unravel the secret of the dream and put an end to it once and for all."

"Don't even think about it!" Audrey Miller responded without hesitation.

Her expression softened:

"Logan Smith, I wouldn't lie to you. This path is dangerous and painful. If I had any other choice, if the world weren't becoming more and more dangerous, I would rather be an ordinary writer and live a happy life."