"I have a younger sister who loves beauty the most. Her skin is so delicate it looks like it could drip water. It only took her a year to get out of there. She was fourteen when she went in—do you think you'd be worse than a fourteen-year-old girl?" Ling Yin smiled, motioning for someone to make him another cup of coffee. "Believe in yourself. I wouldn't send you to hell; it's merely a place for self-improvement. It's not as terrifying as you think. Aside from the harsh environment, I'm sure, given your personality, you'll absolutely love it."
Hua Hua shot him a look that clearly said, "Only a fool would believe you."
"You'll understand when you get there whether I lied to you or not—it's undoubtedly a place you'll like."
Hua Hua refused to believe him, stubbornly insisting that he'd never love the desert. But later, he discovered that Ling Yin hadn't lied to him. He truly fell in love with the place, though that's a story for another time.
