[ 'Don't lie to me,' a cold, bitter voice snaps in Mingyu's mind, the voice in his heart of hearts. His voice, the scathing, merciless thing he's become. The man who mocks Lee Chang with his lofty titles, who takes dark amusement in Five's cornered, tenuous, half willing partnership.

He's not the man Fox loves.

He tries to pretend to be anyway. So he takes a breath, speaks gently when he tries again. ]

We both know that's not necessarily true. That you're okay if I'm okay.

I know you're not okay when I'm not okay. Just as I am with you.

But you being okay doesn't automatically make me okay, so let's not pretend the reverse is true, yeah...?